The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-31

Iutely fire and burglar PROOF consnuc-
ton, and comprises ali the latest ana
most modern features In bank want |
construction and equipment. Ihese
vaults occupy approximately l'ooo
square feet of floor space, ana are
divided into a safe deposit vault and
cash or money vault, a silver vault
and a book vault.
These vaults are located IN the
basement OF the building, and access
TO same is had down magniheent
marble stairway to the vault toooy.
which is closed off from the puolc
space by heavy grille the door
through which IS guarded at all Ines
by special officer.
The safe deposit ana money vaults.
or the vaults first seen in coming
down the stairway. viii probably be
OF the greatest interest to the pub
lie. These vaults are constructed CT
reinforced concrete twelve inches
thick. The reinforcing, consists OF
heavy steel Jail rod grillage, buht
in one cage and thoroughly secured
by heavy angles at all corners form
ing great resistance against mobs
should they attack the walls of the
vault at any time, as well as strength
cning and reinforcing the concrete
walls around the vault. which are
Inside this steel Jail rod grilage
aud concrete work Is a steel lining
three inches thick ut all points, built
IN of plates of 5-plv welded chrome
steel puf together in such manner
as to give the greatest resistance
against any burglarious attacks th&<
might he made ON this portion Of
the vault.
Safe Deposit and Money Vaults.
The safe deposit and money vaults
each are provided with an entrance
way. having ia round door especially
designed for thls bank. Each door
Is twelve inches thh,k, OF solid chrome
steel. the total thickness OF the doors.
hoitwork, etc, being twenty one
inches These doors VIII each weigh
twelve tons. ana salue are the en-
hodiment Of all the latest and most
modern construction. being hung
upon massive goose neck crane
hinges, and equipped with pressure
bars ola The outside. consisting ut
levers and gears to force the doors
firmly into place when they are being
closed. Each of these doors are
locked into position by twentyfoar
locking bolts, each three and one
half inches in diameter. and eaca
door is locked by two combination
locks either one Of which is capable
OF 100000, oo0 changes Of comaina
ttesf. ard these -t4ss3n hinations on each
door are controlled ny a time lock,
each having four separate and dis
tinct movements
Wher. these doors are closed and
locked they are am absolute metal 10
metal joint. making il impossible for
the Introduction of any liquid CT
other explosive. and when the doors
s4tp nd at total
Impossible to again re-cnter the
vaults until the time lock has re-
- leased its control ri the tina Tor
which 1t is set before The door IS
closed
Emergency Opening
The safe deposit vault is divided
from the money vault by heavy steel
partition, which Is constructed with
an emergency opening. this being pro-
Tided SO that in case any time any
thing might possibly go wrong with
the locking mechanism on one Of the
doors. access could always he had 10
same through the other vault and this
emergency door, thus making IL i'm
possible that the bank should ever
be unable to open their vault at the
proper banking hours. This is a
unique feature of bank vault con
struetion. and one that must appeal
TO the patrons of this bank, as pro-
Nt6Ing. against any possible Gontln-
gency that might arise.
In the safe deposit vault are iocat-
ed safe deposit boxes of assorted sizes
TO meet the demands Of the diversity
OF customers, These boxes are all
equipped with double nose locks of
the latest type. these locks being SO
arranged that 1t is impossible To enter
amy box by means OF the key without
having the vault attendant present
This is done to guard against the pos
sibe loss of the key and allowing the
aH6@r thereof Ia haze access ia the
original renters box. As "a further
protection, these locks are SO arrang
ed that the customer cannot introduce
his key into the lock until the vault
custodian has first set same up with
his preparatory key This is spe-
cial feature In the matter of safe
deposit locks. and one of the best safe
guards that has ever been invented
tor this purpose.
The money vault ia divided into
two compartments by heavy grille,
the front compartment being equip
cd for daily service and the rear com
partment for reserve. The reserve
chests are all OF heavy construction,
and all equipped with combination
locks and the most modern locking
mechanism. so as to guard the monies
which the bank holds in trust, at any
and all times.
handsome outer finish.
The entire interior and exterior of
the safe deposit and money vaults
are provided with a handsome metal
Jacket, highly finished. and which
must be seen TO be fully appreciated.
A great deal of money has been ex-
pended to provide this additional fin
ish, II being the aim when this work
was designed. to make this the most
distinguished vault that has ever been
constructed
The silver and book vaults are con-
structed similarly to the safe deposit
and money vaults. including the heavy
concrete walls and the steel jail rod
reinforcing Entrance to these vaults
Is had through a heavy rectangular
door, approximately twelve inches
thick, with all fittings and attach
ments as provided for the round doors
for the other vaults already describ-
ed.
1t was the policy Of this bank when
purchasing this vault outfit, to design
and purchase the very best that could
he had, irrespective of expense. and
the bank officials devoted considera-
Bile time TO selecting the contractor
who should build this work for them.
1t was finally determined TO accept
the designs and award the contract to
the Diebold Safe and Lock company,
Canton. O.. on account OF this firm
having built practically all the heavy
vault outfits now in use. and having