The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-10-25
PROPOSALSF FOR
NAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.



noon, the FIFTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER. 1873
for furnishing, under separate contracts different
kinds of Padocks and Keys: fr the sol. and rYclu
sive of registered through mails and the other for
the sole and exclusive ol street letter bprss.
Every PROPOSE, must be accompanied with duplicate
samples of the l,cgs and KEYS thereby offered TO be
furnished; of each kind of sample lock he
up and finished, and another 10 be open unrveted
that It's internal structure and arrangements read
ly be examined Each sample should be plainly arked
win the bidders NAME and If the same, or any part
Thereof be covered by patent the of the patenee
must 10 attached thereto 1t must also he such shall
De warranted To not ufrnge ON any patented invention
Of which the bidder is not the patentee assignee.
The internal plan arrangement of the locks offered
ana tho particular form of the keys requisite to open
them. must not he like any hitherto in public
or private use and must not have been exhibited de-
scribed exposed in any manner tending to impair
their security and usefulness for the mails and il will
he an important consideration in favor Of lock and
key submitted it, being otherwise suitable it shall have
offered.
Locks suitable for the registered mails or for the
street letter boxes should exceed eight ounces each
in weight and should possess high degree of security
strength and durability. Every such lock- while it
must be secure from being opened by any other
than by its peculiar key, unless d-sgnedly broken by
extreme and obvious violence) mus, be devoid of
intrcry in opening with the proper key and he capable
of being securely slut without the use of the KEY Tho
shape size of the locks for registered mails should he
such to make them distingushale at glance from
the locks Of the street etterbOreS and both should by
their external shape be instantly distingushable from
the III Ill locks in use.
Tn. Registered Mail Locks should be made of hard
brass. the shackle and rives which
must he irdn the latter well souldered countersunk
and headed at both ends. The shell case of such
locks must not have sharp angles and must be free
knobs, escucheuns, other appendices likely to DO
compressed battered knacked cut of order by tho
peculiarly hard usage of the service Each lock is
nave outside upon its face in tiers sufficiently large
aud distinct U. s. Registered WaiL' and also such
number lin figures each, not less than SIG of inch
long,) may be ordered different number not ex-
ce.Ing four places of figures in any being required
on each lck Such words sud figures to he sunk by
stamping. if the shell be made OF wourght sheet brass
or to be raised if the shell b. made of cast metal All
the locks ur registered mails to be uniformly alike
excepting the numbers marked them. and all their
keys, which should be case-ard-ned iron and nickle
plated TO be also alike that any one of all the
keys which may be furnished for them shall easily fit
and readily open any one and all of the locks. The
keys should have shank nearly two inches long be-
tween the bit and the bow and the bow should be solid
with hole through It. and have stamped on one side
the words, u. - Registered Mail" and upon the oppo-
site side such number lin figures not less than
eighth OF an inch long As may be ordered; every key
to have different number, of which will exceed
four places of figures
The locks fur the Street Letter Boxes he made
of hard and tough BRASS and the of each lock
should be ill the lowest If the wall of the shell
when the lock is hanging by its sacki- and should
lie sheltered by sufficient juttng of the upper and
lower rim around that part of til" wall The interior
mechanism of the lock should hc in position hat
remote from the hry-ole and he operated easily 10y its
key, which should be fiat, made of steel and be Of
venient length and sufficient strength and Stiffness
The bow Of the key should be solid, with small hole
through it, aud is to have L. $. Letter Carriey."
stamped Oh one side, anil such figures and letters
stamped on the opposite side may lie ordered. The
each lock is have upon il u s. Street Letter
BOr" in either aised sunk letters and any other let
tiers besides not exceeding three that may lie ordered
All the locks and keys Of the same letter or letters are
to he adapted to each Other and lock is to he opened
by key not marked with tho same letter or letters
The locks of each kind contracted f,r he deliv
cred according to order at the Post Office Department,
at the risk and expense of the contractor put up in
pasteboard boxes OF five locks each, and packed in
strong wooden boxes containing not more than two
hundred locks each The keys to such locks to he
strung, 10y the natural series IF numbers wire rods,
each containing hundred keys and to be deliv
an agent Of the Department specially authorized
receive them and convey the from the manufac
tory to this Department where both the locks and keys
to be inspected and approved confnrmable to the
adopted sample before they shall he paid for.
