IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Simon Holland, of Woolwich, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."
Sealed the 4th August 1854, and dated the 1st March 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Simon Holland at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st March 1854.
I, JOHN SIMON HOLLAND, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IF
Locks" to be as follows:-
My first improvement consists in the addition of a second set of tumblers
and a second stump. These additional tumblers are so arranged as only to act
after the first or ordinary set of tumblers have been made to act, as now usually
takes place in the ordinary tumbler lock.
curtain or screen, whereby
The second improvement consists in providing
all access to the interior of tumbler locks, except by its proper key, is pre-
vented. For this purpose, I fit inside the lock a ring or set of rings or plates,
one for each tumbler, and which rings or plates come between the key and the
tumblers. The rings or plates are caused to move and change place by the
steps or wards on the key. :

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Simon Holland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SIMON HOLLAND, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Simon Holland, Her special licence that I, the said
John Simon Holland, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Simon Holland, 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 LOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Simon Holland, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Simon Holland, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:
The first part of my Invention consists in the addition to locks of a
second set of tumblers, so arranged, that in the ordinary course of action they
shall be moved by the key tumblers, or ordinary set; but when an attempt is
made to pick the lock by seeking for the true notches or gates in the key
tumblers, this connection shall be severed, and the additional tumblers shall
then come into play, and sustain the whole strain thrown upon the bolt, and
ease the key tumblers of any strain whatever through the bolt, and at the
same time the key tumblers shall become so locked and restrained in their
action, as no longer to admit of the additional tumblers being moved, or in any
way whatever interfered with, tested, or examined.

page_text: Before proceeding to a description of this part of my Invention, I propose to
explain the principles on which it is based, with a view to render its peculiar
character more readily understood, and for this purpose I will enunciate the
two following propositions.
Proposition 1. If any part of a lock receive pressure in opposing the motion
of the bolt, and can at the same time be moved or made to receive other pres-
sure, or relieved of other pressure, either by the hand or by any instrument or
apparatus under the control of the hand, such lock can be picked.
Proposition 2. If there are a number of parts in a lock, which, when arranged
in one order allow of the bolt's motion, and when arranged in another order
oppose it, and if those which are opposing differ in any other respect from those
which are not, in the effects they produce on anything which can be moved or
acted upon either by the hand or by any instrument or apparatus under the
control of the hand, such lock can be picked.
When seeking for such an arrangement of mechanism as would produce an
unpickable lock, I kept the spirit of the above all-important propositions con-
tinually before me, and any arrangement which did not rigidly comply with
their requirements was at once discarded as worthless. Conducting the search
on these well-considered scientific principles, I was led to adopt an arrange-
ment of what may be termed a double lock, or two locks in one case with only
one key, the bolt of the first to move the bolt of the second, and the tumblers
of the first to move, by means of a spur on each, the tumblers of the second,
and so arranged that any attempt to pick the first lock should sever all con-
nection with the second lock. The only connection between the two locks
being the bolt and this spur, my object was to cripple the operation of this
spur when the second tumblers received any strain through their bolt from the
first bolt.
If there be no other connection between the person desiring to pick a tumbler
lock and the tumblers, save and except the bolt, the attempt to do so must be
utterly hopeless. This is what I have desired to do, and what I believe I have
fully accomplished.
An attempt to pick the first lock cuts off all communication with the second,
which now opposes the withdrawing of the bolt. So long as any communi-
cation exists between the two locks, you cannot put pressure on the second set
of tumblers. A tedious and difficult operation must be performed on the first
set before the second set comes into play, and if the lock-picker proceeds in his
attempt at all he must perform this operation, and the performing this opera-
tion cuts off his communication with the second set, which now comes into play.
This second set I call the main set, as being the most important; the other I

