The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-24

PROPOsALS.
PROPOSALS
FOR MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
81 POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, I
WAsHIseToN, d. c.. Sept. II, 1873. :
SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS

SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS
VIII be received at this Department until 10
o'clock noon, the FIFTEENTH DAY OF DE-
CEMBER, 1873, for furnishing. under separate
contracts. two different kinds of padlocks and
keys one for the sole and exclusive use of regis
tered through mails, and the other for the sole
and exclusive use of street letter 1ores.
Every proposal must be accompanied with du.
plicate samples of the locks and keys thereby
offered to be furnished one of each kind Of
sample lock to be riveted up and finished and
another to be open or unriveted, SO that It's 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 pa
tent, the name of the patentee must be attached
thereto. 1t must also be such as shall be war.
rented to not infringe on any patented invention
Of which the bidder is not the patentee or as.
signee.
The internal plan or arrangement of the locks
offered, and the particular form of the keys re-
quisite 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 impair their security and
usefulness for the mails aud it will be an i'm.
portant consideration in favor of any lock and
key submitted 1t, being otherwise suitable, it
shall have been invented specially for the pur-
pose for which it is offered
Locks suitable for the registered mails, or for
the street letter boxes, should not exceed eight
ounces each In weight and should possess q high
degree of security, strength and durability.
Every such lock, while 1t must be secure from
being opened by any other means than by its
peculiar key, (unless designedly broken by ex-
treme and obvious volence) must be devoid Of
any intricacy in opening with the proper key,
and be capable of being securely shut without
the use Of the key. The shape or size of the
ocks for registered mails should be such as to
make them distinguishable at glance from the
looks Of the street letter bores, and both should,
by their external shape, be instantly distinguish
able from the mail locks now in use. -"
$50 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
shouldsred, couRtersunk, and headed at both
ends. The shell OF case of such locks must not
have sharp angles, and must be free from
knobs, escutcheons, or other appendages likely
to 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, ~. $. Re
giaered Matl,'' and also such number, lin
figures, each, not less than Ole of an inch long.
as may be ordered a different number, not ex
eesting four places of figures in any case, being
required on each lock. Such words and figures
are 10 be sunk by stamping, If the shell be made
OF wrought or sheet brass, or to be raised If the
shell be made of cast meal All the locks fol
registered mails are to be uniformly alike, ex
cspting the numbers marked on them. and al
hat Hov xuh 1,o oaa n ria I'D ror
and nickel-plated, are TO be also alike. so thai
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 hav'
shank nearly two inches long between the BIZ
and the bow, and the bow should be solid, with
small hole through it, and have stamped OF
one side the words, ~. $. Registered Mail
and upon the opposite side such number (iI
figures not less than one-eighth of an inch long
as may be ordered; every key to have a differen
number, of which none will exceed four place
OF figures.
The locks for the Street Letter Boxes are Il
be made of hard and tough brass, and the key
hole Of. each lock should be in the lowest part o
the wall of the shell or case, when the lock |
hanging by it's shacltle, and should be Shelters
by a sufficient jutting out of the upper and lowe
rim around that part of the wall. The interio
mechanism of the lock should be In a pestio
somewhat remote from the key-hole. and b
operated easily by its key, which should be fiat
made of steel. and be OF convenient length an
sufficient strength and stiffness. The bow of tn
key should be solid. with small hole throug
II, and Is to have u s. Letter CARTIER stampe
on one side, and such figures and letters stampe
on the opposite side as may be ordered. TIL
face Of each lock is to have upon 1t ~. $. Sire
Letter Boz in either raised or sunk letters, an
any other letters besides, not exceeding threetha
may be ordered. All the locks and keys of tn
same letter or letters are to be adapted TO eac
other, and no lock is to be opened by any key nj
marked with the same letter or letters.
ss The lock of each kind contracted Tor must /
delivered according to order, at the Post Ofit
department. at the risk and expense of the cor
tractor, put MP in pasteboard boxes of five loci
each. and packed in strong wooden boxes col
ling not more than two hundred locks eacl
Inc keys to such locks are to be strung, by Il