Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-20
An Expert Lock Picker.

The death Of Alfred B. Hobbs at
Bridgeport, Conn q, last week, recalls to
mind some remarkable feats OF his which,
at the time. not only created a sensation
but neeessitated, in many instances. an
entire change in the methods Of securing
bank vaults When Mr.. Hobbs was but
thirteen years old he occurred work in
New York While there he Invented
lock which was superior to any
other in use, and picked all
locks of competitors which were
brought to him He become acquainted
with Day d Newhall, the bank lock
makers. and took entire charge of selling
their locks. Ii became necessary to prove
to bail ers that the locks they were
using were not secure. and therefore he
made set of fine tools. to open their
vaults and safes His i'st call was at a
bank in Stamford. They had in use II
paddock which was considered abso.
iutely safe. 1t held an iron strap
over the keyhole OF an Andrews bank
lock which bad cost the bank $50
In addition they had warded lick
making three locks. any one of
which was believed to be quite secure.
l. WAS decided that if the locks on the
outside door and the vault could be
opened in two hours without ipiuring
the locks they would purchase new
one. Mr. Hobbs opened all four vaults
in twenty three minutes. This was in
ls47. and until 1851 Mr.. Hobbs visited
nearly all the banks in the United States.
In 1913 he saw a reward of $500 offered
by Mr. Woodbridge of Perth AmbOy to
any one who would open lock Just put
on safe in the Merchants Exchange
reading room in New York Mr.. Hobbs
went to New York, and had thirty days
in which to open the safe. within which
had been placed check for $500 The
room was cleared at o'clock ia the eve
ming and at II 30 Mr.. hobbs had the posi-
ton Of all the tumblers marked out and a
wire inserted by which the bolt could be
withdrawn. Early in the morning he
sent word to Woodbridge that some
thing was the matter with the lock. and
requested him to come in at 10 O'Clock
Woodbridge was delighted, as he had
arranged thatif any instrument should
| be inserted in the lock and the tunblers
were not in proper position such tool
would be locked in and could not BE-
withdrawn. At 10 o'clock Woodbridge.
the directors. and the arbitrators were m
mana. anu CHftiulf utNtb
the wire which he had watched for
three hours and then pulled open the
door of the safe and secured the $500
In April, 1851, Mr.. Hobbs went to Lon.
doa to examine wonderful lock made
by Brahman. There was standing
offer of 200 guiueas to any one who
| should be able to open it without the
key. A committee was appointed long
articles were published in the news
papers, and the trial began. Itt took Mr.
Hobbs fifty one hours to PICK the lock,
and there was complete overthrow OF the
locks in general use in England. William
Brown of Liverpool was the inventor of a
later lock, which was used on the safe
Of Brown, Shipley II Co. bankers, and
in order to open it the letters of word
were selected from dial on the door
Mr.. Hobbs called at the bank and had an
interview with Mr.. Brown, who locked
the safe and then said that it was utter
" impossible to open IL without know
| ing the combination While conversins
with Mr. Brown. FIR. Hobbs stood with
his back to the dial, and with one hand
behind him unlocked the safe and pro-
uounced the lock worthless. Mr. Hnbb-
began lock making for him self in Cheap
side. London, and in time the business
grew enormously.