Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-08


lar Proof Safes.
The earliest style of safe known was
made in heavy oak or other hardwood
boxes or chests. They were bound on the
corners and across the top and front with
iron bands studded with nails. Iron plates
We're eventually made to cover the outside
of the chest and nailed to the wood. The
foundation of the plan upon which fire
proof safes are still constructed was laid
by Richard Scott in 1901 The improve
ment previous to 1925 was to make the
chest of soft wood, in thicker body, soaked
in brine. After thoroughly soaking both
the inside and outside shells sheets of iron
were fastened inside and outside with
large nails or spikes.
The idea and principle was that the
moisture in the wood upon the application
of heat would produce steam and prevent
the interior and its contents reaching
temperature Of PIP degs, Below that point
paper of every description will be preserved
from damage either to the fiber Of the ma
terial or to the writing which may be upon
its surface. These principles of the steam
producing quality and the reliance upon
this quality is the principal element in the
manufacture Of all safes OF the present day
though different materials may be used to
produce the same result.
James Conner, n type founder of this
city, about lS29-32 invented an iron strong
box with double shell, having as "A filling
plaster Of Paris mixed with water. Later the
shells were lined with sheets of mica past
ed on paper and filled with burned clay or
sawdust and charcoal. Plaster retained
the moisture successfully, but was so de
structive to the thin iron shells that its
use was abandoned. Conner allowed his
invention TO lapse, and man named Fitz.
gerald in 1913 obtained new letters patent
on the same kind Of "A safe
SOME OLD SAFES.
William Mari, Of London in 1884, was
the first to patent method of construction
for safes In 1898 Charles Chubb, of the
same city, used concentric Innings of iron
plates filled in between with wood ashes
or other slow conducting materials of
nature to retard the transmission Of heat.
In lS43 letters patent were granted to the
Messrs. Tam for the use of pounded alum
and gypsum previously heated and cooled.
as "A fire resisting medium. In 1910 Thorn
as Miner had patented plan to fill the
jacket, formed by the double plates, with
sawdust in which were packed a number
of small tubes filled with an alkaline sou
alum or soda combining from 40 to GO per
cent. water capitalization.
In case of fire the safe heating tubes
would burst or the crystals would melt
and saturate with water the sawdust
Steam thus produced by the heat would
pass into the inner safe and protect its con
tents, if inhammable, for long time
George Price, Of Wolvcrhampton, England
in 1865, tried the plan Of coating metal sur
faces exposed TO the filling with a compost
ton to prevent corrosion, and then used
powdered alum and sgwdust as "A filler
Previous to this, in 1910, dry plaster and a
common grade of alum or potash alum was
found to be of value as a non-cOnductor of
heat Plaster was used for its nou-con
ductor quality and alum for the large pro
portion of water it contains in crystaliza
ton. The same heat which produced steam
also fused or dsintegrated alum, releasing
the moisture and producing the requisite
steam qualities.
The principal argument that might be
used against this combination would be
that alum in fusing almost entirely disap
pears Thus vacuum is left to take the
place of which there is nothing to support
the outer frame Of the safe. The outer
frame must remain intact in order to retain
the steam.
MODERN SAFES.
In another mixture Of similar character
at this time was included marble dust and
the refuse of soda manufactures. When
this material was heated it was supposed
to produce carbouic acid gas The gas was
to subdue or eNtiuguish fire or flames in
the immediate vicinity by reducing the
temperature Still another material used
as a filler was pulverizcd hydraulic cement
which embraced the several qualities of the
plaster and alum.
This material is a nOu-cOnductOr of heat
and contains water in large quantities
Unlike the dry plaster and alum it is q
solid, having a crushing strength in itself
of several hundred pounds to the square
inch. The extraction of the moisture 10y
any degree of heat that can possibly be
produced in an accidental fire leaves the
filling solid and intact The volume i,
neither increased nor decreased, so there Il
no strain on the frame which covers it,
Most Of the lircproof safes Of the present
day are made Of wrought iron plates ant
angles on the outer and inner frames. Tn,
usual thickness Of the walls is from five
and a half to six inches Combination lock,
are used almost universally; yet locks arr
the exception. The number of safes pro
increased in later years.
Burglar proof safes are distinct from
freproof safes in material, construction
and the object for which they are built
The walls are composed Of high and low
grades of steel, which, when tempered
will resist the most powerful drill. Blu
it is an error TO suppose that safe whic'
provides security from the burglars drill
is for that reason sufficiently protecte,
from burglars who are properly fitted 70
an attack upon "A bank safe or vault.
Recent experience has demonstrated tina
other methods are more expeditions, in
volving less risk for the operators, and ar
frequently more certain Of success. Wedge
inserted across one edge of door ant
driven home by repeated blows Of a ham
mer retain on each wedge the combinet
strength of each blow struck The in
clined plane of the wedge, being the foun
dation principle Of all mechanical power
has proved in nu Serious successful banl
burglaries to be IA most potent factor in tn
art Of safe breaking.
Wedges are frequently used also II
breaking and removing the spindle whic
connects the combination knob and tn
lock. Thus is left an opening for al ex
plosion Of POWDER which makes short worI
in demolishinR the door Sometimes tn
body of the safe or the door may be tor
apart by other methods, such as strippin