George L. Damon

wylk · 2013-03-28T22:18:27+00:00

I’ve been studying bank vaults for several years, specifically the styles of boltwork on large round doors roughly from 1890 to 1950. I think it’s an interesting combination of ingenuity, artistry, and brute strength. I though I’d share some of my research. The good news is that you can learn quite a bit just using the internet including others’ contributions here on antique-locks; the bad news is I live in a small town well removed from most major cities which limits hands-on observations. My first topic is George L. Damon. He’s an easy choice because there isn’t much to say, though for a time his work was fairly common in New England and many examples still survive. First some biographical information, then examples of his work in later posts. If anybody has additions/corrections, feel free to say something. A detailed biography (up to 1892) of George Damon with a photo: http://books.google.com/books?id=quE-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=damon+safe+vault&source=bl&ots=t6xYxrWzez&sig=TrMKEUYE3zrVKZmVQVxwIWrTT-E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4C3BUNWmFq-WyAGm_4CoAg&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=damon%20safe%20vault&f=false (page 142 of the book which is page 149 of the PDF file). The book is “Massachusetts Of To-Day, A Memorial of the State, Historical and Biographical, Issued for the World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 1892” (the exposition was dedicated on October 21, 1892 but actually ran from May 1 to October 30 of 1893). A transcript of the text follows – [INDENT]To the mechanical genius and business enterprise of George Leonard Damon, president of the Damon Safe and Iron Works Company, is largely due to the high stage of development which the safe industry has attained in America. He was born in Stoughton, Mass., July 15, 1843, the son of Leonard and Elizabeth P. (Linfield) Damon. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Stoughton and of East Boston, whither his parents removed when he was twelve years old. After graduating from the Adams School, in 1861, he went to the Harrison Loring Works in South Boston as apprentice, his special aim being to qualify himself as a mechanical engineer for the construction of marine engines, the building of vessels, and all kinds of iron steamship work. His progress was so marked that on the completion of his apprenticeship he received a responsible position from Charles Staples & Son, of Portland, Me., who had obtained a contract for the construction of a light-draught monitor. In 1866, with others, he bought out the safe manufacturing business in Boston of the Tremont Safe Company. After conducting that business two years and a half the firm sold out to the American Steam Safe Company, and Mr. Damon returned to Portland and was made a partner with C. Staples & Son, where he did a large amount of special designing of stationary and marine engine work and added to his reputation as a mechanical engineer. In 1870 he was induced to return to Boston to take charge of the manufacturing department of the American Steam Safe Company, successors of the old firm of Denio & Roberts, and four years later bought out the entire plant. Since then his business has steadily increased, until now he has the manufactory in Cambridgeport, and has also established a large plant in Philadelphia, giving constant employment to two hundred men. Mr. Damon has constructed vaults for most of the banks and safe deposit companies in New England, and for several years furnished all the work of this class ordered by the United States Treasury Department. The large vaults in use by the Treasury Department at Washington and every sub-treasury vault in the country, including those in San Francisco, have been constructed by Mr. Damon. In the seventies, at the request of Secretary of the Treasury Bristow, he remodelled the United States Treasury vaults at New York. All the labor, requiring a number of workmen, had to be performed outside of business hours, and during the whole time of reconstruction nearly two hundred million dollars were stored in the vaults constantly within arms’ reach of the workmen. Mr. Damon safely accomplished the task without a cent of loss and to the great satisfaction of the government officials. The numerous safes and vaults in the great Exchange Building, the Boston Safe Deposit Company, Old Colony Trust Company, and Bay State Trust Company, were of his construction. A consolidation of all the safe manufacturing interests of the country has just been effected, with a capital of five million dollars, and Mr. Damon has been elected its treasurer.