IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM ROBBERY AND FIRE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gardner, of 118, Lever Street, in the
Parish of St. Luke's, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM
ROBBERY AND FIRE."
Sealed the 17th March 1865, and dated the 10th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gardner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th October 1864.
J, WILLIAM GARDNER, of 118, Lever Street, in the Parish of Saint Luke's,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM
ROBBERY AND FIRE," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in a novel construction of the
door, or the purpose of more effectually resisting the action of fire and
thieves.
And, second, in the employment of a false bottom, for the purpose of con-
veniently and securely fixing the safe in position without lessening its fire or
thief-resisting qualities.
The door is formed of two iron plates suitably bound or secured together,
with a space between them of about one inch, more or less, according to the
size and character of the safe. The outer plate is lined with steel to resist
the efforts of thieves, and the remaining space is filled with a suitable com

page_text: position, preferably consisting of about equal proportions of charcoal, .whiting,
alum, and sawdust to resist the action of fire.
My improved safe has two bottoms, a fixed or stationary bottom, and a false
or removable bottom placed below the former. The fixed bottom has sunk in
its lower surface a channel extending from the door to the back, or from side
to side. This channel has a groove upon each side, preferably in the shape
of a female dovetail, and is of sufficient width to receive a projection formed
on the false bottom, the latter being preferably in the shape of a male dove-
tail, the object being to unite the two bottoms firmly together. In the said
projection are formed one or more holes for the insertion of screws or bolts,
by which means the safe may be securely fixed in its position upon the floor.
These holes may be so arranged that the screws or bolts will pass through the
beams or joists supporting the flooring. When the false bottom is in position,
it is fixed by means of one or more screws passing through the stationary
bottom, and thence into the said false bottom. The heads of these bolts or
screws are under the door of the safe, so that when the door is closed, these
screws are covered over, and consequently the false bottom cannot be
removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Gardner in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the 2
10th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GARDNER, of 118, Lever Street, in the Parish of St. Luke's, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 2
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign
did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Gardner, Her special license, that I, the said William Gardner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said 3
William Gardner, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with and no others, from time to time, and 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 3
_ IRON SAFES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY FROM ROBBERY AND FIRE,"

page_text: the plate a of the door and the sides F of the safe. This safe has two bottoms,
G and H, the former, G, being the fixed or ordinary bottom, with a dovetail
groove on the under side thereof, and the latter, H, with a dovetail & formed
thereon, being moveable, the dovetail d sliding in the groove formed in
plate G. This dovetail groove or channel extends from the door to the back,
or from side to side of the safe. Instead of this groove or channel being
formed in the shape shown in the Drawings, it may be of a T or other suitable
'shape, the object being to unite the two bottoms G and H firmly together.
The two plates or bottoms G and H are prevented from sliding on each other
by means of the screws e passing through the former into the dovetail d
immediately under the door A, so that when the door is closed, the screw
heads are covered over, and cannot be removed. Before the plates or bottoms
are thus locked by the screws e, the bolts or screws fare inserted through the
holes in the plate H, and by means of the bolts or screws f passing into the
beams or girders, the safe is securely fixed. This construction and arrange-
iment renders the removal of the safe by thieves almost impossible, and in case
of fire, all danger to the contents by the penetration of hot air through the
screw holes or other apertures for securing the safe is entirely avoided. By
this arrangement also, the position of the holding-down bolts or screws may
be so varied as to pass through the girders or other firm part of the flooring,
without interfering with the internal parts of the safe, as has hitherto been
'the case.
Having thus fully described my improvements, and shown how they may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I do not confine myself
to the exact details shown in the accompanying Drawings, or herein set forth;
but I claim the Invention substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gardner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
GEORGE HASELTINE, -
International Patent Office,"
8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London.
-
W GARDNER. (L.S.)