The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-30
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS,

| Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT. W .sHSGroS
| October IL, 1862
| SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing Mail Locks and
Keys of kinds to he substituted for the Locks and
Keys used vn the United States Mails will be
ccved at this Department until o'clock NJ the Sd
| day of FEBRUARY, $50. 1t is desirable to obtain
Locks and Keys of construction for the exclusive
Of the United States Mails, and if practicable i'll
vented expressly for that purpose As the exposure Of
model Lock and Key to public examination would
impair if not destroy, its utility for the mails the De-
partmcnt prcscrLcs model for bidders but relies for
its selection the specimens of mechanical skill and
ingenuity which fair competition among inventors.
hereby invited may develop 1t is sufficient to describe
the principal requisites Of Mail Lock follows: Self
Locking unifornIt, security HghtnesS strength du,d
bti'p n0reiy u construction and facility Of Tive
kinds of Locks and Keys; Of brass and the other Of
iron, different i'll exterior FORM and Interior struc
ton arrangement, required; and Proposals should
specify separately the price of each brass lock- each key
for same, each iron lock and each key same Dupli
cate samples Of eac! kind of locks and Keys proposed
required be submitted with the proposals one of
cacl sample lock to he rvited up and flashed and
another to he open unrvitcd, that its internal
structure and arrangement may easily be examined
Every sample should be plainly marked with the bidders
name and, if the same or part Of it be covered by
patent, the date OF such patent, and the the
patentce must also he attached thereto.
The internal plan or arrangement of the locks offered
and the particular shape of the key requisite open
them, must not be like any heretofore in
| They must he warranted not to infringe upon
fic with any patented invention Of which the bidder is
not the patcnten. Preference will he given to lock
tho key of which has not been exposed general
been publicly described dis closed or suggested
decision the various specimens and proposals will
be made before the Sd day of March, 1870. and
unless the Postmaster General shall deem be for the
interests of the Department to reject all the Proposals
and Specimens submitted under this advertisement, Ia
right hereby expressly reserved for him. will
be entered into soon thereafter practicable, with
the successful bidder whose locks shall he adopted for
furnishing similar locks and KEYS for years
may he required and ordered. If mutually agreed to i'll
writing by the contractor and the Postmaster General
for the time being not less than six months before it,
expiration the may be extended and continued
for additional term of four years But and after
eNu of cit of
after its righfu annument at any time the Postmaster
General shall have the right TO contract with employ
any other party 10 furnish the sae any other kind
of locks and keys: and if he shall deem proper, de-
mand and receive from the late deiutiu
all finished unfinished keys and the internal parts of
the locks contracted for and all dies gauges and de
signs. (Which would enable others 10 make forge such
locks or keys in the possession OF such contractor who
after their surrender to the Department shall he paid ur
the same, at such price be ascertned by fair
apprai'ement.
The contractor must agree and he able to furnish if
required aud ordered 10000 Brass Locks and
Keys within three months from the of entering into
contract and 900 Iron Locks and 90 900 Iron Kew.
within ten months from such time. But the Postmaster
General will the right 10 increase diminish
the wants interests of the service may demand tn,
quantities Of til" Locks and Keys above specified with
propnrtiouatc allowance Of time o furnish them
All the Locks furnished by the contractor must be
warranted to Keep in good working order for tw"
in the ordinary of the SERVICE when not subjected to
obvious violence: such become defective within that
time to he replaced with perfect Locks without charge
All the Locks furnished under be- each
distinctly marked U. 5. Mail in either sunk raised
letters and all the Keys lie numbered in the
ural order each Key having its appropriate number dis
tnctly stamped upon side of the bow and U. S
Mail ON the opposite side
The contractor will be required to deliver the Locks
his expense at the Post Office Department Wash
ington. d. C., put upon sticks, forming separate ndlr
of five locks EACH and securely packed in wooden boxes
containing no; more than two hundred locks each The
keys 10 lee delivered to agent of the Department
duly and specially authorized in each case take charge
of ami convey the same from the contractors manufac
tory the Department. where both locks and KEYS are
to be inspected and approved before they shall paid
for.
The contractor will be required to give bond with am
pie security in the of Fifty Thousand Dollars to he
forfeited to the United States quidated damages in
either as to furnishing the supplies ordered within
reasonable time to guarding the manufacture of
the Mail Locks and ksys with due priya " integrity and
No Proposal will therefore he accepted if not
panied with bond OF the penal sum of Twenty Thous
and Dollars duly executed by the proposed sureties
(whose responsibility must be certified by Judge Of
Court of Record nearest TO their place Of residence at
tested by the Clerk of such Court under the seal thereof
and conditioned for their becoming responsible
ties on the required bond for the fulfment Of the
tract in such Proposals shall c accepted Tie
manufacture of Mail Locks and Keys is of necessity.
highly important and delicate trust which the Depart
ment will confde to no bidder whose Proposals are not
also accompanied with testimonials Of good character
In deciding the Proposals and Specimens the Post
master General may deem it rxpe,cnt TO select the
Brass Lock Of bidder and the Iron Lock of another
lie, therefore, the right of contracting with diff
frent individuals for such different kinds of Locks he
may select
Proposals should be carefully sealed and addressed to
the Second Assistant Postmaster General and endorsed
tho envelope Proposals for Mail Locks
JOHN A. J. CRESWELL,
oct 30, lS63-Sw Postmaster General