AN IMPROVED MONEY TILL LOCK AND ALARM
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED MONEY TILL LOCK AND ALARM."-A communication
from abroad by Samuel Newell Brown and Alvord Orlo Miles,
both of the City and County of Providence, State of Rhode
Island, United States of America.
Sealed the 19th September 1871, and dated the 18th April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th April 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MONEY TILL LOCK AND ALARM," to
be as follows:
:―
The object of this Invention is to provide a secure self-operating
fastening for money drawers or tills and an alarm that will sound and
give notice of any unauthorized attempt to unlock or gain entrance to

page_text: the same, and the Invention consists in a set of latches in a fixed
position, and a catch plate provided with a corresponding number of
reversible lips with which said latches engage for securing the till or
drawer from opening, by sliding in the usual way. And with a like
number of keys suited to operate and control cach of said latches,
singly or in combination, so that by reversing any order or combination
of said lips the opening of the drawer will be hindered, and, except
by accident, prevented unless the attempt is made by those having
knowledge of the particular combination to which it is set for securing
the contents of the drawer.
This Invention further consists in so constructing and arranging the
said latches and reversible lips of the catch plate with the keys or
devices which operate the same, that if by accident, or with intent to
enter or open the drawer, one or more than one, or all of the said keys
are operated (in the usual way of operating the same to enter), those of
the said lips that are so set as to be ineffective for the opening of the
drawer, will (by the same operation of the respective keys which
unlatch the particular combination of latches fixed upon to open the
same) be instrumental for catching their sharp edges into a serrated or
toothed face of said latches, and thereby become permanently fixed
and locked until each and every of the same keys are again operated
at the proper time to restore the apparatus to its normal condition
preparatory to unlocking the same by the original combination to which
the apparatus had been set.
And this Invention further consists of a latch in combination with
said catch plate and a spring hammer which sounds the alarm by striking
a bell or little device so that any swinging of the catch plate by the
sliding of the drawer in the usual way of opening it without first
unlocking the same will cause the said spring hammer to strike the bell
and sound the alarm.
It further consists in sliding rods in combination with the said keys.
The said latches, of which there are several, are all swung by one end
on a pivot mounted in a latch plate and the latches are subject to
the action of springs all secured beneath the counter by screws ΟΙ
otherwise.
The apparatus which engages and operates with said latches as
above described is contained in a frame which is secured in the rear
portion of the drawer or till with the alarm bell, and its hammer on

page_text: onc side of the same. Within this frame swings the catch plate on
a pivot near the bottom, and at the uppermost edge of said plate are
attached reversible lips secured thereto by screws. Each lip is formed
with a sharp edge, the purpose of which will presently appear. The
said lip extends only from one side of its shank by which it is attached
to the catch plate so that by turning or reversing the projecting lip to
one side or the other in any order the combination is changed, those
only which are in a certain position being available for releasing the
latches from the catch plate and opening the drawer while the others
only complicate the operations and embarrass the attempt (as before
explained) to open the drawer. The catch plate is operated upon for
unlocking by a set of keys which are levers pivoted at about mid-length
and held back by springs and operated by the sliding rods and finger
slides beneath the till which throw the keys forward to lift their
respective latches above and free from contact with the edge of the
lips before mentioned (which would otherwise catch and hold it) so
that it may slide over the projecting part of the lip and release the
drawer. Were the latches not so lifted they would catch their scrrated
faces on the blunt edge of the lips and swing the catch plate and
spring the hammer latch which strikes the bell and sounds the alarm
as often as the sliding movement to open is repeated, when the
projecting part of the lip is placed on the catch plate in a certain
position with reference to the latch. When the position of the lips
is reversed, the keys or levers in their movement to open the drawer,
will come in contact with the sharp edges of the said lips, and push the
catch plate back, at the same time lifting the latch above, and when
the key is released after accomplishing this, and it returns to its
original position, the latch drops and the sharp edge of the lip catches
in one of the notches in the serrated face of the latch, and there holds
until the same movement of the key is repeated, and the latch is thereby
liberated and lifted from contact with the lip of the catch plate, and
then the proper combination keys are pulled and the drawer by that
means is opened, the said catching of the sharp edge of the lip
producing a change of combination which has first to be reversed and
returned to its normal condition before the drawer can be opened even
even by means of the particular combination of keys intended and set
for the purpose. This function of the locking apparatus as above
described when by the manipulation of the wrong key or set of keys
is made the means of the sharp edge of the lips catching upon the

page_text: serrated face or faces of the latches is called the "double locking,"
because each and all of the latches must first be returned to their
original position before the interlocking can be accomplished.
The alarm apparatus consists of a bell struck by a spring hammer
vibrating on a pivot and assisted by a spring. On the catch plate
there is a spring latch that catches the end of a projection on the
spring hammer. As the catch plate moves forward the hammer is
drawn back and being released strikes the bell to sound the alarm. If
by the attempt to slide the drawer without first touching the said keys
the catch plate is swung by the latches, and the bell sounds the alarm,
and if other than a fixed combination of the said keys is pulled the
same effect is produced, and at the same time the drawer or till
becomes doubly locked so that no effort except a repetition of the same
combination, and after that the operation of the correct combination can
open the drawer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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 "AN IMPROVED
MONEY TILL LOCK AND ALARM," a communication to me from abroad by
Samuel Newell Brown and Alvord Orlo Miles, both of the City and 3