From the SIMPLE locks and keys submitted under this
advertisement the Postmaster General will make
selection Tor contract unless no should deem it proper
for the interests of the service to decline accepting any
of the proposals and samples presented Therefore the
right to reject any and all the proposals and samples is
hereby reserved t. him.
decision the several proposals and varions
plos submitted i'll b" made h,f.rt the second day
Of February, l>14 AID within thirty days thereafter the
bidder bidders whose proposals have been
copied must enter int contract with bod and urity
hereinafter specified.
The contracts which may hc male will BE- for tho
"rm Of fur years from and after the first day OF Jan
uary, 1874.
The contractor for Registered Mail Locks and Keys
will be required by contract to furnish said locks and
KEYS in such quantities. and at such times may be
ordered by the Postmaster General and must agree and
he able to furnish ree thousand OF such locks and six
hundred such keys if 80 ordered within three months
after the receipt of such order and IT, furnish thereafter
any further quantities of such locks and keys the
may be ordered. On entering into the contract
the contractor must execute bond in the penalty of
Thousand dollars, with two sufficient suretcs, (cer
titled by the postmaster where they resided conditioned
for full and faithful performance of such contract
The contractor for locks and keys for Street Letter
Boxes will be required to furnish such locks and keys
in such quantities, and at such times may be ordered
by the Postmaster General and must and lie able
furnish twelve thousand of such locks and six thous
and of such keys if ordered within after
nj of Ia tftprn
further quantities of such locks and keys the
may lie ordered. On entering into this contract the
contractor must execute bond in the penalty If twenty
thousand dollars with two sufficient suretics Certified
by the postmaster of the place where they re-de
dIti"ned for the full aud faithful performance of such
contract.
Both contra t. will contain pro-, ision binding the
contractor to guard with due privacy. integrity and
care, the manufacture and custody Of the locks and
keys in the finished and unfinished state. They will
also contain the provision that in of any default
on the part of the contractor Causing the Pustmast
General to aunu the contract all locks and keys fin
isled unfinished ami all such patterns drawings
gauges and dirs in possession Of the contractor may
enable others to make successfully forge counterfeit
such locks and keys shall, on such annnlment of the
contract become the property of the United States for
the of the Post Office Department: aud, thereupon
the Postmaster General shall have the right besides
TO the remedy of the lund demand and receive
the from the contractor. who shall promptly sur
render til" same on the order in writing the Post
master General without comp .us.ti"n. claim to
comp nsafi"n whatever, for the same: ALSO that the
Postmaster General shall that have the full and
aDsntr reht 10 employ any ohef person or persons TO
make and furnish similar locks and keys, without any
charge claim whatever for the use, thereby involved
III any patent of the deflulting contractor.
Every proposal must specify, Internationally. the
price of each Lock and Key of red to be furnished and
must I've accompanied with bond in the penalty of two
thousand dollars, executed by the bidder and su-
cient surctes Certified by the postmaster of the place
whore they reside) conditioned for the bidders enter
ing into contract, with bond and security herenbe
fore specified In case his proposal shall be accepted by
the Postmaster General.
Blank forms Of proposals and accompanying bond and
certificate will he furnished application the Second
Assistant Postmaster General, and all bidders re-
quested to conform thereto in submitting proposals
under this advertisement.
Every proposal should he enclosed in scaled envelope
indor.ed PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS AND
KEYS" and he addressed to the SECOND ASSISTANT
P0STM ASTER GENERAL. Washington. d. C. If sent
BY mail, the postage must Be duiy prepaid.
JN0 A. J. CRESNELL,
Sept q, lSIS-6w Postmaster General.