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A
TREATISE ON FIRE & THIEF-PROOF DEPOSITORIES
&
LOCKS & KEYS
BY GEORGE PRICE
1856
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PREFACE
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Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
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Chapter II
The early history of the Iron Safe Trade
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Chapter III
On fire-resisting and thief-proof Safes, and the Specifications of all the Patents in conection therewith.
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Chapter IV
What is required in an Iron Safe to make it secure against thieves and fire.
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Chapter V
On the Iron Safes in general use
Chapter VI
The two principals on which Safes are made fire-proof
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Chapter VII
On the preservation of Parchment Deeds from destruction by steam and damage by water
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Chapter VIII
On fire-proof Closets and Strong Rooms
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Chapter IX
The best place for a fire-proof Safe to occupy
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Chapter X
On powder proof Locks
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Chapter XI
On the comparitive prices of wrought-iron, fire-resisting and thief-proof Safes
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Chapter XII
On Testimonials
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ON LOCKS & KEYS
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Chapter XIII
Early history
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Chapter XIV
On the Old Locks and Keys
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Chapter XV
The Lock Controversy previous and during the Great Exhibition of 1851
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Chapter XVI
On the Modern Locks
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Chapter XVII
The Lock Controversy since the closing of the Great Exhibition of 1851
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Chapter XVIII
On Keys
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Chapter XIX
The various kinds of Locks and there compative prices
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Chapter XX
An historical ccount of Wolverhampton - Its Lock-Trade and Locksmiths
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Chapter XXI
Useful hints in connection with iron safes and Locks and Keys
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Appendix
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A
TREATISE ON FIRE & THIEF-PROOF DEPOSITORIES
AND
LOCKS AND KEYS
BY
GEORGE PRICE
1856
ON FIRE AND THIEF-PROOF DEPOSITRIES
Chapter III
On fire-resisting and thief-proof Safes, and the Specifications of all the Patents in conection therewith.
The making of iron safes fire-proof, although such an important desideratum from the first, does not appear to have been thought of until about the year 1834, when, from the following list of patents connected with the trade, it will be seen that Mr Marr was the first to introduce improvement:
1. William Marr, London, February 13th, 1834.
2. Charles Chubb, London, May 13th, 1838.
3. Thomas Milner, Liverpool, February 26th, 1840.
4. Edward Tann, Edward Tann, jun., John Tann, London, November 25th, 1843.
5. William Milner, Liverpool, March 3rd, 1851.
6. George Price, Wolverhampton, January 31st, 1855.
When once the necessity of preserving the valuable property usually placed in iron safes from the destructive effects of fire was admitted, the first idea that would naturally present itself to the mind of the manufacturer would be to use such a substance in the chambers of the safe , as should, by its non-conducting power retard the transmission of heat, or by its properties neutralize its action. The former was the principal first adopted, as in Marrs' specification he says:-
"My improved inner fire-proof case within which any combustible property may be placed, has a lining or covering of mica or tale, split into very thin laminę, and fixed to sheets of thin paper by gum arabic, and in that state is used to line or cover the two surfaces of the metal plates that form the inner fire-proof case.
"The space formed between the two surfaces of mica or tale should be completely filled or packed full of any suitable non-conductor of heat. The substance or compound represented in the drawing annexed to the specification is burned clay and powdered charcoal; but the chambers may be also , and with equal advantage, filled with dust or very small particles of marble, porcelain, slightly burned clay, &c., or any other suitable non-conductor of heat, either natural, artificial, or compound; and which being applied and combined with my improved lining or covering of mica or tale will assist in keeping it spread and stationary over the surfaces of the plates that form the inner fire-proof case."
