Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-03-09
HOW SAFES ARE MADE.
FlREPRoOF MATERIAL is PLACED BE-
TWEEN IRON SHEETS.

of Mixtures Are Used for Filiing-Burg-
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
were eventually made to cover the outside
Of the chest and nailed to she 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 1875 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 a
temperature of 2l2 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, a type founder Of this
city, about 1S29-32 invented an iron strong
box with a double shell, having as 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 it's
use was abandoned. Connor allowed his
invention to lapse, and a man named Fitz.
gerald in lS+3 obtained new letters patent
on the same kind of safe.
SOME OLD SAFES.
William Marr, of London, in 1884, was
the first to- patent method of construction
for safes In 1888 Charles Chubb, of the
same city, used concentric Innings Of iron
plates filed in between with wood ashes
or other slow conducting materials of a
nature to retard the transmission of heat.
In 1s4S letters patent were granted to the
Messrs. Tam for the use of pounded alum
and gypsum, previously heated and cooled,
as fire resisting medium. In 1910 Thorn
as Miner had patented plan to I'll the
jacket, formed by the double plates, with
sawdust in which were packed number
Of small tubes filed with au alkaline soXu-
ton and Theoretically sealed or crystals Of
alum or soda combining from 10 to. 66 pel
cent. water crystalfzation.
In case of fire the safe heatink, tube,
would burst or the crystals woknld mel
and saturate with water the/ sawdust
Steam thus produced by the Meat woul,
pass into phe ipner safe and riote\et its con
tents, II inilalAmable.- for long time
George Price, ofNoNerhampton IN, ,gland
In 1855, tried the plan Of coating metNsl an,
faces exposed to the filling with COM nos
ton to prevent corrosion, and then Nse
powdered alum and sawdust as flle,
Previous to this, in lSi9, dry plaster and a
common grade of alum or potash alum was
found to be Of value as nonconductor OF
heat Plaster was used for its non-con.
ductor quality and alum for the large pro
portion of water 1t contains In crystaliza-
tion. The same heat which produced steam
also fused or dsintegrated alum, releasing z
the moisture aud producing the requisite
steam qualities.
The principal argument that might be
used against this combination would Ge
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 outey
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 IL was supposed
to produce carbonic acid gas. The gas was
to subdue or extinguish fire or flames in
the immediate vicinity by reducing the
temperature. Still another material used
as filler was pulverized hydraulic cement,
which embraced the several qualities OF the
plaster and alum.
This material is non-conductor OF heat
and contains water In large quantities
Unlike the dry plaster and alum II Is a
solid, having n crushing strength in itself
Of several hundred pounds to the square
inch. The extraction OF the moisture by
any. degree Of heat that can possibly bs
ppoduced in an accidental fire leaves the
filling solid and intact. The volume ID
neither increased nor decreased, 80 there "a
no strain on the frame which covers it.
Most Of the flreproof safes Of the present
day are made OF wrought iron plates and
angles on the outer and inner frames. The
usual thickness OF the walls Is from five
and u half to six inches Combination locks
are used almost universally; yet locks are
the exception. The number OF safes pro
duced by the manufacturers has largely
increased in later years
Burglar proof safes are distinct from
hreproof 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 teinpered
will resist the most powerful drill. BuI
1t Is an error TO suppose that a safe whicI
provides security from the burglars drill
In for that reason sufficiently protected
from burglars who are properly fitted I'd
an attack upon bank safe or vault
, Recent experience has demonstrated I'd
, other methods are more expeditions,
volving less risk for the operators, and I
frequently more certain OF success Wed
) inserted across one edge OF door
, driven home by repeated blows OF
mer retain on each wedge the con
! strength Of each blow struck III
clined plane OF the wedge, being th<
Q dation principle Of all mechaRt
g has proved In numeR-
= burglaries 70 ho-q
8 art Of safr