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TELL Manufacturing Commercial Locks
American-made budget commercial hardware — TELL produces both Grade 1 and Grade 2 cylindrical lever locks at entry-level commercial price points. Ideal for property management, light-commercial, small office, and multi-tenant applications where upfront cost drives the specification.
Parent company: TELL Manufacturing, Inc.
About TELL Manufacturing
TELL Manufacturing is a US-based commercial hardware manufacturer producing a full line of cylindrical locks, mortise locks, exit devices, and door closers at the budget commercial price point. TELL offers both Grade 1 (heavy-duty, CL100000 / CL200000 series) and Grade 2 (standard-duty, CL10000 series) cylindrical lever locks — positioning it uniquely in the market as a budget brand that offers Grade 1 without the premium pricing of Allegion or ASSA ABLOY.
The specification case for TELL is straightforward: upfront cost. Per-opening pricing runs 30-50% below equivalent Allegion or ASSA ABLOY products, which matters significantly on multi-door projects. For property managers turning over 50-100+ doors on a rental portfolio, for small commercial buildings and retail with limited capital budget, and for municipal and non-profit projects where grant money is tight, TELL lets you meet ANSI specification at the lowest possible cost. Schlage C keyway compatibility means TELL rekeys into most existing building master key systems without fragmenting key control.
Trade-offs worth knowing upfront: TELL's dealer and service network is smaller than the major brands, parts availability for older units thins out faster than Schlage/ASSA ABLOY, and service life in heavy commercial use is typically 8-12 years on Grade 1 and 5-8 years on Grade 2 (versus 15-20+ on Grade 1 from the majors). For the budget price point and light-to-moderate traffic, this is an acceptable trade-off for many specifications. For entry doors, high-traffic corridors, or critical-security openings, step up to Schlage ND, Best 9K, or Sargent 10X. Key-En-Lock services TELL commercial installations across Brevard County and stocks common repair parts on the truck.
TELL Manufacturing Functions & Models We Service
Cylindrical lock functions correspond to standardized ANSI A156.2 specifications. Architects spec by function (F-number); locksmiths order by the manufacturer's model code. Below is the TELL Manufacturing lineup we service across Brevard County.
| Model | Function Name | ANSI | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CL100000 | Grade 1 Passage | F75 | TELL Grade 1 passage lockset. Heavy-duty interior corridor application. |
| CL100100 | Grade 1 Privacy | F76 | TELL Grade 1 privacy. Single-occupancy restrooms, bed/bath. |
| CL100200 | Grade 1 Entrance/Office | F82 | TELL Grade 1 office function — most-specified CL1 model. |
| CL100300 | Grade 1 Classroom | F84 | TELL Grade 1 classroom function. |
| CL100400 | Grade 1 Storeroom | F86 | TELL Grade 1 storeroom — outside always locked except by key. |
| CL200000 | Grade 1 Classroom Intruder | F110 | TELL Grade 1 classroom security function — inside key-lockable during lockdown. |
| CL10000 | Grade 2 Passage | F75 | TELL Grade 2 passage — light-commercial interior. |
| CL10100 | Grade 2 Privacy | F76 | TELL Grade 2 privacy. Budget spec for light-commercial restrooms. |
| CL10200 | Grade 2 Entrance/Office | F82 | TELL Grade 2 office function. Standard light-commercial entry. |
| CL10400 | Grade 2 Storeroom | F86 | TELL Grade 2 storeroom. |
ANSI A156.2 F-Function Quick Reference
ANSI A156.2 standardizes cylindrical lock functions so specifications work across brands. When an architect specs "F82 entrance/office," any Grade 1 or Grade 2 cylindrical lock from any brand will meet that function — the choice is brand, keyway, and trim preference.
| ANSI | Function |
|---|---|
| F75 | Passage — no locking |
| F76 | Privacy — inside thumbturn |
| F82 | Entry/Office — key locks outside |
| F84 | Classroom — key outside, inside free |
| F86 | Storeroom — outside always locked |
| F110 | Classroom Security — inside key-lockable |
TELL Manufacturing Trim Options
Lever & Knob Designs
| Code | Design | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CS | Cambridge | Standard curved return lever. Most-specified TELL design. |
| NT | Newton | Straight contemporary lever. |
| MD | Madison | Angled-return ADA-compliant lever. |
Rose & Trim Styles
| Code | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Round Rose | Standard TELL round rose. |
Finishes
BHMA-coded architectural finishes. We stock the most-specified finishes (626 satin chrome, 630 satin stainless, 605 bright brass, 612 satin bronze) for fast in-field matching to existing building hardware.