Chubb who secured the next patent, says, in his specification:-
"My invention consists in applying two or three internal linings of iron plate to the receptacle, one lining within another, leaving narrow spaces between each lining, and filling up those spaces with some such slow conducting materials as will retard the transmission of heat, such as baked wood-ashes or charcoal, fragments of earthenware, pottery, tiles, or bricks, or sand-stone, broken small and rammed into such places, or course sand or small gravel sifted, or fragments of slate put in edge ways, or other slow conducting material, to be applied in the shape of grains or powder. The non-conducting materials may be put into bags or even cases made of cartridge paper, and put into the spaces. The materials may also be put into metal cases."
The reader will most likely smile at the simplicity of these specifications; but the early efforts of most inventors have generally been of a similar character.
The third patent (Thomas Milner's, 1840) is for:-
" Constructing or forming, or manufacturing boxes, safes, or other depositories, of an outer case of iron or other metal, or material, enclosing one, two, or more inner cases, with spaces or chambers between them, containing an absorbent material or composition, such as porous-wood, dust of wood, dust of bones, or similar substances, in which are distributed vessels, pipes or tubes filled with an alkaline solution or any other liquid or matter evolving steam or moisture, the tubes or vessels bursting or otherwise discharging themselves on the exposure of the box or other depository to heat or fire, into the surrounding absorbent matter, which thus pervaded with moisture, and rendered difficult of destruction, protects the inner cases or boxes and their contents."
The specification states the inventor does not claim the making boxes with compartments filled with non-conducting substances for the purposes of resisting fire, "as that has been done before;" but he claims -
"The introduction or application of the combined effect in chambered boxes or depositories of the materials kept humid in the space surrounding the innermost box and its contents, without in any way being confined to the materials or liquid employed, or to the manner in which it may be distributed or arranged in order to introduce the desired effect."
This unquestionably was an improvement far in advance of the previous ones, and is the principle upon which the majority of the makers of the present day make their chest and safes fire-proof; but it is to Messrs. Tann, who in 1843, took out the forth patent, founded upon the same principle, but effected by different and simpler means, that the credit is due for having succeeded in producing the same vapour or steam by the use of a natural element, and thus perfecting such a valuable, certain, and scientific discovery. Their invention "consists in forming the chests with triple bodies one within the other, leaving spaces between the bodies, and filling up such space with the following compound: ground alum finely sifted, and Austin's cement, or gypsum, finely sifted. Either of the two latter substances are mixed with the alum, and heated to liquefaction in an iron pot, stirring the mixture carefully during the process; it is then poured into an heavy iron tray to cool; it is then in a sold and compact form, and is to be coarsely pounded when required for use." This mixture the patentees prefer; but "any non-conductors of heat may be used, and for alum may be substituted sulphate of potash, muriate of ammonia, borax, impure potash, nitrate of soda, soda in cake, pearl ash, or any of the known alkalies."
The principle having already been patented by Milner, in 1840, he considered Tanns' method an infringement, and commenced an action against a Mr Harrison, of Liverpool, who was selling Tanns' safes and boxes, and advertising himself as the sole proprietor of the same, which came on for trial in the Court of Queen's Bench, June 23rd , 1851, before Lord Campbell and a special Jury, the result being that they found a verdict for the plaintiff, Mr Milner. The defendant, Harrison, still continuing to sell Tanns' safes and boxes, an application was made on Thursday, the 25th of September, before his Honour Vice-Chancellor Sir George Turner, at Bath, on behalf of Mr. William Milner,1 for an injunction to restrain the defendant, or his agents, servants, &c., from making, using, vending, &c., during the remainder of the term mentioned in the Letters Patent, granted to Mr. Thomas Milner, any boxes, safes or other depositories, made in such or the like manner, or on the same or the like principle, or in anywise counterfeiting, imitating, or resembling the said invention; and on Monday, August the 2nd, the injunction was made perpetual against the defendant, his agents, or makers, or any others using such materials; the defendant's bill of exceptions and writs of error cancelled, and he was ordered to pay the costs of three actions, and penalty of £500 was imposed upon any one making, vending, buying, using, or holding these safes, during the remainder of the term for which the Letters Patent had to run. The pecuniary advantages resulting from being the sole manufacturer of fire-proof safes on this, the principle which has been found so eminently successful, was a sufficient inducement to Mr William Milner to petition the court, in 1854, for a renewal of his patent, and the case came by adjournment before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, when Mr. Webster, on behalf of Mr. Milner, stated that he abandoned the petition, as sufficient evidence could not be given to their lordships for the renewal of the patent, and which therefore expired for England, Ireland, and Scotland, in 1854.2
The Messrs. Tann, who were compelled to relinquish their invention, in their disclaimer, state, that "having in their specification claimed the construction and adaptation of compound and double or triple bodies or cases placed one within side the other in succession, leaving spaces between the contiguous bodies, and closing and filling such spaces with the heat-resisting composition therein described, and having since learnt that part of the invention is not new," they disclaim "making iron rooms, safes, &c., with separate spaces between the contiguous bodies;" also, "they disclaim the use of muriate of ammonia, impure potash, nitrate of soda, soda in cake, pearl ash, or any other of the known alkalies."