page_text: County of Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, 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 Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
The object of this Invention is to provide a secure self-operating,
fastening for money drawers or tills and an alarm that will sound and
give notice of any unauthorized attempt to unlock or gain entrance
to the same, and the Invention consists in a set of latches in a fixed
position, and a catch plate provided with a corresponding number of
reversible lips with which said latches engage for securing the till or
drawer from opening, by sliding in the usual way. And with a like
number of keys suited to operate and control each of said latches singly
or in combination so that by reversing any order or combination of
said lips, the opening of the drawer will be hindered, and except by
accident prevented, unless the attempt is made by those having know-
ledge of the particular combination to which it is set for securing the
contents of the drawer.
The Invention further consists in so constructing and arranging the
said latches and reversible lips of the catch plate with the keys or devices
which operate the same, that if by accident or with intent to enter or
open the drawer one or more than one or all of the said keys are
operated in the usual way of operating the same to enter, those of the
said lips that are so set as to be ineffective for the opening of the drawer
will (by the same operation of the respective keys which unlatch the
particular combination of latches fixed upon to open the same) be
instrumental for catching their sharp edges into a serrated or toothed
face of said latches, and thereby become permanently fixed and locked
until each and every of the same keys are again operated at the proper

page_text: time and thus restore the apparatus to its normal condition preparatory
to unlocking the same by the orignal combination to which the apparatus
lad been set.
And this Invention further consists of a latch in combination with
said catch plate and a spring hammer which sounds the alarm by
striking a bell or like device so that any swinging of the catch plate
by the sliding of the drawer in the usual way of opening it without
first unlocking the same will cause the said spring hammer to strike
the bell and sound the alarm.
It further consists in sliding rods in combination with the said keys.
To enable others to make and use the Invention I will proceed to
describe the same.
In the accompanying Plate of Drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section
of the apparatus taken on the line x, x, of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a plan
view Figure 3 is a vertical section of Figure 2 taken also on the
line x, x; Figure 4 is a vertical section of Figure 2 taken on the line y, y.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
L (Figure 3) is the latch plate containing five latches marked a all
swung by one end on the pivot rod d, subject to the action of the
springs c, all secured beneath the counters H by screws or otherwise.
The apparatus which engages and operates with said latches as above
described is contained in a frame F which is secured in the rear portion
of the drawer or till T with the alarm bell B and its hammer A on one
side of the same. Within this frame F swings the catch plate P on a
pivot near the bottom, the said plate being swung forward against a fixed
stop by the tension of a spring ¹, and at the uppermost edge of said
plate are attached reversible lips n', n³, n³, n*, n³, secured by screws i. Each
lip is formed with a sharp edge t, the purpose of which will presently
appear. The said lip extends only from one side of its shank k, by
which it is attached to the catch plate, so that by turning or reversing the 3
projecting lip to one side or the other, as shown (Figures 1 and 2), in
any order the combination is changed, those only which are in the
position of n', n³, being available for releasing the latches from the catch
plate and opening the drawer, while the others n³, n', and n³, only com-
plicate the operations and embarass the attempt (as before explained) to a
open the drawer. The catch plate is operated upon for unlocking by the
set of keys g', g³, g³, g*, and g³ which are levers pivoted at 6, and held
in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3 by the springs S, and operated

page_text: by the sliding rods fand keys or finger slides h, which place the keys g
in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, which lifts the latch a
(also seen in dotted lines) above and free from contact with the V edge of
the lips n (which would otherwise catch and hold it) so that it may
slide over the projecting part of the lip and release the drawer. Were
the latches not so lifted they would catch their serrated face C on the
blunt edge of those lips which are placed in the position of n¹, n², and
swing the catch plate P and spring the hammer latch U, which strikes
the bell and sounds the alarm as often as the sliding movement to
open is repeated. When the position of the lips n is reversed the keys g
in their movement to open the drawer will come in contact with the
sharp edge of the said lips, and push the catch plate P back, at the
same time lifting the latch above, as shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines,
and when the key is released after accomplishing this and it returns to
its original position the latch drops and the sharp edge of the lip n
catches in one of the notches in the serrated face C, and there holds
until the same movement of the key is repeated and the latches thereby:
liberated and lifted from contact with the lips n of the catch plate, and
then the proper combination keys g are pulled and the drawer by that
means is opened, the said catching of the sharp edge producing a
change of combination which has first to be reversed and returned to its
normal condition before the drawer can be opened even by means of the
particular combination of keys intended and set for the purpose. This
function of the locking apparatus as above described when by the
manipulation of the wrong key or sets of keys is made the means of
the sharp edge of the lips catching upon the serrated face or faces of
the latches is called the "double locking," because each and all of the
latches must first be returned to their original position before the
unlocking can be accomplished.
The alarm apparatus consists of a bell B struck by a spring hammer A
that vibrates on the pivot p assisted by the spring m. On the catch
plate there is a spring latch X that catches the end of the projecting U
on the spring hammer. As the catch plate moves forward the hammer
is drawn back, and being released strikes the bell to sound the alarm.
If by the attempt to slide the drawer without first touching the said
keys, the catch plate P is swung by the latches a and the bell sounds
the alarm, and if other than a fixed combination of the said keys is
pulled the same effect is produced, and at the same time the drawer or

page_text: till becomes doubly locked, so that no effort except a repetition of the
same combination, and after that the operation of the correct combination.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The latch plate L and latches a, constructed and arranged to
operate substantially as and for the purposes described.
2ndly. The swing catch P as described, and the reversible lips n in
combination therewith for changing the combination and controlling
the locking and unlocking, substantially as described.
3rdly. The spring latch X arranged with relation with the swing catch
plate P and spring hammer A, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4thly. The keys g', I', g³, g', g³, arranged and operating with relation
to the catch plate P, sliding rod f, and lips n', n, n³, 12, n, substantially
as described, so as to control both the lifting of the latches i to unlock
the drawer or till. And the swing catch P which prevents the unlocking
of the drawer, except by a given and understood combination, substantially
as specified.
5thly. The sliding rod f in combination with the keys g', g³, g³, Qʻ, I³,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
W. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lanc,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)