578

ON LOCKS AND KEYS.

it does not contain the more recent improvements* in at least threeparticulars, and had remained so long in the window of Messrs.Bramah and Co., without an experiment having been attempted,that the proposal of Mr. Hobbs somewhat surprised them; after hisappearance, however, no alteration could of course be made withoutincurring the risk of being charged with preparing a test lock for theoccasion. Messrs. Bramah and Co. have fitted upf the same lockwith such improvements as they now use, which they feel surewill effectually frustrate the attacks of persons as skilful as thecelebrated American, and have restored it with its challenge tothe place of honour it has occupied in their window, 124, Picca-dilly, for half a century. Mr. Hobbs has not made a secondattempt, although invited to do so.

‘‘ The public, while they admire the expertness with which thismechanical feat has been performed, will not attach more impor-tance to it than it deserves, or undervalue the merit of our bestlocks, because an American operator, highly accomplished in suchmatters, has succeeded, after an arduous struggle, in opening them.The facilities given to him were such as no thief could everpossess, even if he had the necessary ability ; and it is quite clearthat the operation has not been one of ordinary picking.”

The following is a description, so far as can begiven in words, of the mode in which Mr. Hobbsoperated on the Bramah lock:—“The first pointto be attained was to free the sliders from thepressure of the spiral spring; the spring was verypowerful, pressing with a force of between thirtyand forty pounds; and until this was counter-acted, the sliders could not be readily moved in

* “ The lock was the same in every particular as the locks made and sold byMessrs. Bramah at the present day.”— Mr. Hobbs.

t “ The lock was fitted with a trap, so that anything but its true key, or the truekey with the least dust in it, would so disarrange the lock that it could not be openedby any means applied through the keyhole."— Mr. Hobbs.