The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-21
PROPOSALS.
PROPOSALS
FOR MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
WAsHISaToS, ID. O.. Sept. IL, 1873.
SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS

contracts, two different kinds of padlocks anC
keys one for the sole and exclusive use of regis
tered through mails, and the other for the soil
and exclusive use of street letter boneS.
Every proposal must be accompanied with iu
plicate samples of the locks and keys thereby
offered to be furnished ; one of each kind o.
sample lock to be riveted up and finished, and
another to be open or unriveted, so that its in.
ternal structure and arrangement may readily
be examined. Each sample should be plainly
marked with the bidders name, and If the
same, or any part thereof, be covered by a pa
tent, the name of the patentee must be attached
thereto. IL must also be such as shall be war.
rented 10 not infringe any patented invention
OF which the bidder Is not the patentee or as.
| signee.
Inc internal plan or arrangement of the locks
offered, and the particular form of the keys re-
quisitet to open them, must not be like any now or
hitherto in public or private use, and must not
have been exhibited, described or exposed, in
any manner tending to impairther security and
usefulness for the mails aud it will be an i'm.
portant consideration in favor of any lock and
key submitted it, being otherwise suitable, it
shall have been invented specially for the pur-
pose for which it is offered.
the street letter boxes, should not exceed eight
ounces each in weight, and should possess high
degree of security, strength ana durability.
Every such lock, while it must be secure from
being opened by any other means than by its
peculiar key, (unless designedly broken by ex.
IRENE and obvious volence) must be devoid of
any intricacy in opening with the proper key,
and be capable of being securely shut without
ha uea nf tl,al ynxy uvh
locks for registered mails should be such as 10
make them distinguishable at glance from the
locks of the street letter 5ores and both should,
by their external shape, be Instantly distinguish.
able from the mail locks now in use.
The Registered Mail Locks should be made of
hard and tough brass, excepting the shackle and
riVets, which must be iron, the latter we'll
couatersunk, and headed at both
ends. The shell or case of such locks must not
have sharp angles and must be free from
knobs, escutcheons, or other appendages likely
% be compressed, battered, or knocked out of |
order by the peculiarly hard usage of the service
Each lock is to have outside upon its face, in
letters sufficiently large and distinct, az. s. Re.
Jfstered Mall and also such number, lin |
figures, each, not less than Ole of an inch long
Is may be ordered; a different number, not ex- |
seeding four places of figures in any case being
'equired on each lock. Such words and figures |
ire to be sunk by stamping, if the shell be made |
IT wrought or sheet brass, or to be raised if the |
hell be made of cast metal. All the locks for
mails are to be uniformly alike, ex-
epting the numbers marked on them and all |
heir Keys, which should be case-hardened iron
nd nckel-plated, are TO be also alike so that
ny one of all the keys which may be furnished
or them shall easily fit and readily open any
ne and all of the locks. The keys should have
shank nearly two inches long between the bit
nd the bow, and the bow should be solid, with
small hole through it, and have stamped on
ne side the words, "U. s. Registered Mail"
nd upon the opposite side such number lin
cures not less than one-eighth of az inch long)
may be ordered every key to have a different
umber, of which none will exceed four places
f figures.
Inc locks for the Street Letter Boxes are to |
made OF hard and tough brass, and the key.
ole of each lock should be in the lowest part of
ne wall OF the shell or case when the lock is
angling by its shackle, and should be sheltered
y a sufficient jutting out of the upper and lower
I'M around that part of the wall. The interior |
of the lock should be in a position |
'mewhat remote from the key-hole, and be
perated easily by its key, which should be fiat,
ade of steel, and be of convenient length and |
Efficient strength and stiffness. The bow of the
" should be solid, with a small hole through
, and is to have "U. s. Letter Carrier'' stamped
a one side, and such figures and letters stamped
4 the opposite side as may be ordered. The
zee of each lock is to have upon it "U s. Street
etter Boc in either raised or sunk letters, and
ny other letters besides, not exceeding three that
ay be ordered All the locks and keys of the
lme letter or letters are to be adapted to each
her, and no lock is to be opened by any KEY not |
arked with the same letter or letters.
The lock of each kind contracted for must be
'lvered according to order, at the Post Office
at the risk and expense of the con-
actor, put up in pasteboard boxes of five locks =
lch. and packed in strong wooden boxes con.
liz ing not more than two hundred locks each
he keys to such locks are to be strung, by the
itural series OF numbers, on wire rods, each con-
ming one hundred keys, and are to be delivered =
an agent OF the Department specially author. !
ed to receive them and convey the same from !
e mandatory to this Department, where both
e locks and keys are to be inspected and APP
owed as comfortable to the adopted sample
fore they shall be paid for
From the sample locks and keys submitted Y
lder this advertisement, the Postmaster '
eneral will make a selection for contract. mn U
IS he should deem it proper for the interests of
e service, to decline accepting any of the pro- Q
'sals and samples presented. Therefore the
sht to reject any and all the proposals and
mples is hereby reserved to him. I
A decision on the several proposals and various
mples submitted will be made on or before the | ,
cond day of February, 1874, and within thirty
US thereafter the bidder or bidders whose pro.
sails may have been accentad must anIar into | =