IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES."-A communication
from abroad by Benjamin Sherwood and Daniel Fitzgerald; both
of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineers.
Sealed the 9th June 1868, and dated the 1st January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st January 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
a communication,
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES,"
to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists chiefly in the employment of a spherical
For nearly spherical burglar-proof casket which is only accessible from an
opening in the side of the safe.
The said Invention also consists in the arrangement of the said casket
in combination with a case for books or other articles which is made to

page_text: draw out of the safe when required, also in providing the safe with a
platform to support the said bookcase when drawn out.
I construct the burglar-proof casket of one or more shells of metal,
preferably chilled iron. This casket is permanently fixed in a fire-proof
safe of any ordinary construction as to its frame and filling, and is located
as far as possible from the opening for access to the safe, which open-
ing is at the side instead of the front as customary. The space between
the casket and the doors of the safe is filled by a case for books and
other articles, which case when in use is partially drawn out on a plat-
form provided for that purpose having a desk before it extending also
along in front of the body of the safe. The said desk with other cabinet
work conceals the safe giving it the semblance of an office fixture.
With the same object a mirror is arranged over the desk. Access is
had to the casket through a circular opening in the front of the safe
corresponding to a similar aperture in the casket; such aperture is
closed by a plug which is not penetrable by a drill or any like instru-
ment, and is provided with a suitable lock to secure it in its appropriate
place. Combustion is prevented within the casket in case of fire by a
small quantity of alum, which will melt and produce moisture. A rail-
ing surrounds the ends or sides and front of the safe, and is so attached
to the cabinet work aforesaid that it may be turned up out of the way
over the safe when not required for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that
I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR-
PROOF SAFES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and 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 I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention consists chiefly in the employment of a spherical
or nearly spherical burglar-proof casket, which is only accessible from
an opening in the side of the safe.
The said Invention also consists in the arrangement of the said casket
in combination with a case for books or other articles which is made to
draw out of the safe when required, also in providing the safe with a
platform to support the said bookcase when drawn out.
I construct the burglar-proof casket of one or more shells of metal,
preferably chilled iron. This casket is permanently fixed in a fire-proof
safe of any ordinary construction as to its frame and filling, and is
located as far as possible from the opening for access to the safe, which
opening is at the side instead of the front as customary.
The space
between the casket and the doors of the safe is filled by a case for books
and other articles, which case when in use is partially drawn out on a
platform provided for that purpose having a desk before it extending
also along in front of the body of the safe. The said disc with other
cabinet work conceals the safe, giving it the semblance of an office
fixture. With the same object a mirror is arranged over the desk.
Access is had to the casket through a circular opening in the front of the
safe corresponding to a similar aperture in the casket; such aperture is

page_text: closed by a plug which is not penetrable by a drill or any like instru-
ment, and is provided with a suitable lock to secure it in its appro-
priate place. Combustion is prevented within the casket in case of fire
by a small quantity of alum, which will melt and produce moisture. A
railing surrounds the ends or sides and front of the safe, and is so
attached to the cabinet work aforesaid that it may 'be'turned up out of
the way over the safe when not required for use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a general perspective view showing the arrangement of my
improved safe with its cabinet work and railing; Figure 2 shows the
said safe detached; Figure 3 is a vertical section of my improved firc
and burglar-proof casket.
A represents a safe constructed as regards frame and filling in any
usual manner. Instead however of standing on short legs it is elevated
about two feet from the floor, and instead of making the opening for
access in the front as customary, I make the said opening at the side
as seen at B, Figure 2. At the side farthest from the opening of access
I place my improved burglar-proof casket, the construction of which is
peculiar, the sectional view Figure 3 showing that it is composed of
two separate shells. The inner shell is made in two half spherical
sections of chilled iron, which being cast separately are then placed
together, and the outer shell is formed by running molten iron around it.
In forming this outer shell I chill the outer surface thereof by the use
of a cast-iron mould or other means common in the art of iron founding.
The casket thus made being a hollow sphere formed inside and outside
of chilled iron constitutes a receptacle for valuables, which, in con-
sequence of the combined chilled iron and spherical shape, it is impos-
sible to enter by means of any drill, sledge, or other instrument ordinarily
employed for the purpose. In lieu of the true sphere an oval and similar
forms may be used, but the spherical form is preferable. The opening
of access to the casket is circular and is closed by a plug C turned and
fitted snugly therein, and this plug is made impervious to the drill.
The Drawing, Figure 3, shows the plug in longitudinal section exhibit-
ing a step 1 corresponding to a rebate 2 in the circular opening, the
plug is to be secured in its place-by a suitable lock. The spherical
shape of the casket forms a saucer in the bottom of the lower section
thereof, and into this I place a small quantity of alum which will melt

page_text: in case of fire and produce moisture, thus preventing combustion. For
further protection the casket is fixed permanently within the safe afore-
said at the vemotest point from the opening of access to the safe as
before mentioned, and instead of using a simple door to close the opening
we construct a bookcase D sufficiently large to fill the entire space
within the safe except that occupied by the casket, and then the
ordinary doors B are closed against this bookcase as usual. To unlock
and enter the casket when the same is placed permanently as above, I
provide a small opening E in the safe A near the casket, and have
the mouth of the said casket placed opposite the said opening in the
safe. In order that the bookcase may be easily removed from the
safe for access to the books or other contents of such case, I arrange
the said case to slide in and out of the safe horizontally.
Figure 1
shows the book case partially withdrawn, the case is provided with
rollers if necessary to reduce friction. For the support of the bookcase
when withdrawn from the safe I construct a platform immediately
adjacent thereto; the bookcase is run out on this platform, where it
remains if required while the books are in use. For further convenience
I have constructed a desk G in front of the platform, and this desk is
also extended along in front of the safe A, and covers it more or less
with cabinet work for concealment, thus giving the whole the semblance
of an office fixture. For these purposes and also to announce to a
person at the desk the approach of any other person to the safe, I
arrange a mirror H in front of the safe over the desk; as shown in
the Drawing the mirror is at one side exposing the access to the casket,
but of course I am not confined to this particular arrangement. J is a
railing constructed so as to be turned up out of the way over the desk
or used on either side thereof; it is pivotted to the desk at K and in the
corresponding place at the opposite side. The said railing has a balance
weight fixed to it to facilitate handling when it is desired to raise it
up or reverse it.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The spherical fire and burglar-proof casket constructed sub-
stantially as specified.
Second. Arranging the said casket within a safe or other receptacle
which is otherwise filled by a bookcase or other article as described.

page_text: Third. Constructing the safe with the opening of access on the side
thereof in combination with a bookcase inserted therein and arranged
so as to be readily withdrawn therefrom horizontally, substantially as
described.
Fourth. Combining with the safe and the bookcase the platform or
equivalent support for the said bookcase when withdrawn from the safe,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.