Tann flyer from 1866 depicting medals awarded at two early exhibitions, 1851 & 1867. The reliance lever and the guarded lever are also described.
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A plain fretted lock, beautiful in its simplicity.
RELIANCE PATENT Many of the top lock makers at the time incorporated what we now call a live relocker within the lock mechanism itself – Tann referred to theirs as the ‘Reliance Patent’ and it is a feature in many of the exhibition locks. Another distinctive Tann feature is those with a nozzle (Tann locks are marked Nozle). This is not simply a bezel as might be expected at first glance. It is actually a double chamber where the key is inserted, turned part way round and pushed in further when continued rotation engages the mechanism. The purpose of this is to prevent any possibility of inspection of the lock interior either by sight or instruments. Nozzle locks were used on the top of the range applications and included such prestigious customers as the Bank of England and the Royal Mint.
The Exhibition locks are varied as to function and size and many incorporate more than one of Tann’s patents or features. But these early locks are also silver and gilt plated, highly engraved and fretted which has turned each piece into a work of art equally as beautiful to behold as the individual locks on the Aubin Trophy. It Is well-known that the production locks were made for Tann and to their specification by Walters, but it is not known if the exhibition locks were also made by Walters - or if production locks were fretted and decorated by Tann’s own apprentices. As time went by the locks became less ornate but still fretted; this changing style still looking impressive for its simplicity. The emphasis was on showing off what Tann’s were capable of in respect of the range of products. One intriguing mystery is the range and scope of these locks. Tann, a maker of safes and strongrooms. were exhibiting their patents and principles in the form of domestic locks, there does not seem to be any safe locks. This is somewhat strange since Tann were primarily safe makers. Perhaps this was to present Tann features that would be more readily understood by the public or indeed, maybe the domestic lock market was also pursued. Another theory is the actual size and configuration of their safe locks might in itself be a weakness if the exact penetration points were publically revealed.
Top: A 4” (102mm) lock featuring Tann Guarded Lever, Reliance Patent and Detector. Middle: Early Tann 6” (152mm) lock featuring three guarded levers, and detector. Also notice the arrangement of the levers, 4 pivoted on the right and 4 pivoted on the left.
One thing is certain: although now and then a Tann padlock is found, normal domestic locks are not. Even in the final years, Tann had designs (quite literally) on the domestic lock market. Bill Stanton, who had designed and patented the Chubb 3G110 and security range locks some 20 years earlier, and now with Tann developed a similar lock for Tann – so quite clearly the domestic market was still sought. But whatever the motivations were, the fact that a good number of these exhibition locks have survived has given excellent insight, embodying one aspect of the heritage of the early English lockmaking trade. Brian welcomes comments and corrections on historical aspects of locks and keys. He can be contacted directly by e-mail: [email protected]
Two later style Tann showcase locks with a simpler fretting style.
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THE JUL/AUG 2013 ISSUE SPONSORED BY ALDRIDGE
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