[/INDENT] The “consolidation” mentioned at the end was an attempted joining of safe and vault companies to eliminate competition. This was attempted several times over several years but did not in fact occur. There is a discussion on antique-locks with a thread entitled “The Unbelievable Safe Combine of 1899 That Almost Happened” which includes many references. A few other short references include http://en.allexperts.com/q/Antique-Safes-3774/2011/5/old-safe-36.htm, http://en.allexperts.com/q/Antique-Safes-3774/2008/12/Great-Grandad-Safe.htm, and http://en.allexperts.com/q/Antique-Safes-3774/2012/5/damon-safe.htm. A very short biography/obituary at http://records.ancestry.com/George_Leonard_Damon_records.ashx?pid=72451297 which claims he was born in 1842 instead of 1843: Born in Stoughton, No Kids, Massachusetts, USA on 15 Jul 1842 to Leonard Damon and Elizabeth Porter Linfield. George Leonard married Aralyn P Leavitt. He passed away on 31 Jul 1915 in Hull, Vault, Massachusetts, USA. His wife’s name is sometimes spelled Aralyn (as above), or Arolyne; Arolyn P. Damon is the assignee of US patent 666,185. He is also discussed in American Genius on pages 220-221 (Damon’s Bank Lock Company, roughly 1870-1895) and page 254 (Damon purchased almost all of S&G’s Triple C time locks through 1914). Not much is known beyond about 1892. Per American Genius the company was still buying time locks through 1914. Doug MacQueen states the company was still listed in 1918. I would assume the company was eventually absorbed by one of the other companies (Diebold, Mosler, Herring-Hall-Marvin, York, etc.) but I don’t know this. Interesting patents include 609,416 for gravity/cam operated boltwork (as we’ll see in Burlington, VT), 635,668 for a round double door (as seen at SpringHill Suites in Baltimore), 901,425 for a spring-loaded adjustable hinge, and 952,981 for a link-arm locking mechanism seen on round doors. A more complete list of patents (not including those pertaining to other subjects e.g. 251,528): 102,780 “Improvements in Bolts for Safes &c.” (disconnects bolt handle when locked) 200,823 “Improvement in Burglar-Proof Safes” (adjustment for wear of hinges) 252,435 “Burglar-Proof Safe” (construction methods) 270,114 “Permutation Lock” by O. E. Pillard. Though there is no direct connection with Damon, this patent date is reportedly found on a Damon lock (“Geo L Damon, patented Jan 2 83”, http://en.allexperts.com/q/Antique-Safes-3774/2010/11/Damon-Safe.htm) and Pillard lived in the same area (Cambridge) as Damon (Boston/Cambridge) so perhaps Damon used Pillard’s patent. 311,419 ”Means for Locking and Unlocking the Doors of Safes, &c.” 437,682 “Electric Safe Lock” 440,695 “Safe Door” (improved construction) 470,818 “Safe” (door/frame construction) 522,153 “Safe Lock” (solid seating of doors and jambs) 575,705 “Closure for Safes or Vaults” (a cylindrical door roughly like the NY Fed’s) 593,200 “Safe or Vault” (wedge-sealed door) 609,416 “Safe Boltwork” (independent bolt-throwing) 614,421 “Safe” (safe/vault construction to foil burglars) 635,668 “Safe” (round, double door) 666,185 “Thermostatic Appliance for Boltwork” (thermal relocker) 901,425 “Mounting for Heavy Vault Doors” (adjustable spring-loaded hinges) 901,710 “Movable Ventilator for Vaults” (not an emergency ventilator) 908,448 “Mounting Heavy Doors of Safes and Vaults” (adjustable spring-loaded hinges) 918,952 “Vault or Safe” (method to join plates) 918,953 “Vault or Safe” (method to join plates) 952,980 “Door for Safes and Vaults” (vestibule and door to allow repair from inside) 952,981 “Locking Mechanism for Safes” (link-arm boltwork) 954,670 “Construction of Vestibules of Armor-Plate Vaults” 956,889 “Controlling Device for Bolt Operating Mechanisms” (motor triggered by time & locks) The earliest patent indicates residence in Portland, Maine (120,780 granted 5/10/1870), later Boston and nearby Cambridge (200,823 filed 1/22/1878 thru 666,185 filed 2/9/1898), and later Pittsburgh (901,425 filed 9/16/1907 through 956,889 filed 8/24/1908).

