Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-21
MODERN BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM
installed in Augusta Trust Co.'S. Offices .Ab.
so'utc Protection Aga Est Burglars.

yesterday there was completed at
lhe Augusta Trust Company of this
city, Tie installation of the new Pro
tectiVe System of the Bankers Electric
Protective Co, Boston, and the vault
OF that Institution has now as perfect
Il protection against burglary as the
oraln OF man can devise.
The. system is very simple in its
workings but very complicated in its
construction. and will defy the efforts
OF the most expert electrician 10 render
II imperative, even when possessed OF
full knowledge Of all details of manu-
f2ctu:e. This system is being installed
III a great many of the leading banks
throughout the country TO prevent the
purgiariZing of their vaults by means
Of electricity, or by any other method
known to crooks. Though not gencu~-
ally known, it is now possible to put
hoieS through the thichest chrome steel
doors by means Of carbon rod con-
nected with the incandescent or trolley
circuits, or even q storage battery cir
cult.
A feature of this new system is the
sounding of an lS-inch gong. which is
PLACED in Il protected steel box outside
the bank building. Any attempt to
tamper with this alarm box or the
vault proper, or the connection be-
tween the two. starts this big gong
ring. and its changing can be heard at
night for over a mile. The vault is
connected with the alarm box by a
braided cable composed of IS strands
OF very fine copper wire, each indiVid-
ually insulated ard braided together.
forming a completely of circuits and
resistences with which it is a physical
ana electrical impoSsibility 10 tamper.
II one Of these small wires Is cut or
any two Of them brought together, the
gong will instantly sound, and keep on
sounding.
All Of the Instruments controlling the
system are locked up in steel box in
side Of the vault itself. ana when the
system is closed, it is closed against
all alike. No ono can open or tamper
with the vault door until the time lock
throws it out Of circuit at the hour sct
for opening in the morning.
The great advantage of this system
lies in the fact that il III indep .ndent
Of any human equation. and when the
banker closes up for the night. he
simply leaves il in it's own charge. III
case OF All attempt to roh the bank
even should there be 10 policemen or
citizens On the street at night it is NOT
within the realm Of possibility that The
burglars would continue their opera
tions when this lS-inCh gong was
Changing FOR assistance ANA waking up
everybody in the vicinity.
Speaking Of electrical burning. a
modern bank Vault was opened last
December in the Exchange building Of
Boston ~ tn use Of electricity OBJ
tanned from the current in the build
ing. The bankers had been locked OUT
IF their vault owing to the failure Of
the combination lock to work. Several
safe experts worked on the door for
six hours without success. ANA il was
then decided to strip the door hy
means of explosives or by Wedging.
This would have taken at least IS
hours, 50 electricity was tried, with the
result that hole was put through the
three inches of chrome steel in less
than FIVE minutes. and the vault was
then opened by means Of punching off
the locking mechanism.
If any electrician thinks he can de-
feat the system just installed in the
Augusta Trust CO.. he will be given a
fair show TIE Bankers Electric Pro-
tectjve Co. agree to refund the money
paid for the system in case it can be
defeated in a burglarious manner on
test or otherwise within two years
from date Of installation.
Tire number of persons visiting the