page_text: call the key set.. The two sets cannot receive pressure from the bolt at the
same time; this is an all-essential point. The first set upon which the bolt
presses is the key set, and until their. opposition is made to cease, the main set
might as well not be in the lock at all, for they have nothing to do; and while
the pressure from the bolt is being applied to the main set, the key set might
be absent without, detriment, only, that they present só; many, insurmountable
obstacles in the way of getting at the main set. In making the lock, care must
be taken that the key. tumbler bears. the first pressure of, the bolt, for, should
the other touch first, the whole principle of the lock would be.subverted; and
equal care must be taken that when the second set touch, the key set shall not
be free to move as before. Care must also be taken to allow, the key set to
move through a part of its path, without coming in contact with any opposing
surfaces of the main set, or being. in any other way whatever related, save that
of proximity.
These being some of the essential features of my Invention, I proceed to
further explanation. The key.set moves through a greater space than the main
set, and at each end of its progress it moves through a small space. without.
touching the main set at all; after passing over this small space, it then moves
the main set for the remainder of its own motion; on having its motion
reversed, it again moves through a small space without touching the main set.
This effect at each end of its motion is another essential feature of my Inven-
tion. When the key tumbler is moving through this small space there must
be a total and complete independence of each set upon the other, no-matter
how small may be the space through which the key tumbler may have moved
the main tumbler; the key tumbler, on returning on its path, must move through
this small space before it can again act upon the main tumbler and cause it to
move. It will now clearly be seen, that if after the key tumbler has moved.
through half this space, and then be made to return upon its path, it will re-
traverse half this space without coming in contact with the main tumbler, and
this may take place in any part of its path whatever. We may therefore have
the key tumbler moveable backwards and forwards through a small space,
without causing a movement of the main tumbler; or, in other words, have a
shake or back lash between them.
Now the object of this part of my Invention is to cause the main set of
tumblers to be in opposition to the movement of the bolt only, when the key
set are so locked as to be restrained from moving through more than this small
space, and at the same time to be a total severance of all connection whatever
between the two sets of tumblers. The main set must now sustain the-whole
strain thrown upon the bolt, and communicate the whole of it to one fixed

page_text: and make the part which carries the stump F in one piece with the lower bolt,
instead of connecting them by the tongue and recess C¹, C². . Figure 1ª is a
back view of a lock embodying the principles of this part of my Invention, but
of a more compact construction than that before described. Figures 2 to 14
inclusive are different views of some of the parts detached. A, A, is the front
plate of the lock; B, B, are the key tumblers (one of which is shewn detached
in plan and section in Figures 2 and 3); C is the bolt; and D, the first
stump; E, E, are the main tumblers (one of which is shewn detached in
plan and section in Figures 4 and 5); and F is the second stump; G is one
of the springs to the key tumblers.
:
The two sets of tumblers B, B, and E, E, work on the same centre pin H,
and they are fitted to each other in such manner that they come flush on both
sides, a portion of each being cut away to the extent of half their thickness at.
the eye, as shewn in Figures 3 and 5, to allow of their coming together. The
same result may be obtained by fitting them together, as shewn in the section,
Figure 6, in which case the tumbler E works directly on the centre pin H, and
the tumbler B works about the eye of the tumbler E; but where great security
is desirable, this arrangement must not be used. The tumblers E, E, may be
formed with counterbalances at the tail end, as shewn at I, Figure 7, which
is a plan of one of them formed in this manner detached, and they will then be
fitted to the main tumblers B, B, as shewn in Figures 8 and 9, which are a
plan and section of the tumblers thus fitted. Figures 10 and 11 are sections
of the tumblers detached, and Figure 12 is a section of one of the key and one
of the main tumblers, shewing another method of fitting them together. The
bolt C is provided with two catches or talons J, J, by which the key K is
enabled to act on it so as to throw it forwards or backwards, and it is slotted
out as shewn at L, to enable it to work past the centre pin H, on which the
tumblers move. The springs G, G, are not absolutely necessary, but I prefer
to employ them, especially when the tumblers E, E, are formed with the
counterbalances.
.
The true notches or gates of the tumblers are formed at such parts of the.
tumblers as to allow the stumps to pass freely through them, when the
tumblers are raised by the bits of the key in the act of shooting the bolt either
forwards or backwards, and so far the action of these tumblers is the same as
in ordinary tumbler locks; but when an attempt is made to pick the lock,
and pressure is put on the bolt with a view to ascertain the position of the
gating of the tumblers, the key tumblers first bear the pressure, and in
endeavouring to work the stump into the true gates it will be worked into a
set of false ones, and before it comes to the bottom of these false gates, the

