LATEST NEWS AND CONTACT DETAILS
Chubb Archives 2000 - 2007
The Guildhall Library placed the Archives with their Manuscripts Section for cataloguing and re-organisation. A backlog of work meant a delay of several years before this work began. Even now, much of the documentation remains un-catalogued but I have just been advised that copies of the Lock Registers are available for consultation by members of the public and staff can provide answers to specific enquiries by post or email.
Contact details are on the Links page.
Drawing of the model of Chubb’s Original Detector Lock amongst those on the Aubin Trophy
A WORD OF WARNING:
Recently discovered paperwork (dated 1971) confirms some sequences of serial numbers were duplicated in various years between 1820 and 1930! To be sure of accurately dating a lock requires careful examination of the records. It is vital to receive an accurate description of the lock should these details appear in the register.
Lord Hayter’s 1828 lock on my Home page is unusual in not being marked with a serial number. Housed in a leather bound presentation case, with the label shown on the right, this lock has been handed down through the Chubb family. It was thought to be the only one in existence and to have been individually made for Charles Chubb.
In Sept. 2004 an article in the American Lock Collectors Association Journal, proved this was not the case.
The picture in this extract from the ALCA article clearly shows a similar lock. The serial number 14858 is part of the inscription on the visible side of the bolt head. The owners contacted the Guildhall Library and were advised that lock number 14858 was dispatched to Hatton & Co. in Liverpool, on Dec.23rd 1837.
I have no doubt this information appears against that serial number but we now know that several blocks of serial numbers were duplicated and I believe this lock was almost certainly made at about the same time as Lord Hayter’s. Major factors are the design of the detector mechanism and the bolt head inscription “Chubbs Improved Patent”.
The 1833 New Patent introduced a completely new design of detector and lever shape.
Although the label says “made for the Bank of England”, the lock is obviously intended as a sample. The belief is, having secured orders from England’s National Bank, Charles Chubb instructed production of several identical samples (his un-numbered and therefore unique), with a view to securing similar orders overseas.
Throughout the 1800s Chubb produced samples of their different lock models with the lock case ‘cut-out’ to show the internal mechanism. Two keys were included, one of them being a ‘false’ key to demonstrate the function of the detector mechanism. Providing a leather bound case gave them protection during transit to potential customers.
This photograph shows a sample drawer lock from my collection. The serial number dates it to 1859.
MY CONTACT DETAILS ARE ON THE LINKS PAGE
Only one of the keys shown above will operate the lock correctly. The other is ‘false’ key.
SERIAL NUMBERS ON CHUBB SAFES, STRONGROOM DOORS ETC.
Chubb Safe circa 1859 - originally shipped to Melbourne, Australia. [My apologies for its appearance]
Although Chubb registered their first Safe Patent in 1835 they did not begin serially numbering the equipment until 1845, some eight years after opening the first manufacturing plant in London.
The numbers were recorded along with details about the product and delivery arrangements. Chubb continued numbering all Safes, Doors and other Safe Works products until manufacturing ceased in Wolverhampton in the late 1990s.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SAFE RECORDS WERE NEVER PART OF THE CHUBB ARCHIVE. SINCE 1908 THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KEPT AT THE WEDNESFIELD ROAD SITE IN WOLVERHAMPTON.
I have recently been given copies of paperwork issued to Chubb Branch Offices during 1985 which have details of serial numbers and the corresponding years of manufacture. These ‘sales circulars’ include similar details for equipment made by the Hobbs Hart, Milner, Chatwood and Chatwood Milner Companies.
If you have a serially numbered Chubb Lock or Safe, or a numbered product from any of the other companies mentioned above and wish to know the date of manufacture, I’ll be pleased to answer your enquiry - FREE OF CHARGE
