History of Locks
Bramah was justly proud of his invention ; even displaying a lock in his prestigious shop window in Piccadilly , offering a reward that anyone who could produce an instrument to open the lock would receive 200 guineas . This challenge remained prominently on display for many years until , in 1851 it came to the attention of A C Hobbs , an American , exhibiting Day & Newell ’ s locks at the
World Trades Fair in Crystal Palace who accepted the challenge and managed to open the Bramah lock .
The story is well documented , including the conditions under which Hobbs was to work , which in reality would never occur in practice . Despite protests , the prize money was paid . Interestingly , some 25 years later , when Hobbs had returned to America , and was no longer involved with locks , he admitted that he had drilled into a part of the lock , to aid his instruments . He then repaired the hole with a plug and disguised the repair with a dab of acid !
It is said that , the copying of an idea or principle is the highest form of compliment , acknowledging the inventor who originally conceived it . After the expiry of the patents many companies , both in the UK and abroad , have either made direct copies of Bramah ’ s lock or even developed the principle further .
This article is a taster of a far more comprehensive study which is in preparation . Everybody has a chance to do a little bit of ‘ Industrial Archaeology ’. Hopefully this story has inspired you to have a look at your furniture , door locks and padlocks or that tin of keys which you ’ ve kept , in case they might be useful one day .
Look for the unmistakable signs and clues that it ’ s a Bramah style key or lock . Take some pictures , record any words , logos or numbers on the lock or key . Note any comments regarding its provenance , such as how long you have had it and of course any context that you can add .
Please contact me with your findings ; Brian Morland , curator of the Heritage Collection of Locks and Keys , welcomes comments and corrections on historical aspects of locks and keys .
Email : brian @ emorlands . com
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