page_text: object, and by no means whatever to a number of objects. If the tumblers
have an angular motion, there must not be a separate pin for each tumbler,
but the whole of the tumblers in a set must hinge, upon the same pin; more
particularly. the main tumblers, upon which, latter and its stump the whole
security of the lock depends.
.t
Recapitulating: -I have two sets of tumblers, which,' when arranged in a
certain order, allow of the bolt being easily moved; and in any other order,
one of the sets; and only one at the same time, shall obstruct the, motion of the
bolt. The one I call the key set, the other the main set. In attempting to
pick the lock, the key set first comes into opposition with the bolt; but as: any
opposition encountered through them can be easily felt by a proper instrument,
such opposition may be removed;; and then and not till then the second or main:
set comes into'opposition. But the act of removing the opposition of the key
set is also the act of locking them; and so restraining their motion; that they
shall not in any way whatever interfere with the main set, but shall become
obstacles to any interference whatever with the main set. It is impossible to
do anything in the way of picking the lock without first crippling the key set
of tumblers, and after they are so crippled it. is impossible to proceed any
further; for now the only obstacles to the bolt's motion, or parts which are
receiving pressure from or through the. bolt, are themselves so far isolated that.
they cannot be moved, made to receive other pressure, or be relieved of other.
pressure, to act upon or be acted upon by any instrument or apparatus, or act
themselves upon any moveable part of the lock, so as to give 'any. or the least
indication of their existence, save only that they are opposing the motion of
the bolt.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a front view of a lock constructed
according to this part of my Invention. A, A, is the back plate of the lock;
B, B, are the key tumblers; C, C, are the bolts, which are formed in one piece,
or connected so as to move together by the tongue C taking into the recess C²;
D is the first stump; E, E, are the main tumblers, which are balanced by the
parts E. These tumblers are moved so as to allow of the ordinary action of
the lock taking place by means of the spurs E3 on the key tumblers.; F is the
second stump, and G is one of the springs to the key tumblers. The action of
this lock will be readily understood from the foregoing remarks:
The construction of this lock may be varied by making it with three bolts,
that is; with an additional bolt between the two sets of tumblers; or it may have
a single bolt only between the two sets of tumblers instead of two bolts, as
shewn in the Figure.
When one bolt only is employed; I cut off the upper bolt C at the lines x, x,
"

page_text: D is the first stump; E, E, are the main tumblers; and F is the main stump.
Figure 18 is an edge view of the bolt detached,' and Figure 19 shews two
different methods of fitting the key and main tumblers to each other, so that
they may come flush on both sides. G is a revolving plate or curtain fitted to
the front plate of the lock; a circular portion of which is removed so as to
receive the boss H-of the curtain G, and 'allow it to come flush with the face
of the front plate. I, I, are clips by which the curtain plate is held in place.
J, J, are a series of plates which are mounted on 'the' square pins K, K,
attached to the curtain plate G, and are free to slide on these pins when the
curtain plate is turned. 'The keyhole L is formed through the curtain plate G
and through the plates J, J. M is a pawl or catch, turning freely on the
pin N, attached to the curtain plate G (as shewn in the detached view,
Figure 20), and suspended just over the upper corner of the plates J; J; so as
to prevent them from being raised by any instrument introduced through the
keyhole. O is a saddle attached to the curtain plate G by the pins P; P, and
against which the tumblers B, B; rest, until the curtain plate has been turned
round sufficiently to allow the plates J, J; to be raised against the tumblers by
the bits of the key.' Q'is a tongue attached to the curtain platė G by which
the bolt is shot, and R is a stop for preventing the curtain plate being turned
round further than is necessary for the introduction and withdrawal of the key.
This stop slides in the guides S, S, and is governed as to its extent of motion.
by the studs T, T, against which its ends abut when it is moved in either
direction by the tongue Q. Figure 21 is a detached view of the stop R.
Figure 22 is a vertical section of a lock, constructed similarly to that shewn in
Figures 16 and 17, but differing from it in the means of attaching the curtain-
plate G to the front plate of the lock. In this case, à ring G¹ is screwed or
rivetted to the front plate, and a corresponding circular groove G2 is formed in
the face of the curtain plate to receive this ring. The keyhole is formed
through the front plate of the lock and through the curtain plate-G and
plates J, J, as before described. The action of these locks is as follows:-
When the key is introduced and turned, the curtain plate is moved round its
centre, and the plates J, J, slide down the square pins K, K, against the bits
or wards of the key, the tumblers meanwhile resting on the saddle O, until the
curtain plate has been turned sufficiently to bring the ends j, j, of the
plates J, J, in contact with the tumblers, which they raise, as shewn in
Figure 22, and hold raised until the bolt has been shot; the revolution of the
plate G is then continued until it is stopped by the tongue Q coming against
the stop R when the key is withdrawn, the plates J, J, having by this time
resumed their original position.. The action of the tumblers during the shoot-

