IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of Bessborough: Gardens,
Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, and Herbert John Haddan; of
Lupus Street, Pimlico, aforesaid, Civil Engineers, for the Invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan and
Herbert John Haddan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 23rd February 1866.
We, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Bessborough Gardens, Pimlico, in the
County of Middlesex, and HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Lupus Street,
Pimlico, aforesaid, Civil Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES," to be as follows:-
The Invention has reference to security against wrenching or prizing
open the doors of iron safes, and specially against the springing or bending.
the frame or part around the rim or edge of the door away from the door.
itself and the bolts of the lock. The several improvements are as
follows: The constructing safes which in cross section or end view shall
be circular, elliptical, or curved, or partly straight and partly curved, and
with doors fitting flush or sunk, so that the frame or part into or against
which the door fits, or particularly those parts of the frame at or against
which the bolts of the lock or fastenings protrude shall by reason of the

page_text: curvature or forms present greater difficulty in stretching, bending, or being
sprung away from the door or from its bolts or fastenings than if straight
or flat. For instance, if the safe be cylindrical and flat-ended, and the
door occupy one of the ends and fit flush, or lie when closed with its
perimeter or edge enclosed within the cylindrical case or frame, it is
evident that the latter, being already curved would not so readily be bent
or sprung away from the door or its fastenings as if the door were bounded
by straight lines at the perimeter or edge, and the case or frame which
girted it were of corresponding form; or in the supposed cylinder the
door instead of occupying one of the flat ends may occupy only a portion
of the flat end, which portion may conveniently in certain cases be com-
paratively small, and then the interior may consist of a box or a frame
capable of revolving or sliding or moving within the cylinder, and be con-
structed with or without compartments, and the revolution may bring any
part or compartment of the interior opposite to the door; or the exterior
may be made to revolve upon a fixed interior and afford the same ad-
vantage; or the door may be made upon the side of the cylinder; or
other modifications within the terms of the improvements above stated
may be adopted, among which may specially be noted the casting or
constructing safes of a hollow, spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or any
other similar or analogous curved form or any faced figure generally
following any such curved form or generally of any of the said forms, but
having flats or faces upon them for access, door, or opening, or for base to
stand upon or otherwise; or the door cap or cover may follow the form of
the general figure. In any of these cases the generally curved form of the
figure will tend to secure a flush fitting door. Also and particularly when
the bolts or fastenings are shot or protrude against straight portions of an
end frame. The Invention comprises constructing safes with transverse
tie rods to preserve or assist in preserving the form and effect the same
object. The said ties to be fixed or moveable and irrespective of the door or
fixings of the door, or to be affixed to back or inner side of the door or
within its thickness so as by the action of the lock or of a separate lock to
be made to act as ties. The doors of the improved safes may be hinged
either to the case or frame, or particularly for circular or elliptical safes
double doors may be hinged to a cross bar or pillar. The lock may be
made to work radial or tangential bolts or lever bolts, and the ends of the
bolts and the sockets or places into which they fit may be made with bevil
or inclined surfaces to bring the door or doors closely home into the seat
or fitting, which seat or fitting when circular may conveniently be turned

page_text: and be slightly taper or conical in form; and whether circular or otherwise
curved it is intended in certain cases to construct the seat or fitting and
the corresponding rim or edge or edges of the door, one or other or both,
with a channelled recess, or of any form affording a clip or hold, which
shall when the door is closed constitute it into a tie across the frame. The
improvements also include the dovetailing or otherwise keying together
the edge or edges or rim of the door and of the frame (into or against
which it fits) and which may be effected by dovetailed slides or by dowells
brought into action by lock or independently of lock and when in.action
converting the door itself into a tie. Also the Invention comprises the
vitrifying or glazing the exterior of safes constructed as above or otherwise
as a precaution against drilling or cutting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert John Haddan, in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, of Bessborough Gardens, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, and HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Lupus Street, Pimlico,
aforesaid, Civil Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert John Haddan,
Her special licence that we, the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert
John Haddan, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert John Haddan, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN. IRON SAFES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Coope Haddan
and Herbert John Haddan, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert
John Haddan, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say:
The Invention has reference to security against wrenching or prizing
open the doors of iron safes, and specially against the springing or bend-
ing the frame or part around the rim or edge of the door away from the
door itself and the bolts of the lock.
The several improvements are as follows:-Firstly, the constructing
safes which in cross section or end view shall be circular, elliptical, or
curved, or partly straight and partly curved, and with doors with the
perimeter of generally corresponding form or shape fitting or lying flush
or sunk so that the frame or part into or against which the door fits, or
particularly those parts of the frame at or against which the bolts of the
lock or fastenings protrude shall belt or surround the edges of the doors,
and by reason of the curvature or form present greater difficulty in stretch-
ing, bending, or being sprung away from the door or from its bolts or
fastenings than if straight or flat. This feature of the Invention will be
more readily comprehended by reference to the first of the several illustra-
tions of the Invention given in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figures 2 and 3 sections vertical (at
A, A,) and horizontal (at B, B,) respectively of a cylindrical and flat-
ended safe, the door a, a³, occupying one of the ends and fitting flush or
lying when closed with its perimeter or edge enclosed within the cylin-
drical case or frame b, which belts or surrounds it. It is evident that the
latter being curved would not so readily be bent or sprung away from
the door or its fastenings as if the door were bounded by straight lines at
the perimeter or edge and the case or frame which girted it were of corre-
sponding form; for by the Diagram Figure 4, in which this construction is
supposed to be represented by the full lines, it is evident that the bending
or springing away of a side might be effected with very little stretching
into some such form as the dotted line **, but if already curved the bend-
ing or springing away of a side could only be effected by a manifest and
sensible stretching of the metal. In the safe represented by the Figures

