IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFES, CHESTS, DOORS, AND IRON ROOMS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Tann, of Walbrook, in the City of London,
Patent Lock and Fire-proof Safe Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIBE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFES, CHESTS, DOORS, AND
IRON ROOMS."
Sealed the 8th September 1865, and dated the 11th March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Tann at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
March 1865.
I, JOHN TANN, of Walbrook, in the City of London, Patent Lock and
Fire-proof Safe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFES, CHESTS, AND
ARON ROOMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of fire and
burglar proof safes or chests and iron rooms, in which valuable docu-
ments, books, jewellery, plate, and other articles are deposited for
safety.

page_text: I first propose to render safes drill proof by welding bars of iron and
steel together, and hardening them, and afterwards rivetting them on
plates of iron, either in one direction or in layers across each other,
either close together or leaving small spaces between each bar; the
plates with the bars on them are to be rivetted inside the body and door
of the safe or any part thereof. Thus when the drill has perforated the
outer case of the safe it will come in contact with or between the steel
bars, and thereby be broken and destroyed. I also propose to form a
groove or rebate on the inside surface of the door, and to form corre-
sponding projections on the face of the lining, or the grooves may be in
the face of the lining, and the projections inside the door, or there may
be a series of recesses and studs in lieu of a continuous groove and
rebate, the object of which arrangements being to prevent the sides and
ends of the safe from being forced outwards from the door when the safe
is closed. The flange of the lining may be of Z or angle iron. I also
propose to weld a piece or series of pieces of steel on the styles of the
door and frames of the body, and harden the same. I also attach a
piece of metal on the top of the bolts of the lock to come level with the
inside of the door, or I bring what is termed the tail piece up level, or
I attach a piece of metal on the door to come level with the top of the
bolt to prevent the bolt from twisting inwards when the door is attempted
to be forced forward; and in double door safes, in addition to the former,
I attach a bar either on the lock case or door that closes first, or on
both where one locks into the other, to come level with the upper
edges of the bolt holes, the effect of which will be to throw the pressure
on the door instead of on the lock case rim.
I also introduce air-tight drawers or cupboards made of wood as
follows: I make a wooden case to fit a recess in the safe. I then make
a wooden drawer either with or without a lid to fit closely the inside
of the case, the front of which must overhang or project on all sides,
and be rebated to shut on the edge of the other case, and if required to
be used as a cupboard, the front of the drawer must be hinged. I
also place between the inner and outer casings of the safe one or two
cases made of wood, thus forming two or more chambers; the inner ones
are to be filled with alum or other salt which will become deliquescent
by the action of heat, and the outer with alum and non-conducting
materials. Thus on the outer chamber becoming heated, the alum will
liquefy and saturate the wood, rendering it very difficult of destruction
by fire. I am aware that the application of alum in fire-proof safes is

page_text: not new, but in combination with wood as described it constitutes a
portion of this Invention. It is evident that parchment deeds, which
shrink or shrivel up under the action of heat, may be preserved
uninjured in safes, the chambers or walls of which are composed of
wood in combination with alum or other salt which liquefies by heat,
since the interior of such safes will remain cool while the exterior of the
safe is subjected to the action of a fierce heat. I also construct an
iron fire-proof door for warehouses, either for sliding open or for attach-
ment by hinges. I take bars of iron of the form of ☐ or Z, and rivet
them round and between the edges of iron plates, forming chambers
with projecting edges of the angle iron or with the edges towards each
other, so as to form flush-ended chambers, or chambers with two or
four projecting angles, these chambers are then to be filled with fire-
resisting composition, and are to be used as doors for warehouses. Chests
and iron rooms are to be made on the foregoing principles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Tann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME J, JOHN
TANN, of Walbrook, in the City of London, Patent Lock and Fire-proof
Safe Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-
eighth year of
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Tann, Her special
licence that I, the said John Tann, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Tann, 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 for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BUR-
GLAR PROOF SAFES. CHESTS, DOORS, AND IRON ROOMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Tann, my executors or administrators, by

page_text: an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their nanus 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 John Tann, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement ;-
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of fire and
burglar proof safes or chests and iron rooms, in which valuable docu-
ments, books, jewellery, plate, and other articles are deposited for safety.
Firstly, I render iron safes, chests, doors, and rooms drill-proof by
welding bars of iron and steel together and hardening them, and after-
wards rivetting them on plates of iron, either in one direction or in
layers across each other, and either close together or leaving small
spaces between each bar; the plates with the bars on them to be rivetted
inside the body and door of the safe, door, or room, or any part thereof,
or the bars may be rivetted on the body of the safe itself without the
inner plate, but I prefer the former method. Thus when the drill or
cutting instrument has perforated the outer casing of the safe or door
it will come in contact with or between the steel faced bars, and
thereby be broken and destroyed. My reason for welding the iron on
the steel is, that it may not be broken into small pieces and removed,
and also that it may be straightened after hardening by hammering or
any of the well-known methods. I also render safes, chests, and iron
doors secure from being opened by forming a continuous inward bevilled
groove or rebate on the inside surface of the door, and a correspond-
ing inward bevilled projection on the face of the lining, or the groove
may be in the face of the lining and the projection on the inside of the
door.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings shews an example of the former
method, a and a being respectively the groove or rebate and the pro-
jection; Fig. 2 shewing a transverse section of the same. The edges of
the grooves and projections to be either rebated or bevilled inwards,
because on driving a wedge between the door and body of the safe it
will cause one bevil or rebate to press on or into the other and draw
the door inwards, thus preventing the door from being raised while the

