Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-22
BURGLARS VERSUSLOC
A BATTLE OF YEARS IN WHICH THE
LOCK HAS FINALLY WON.

hdt -NoW tnults anu sdits
Against tho threads of Skilled Cracks
men and Dishonest Custodians.
The years 1873 and 1874 marked an
era in the evolution OF locking devices
for burglar proof safes in the United
States and Canada which eliminated
in complete change from pre-exist-
ing methods. Prior to that key locks
had been improved to the utmost
point, reaching the climax of excel
lence in the ingenious and intricate
mechanism of the magic bank lock"
invented about forty years ago by
Linus Yale, Jr. Combination locks
had almost entirely superseded key
locks as means for locking burglar
proof vaults and safes, and for time
these were deemed impregnable; but
little later James Sargent, of Roches-
ter, n. Y, demonstrated his ability
to pick the best combination lock
monstration he received $1,000 from
the lock maker.
Being practical mechanic with in
ventive genius of high order, Mr..
Sargent at once set about the inven-
tion and manufacture of combina.
ton lock that he himself could not
pick, and the result was contrivance
which was adopted by the leading safe
makers of the country and later by the
United States Treasury Department.
AS consequence of Sargents inven-
ton, safe and vault burglars were
compelled to devise new and moro
desperate methods, and after trying
various expedients they very generally
adopted what became known as
"masked burglary" as the most feas-
ible plan that suggested itself. In
carrying out this method, q gang of
masked and armed desperadoes would
act in conjunction, some on guard and
others securing and gagging bank
Official taking him to his bank and
compelling him by threats, or torture
if necessary, to unlock the vaults.
Success crowned their early efforts
and the method lecame alarmingly
prevalent throughout the country.
Bank officers and other custodians of
funds became exceedingly apprehen-
sive, and their families and friends
were in state of constant anxiety.
A few officials who refused to comply
with the demands of their captors
paid the penalty OF their refusal with
their lives.
For time makers of burglar proof
contrivances were baffled in their ef-
forts to devise an adequate remedy.
Bankers were in dread for the safety
of their funds and persons, and manu-
facturers of hitherto burglar proof
safes were amazed by this new danger
with which they were for the time un-
able to cope. Again Mr.. Sargent came
to the rescue. He devoted himself day
and night to developing plans for lock
which even the custodian of it's COM
bination could not open until the pre-
determined time for unlocking. With
ing few weeks from the first stroke
of the pencil in making sketches of
the parts complete time and combina-
tion lock, in one case, was ready for
use. This style OF time lock is still in
vogue, although only limited num-
ber of these locks was made, be-
cause bankers and others agreed that
it would be better to have time locks
and combination locks separate and
Independent, but still acting in con-
junction so far as controlling the bolt
work of the vault is concerned. This
latter plan has been adopted almost ex-
clusively.
Safemakers were timid about accept
ing so radical an innovation IN exist
ing methods. For long time no one
was willing to become the pioneer in
adopting the safeguard. Meanwhile
masked burglaries were becoming more
frequent.
In May, 1874, Mr.. Sargent sold the
first time lock ever purchased by a
banker to the First National Bank, al
Morrison, ILL.,, making the attachment
himself. From that time the sue.
cess of the invention was assured, and
ere long safemakers began to equip
, their new work with time locks as O
necessary condition of sale. The early
sales were confined mostly to banks
and to the departments of the LGited
States Government, but the demand
, soon became general and other insti
tutions and individuals having the
| custody OF valuables requiring burg
{ lar-proof safes followed the lead of the
bankers and the Government.
Among the services rendered by the
, time lock, aside from its protection
/ against outside invasion by burglars
is the safety it affords to cashiers ant
other bank officers by making it i'm
, possible for them to comply with the
| demands of burglars. 1t also furnishe!
security against the successful use o
the combinations of combination lock!
/ by dishonest bank employees or b.
r others who may have gained knowl
, edge of the combination. Further
more, that class Of robberies, one,
r prevalent, in which the safes wer,
/ found uninjured and locked just a
| they were on closing, has almost en-
tirely ceased since the introduction o
time locks.
r When burglars become convinced
that it is impossible for bank officers
- ,of1 % l.,