St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-12-13
VOL. LIX---NO. 3O46.
A MODEL BANKING HOUSE.

tionol Bank, st. Johnsbury, which nave
been in the hands of the safe makers,
decorators, carpenters, and electricians
tor the past month, are nearing compile
tior and in few days will be ready for
inspection. The rooms have been thor
oughly renovated and decorated and
new vault constructed. On entering, the
visitor will at once notice the new effects
on walls and ceilings, which have re-
placed the old and somewhat somber
decorations. The general tone is an
ivory with ceiling in recessed panels re-
lleved by ornamentation in gold and
bronze, frightened by lines of pale
gendarme blue. A cornice of rose pink
enriched with ornamentation in copper
surmounts a conventional frieze of flor
lated pattern. The whole effect of the
room has been much frightened and the
light diffused All the woodwork has
been thoroughly cleaned and refinished
besides.
The most noticeable improvement,
however, is the new vault, which for a
completeness i'll detail, finish, strength,
and convenient adjuncts is not surpassed
by any vault in this state, and by few if
any, in the country. The masonry of
the vault proper is most massive, con-
slstng of sixteen inches of hard burned
brick, on the outside. Next, an air space
oil five inches is provided, inside OF which
is granite wall eighteen inches thick,
in immense slabs. Inside of all is the
steel lining, one and a halt inches in
thickness, composed of welded chrome
steel and iron, each plate having three
layers of steel and two of iron welded
into one homogeneous plate. These
plates when hardened prevent drilling or
sledging. An iron plate would, OF course
be easily drilled, while solid steel plate
when hardened would be altogether too
brittle to withstand blows from heavy
sledge hammer or explosives. The angles
forming the shell OF this vault are tripods
in shape, requiring but eight to form the
entire frame.
These are most massive and are fastened
together In the strongest and most Sc
cure manner. The heavy screws fhsten-
ing the plates together are composed of
steel and iron rods welded and twisted
together and are secured from the inside
no screw passing through any plate but
only up to the inside face of the outer
strata of steel in the plate
AS an illustration OF the thoroughness
which this vault is constructed, it may
, be mentioned that these heavy asten-
iugs are spaced but eight inches apart
, over the entire lining and only six inches
, apart in the doors.
Secured to this lining and built into it
is heavy vestlbule at no point less than
three inches thick, composed las is all
material in this vault OF welded steel
and iron.
Hung to this vestibule upon the inside
is single door OF great strength, three
inches and one-half thick, secured by two
tirst-class combination locks.
But the owning achievement of all is
the massive and beautiful outer door,
which is entirely automatic in action
having no holes whatever through it,
the door after being closed automatically
throwing and locking the bolts and be-
ing released by chronometer lock hav-
ing a triplicate mechanism, preventing
any liability OF trouble from that cause.
This door has six inches of solid steel TO
protect the valuabes placed behind it's
massive walls. 1t is most beautifully
finished and decorated and is work of
art as well as mechanical skill and
strength.
By a new hinge designed by the in
spector i'll charge it has been possible to
make this door acloser fit, perhaps, than
has up to this time been constructed The
hinges admit of the whole door being
adjusted to any position, correcting any
wear which might occur in the lapse of
years.
These hinges are so nicely adjusted and
friction is so far eliminated that this door,
which weighs something over three tons,
can be easily swung by one hand. This
door, depending altogether as to its
automatic character on the integrity of
the time lock used, has been supplied with
Columbian timer, which is the latest
product OF the lockmaker's art, any one
of its three complete and independent
movements having the power to control
the automatic mechanism.
most ingenious electric connection
shows on a suitable instrument the exact
position of the bolts and locks upon this
door when closed.
Both doors have the bolt work pro-
tected from dust and injury by heavy
plate glass doors, and day gate at the
inner entrance OF neat design prevents the
unwarranted intrusion OF any outsider.
The floor is OF mosaic tile, which has
the heur-de-lis design, as do the doors,
bolt bars, timer, etc, the whole being
most harmonious in effect.
The whole OF the lett side Of the vault
is occupied by steel safes, which are
equipped with inner boxes, which are
also locked. These will be rented at a
reasonable price, and will be found valu-
able to those having securities which they
| wish to teel are secure,
The right side is filled with a steel cabi-
r net containing letter files, roller book
shelves, document cases, etc. Not par
ticle OF wood is in this vault for any use.
| The whole is superbly lighted by electric
r lamps controlled by suitable switches
+ outside. The whole work is an acquisi
tion to the bank and the town and re.
2, fleets credit upon it's designers and build
Y ers.
The whole was designed and superin
tended by Fred II. Blake, OF the Blak,
= Bank Lock Inspection Co., of Worcester
+ Mass. The vault was built by the Damon
l. Sale and Iron Works Co., OF Boston ant
: Philadelphia, the frescong and decora
e ton done by Louis Gingras & Son O
d this town.
S On Thursday next the bank official