page_text: wedge remains in, and entirely taking the strain off the bolts of the
lock, and also preventing the body from springing outwards a greater
distance than the space between the bevilled edges, or there may be
a series of recesses bevilled inwards in the door with corresponding pro-
jections in the face of the lining, or the recess may be in the lining and
the projections in the door.
Fig. 3 shews a front view of the safe and inside of door constructed on
this principle, a and a¹ being respectively the recesses and projections.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section shewing the bevilled projections and
recesses. Similar forms of grooves, recesses, and projections are
applicable to the rebates of iron doors as well as to safes. I affix the
projections to the flange of the lining as follows:-The projections are
first passed through a hole in the flange of the lining exactly fitting
them; the ends are then rivetted into a bar of iron, which in its turn is
rivetted to the under side of the flange, or a recess may be formed in
the flange, in which the projecting piece may be placed, and then rivetted
into the remaining thickness of the flange, but I prefer the former
method. By each of these methods the projecting pieces will be much
stronger than if rivetted on to the top of the flange itself, as they will
not depend entirely on the rivets for support in case of a lateral strain,
but will be supported by the main metal of the flange itself, the rivets
merely preventing them from being drawn forward.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew examples of these methods, Figs. 5 being rebated
and bevilled projections, and Figs. 6 inward rebated and bevilled pro-
jections. I also cause the back grooves, recesses, and projections to shut
in closely to each other, by placing the centre of the pivot joint or hinge
(which carries the door) beyond the angle of the body of the safe, either
in a line with the front or at a suitable distance behind it.
Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section of a safe with the hinge 6 placed
in a line with the front edge, and Fig. 7* shews the hinge 6 behind the
front edges, with the back of door hollowed and side of safe rounded
to fit each other, thus preventing the door from being raised by force
when shut. The usual position of the pivots or hinges of the doors of
iron safes is within the front edge, which would necessitate the grooves,
rebates, and projections to be bevilled outwards so much, to admit of
passing each other, as to render thein useless, but by placing the pivots
as before described, the back may be made to shut close, the prominent
edges of the grooves, recesses, rebates, and projections being left bevilled
inwards and in as close contact as those of the front and ends when the

page_text: door is closed. I also weld a piece or series of pieces of steel on the
interior of the styles of the door and frames of the body, and harden the
same for the purpose of preventing drilling.
Fig. 8 represents a horizontal section on an enlarged scale of part of
the door lining, body, and lock of a safe, in which I apply flanges of the
lining, either of Z iron or somewhat of such form; c represents the flange
of the form I prefer to adopt; the bevilled edge c¹ corresponds to the
bevilled edge of the door d, so that when a wedge is inserted between
the body and door the bevilled edges will approach and fit into each
other, and prevent the door from being drawn forwards, thus preserving
the lock bolts from strain.
Fig. 8* represents a rebated projection and corresponding recesses
between the door and safe whereby the action of a wedge will cause the
two parts to gear into each other, and prevent the door from being
forced outwards. I also attach a piece of metal on the top side of each
bolt head or in one length along the whole number of heads to come
level with the inside of the door, or I bring what is termed the tail piece
up level, or I attach a piece of metal on the door to come level with
the top of the bolt; either of these means will prevent the bolt from
twisting inwards when the door is attempted to be forced forward. And
in double bar safes, in addition to the former, I attach a bar or series
of pieces either on the lock case or door that closes first, or on both
when there is a lock on each door, these bars or pieces to come level
with the upper edges of the bolt holes, the effect of which will be to
throw the pressure on the door instead of on the rim of the lock case
in the event of forcing.
Fig. 8 shows an example of the first of these methods, where e
represents a piece of metal attached to the bolt head f. I also place
between the inner and outer casings of the safe one or more cases made
of wood or papier maché, thus forming two or more chambers; the inner
chambers are to be filled with alum and other salt which will become
deliquescent by the action of heat, and the outer chambers with alum
and non-conducting materials. Thus on the outer chamber becoming
heated the alum will liquefy and saturate the wood, rendering it very
difficult of destruction by fire.
In Fig. 7 a casing is shewn by the letters f. f. I am aware that the
application of alum in fire-proof safes is not new, but in combination with
wood it constitutes a portion of this Invention. It is evident that parch-
ment deeds, which shrink or shrivel up under the action of heat, may