page_text: 1, 2, and 3, the cylindrical belting b, which consists of an iron plate bent
into the form of a hoop, with the ends or edges rivetted up to a cover
plate c, as in the Figure 5, and in the enlarged Figure 6 is mounted on
and rivetted to a frame of angle iron and T iron, as in Figures 7 and 8,
and the back d, which is a disc of plate iron, is also rivetted to the angle
iron, as in Figure 8; e is an ordinary internal fire-proof lining, and fis
stand for support. The T iron, as well also as the plate b, belts or
surrounds the edge of the door a, as, and gives additional strength. The
door is shewn as slightly sunk or recessed from the front edge of the
cylinder or belt b, but may be flush therewith if preferred. It consists (as
shewn) of the two pieces a and a³, the first moveable, the other a fixture to
the belt, the two pieces a and a³ together forming a disc divided in order.
to accommodate the hinge a*, on which it, the part a, opens, and the pin
or axis of the hinge is capped over by the caps a³, a³, which thus hold the
moveable part of door to the body of the safe with sufficient strength for
opening and closing it, the security against violence depending rather
upon the bolts of the lock and the bevil at the edge a'. The Figures 9
and 10 illustrate the hinge joint, the projecting snug at as being intended
to rest upon the upper cap so as the better to carry the weight of the door.
Figure 11 is section across the door, and Figure 11ª enlargement of part
of same shewing the bevil edge a', so that when door is closed it may.
lie closely under and behind the fixed part as of the door, shewn in
Figures 1 and 8. The door, however, instead of being constructed in two:
pieces, as shewn, may be constructed in one piece, and centered so as to
turn on centres or pivots at about the same position as the hinge already
described, the part a being then one with a, and passing inwards when
the safe is opened, and the perimeter of the door and the seating or interior
of the belt being suitably shaped. Figures 12 and 13 are sections on a
larger scale shewing modifications of construction in which the angle and
T iron are dispensed with, and the plate belting b is thicker, and is rolled
or formed with the necessary rebate and grooving for door and back. The
Figure 14 shews a method of securing the back d to the belt or cylinder b,
by caulking down the edges of the latter on to or against the former, both
being suitably fashioned. Three illustrations are given, one shewing parts
detached, a second as placed together previously to caulking down, and
the third as when caulked. Figure 15 shews back screwed into belt;
Figure 16 shews mode in which circular or cylindrical safes made in.
accordance with the Invention may conveniently be partitioned or divided
for holding books. The smaller compartments may serve for other articles.

