Any ideas what this is ?

engineer

I bought this Chubb’s safe recently.
When I went to collect it, I was a little surprised at how little it weighs. ( about 50kgs )
The construction looks like a bent steel banded safe but the keys are very odd too.
They seem to be original and stamped with ‘Chubbs springless lock’
Any thoughts would be welcome.

Alan Morgan

Are there any serial numbers on the safe or lock please?

Brian Morland MLA Hon

The Chubb Springless lock was designed as a till lock and is not really heavy enough for the application shown, so I’m not sure that the safe is Chubb manufactured. It might be a single skin safe, the door itself seems to be fabricated from two thin sheets (look at the picture where the lock has been crudely soldered in). I think this is an early example of a safe that’s been made to dupe the public. The Springless lock was patented hence the claim on the escutcheon!

The Chubb 1913 catalogue lists this lock at 28 shillings per dozen and spare keys at 4d each. The numbers on the lock (6639 & 1910) is the patent number and the year.

engineer

Alan,
Thanks for the response and your help.
The lock is stamped on the face. This can be seen from the photo.
It is stamped with ;-

Chubb’s Springless Lock
1910
No 6639

Your thoughts ?

Brian Morland MLA Hon

The Victorian period is also known as the era of the great swindles. Yale published in there hemi-centennial booklet (c1917/18) accounts of litigation’s where similar products were made or logos and trade marks that were close to their own design. In some quarters these products becoming collectors items in there own right. The safe in question quite legitimately having a patent Chubb lock, inferring that the safe was also a Chubb, is a fine example of this practice.

Russell Stoner

Hi guys

This safe is NOT a Chubb. Its age is not younger than 1910. Banded safes were last made then. It is entirely possible that the safe was made as a special & fitted with a Chubb General cupboard lock.

It may be possible to establish if the safe has had a plate positioned above the door handle. Look closely for any professional filling work. It is also possible that if not visable from the front. Look behind the door mechanism. You may see a minimum of 2 holes from the inside. These will be whitworth threaded. If the safe was made to fit a safe lock, you will have a lock bolt cut out.

Regards
Russell
Withy Grove

engineer wrote
Alan,
Thanks for the response and your help.
The lock is stamped on the face. This can be seen from the photo.
It is stamped with ;-

Chubb’s Springless Lock
1910
No 6639

Your thoughts ?

[unknown]