The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-12
Locks and Lock-Making.

The London Ahengatnl, in an article on the
Resources OF Birmingham" has the following
about lCcks:-
The hrst patent for a new lock bears date
IVA, by which instrument Robert Barron, OF
London, secured TO himself the privilege of
constructing locks IN Wblch the security was
effected by tiXea wards, with the addIuon OF
lifting lumblers or levers" Such is the merit
of Barrons lock that it Is still in great demand,
as secure and servlceabe contrivance, although
since its hrst production, successive inventors
have taken more than one hundred and 4entV
patents Ior novel locks, OF which the most lm-
portant are those known by the names OF their
respective inventors. Bramah, Chubb, and
Hobbs, Joseph Bramah's lock, patented in
l7s4, was Tor more than two generations re-
garded as a coDtilvance that would battle the
cleveIest mechanlcian who should venture to
pick II. For years specimen of this beautiful
arrangement was exhibited in the window of
Mr.. bramah,s shop in Piccadilly, together with
this placAd:-"Notice.-Th artist who can
make AN instrument that will pick or open this
lock will receive two hundred euneas the mo-
ment 1t Is produced" The egard was not
CLAIMED till 1861. when an American mechani-
clan, named Robos, who had been drawn to
the English etropolis by the Great Exhibition,
saw the challenge, accepted 1t, and after a
touch light that lasted sixteen days proved vic
toIlons., The success OF Mr. HOBBS not only
caused lively excitement in the pubic mind,
but for time gave his lock decIded adVan-
tage ~ the market over the defeated Bramah,
and also over the Chubb, which, originally III
yened in 1918, had for more than thirty years
DIVIDED public favor with Bramal's invention
That the ChubO has not lost It's hold on public
confidence may be inferred from the fact that
MessIs. Chubb q Son manufacture about
5OOOO looks per annum, the cheapest of which
Is sold at los. net, while many Of them are
worth from f2 to t3 EACH" 1t is almost need
less 10 oOserve that the distinctive and most
valuable feature OF the Cbubb is its detector d
e. the sprlng which renders the bolt immoyable
as soon as the lock is tried WITH q false kew
Like Bramah's ana Hobbs locks Chnbb's locks
are made IN series, each lock having its separate
KEY. and all the locks of q series obeying a
inasIer-Key. So extensive are the combinations
@ t@nat II Moulo be quite practicable to make locks
lor AZ lhe doors OF all houses in London with q
distinct and different key TO each lock. and VET
| tnere shonid be one master-key to pass the
WnOle! most complete series OF locks was
| constructed some years ago by the late Mr.
ShubD LOT the Westmin ter Bridewell. Ii con-
@ sIs's OF IlOV ,ocks, forming one series, with keys
lor the master, sub'master, and warders
Among the seats OF the South staffordshiye
ioek uade, which supplies us with trumperv
| pads. as we'll as unplckable s'saIatles y vii
| Ienhall enjoys an unenyiable celebritv f,r the
cheaphess and corresponding worthlessness of
ngT WT,,, Wares, mere y familiar saying that "If
a Wlllenhall locksmith happens to let fall q lock
In the process of manufacture, he does not sts~
| 10 pick II up, as he can make anofhar IN laSs lS
| time" The late Mr. G. b Thornevcrott who
resided at Willenhal for a time, was once
taunled that some padlocks were made in VII.
lnball which would only lock once; but when
ne was told the price, namely, twopence. he
replied. 'Well, it would be shame ii thew did
lock twice for that money" The same articles
are now being sold at one halfpennv EACH
| Ihe average activity of the whole district Il
| thus stated;-''The total weekly production OF
locks IN the district is estimated as follows:-
Pao' A,OOO dozen; cabinet, till and chest, 5000