The fifth patent, by William Milner, (1851,) is for closing the doors of safes and boxes by means of a continuous bolt or bolts on all sides of the same, extending or expanding into suitable continuous groves, rebates, or recesses, formed within the font of such safe or box," which he terms "flame protectors;" also "to coat or cover the inside of the outer plate of the safe ith a preparation of pulverized quartz, or similar infusible material, mixed with a small proportion of hard wood dust, to be made into cement, applied wet and then dried, for the purpose of more effectually resisting the action of intense fire in the interior of such safes."
This invention is the most useless of any either before or since introduced. As flame always follows the direction of the air, it could not by possibility get inside the safe or chest without first making a hole in some other part to cause a draught.3
The sixth and last patent, dated January 31st, 1855, by myself, is as follows:-
First - To paint or coat the inside of the body and the inside lining or casing, and also the iron sheets or plates forming the chamber of the lock-case of fire-proof safes, chests and boxes, with a composition to prevent oxidation or eating away of the iron by the action of the salt or moisture contained in such chambers.4
I was induced to adopt this remedy from having, on examining a safe made fire-proof on the steam-generating principal, discovered that the iron plates and sheets enclosing the composition were considerably weakened by oxidation, produced by the chemical employed.5
Secondly - For case-hardening the doors or lids and outer body of iron safes, chests, and boxes, or any part thereof, which gives to the surface of the iron plates the hardness of steel, and thereby renders them drill proof.
Thirdly - For inserting the locks used for iron safes, chests, and boxes, a series of compartments formed of strips of iron or other metal, and divided transversely, or of metal cast in the honey-comb form, in those parts of such locks not occupied by the works, so as to prevent a sufficient quantity of gunpowder being placed therein for the purpose of blowing them open.