Keying & Cylinders
- Schlage C (standard) — 6-pin Schlage C keyway — enables rekey into existing Schlage master systems.
- Kwikset KW1 — Alternative KW1 keyway for buildings already on Kwikset systems.
- SFIC (select models) — SFIC housing available on select TELL models for facility-managed rekeys.
- Less cylinder — Ordered without cylinder. Accepts any standard 6-pin KIK cylinder.
Fire Rating & Code Compliance
- UL Listed for fire-rated doors — verify per-model listing (typically 1-1/2 or 3 hour).
- ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Grade 1 (CL1/CL2 series) or Grade 2 (CL10000 series) certified.
- Non-handed — field-reversible.
- Verify UL label during NFPA 80 annual fire door inspection.
Common TELL Manufacturing Repairs We Service
After 25+ years of commercial locksmith work in Brevard County, these are the failure modes we see most often on TELL Manufacturing cylindrical locks. All are truck-serviceable — we don't need to remove the door or send hardware to a shop.
- Lever sag / spring failure — spring wear. On-site replacement.
- Cylinder binding / key won't turn — wafer wear or cam alignment.
- Latchbolt won't retract — drive cam wear. Rebuild or replace.
- Schlage C rekey — standard rekey into existing Schlage master systems.
- Parts availability for older units — TELL parts thin out faster than major brands. Often more cost-effective to replace full lock than rebuild on units 8+ years old.
- Full replacement / upgrade to Schlage or Falcon — for high-traffic doors, we handle TELL-to-Schlage retrofit using the same door prep.
- CL200000 classroom intruder latch repair — after forced-entry attempts. Replace auxiliary deadlocking assembly or full lock.
Need TELL Manufacturing Service in Brevard County?
Licensed, insured, 25+ years of commercial lock experience. We stock parts on the truck.
Call (321) 224-5625Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I spec TELL over Schlage, Allegion, or ASSA ABLOY brands?
Cost. TELL is typically 30-50% cheaper per opening than equivalent Schlage ND or Sargent 10X. On a 100-door project, that can mean $10K-$25K in hardware savings. For property management with tight operating budgets, small municipal projects, non-profits, and light-commercial applications where Grade 2 or mid-range Grade 1 is adequate, TELL lets you meet the specification at the lowest cost. Trade-off is shorter service life and smaller dealer network, but for many applications that trade-off is acceptable.
Is TELL actually made in America?
Yes. TELL Manufacturing is US-based and manufactures domestically. For federal projects requiring Buy American Act (BAA) compliance or ARRA-funded projects with domestic-content requirements, TELL is one of the budget-tier options (alongside Marks USA) that qualifies. Verify specific BAA certification per-model at time of order.
Does TELL really offer Grade 1?
Yes — the CL100000 and CL200000 series carry ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Grade 1 certification. That said, "Grade 1" is a minimum specification — TELL's Grade 1 meets the standard but doesn't exceed it by 10-20× the way Schlage ND or Best 9K do. Real-world service life on TELL Grade 1 is typically 8-12 years in commercial use, versus 15-20+ on the majors. The certification is real; the margin above minimum is thinner.
How does TELL compare to LSDA for budget specifications?
Both are budget-tier commercial brands with Grade 1 and Grade 2 options at similar price points. TELL advantage: US-manufactured (BAA compliance matters for federal projects). LSDA advantage: broader distributor network through locksmith supply channels. For most commercial specifications the brands are roughly interchangeable — pick based on your dealer preference and BAA requirements.
Is TELL code-compliant for Florida K-12 classroom security?
Yes — the CL200000 (F110 classroom intruder) meets current Florida school hardware requirements. Key in either lever locks/unlocks outside; inside lever always free under NFPA 101. UL fire-rated. For K-12 specifications with tight budgets, CL200000 is a legitimate Grade 1 option at a lower price than Schlage ND75PD or Sargent 10XG38. For long-term institutional K-12 projects where 20+ year service life matters, step up to the major brands.
Can TELL rekey into my existing Schlage key system?
Yes. TELL standard keyway is Schlage C, so rekey into existing Schlage master systems is direct. We handle on-site rekey for TELL commercial installations.
When should I NOT spec TELL?
Skip TELL on: (1) entry doors for high-security commercial (spec Schlage ND + Primus XP), (2) high-traffic institutional doors expected to run 15+ years (spec Best 9K or Sargent 10X), (3) behavioral health or detention requiring anti-ligature (spec Corbin Russwin CL3500), (4) openings integrated with demanding access control systems where reliability is critical, (5) abuse-prone exterior or public doors. For those, the hardware cost savings don't pencil out over the service lifecycle.
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