Locks for Safes, &c

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F. C. Goffln, of New York City, has taken measures to secure a patent for an improved lock for safes, bank, vaults, &c. For this purpose the inventor has made such an arrangement that the mere shifting of the lever which holds the bolt in its position is unavailing to open the lock. He makes use of several tumblers arranged in the ordinary manner, and each having a reeess placed differently in all. Now, to open the lock, all these recesses must agree in order to allow a small pawl attached to the lever before-mentioned, to fall therein, but when the door is locked, this pawl catches in teeth cut on the edges of the tumblers. To open the lock, it is first necessary to detach the pawl from the teeth; this is done by a peculiar-shaped rod. A key, with prongs of different lengths, is next used to bring the tumblers into the required position to allow the pawl to fall into the recesses when the lever can be moved. There are several other checks upon the burglar, one of which is the impossibility of his attaining any knowledge of the recesses of the tumblers. One of the main features in the lock is bhe impossibility of forcing it as no pressure can be obtained on the bolt

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 7This article was published with the title “Locks for Safes, &c” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 7 (), p. 52
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican10301852-52a

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