page_text: The Figure 17 shews a convenient arrangement of twin or double cylin
drical improved safe, and method of hanging doors to same when they are
of large dimensions. The doors being unavoidably heavy are supported
by turning brackets or cranes V, V*, which are intended to bring them
centrally opposite the fitting, each door being a complete disc. The
bracket or crane V shews the door as if attached to or carried by it on a
square pin (as at v in Figure 18), not permitting the door to turn thereon,
and the other V* as if attached to or carried by it on a round pin
or spindle (as at v* in Figure 19), and capable of being turned thereon,
both arrangements allowing sufficient play for pressing home the door into
its seat if the crane fail to bring it into exactly the correct position. In
the latter case it may be secured by a clutch fitting into its seat, and a
small lock which will prevent its turning will be sufficient to secure it
from being opened. I would remark that when supported in a bracket
which permits door to turn on a spindle as described I do not intend to
construct the door with its edge screwed, nor the body of the safe with a
corresponding screwed seat. And it is to be understood that safes may be
fitted up singly each with a bracket or crane to carry its door instead of
being fitted up in pairs as a twin arrangement as above described, and
that the bracket or crane for carrying door, whether as a single or as a twin
arrangement, may so carry the door as to allow it to open upwards and
back on to the body of safe, or downwards instead of sideways. And I would
also remark that though the cylindrical or circular shape of safe with door
generally to correspond has been selected for the several illustrations of
this first feature or improvement, it will readily be understood that the
shape may be elliptical, as in Figure 37, hereafter referred to, or be other-
wise curved or be partly straight and partly curved, as in the Figures 20
and 21, the construction in other respects being generally the same so far
as the circumstances will permit.
The improvements also comprise the constructing cylindrical and
generally flat-ended safes with the door occupying a portion only of one
of the flat ends; it may be a comparatively small portion, and with the
interior consisting of a box or frame capable of revolving or moving within
the cylinder, and constructed with or without compartments; the revolu-
tion permitting any part or compartment of the interior to be brought
opposite to the door. Figure 22 is a plan, partly in section, and Figure 23
a part section and part elevation in illustration of this improvement. In
both Figures b is the cylindrical surface, and g the door in one of the flat
ends ff; g is fire-proof lining to door, and g angle iron seat on which

page_text: door rests, and having holes formed in it, through which bolts of lock may
protrude; is an ordinary lining for holding fire-proof material between
itself and outer case; is the internal box fixed to a spindle m, on which
it revolves. A safe of this description may conveniently be placed with
its top flush with the floor of a shop or room.
It was intended by the Provisional Specification that this Complete
Specification should have included the making the interior fixed and the
exterior to revolve, but as I now consider my intentions in this respect to
Another
be of little value I accordingly advance no claim to them.
modified improvement which I do set forth as comprised by the Invention
is the making the safe cylindrical and with the door on the cylindrical
surface.
Figure 24 is a plan partly in section, and Figure 25 an elevation illus-
trating this improvement; Figures 26 and 27 enlarged sections at y, y,
and z, z, shewing detail illustration of end f screwed to angle iron belting
6*, the former section being a general one, and the latter where the door
is fitted; Figure 27 is enlarged view shewing door fitting and hinge;
b is the cylinder surface; k, the door, and k*, k*, the hinges, not intended
to resist violence; the safety at the hinge joint in this respect depending
rather on hooked heel pieces, as at 2 (see Figures 24 and 27*), with
which the door is made similarly to the doors of many ordinary safes..
The door may be made with a fire-proof lining, though this is not repre-
sented in the Drawing. The plate 6 need not be carried round to form a
complete cylinder, but where the door occurs top and bottom packing
pieces, as at 62 in Figure 27, may be substituted, and these, together with
the angle irons k³, k³, (see Figures 24 and 27°), will form a proper seating
for the door. The Figures 12 and 13 before referred to will sufficiently
indicate the mode of securing the ends without angle iron framing, the.
plate b, being formed with ribs, channels, or recesses for securing the ends,
and the door being situate on the surface of the cylinder instead of being
fitted at or constituting an end to cylinder as in the said Figures. I would
remark that a convenient modification of the improvement (which ever
way the ends may be fitted) may be made by adopting an elliptical form
(in plan or horizontal section) instead of the circular or cylindrical form.
The Invention also comprises the casting or constructing safes of a.
spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or any other similar or analagous curved
form or many faced figure generally following any such curved form, or
generally of any of the said forms, but having flats or faces upon them for
access door or opening, or for base to stand upon or otherwise; or the

