Ian Casson
We interviewed probably Britain’s, and definitely Liverpool’s, first auto locksmith, Ian Casson, who attributes his success to ‘getting in early, staying in the game, and keeping everyone laughing’.
Few figures in the locksmith world carry quite the legendary status of Ian Casson. To his friends in the Auto Locksmiths Association, he’s “quite a character”- the man who can get a room laughing when even the booked comedian can’t.
To long-standing clients across Ford, Vauxhall and Enterprise, he’s the dependable name they’ve trusted for decades. But to Ian himself, he’s simply a bloke who got into auto locksmithing simply before anyone else.
Getting in Early: The Accidental Pioneer
I always say I was the first auto locksmith in the country, or maybe just Liverpool, but nobody else was advertising in the Yellow Pages back then, so I must’ve been amongst the first. That’s always been a big part of my success. I got in early, got established, and built relationships with the right people.
I started out as a sheet metal worker. When I was 32, I decided to go into the locksmith business. There were no courses like there are now. I taught myself. I used to fit deadlocks on people’s houses, and I fitted car locks as well. When people had a problem with a car or a van, they’d call me, so I saw there was a need for the auto locksmith work. Because I had no competition, the phone just kept ringing!
When I started in 1983, my lad Adam (who runs the business now) wasn’t even born. My wife worked with me too for a while, doing the books. We were just a small family outfit back then, we still are, in many ways.
From Steel Doors back to Cars
At the beginning, money wasn’t exactly flowing in, so I kept my steel business going. Funny enough, it was the police that got me established in both sides of my work. Crime prevention officers used to recommend me for general home security. That got me locksmith work, and then it led to something much bigger.
One day, the police recommended us to a warehouse on the Haydock industrial estate for steel security doors. From that one job, it snowballed. We ended up supplying steel doors for Wickes, 180 stores all over the country. That went on for ten years. I had eight people working for me at one point.
Schools came to us too, wanting secure areas and stronger doors. Everyone wanted heavy-duty doors, and then they wanted them to look nice as well. It grew fast, but steel went expensive and the car work was growing. I knew I had to pick one. So, after ten years, I gave the steel business to my brother and focused solely on locksmithing. This was the best move I ever made.
Building Trust the Old-School Way
We’re based in Billinge near St Helens and Wigan, which is a great position really, with Manchester and Preston nearby, and the M6 just three miles away. Location has definitely helped, but it’s relationships that built the business.
I got involved with the police early on, with good intentions as a Scouser! I always say that and laugh. But they trusted me, and those connections opened doors. Literally and figuratively.
When you do the job right, it pays back. We still have most of our original customers. We’ve worked for Ford and Vauxhall for about 20 years now, plus Enterprise as a nominated contractor. Because we’ve been in it a long time and proven ourselves, they’ve stuck with us. We don’t advertise, we don’t do Facebook or social media. We don’t need to. They call us, we go out, then give them the bill afterward. No estimates. That only comes from decades of trust.
A Family Business, the Right Way
Adam, my son, now runs the business. I taught him everything. He sat with me for 12 months learning the job properly. These days, too many people go into the trade after doing a four-day course. It’s not enough. They end up killing a car, then tell the customer something’s wrong with it when (really) they just can’t sort it.
Experience matters in this trade. Time matters. Mistakes teach you more than any course can. Adam learned the right way because he learned it hands-on.
I’m part-time now, but funnily enough, I’ve worked every day this week. I’m a reserve for my son. I was planning to retire next April, but I’ll keep my van and still do bits and pieces. Can’t see myself stopping completely.
Group ALA Meeting
The ALA: Training, Mates & the Gala Rescue Act
I’ve been in the Auto Locksmiths Association for 25 years. I joined because I had friends in it, and I stayed because you learn so much and the social side is brilliant.
Kenny always said I’m quite a character. At the Saturday night Galas, we’d have comedians and duos. Sometimes they weren’t that funny (we’re a difficult lot to please, always talking too much, not paying attention) they’d start dying on stage, and next thing you know they’re calling me up to help save them! “Get Ian on” they’d say, so I’d come on, do a bit, get the crowd laughing. One of my lines: I’m the only Scouser who gives you your keys rather than pinching them. That line always lands.
I’ve made great mates through the ALA and the association’s been a big part of my career.
A Life Well Lived – and Still Laughing
Outside the trade, I like my music. I used to play in a band back in the 60s, called ‘The Fascination’. We played at The Cavern twice in 1968. I was on keyboards. Jazz, blues, rock, country, we did the lot.
Retirement? We’ll see. I’ve got a lodge up in York we plan to use more, and I want to go abroad. I’ve also got a plot of land next to my house with a log cabin on it. Needs perfecting. Needs some gardening. That’ll keep me busy.
Being the first auto locksmith in Liverpool has been lucky for us, but we’ve worked hard. We’ve done the job right and it’s paid back. Forty-plus years later and we’re still trusted, still busy, still enjoying it. That says it all, really.
www.mobile-autolocksmiths.co.uk
excalibursecurity@hotmail.co.uk
07831 872740
Excalibur Security is a mobile auto locksmith, based in Billinge near St Helens, and is one of the UK’s longest-established companies in the trade.
Founded by Ian Casson, and now run by his son Adam Casson, the business provides specialist vehicle key, lock, and immobiliser services to long-standing clients including Ford, Vauxhall and major fleet organisations.
Known for reliability, deep technical expertise and decades-strong customer relationships, they continue to operate without advertising, driven purely by reputation and trust.