The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-16
THE BURGLARS KIT,

THE BIRGL4R'S KIT.
Factory that Manufactures burglars
Tools Observation-Disclosures Science Aids the
Crook-Devices In Selling.
From the Denver News
The manufacture of burglars tools
has grown to be a highly important
one In the United States, the export
value of the machinery of this Kind
made IN the country and sent to for
eign lands III 1884 running IN to .
total value of S275, 258.44. Yet few
readers probably have ever been in
side OF factory of this kind. In or
der TO let the great majority into the
secrets OF the art a reporter entered an
establishment just beyond the Larimer
street bridge. He was cordially re-
celved by the foreman of the shop, who
kindly escorted him through it, ex
planning at the same time the different
articles turned out and the manner of
making.
"This," said the foreman sis the
Cutrow electric saw, and an implement
which feel safe in prophesying will
reyolutlonlze the burglary business"
Inc reporter examined the saw care
fully, but could see nothing about it
differing greatly from an ordinary rib
bon saw, with the exception that there
were no teeth on the steel ribbon.
This ribbon" said the gentleman.
sis made OF platinum. It's design is
to saw safes open. By the ordinary
use OF the machine it would in due
course OF time saw a safe open. But
as dispatch is an essential element in
the business OF burglary, something
speedier is needed. Now what Is
needed IS to increase the cutting power
of the ribbon. This will be done bv
heating it to a white heat with cleo
trlclty. When this is done and the
sale properly insulated the hardest
burglar-proof safe can be sawed open
as easily as though made of wood and
III less time"
But where is the electricity to be
had ?"
easily enough. Most large stores are
lighted with electric lights, and all the
burglar will have to do is to divert the
current to the machine, matter re-
curing but q moments work"
"How does the electricity aid the
machine?"
"Why it fuses the iron it comes in
contact with. Just look here"
The foreman started the machine in
motion, at the same time throwing on
stream of electricity from dynamo
machine. The ribbon at once became
a pink white. He then started it in
motion by turning crank with his
hand. The ribbon moved up on it's
frame until it came in contact with a
heavy anvil, from which portion had
been cut away previously. The ribbon
moved into the anvil with as much
ease as though it were a cake of cheese,
and passed through it dropping off
large slice TO one side and falling with
a dull but not siCkening thud.
A steel crOwbar was tried next and
a fragment taken off of it with almost
as much ease.
cts daisy" said the elucidator,
"and will exercise the ingenuity of the
safe-makers before they manage to get
lup safe hard enough to withstand its
electrical edge"
Glow long would it take to saw
| through a safe with this?'
''Not more than anhour on any safe
that | have yet SEEN"
"But would it not be little awk-
ward for a burglar to carry one Of
these machines around with him"
ooh, bless you, no, not in the least.
| You see, this is made in sections and
carried in any ordinary hand-satchel.
| 1t requires but a few moments to eth
Fl take 1t apart or put 1t together
again"
care there any of them in use?"
"Not yet. This has only just been
perfected, and we are now arranging
for their manufacture on an extended
scale.
ais it patented ?"
"No. Owing to a prejudice existing
in the patent Office at Washington we
do not usually patent our articles.
| Here is one, however, that We have
mad patented. This is an automatic
spray fountain, and is designed for
filling q room and chloroforming peo-
pie while they sleep. We turn out q
| very large number OF these, they being
in use in jails and insane asylums for
gaining control of dangerous inmates"
"What Is this?" asked the reporter.
ooh, that? 1t is a little implement
greatly in demand by house breakers
OF late. The screw there is intended
to bring pressure to bear upon the
hand of the subject sufficient to make
him ready to give up his money"
"But is it not painful ?"
at is extremely effective, andis only
resOrted to when such mild measures
as holding lighted candle under the
feet fails of its purpose. But here are
our cutting bars, the finest made any
where in the West. There is a bar
with which the least skillful burglar
can cut his way through the grating
and gain access to the basement OF
any store in the city in five minutes
time"
els there much demand for these?"
81 should say so. A large part OF it
comes, however, from fremen. who
formerly found great difficulty in get
ting into Easements in fighting fires.
That hook there is capable OF cutting
any bar at single twist"
"But what are these, fronts for
vaults?"
ooh, no, although about as useful
| for the purpose as most OF the vault
fronts are. These are screens, made,
as you see, of oiled cloth, and are used
by burglars while operating on bank
| vault doors. The screen can be rolled
up into the shape of q cane, and when
in use is ranged across in front OF the
vault door, which it so closely resem-
bles that, while the burglar walks be
hind it, the night Waterman never
dreams that he is not gazing upon the
real vault front"
He displayed q large number OF 9th.
er tools and paraphernalia in demand
among burglars, including masks,
dark-lanterns, jimmies, crowbars,
drills, steel knuckles, sling shots, etc.
Glow many men do you employ ?"
asked the reporter.
"From twenty to fifty, depending
upon the condition of trade. Our
business is liveliest when everybody
else's is dullest, and we are now run
ming with a fair-sized force"
"Where does the demand for your
instruments come from mostly?"