page_text: be preserved uninjured much longer in safes the chambers or walls of
which are composed of wood or papier maché in combination with alum
or other salt which liquefies by heat than they would be in safes of the
ordinary construction, since the interior of such safes will remain cool
for a considerable period while the exterior of the safe is subjected to
the action of a fierce heat.
I also introduce air-tight drawers or cupboards into safes for the better
preservation of parchment deeds.
These cases are to be made of wood as follows:-I make a case to fit a
recess in the safe. I then make a drawer either with or without a lid,
but I prefer it with a lid to shut in a rebate.
Fig. 9 represents a plan or top view of the drawer and case; g repre-
sents the case, and the drawer shewn removed out of the case; h¹ is
the lid attached to the drawer by the hinge l; K is a curved flat steel
spring attached to the top of the lid so as to tighten or press down the
lid while the drawer is being shut in the case. The drawer fits-closely
the inside of the case, the front of the latter extends, as shewn by the
part 1, so as to shut level with the front m of the drawer, which may be
either square, rebated, or bevilled, and retained in its position when
shut either by a lock or other suitable fastening. When required as a
drawer, I permanently fix the front to the body, but when required as a
cupboard I hinge the front, so that it may either fall down or open at
the side when the drawer is a little forward, and secure it to the body
either by a catch or other suitable fastening. The rebates, bevils, or
other sliding parts may either be left bare or covered with india-rubber,
leather, or any other suitable substance so as more effectually to close
the joints when shut up. The case and drawer may also be made
portable, so as to be taken in and out of the safe at pleasure.
Fig. 9* represents a vertical section with the lid raised. I also con-
struct iron fire-proof doors for warehouses either for sliding open or for
attachment by centres or hinges to suitable iron frames. I take bars of
iron of the form of 3 or Z, and rivet them round and between the
edges of iron plates, forming chambers with projecting edges of the
angle iron or with edges towards each other so as to form flush-ended
chambers, or chambers with two or four projecting angles, as shewn
on the sections Figs. 10, 11, 12. The chambers are then to be filled
with fire-resisting composition, either with or without wood or papier
maché between, and are to be used as doors for warehouses or any place

page_text: where fire-proof doors are required. The chambers thus constructed may
also be attached together with angle, bar, or T iron, so as to form the
walls or casings of fire-proof rooms, closets, or otherwise.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do not limit
myself to the precise configuration of parts as I have herein described
and shewn them, as of course some modifications or slight variations may
be made without in the least degree departing from the general principles
and purposes of the Invention; but what I claim as my Invention, and
desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent,
are,-
First, the application to iron safes, chests, doors, and rooms of bars of
iron and steel, for the purpose of preventing the operation of drilling,
substantially in the manner specified.
Secondly, the application to doors and faces of the linings of safes of
continuous or separate grooves or rebates, and corresponding projections
with inwardly bevilled or rebated edges for the purpose of preventing the
door and sides of the safe from being torn out by the action of a wedge,
substantially as specified. I am well aware that there is no novelty in
the application of projections and recesses to the doors and linings of
safes to prevent merely the lateral strain or springing of the body when
a wedge is inserted, as many years since safes have been publicly
exhibited and sold made on this principle, but I lay claim to the appli-
cation of such projections having their edges bevilled inwards or rebated,
the projections entering into inwardly bevilled or rebated recesses, and
consequently not fitting closely into each other, but leaving a space
within all the bevilled or rebated surfaces, so that when a wedge is
inserted between the body and door, the bevilled or rebated edges are
drawn into contact and will prevent the door from being raised, and
consequently will also prevent the body from springing further than the
space between the rebated or bevilled edges.
Thirdly, the method of fixing the projections when not continuous to
the flange of the lining or door substantially as specified; I also claim
this method to fix any other forms of projections hitherto in use.
Fourthly, the method of causing the back grooves, recesses, and pro-
jections to shut in closely by placing the hinge or pivot of the door beyond
the angle of the body of the safe, either in a line with the front or at
any distance below it, substantially as specified.

page_text: Fifthly, the formation and application of flanges 'c of the lining, or any
modification thereof, substantially as specified.
Sixthly, the improvement of the heads of the bolts of the locks by
attaching metal thereto, or to the door, to prevent the bolt from twisting
inwards when the door is attempted to be forced, substantially in the
manners specified.
Seventhly, the application to safes of inner casings of wood or papier
maché in combination with deliquescent materials, as and for the purpose
set forth.
Eighthly, the application of the wooden drawer or cupboard to safes
substantially as specified; I am aware that wooden drawers and fittings
have been applied to iron safes, but I claim the special mode of con-
struction described.
Ninthly, the welding of steel on the styles of the door and frames of
the body for the purposes set forth.
And, lastly, the construction of iron fire-proof doors for warehouses or
walls of rooms, substantially as specified in the last part of this
Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Tann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. C. H. SIEVIER,
Clerk to Prince & Co.,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
JOHN TANN. (L.S.)