The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-09
BATTLING BURGLARS
SAFES AND LOCKS WHICH ARE PROOF
AGAINST TAMPERERs.

and HAS S02, $50 Different CombinM&tomAs
Elaborate Mechanism to Proeect Treasure
There lie no denying the fact that the
burglar Of today, who aims at high
game. displays amazing ingenuity in
the manufacture of scientific tools and
apparatus and also in the practical work.
ing Of the same
But he is completely out Of the rum
ming when pitted against our safemak-
ers and locksmiths, even though he peri
odically buys their wares for expert
mental purposes.
While the present writer was being
personally conducted" over the prem.
ises Of the greatest firm Of locklnakers
In the world he acquired much interest
ing information concerning those won
drous pieces of mechanism which pro-
tect the vast riches Of palaces, banks
and strongrooms, and which render it
absolutely impossible for thieves to
break in.
Perhaps the most interesting depart
ment was that one in which an exhibi-
tion Of the highest form Of the burglars
craft was being given. Skilled workmen
were seated before locked safes and
were using the almost irresistible fusing
apparatus ON the door in order 10 reach
the locks or were forcing gunpowder
through the keyholes by means Of q tiny
pair of bellows
Others were squirting corrosive chem
icals into the locks and noting the Eff
feet, while sturdy artisans were using
the drill and the wedge with scientific
force and skill that showed they could
be dangerous enemies to society If they
were criminally inclined.
The fusing apparatus consists Of q
cylinder OF compressed oxygen gas,
which supplies a short section Of pipe
terminating in an iron cup. The latter
Ii pressed firmly against the door after
o light has been applied. and stream
of fame issues from the end Of the pipe
in its bottom. So fierce is this fame
that it melts the metal in the safe door
and eats jagged hole through IL In o
remarkably short space of time
We turn ont about 2s8, 900 locks ev-
cry year, " remarked the manager of the
works, land they range in weight from
quarter OF an ounce including key
to 226 pounds, the respective values Of
these extremes being 10 cents and 81
800. egss
foremost among these looks which
protect enormous wealth come those on
the treasury doors Of the Bank of Eng
land. The making Of each of these mar
vels Of mechanism occupies three men
for six weeks and costs S375.
Those little fiuted pieces Of steel in
the head Of the key--teohnically called
steps s'-are nine in number and are Ca
pable OF S62, $50 different combinations.
"If banker whose safe was fitted
with this lock chanced to lose his key, or
If he had reason to suppose that wax
impression of it had been made, all
that would be necessary in order to baf-
fie burglarious designs would be to un-
lock the safe with the duplicate key,
unscrew the head and change the posi-
tion of tho steps and then relock the safe
or strongroom.
''The mechanism of the lock would
instantly adapt itself to the changed
combination and could never be un-
locked by the former key.
This. however, is not an unmixed
blessing. One afternoon certain city
merchant was amusing himself by un-
screwing the steps of both his keys
when it suddenly occurred to him that
he had forgotten the combination.
As the keys in question were capa-
BILE of thousands of combinations, there
was nothing for IL but to set to work on
q system of numbered tables and tick
of each combination as it were tried.
But that may take months, OBJ
jected the merchant ruefully. Well, as
the only other alternative was to build.
furnace round the door Of the safe it
was decided to try the combination first.
We sent two men and an apprentice
with the printed tables great sheets Of
paper several yards long after nine
days labor, during which about IS, 900
different combinations were arranged
and tried, the right one was hit upon by
accident, and the door opened Needless
10 say, there was pretty big bill
against the customer who gave MS all
this trouble
''The treasury doors at the Bank Of
England measure feet and weigh
about Q ~ tons Besides being fitted
with the above mentioned changeable
locks they have violence locks 8 feet
long. each Of which weighs 900 pounds,
and gunpowder proof locks, having
blowholes ON every side, even through
the massive bolt These blow holes al
low the gunpowder pumped In to escape
and reduce the force Of o possible explo-
sion TO mere harmless puff.
'It is worthy of note that there are
more than 10000 locks fitted In the
Bank OF England Then comes the Sa-
voy hotel with 300, controlled by one
master hey. The manager Of each Of the
SIX floors at the Savoy, however. has q
master key which controls the look of
every room under his supervision.
Her majesty's safe at Windsor cas-
tie In which the gold plate is kept
weighs eight tons and is protected BY
. violence lock l8 inches long. change
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