| Hobbs Anti-Violence Locks
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Illustration from an early Hobbs catalogue and shows how the Violence lock interacts with the bolt-work.
Another arrangement HERE
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Examples of some of the specially engineered tools used by Victorian safebreakers and which the Hobbs 'Violence' locks were designed to defeat.
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18" Violence Protector Lock
Features include: Both Protector patents, gunpowder proof qualities, 8 levers - alternate double and triple pocketed, and a live relocker system.
Case Size: 444mm x 127mm. 8 levers. Serial number: 48840
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12" Violence Protector Lock
A more compact version used on smaller doors. Features include: Both Protector patents, gunpowder proof qualities, 8 double pocketed levers and a live relocker system.
Case Size: 292mm x 118mm. 8 lever. Serial No. 35374
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5" Double Gated Protector Lock
A pair of locks, one left hand the other right hand from the same Progress 'E' quality door.
Features include: The Protector patents, gunpowder proof qualities - note the groves in the body and holes in the bolt head to vent expolsive gases and alternate single and double pocketed levers.
Case Size: 132mm x 95mm. 8 lever. Serial number: 26606
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Hobbs & Co's Patent Violence Protector Locks
The 'Violence' locks were so named because they focused on protecting against physical attack.
Hobbs had already, with their protector patents, dealt with the tentative methods of defeating a lock and were of course incorporated in the violence range of locks.
Additionally though a host of other features specially designed to thwart determined physical attacks made for a very effective system to prevent violent entry.
This included attacks by gunpowder, drilling and chemical solvents.
In the company’s own words - "To destroy the holding power of these locks (even with engineering tools specially designed for the purpose) would require more time and labour than any mechanic could surreptitiously secure to work on them."
Another feature with these locks is that the points of attack could not be determined, due to varitations in size and layout, from the outside of the safe door.
Its also worth noting that it was common to find a Violence lock used in conjunction with a normal Protector lock, or a change key lock, or even 2 Violence locks on the same door.
Locks with 'Violence' features, or 'Ant-Violence' as they became known as, were made in various sizes from 5" (132mm) up to a gigantic 60" (1524mm) and with up to 15 levers.
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| Page 2 of 1 - 2 Pages for the Hobbs Gallery |
If you would like to know more about the artefacts in the collection you are welcome to ask questions or join in with the discussions on the History of Locks Forum.
Simply email requesting a password.
We are keen to extend the artefacts in the collection, don’t hesitate to contact our Curator if you can help in any way.
We especially would like to hear from you if you, or your ancestors, were involved with locks and keys.
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