Fourthly - For inserting in that part of iron safes, chests, and boxes, called the lock-chamber, compartments or cellular work, so that were a hole to be drilled through the front plate of the door, here could not be inserted through the aperture, a quantity of gunpowder, which, if exploded, would be sufficient to force the lock-case inwards or the door outwards.6
A patent obtained by William Milner, dated February 20th, 1854, and another dated December 20th 1854, though more particularly belonging to the chapter on powder-proof locks, may also be noticed here, as the latter comprises the filling of the large lock chambers of iron safes with a solid substance, as "hard wooden packing." The former specification states:-
" This invention is designed for the purpose of protecting locks, of whatever construction they may be, from the destructive effect of gunpowder, or other explosive agent, and is more particularly intended to be applied to safes or such strong depositories as are required to be secured from the invasion of burglars or others. My improvement in locks consists in filling up all the open space or spaces usually left around the 'tumblers and other working parts of locks, leaving only sufficient space for the turning of the key, the slight lifting of the tumblers, and the limited action of the springs, &c.; thus substituting for what has commonly been the 'box' of the lock almost a solid block of metal. This 'filling' may be effected either by casting or forming the lock solid with the exception only of exactly the open space required for the working or operative portions of the lock; or it may be made so as to be formed upon the 'cap' of the lock and fitted into the ordinary box of the lock, and thus also leave only sufficient space required for working or opening and closing the lock. It will be evident, therefore, that the space which has ordinarily formed a receptacle for a large and destructive quantity of gunpowder being by my invention reduced to the smallest possible capacity, and the resistance also thus afforded to the effect of explosion, will preserve the lock from destruction by any such means, and will necessarily cause the discharge of the violence through the key-hole"7
It may be as well to remark here, that it is usual with burglars, in operating upon a lock with gunpowder, to plug the key-hole, so as to cause the force of the explosion to "tell" against the lock or lock-case, and thus prevent " the discharge of the violence through the key-hole"
The other specification states -
"These improvements apply principally to that part of the door of fire-proof or fire-resisting safes called the 'lock case,' that is, the chamber between the inner and outer door plates, in which the large bolts are usually placed and secured by the lock when shot or thrown into their corresponding recesses or bolt-holes in the top, bottom, and side of the safe.
"The first part of my improvement is designed to extend the principle of preventing the destructive effect of gunpowder or other explosive compound or gent, in a similar manner as that secured to me by Letters Patent, dated the 20th day of February, 1854, as therein particularly applied to 'locks of safes.'
"The present improvement consists in filling up all the open space or spaces usually left between the inner and outer plates forming the door, with wood or other similar suitable material, leaving only sufficient space for the seat or position of the lock, and the working passage of the bolts. It will therefore be evident that the great space forming the 'lock-case' in doors of safes, &c., which has heretofore been a receptacle for a large and destructive quantity of gunpowder, is by this invention prevented from being available, as it is filled or reduced to the smallest practicable capacity.
" The Second part of my improvements is a further reduction of the space or room for the action or presence of gunpowder, and application to the description of lock before-mentioned as the subject-matter of the patent herein recited, and is effected by filling up nearly two-thirds of the space ordinarily left in locks for the passage of the key, and leaving only sufficient room to pass the key in, perform the operation of locking or unlocking, and withdrawing the key immediately it has performed these operations, instead of turning the key round a complete revolution, as hitherto done, and by this improvement the available space for the presence or action of gunpowder is reduced to a minimum."
I am unable to discern any difference in principle between Milner's first and second patents and Walter H Tuckers, dated October 1st, 1852, except, that in Milner's first patent "the space which has ordinarily formed a receptacle for a large and destructive quantity of gunpowder being by "his invention reduced to the smallest possible capacity," is in his second reduced to a minimum."
The specifications of both these patents, together with Tucker's will be fully described and illustrated by the diagrams in the chapter on powder-proof locks.
1 Son and successor of the late Thomas Milner
2 See Appendix A.
3 How seldom it is that the mantle of the father descends upon the son.
4 "Iron when exposed to the action of a dry atmosphere suffers but little change; but if moisture be present it soon oxidizes" - Barnes's London Chemical Pocket Book.
5 The safe here referred to was sold to me as a "Milner's Patent Fire-proof safe," by his agent, Mr. B. Hall, Stationer, High Street, Birmingham.
6 The granting of this patent met with the most determined and powerful opposition from Mr. Milner, who was ably assisted by the eminent counsel, Mr. Webster; but after several hearings before the Solicitor-General, and the filing, on the part of the opposition, of numerous affidavits, the Solicitor-General was perfectly satisfied of its originality and merits, and ordered it to proceed; and it was sealed accordingly on the 6th of July 1855.
7 This is identical with the gunpowder-proof solid lock patented by Walter H Tucker, in 1852, as will be seen by comparing the drawings and the description of both locks. See the chapter on powder-proof locks.
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