page_text: second set of tumblers then come into play, and prevent the stump from going
to the bottom of the false gates. The stump being in these false gates, pre-
vents the tumblers from being so moved as to move the second set of tumblers,
which are now left completely isolated. The key tumblers having now all the
same kind of shape, whether they are locked with false or true gates, nothing
can be ascertained from them as to the state of the lock, and as the others
cannot be got at in any way whatever, the attempt must be abandoned as hope-
less. Those two touching edges of the key tumblers which abut against and
move the main tumblers must be allowed so much play as not to admit of
the key tumblers touching in those parts when in the gates. There must be
more play between the two tumblers than between the key tumblers and
the stump. This is of the utmost importance, and, if not attended to, the
lock could be picked.
The notches a, a, of the main tumbler are made wider at their entrance,
and the face of the second stump F is formed to correspond, as shewn in
Figures 13 and 14; but the position of the stump on the bolt is such, that:
when the stump is brought into one of the notches a, a, the tumbler is raised
out of contact with the interior of the key tumbler, and takes the position:
shewn in Figure 14, sustaining the whole of the pressure on the bolt. The
same principle might be carried out by giving one or both sets of tumblers a
parallel motion instead of an angular one, but I consider the latter arrange-
ment to be the most preferable.
The second part of my Invention consists in providing a curtain or screen;
whereby all inspection of the interior of tumbler locks is prevented. For this
purpose I fit inside the lock a ring, or set of rings, or plates, one for each
tumbler, which rings or plates come between the key and the tumblers, and
are caused to move so as to act on the tumblers by the steps or wards on
the key.
Figure 15 is an elevation of part of a lock, shewing the application of a
curtain or screen according to this part of my Invention. This curtain is
composed of a set of rings M, one for each tumbler, which rest on two friction
rollers N, N, and are carried round by the bits of the key, so as to raise the
tumblers while the bolt is being shot. The bits of the key do not come in.
contact with the tumblers, but act only on the rings, which arrangement.
prevents any inspection of the interior through the keyhole.
Figure 16 is a back view of a lock constructed according to the first and.
second parts of my Invention, and Figure 17 is a cross section of the same..
Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 are different views of some of the parts detached.
A, A, is the case of the lock; B, B, are the key tumblers; C is the bolt; and

page_text: ing of the bolt, and when an attempt is made to force back the bolt, is the
same as before described.
Figure 23 is a back view of a modification of the lock just described, in
which a series of circular plates J', J', are employed without a saddle, in lieu
of the plates J, J, and saddle O, in Figures 16 and 17. The plates J', J', are
slotted out so as to slide on the square pins K, K, and fall against the bits of
the key, when the curtain plate G is turned in precisely the same manner as
the plates J, J, in Figures 16, 17, and 22.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
Invention is,
First, the addition to locks of a second set of tumblers, so arranged that in
the ordinary course of action they shall be moved by the key tumblers or
ordinary set, but when an attempt is made to pick the lock, by seeking for
the true notches or gates in the key tumblers, this connection shall be severed,
and the additional tumblers shall then come into play and sustain the whole
strain thrown upon the bolt, and ease the key tumblers of any strain whatever
through the bolt, and at the same time the key tumblers shall become so
locked and restrained in their action, as no longer to admit of the additional
tumblers being moved or in any way whatever interfered with, tested, or
examined.
And, second, the employment of curtain plates without side openings or
joints, to come between the key and the internal mechanism of tumbler
locks, all as herein-before described and set forth in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Simon Holland, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
J. SIMON HOLLAND. (L.S.)