Ryan Krakowsky

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on a Damon safe I have. It is about 3′×3′×3′, has two dials, has been closed for anywere from 20-100 years, and I do not know the combination. It is in what used to be the office of an old mill building in New England. If I hire a locksmith to open it, I am worried he will damage the safe. Is there a way to open it myself?

I would attempt to crack the combination myself (by listening for clicks, etc.), but I’m not sure how a two dial safe differs from a single dial. Are there two sets of 3 numbers (6 total), or would it require one number on each dial (two total)? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

rpd92,

Damon frequently used dual locks to avoid lockouts on his safes. The correct combination on either one of the dials will open it. The lock will be a 4 wheel (4 number combination). Can you post photos? Also, I sent you a PM.

Ryan

wylk

I stumbled across a beautiful image of the door at Cipriani Club Residences, 55 Wall Street. The image below is reduced in size, the full-size image can be accessed via: http://machareimages.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dsc_8614-2.jpg and in particular http://machareimages.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dsc_8614-2.jpg

The image also clarifies that it is a double-door arrangement. And that they appear to be in very good condition.

wylk

My mistake, in my previous post about the Cipriani door, the first URL should read:

http://machareimages.wordpress.com/

wylk

I recently ran across an interesting panoramic view of the George Damon vault at SpringHill Suites in Baltimore (which was discussed earlier):

I see they have re-carpeted the area. Many more images are at http://www.open.tours/single-post/2016/09/26/Converted-Bank-Vault-Board-Room including a Google virtual tour.

wylk

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, there is a former bank (Lehigh Valley Trust Company, founded 1886) which is now an event venue called Vault 634. There is a York door but the star of the show (for me) is a beautiful George Damon door. The boltwork is unusual and unlike other Damon doors we’ve seen. This example seems to be missing its lock. I suspect it is an elaboration of his US patent 609,416 (sheet 2) which was issued August 23, 1898. Part of the boltwork seems to be hidden. The corresponding vault is now a bar. (That’s not me in the third image).

wylk

Another image of the Allentown door –

Doug MacQueen

That Damon door is really nice. I might have to make road trip to see that one up close.

VaultDoors

I found a few Damon patents not listed here:

115445 IMPROVEMENT IN PERMUTATION LOCKS
115714 IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR OPERATING SAFE DOORS - Invented with Hiram B. Tripp; possibly Benjamin F. Tripp’s relative?
125180 IMPROVEMENT IN PERMUTATION LOCKS
132068 IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF PAPERS BY FIRE - Invented with Edward W. Glover
199699 LAMP - Patent Assignee
356547 BOLT WORK FOR THE DOORS OF SAFES, VAULTS, ETC - Patent Assignee
668783 TIME LAMPLIGHTING APPARATUS - Patent Assignee
RE4389 A reissue of 102,780

The patent # 120780 is transposed below, the patent # is 102780

Some interesting info:

901710 MOVEABLE VENTILATOR FOR VAULTS (1908) - Invented with Frederick S. Holmes when he was in private practice.

575705 CLOSURE FOR SAFES OR VAULTS (1897) is the first patent I have seen for cylindrical vaults. Frederick S. Holmes was General Superintendent at Damon Safe & Iron Works (Boston, MA and Philadelphia, PA) from 1887-1895. The application for the patent was filed in 1895 so it’s quite possible Holmes was aware of the design and may have inspired his design (along with Remington & Sherman’s cylindrical vault patent 1478085 in 1923) of the NY Fed’s cylindrical vault built in 1924.

There is enough info on Damon here to create his Wikipedia article…

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