The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
nc BEAT TIE Combinations
Comm odoro Hobbs Tells How he Used TO
Pick Every Lock Made.

| Pick Every Lock Made.
| BR1DGEPoRT. May 31.-Commodore A. Oh obbs,
! superin tendent ofthe Union Metallic Cartridge
| Company. though In his 18th year Is one OF
the most expert lock pickers in the world, and
he consented recently to give some OF his ex-
periences in lecture before the Bridgeport
| Scientific Society. Commodore Hobbs was
| born In Boston in 1872 and when 10 years old
| did chores on farm In four years he had
seen enough of farming and got place in u
| dry goods store. Then he tried wood carving,
| carriage painting, and glass cutting. and
| finally went TO selling locks and safes.
| He became acquainted with Day d Newell. the
| bank lock makers and took entire charge OF
| the sale OF their locks. In order to succeed 1t
was necessary to prove that all other locks
| were not secure, and he made set OF fine tools
with which he could demonstrate that the
vaults and safes OF bankers could be easily
opened He made bis first call on q bank at
Stamford. in this state, in 1S47, and found on
the doors of the vault paddock which was
| considered perfectly secure. This paddock
| held an iron strap over the keyhole OF an An
drews bank lock which had cost $3.50. and in
addition there was u warded lock. making
three locks. any ono Of which was supposed to
conversation with tho directors. who finally
| consented to allow him to attempt 10 enter the
locks if "l he sueceeded Without doing damage
opened tho outside door and picked the three
| locks of the vault in twenty-three minutes.
of Lancaster. Pa, Mr.. HobbSs attention was
one who would open, his lock, then on one Of
reading room in New York He started for New
| York. found Mr.. Woodbridge. and accepted the
open the lock il thirty days by any Instrument
| OF their own, or he would let them have the use
Of the key y for g per hour first having the
| being many bits to the key, only one OF about
| 479.QOO,000 changes would open the lock.
and Mr.. Hobbs arranged with the janitor to
remain at night while he, worked Nj. Wood
bridge had SO constructed the lock that 4 any
attempt was made to Withdraw the bolt before
the tum6ers were al In pr3peF position any
would be fastened there and made immovabie.
Mr.. Hobbs began his work at o'clock in the
evening; and at II o'clock had all the tumbleeETs
ing sent word to Mr.. Woodbridge to be sure
something was the matter with the lock. Mr.
Woodbridge thought, Of course. that his trap
Tor the directors and the oifieas ta accompany
him. When TIE men arevsd NJ Hobbs Lob, sa5 by
Hello Hobbs, what is the matter I"
"Somethin2 is the matter with the lock-"
why. it won't keep the door shut" and
Hobbs threw back the bolt and opened the
safe. The, check was handed over, ana Wood
bridge had to provide a big supper, which was
an expensive affair in those days
Mr.. Hobbs had often heard ola wonderful lock
in the window of the celebrated iockmaker. Bra
| nah OF London. and the offer OF 200 guineas to
any one who should oren 1t without the key.
inRton for Southampton with his box OF locks
to exhibit and his chest OF tools to test the Eu-
AT Inc IN me e9Ke
hbition Of locks by Mr.; Hob hs. and finally the
Queen, with Prince Albert and the FRINGE OF
WaIa atNnt n Spa ia mi nlyl
Mr.. Hobbs spent much time In looking at all
the Bramah locks in the exhibition. and also
figured out how he would open it when the
proper time came. Mr., Ihnb6 challenged
o one was accepted and the feat reformed in
thirty;five minutes; ~,
Having disposed Of the Chubb lock Mr..
lock was on exhibition and asked the attendant
If that was real lock. The man asked the
negative reply was given. Placing the lock In
MIR; Hobbs,s hands. the az attendant turned to
10 feel with his penknife, the points OF the in
terror Of the lock- when the shopke,eper became
tors was called and attention WAS called to the
challenge. which read: The artist that will
produce an instrument that will pick this lock
i Is Produced" Nr. Hobs then said that it
was generally understood that the offer was to
that II they would no, submit 1t to a, test they
make it known to tho public a. irand Ar
rangements were then made for trtal and
began his operations and on Aug. 23 he OK
hbted the l9c1 3pGned before the Indges;
The number Of DAY. We o war Ts sf' apd be T0 0r
was locked and unlocked as before, showing
that Mr. Hobbs had done his work without in
turing the mechanism. and tho 200 guineas
Mr. Hobbs had been in London but short
time when he received a letter from William
brown OF Liverpool the head OF the banking
house, OF Brown Shp@y C4i, requesting MIN
Hob SS found ha Mr Brown vas thu invenor
OF tho lock then IN use on the bank of tho COM
Pad bo that It had many
Mr. Hobbs said he thought it could be easily
out The mpossibility of picking IT. Mr.. Hobbs
said no would look At the lock some time. Five
proceedings OF tho Archaeological society OF
Liverpool, which contained paper on locks,
lock wns described, and il wound up as follows:
During the time OF tlio eHhi6lli9n IN Lon
H to Him. 90 At irst he seemed 70 think he could
open II. but after more thorough explanation
was made TO him, so that he moro fully under
could not opon 1t, and l am having another
made ike 1t TO- Put, ON Il new safe now being
MI Hobbs went to Liverpool and was met
iust coming in, but tho old look would do as
well, If Mr.. Hobbs would like to test il, as II
was al exact duplicate Of tho ono making for
the now sale. Calling In his cashier, brown
directed him 70 look tho safe. Mr. Hobbs then
began to eSpau what he should do II he
should attempt to pck the lock, There was
no Key, but a I wrench was put in hole to
throw tho bolts when the pointers on tho dial
were in their proper position. Mr.. Hobbs said
You do not think anything OF that wrench
No" he said, I've put that on top OF the
safe ut night"
Mr. Hobbs then said; If wanted, to omen
the safe | should take the wrench and put II in
that ! con III feel the bolts while turning tho
pointers on The outer dial"
Just then tho cashier called Mr.. Brown away
He asked to be excused, and turned TO 30
away but before he reached the door the bolts
went back and the safe door came open. Mr.
Hobbs called TO Mr. Brown, saying;
Don't leave me here with this safe OPEN
When asked how II was opened the great lock
expert said: IL don't know. i was turning tho
pointers and II came opon perhaps IL was not
properly locked
The cashier locked 1t again. and 10 show how
easily II could he opened Mr. Hobbs turned his
back TO the door, md without looking ut tho