page_text: door cap or cover may follow the form of the general figure. The one
illustration, Figures 28, 29, 30, being plan and section without door, and
section of door respectively will sufficiently explain these improvements,
the spherical as being the most simple form being selected for the purpose.
This safe is somewhat similar to but may be made larger than an ordinary
cast-iron spherical shell used with cannon. It has, however, a removeable
or opening cover or door o, fitting with conical face into corresponding
seat on the body, and formed with three clutch projections o* which may
pass the notches o²; the doors being then turned partly round these will
hold it to the body, and a small lock to prevent turning back will suffice
to secure it. Also and particularly when the bolts or fastenings are shot
or protrude against straight portions of an end frame, the improvements
comprise constructing safes with transverse tie rods to preserve or assist
in preserving the form and effect the same object. The said ties to be
fixed or moveable and irrespective of the door or fixings of the door, or to
be affixed to back or inner side of the door or within its thickness so as by
the action of the lock or of a separate lock to be made to act as ties.
Figures 31 to 36 illustrate the several modes of application of or construc-.
tion with the tie rods, p, p, being the straight portions of end frame to be
strengthened, and q, q, the ties. If fixed as shewn in Figure 31, the tie
may conveniently be arranged to come against a partition in the interior
of the safe, but if moveable (which will be convenient when fixed bars or
ties would interfere with arrangement of interior) it may be made to turn
on a pin, as at q* in Figure 32, and to hook across the opening into sockets
to be made for it on the parts p, p; or the tie may be hinged to frame at
one end and passed over a staple at the other, as in Figure 33. Figures 34,
35, and 36 shew removeable ties with ends of varying shapes. The
fittings for these on the parts to be tied across will of course have to be
made to correspond; and when the tie is to be affixed to or carried by and
at the back or inner side of the door or within its thickness it may be
mounted on a pin on the door somewhat similarly to the manner shewn in
Figure 32, and the lock or a separate lock by turning the tie on the pin
will release the hooks or clutches at the ends of the tie from the sockets
into which they are fitted and restore them again to place when
desired.
Another improvement particularly applicable to large circular safes and
to elliptical safes is the constructing them with double doors, that is to.
say, two doors, both hinged to a cross bar or pillar which also serves as a
tie across the frame of the safe.

page_text: The Figure 37 is an elevation partly in section illustrating this improve-
ment; Figure 38 section across the angle iron cross bar or pillar s;
shewing mode of fixing same to elliptical case by angle iron joint; and
Figure 39 detail also shewing fixing, and particularly the hinge formed by
a screw stud t* passing through case 6 into door t. The hinges are placed
so that the adjoining edge of door may for security close immediately
against and behind the front table or plate of the pillar s, the bolts of the
lock, as shewn by dotted lines at w, w, securing the door at intervals along.
the periphery of the case. This safe may be fitted up with trays or shelves
in the interior, as at w*, w*, in Figure 37, and will be found convenient for
jewellers' use. The bolts of the locks to the several safes may be made to
protrude radially as in the ordinary manner, or tangentially in accordance
with the next mentioned improvement, which consists in making them
move from a position or line tangent or nearly so to a ring or circle being
the withdrawn position of the bolt into the protruded position by partly
turning the ring or circle round on its centre. In Figure 40, w* is bolt
in protruded position, and w³ the ring, by turning which in the direction of
the arrow the bolt may be withdrawn into the tangential position shewn
by dotted lines, and shot forward again by a reverse movement. The bolt
which acts as a lever has a slotted hole fitting over a fixed stud or fulcrum
which assists in regulating the action. The bolts, whether in accordance
with this improvement or not, may be made at the holding or locking
ends with bevilled or inclined surfaces, as at m³ in Figure 41; to bring the
doors closely home into their seats or fittings, and when the door and
the seat or fitting are circular they may conveniently be turned, and the
fitting may be slightly taper or conical in form.
Also, the improvements comprise the constructing safes when circular,
cylindrical, elliptical, or partly curved and partly straight, with the seat or
fitting for the door and the corresponding rim or, edge or edges of the door,
one or other or both with a channelled recess, or of any form affording a
clip or hold which shall when the door is closed constitute it into a tie
across the frame. The Figures 42, 43, 44, 45, are several illustrations of
this improvement. In each of these a is the door cap or cover acting as a
tie across the opening of the body b of the safe.
Also, the improvements comprise the dovetailing or otherwise keying
together the edge or edges or rim of the door and of the frame (into or
against which it fits), and which may be effected by dovetailed slides or
by dowells brought into action by lock or independently of lock, and when
in action converting the door itself into a tie. The Figures 46, 47, are

page_text: illustrations of this improvement, a and b being door and body respectively
of the safe, and n³ the dovetail dowell which holds them together and
converts the door into a tie. On sliding away or removing the dowell,
which, until required to be removed may be secured by a lock, the door
will cease to act as a tie and may be opened.
Lastly, the improvements include the vitrifying or glazing the exterior
of safes constructed in accordance with any of the foregoing improvements
or otherwise, as a precaution against drilling or cutting. I purpose effecting
this by the ordinary process or processes adapted for vitrifying or glazing
hollow iron articles.
The several Figures of the Drawings are made to scales of about one-
twelfth of the full size and to a quarter of the full size for general views
and enlarged details respectively.
In witness, we, the said John Coope Haddan and Herbert John
Haddan, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty-second
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six.
J. C. HADDAN. (L.S.)
H. J. HADDAN: (L.S.)