Can anyone identify this amazing antique lock - has elements of Bramah...

lorddlm2

Hi there

This lock came out of a Wickwar & Co dispatch box that dates from around 1900. Initially, due to the top plate and lock plate, I thought it was a Bramah lock, but it didnt have its characteristic cylindrical front aperture. When I opened it up, I saw this incredible mechanism and have absolutely no idea who made it, whether it was a customisation etc, and how it even works.

Can anyone identify this lock and tell me a bit more about it?

Many thanks

Suzzie Belcher

Hello Lorddlm2

I’m not sure if this is of help, I searched your reference to Wickwar & Co and have found a link that reads that a Samuel Mordan & Co lock was used in this particular Dispatch Box.
see link to
Christopher Clarke Antiques

Paul Prescott

A search for Davis should reveal all. Interesting though that the one you have is unmarked, so perhaps a later replacement lock made to the old design. They are usually marked and engraved and of finer quality.

Suzzie Belcher

So would I be correct that Lordlm2’s lock takes the very pretty, interestingand individual George Davis key shape?
I also thought it odd that it didn’t have any makers markings, and I tried in vein to search the stamped number.
Just wondering how many permutations of the keyway could there have been?
George Davis, a new name for me to start learning about, any advice on which direction that I should start looking Paul?

Suzzie Belcher

There is a link to the Lock Collectors webpage showing some more information here

lorddlm2

[LEFT]Thank you both so much for taking the time to respond. I was fascinated to find out this information on the lock, as there were absolutely no markings on it (besides a stamped number) to give any clues. Now for a life-long quest to get a key to operate it…

[/LEFT]

lorddlm2

Does anyone know the original address of George Davis’s locksmith business, and when he was established in business?

I only have Windsor, Berkshire thus far.

Suzzie Belcher

Hi,
I find that a good place to start a search is the London Gazette.

I have done a quick search and have found a couple George Davis’s, mind you, going by how people used to name their children in this time of history, there could be numerous George Davis’s.

Date: 9 May 1843 Issue number: 20222 Page number: 1542
[LEFT] Read more: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/all=blacksmith;exact=George+Davis;atleast=Windsor/start=1#ixzz2XtnQLI9L

Date: 21 May 1867 Issue number: 23253 Page number: 2984[LEFT]Read more: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/all=blacksmith;exact=George+Davis;atleast=Windsor/start=1#ixzz2Xto45PvP

Date: 7 September 1869 Issue number: 23533 Page number: 4956 Read more: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/all=George+Davis;exact=George+Davis;atleast=blacksmith/start=21#ixzz2XtswAaGI

Alas, I don’t have much confidence that any of these are the George Davis that we are looking for, however, it is sometimes useful to be able to cancel out people.
We do have address’s to do further searching re sons of George Davis etc.
[/LEFT]

[/LEFT]
Not sure if this is of help.

lorddlm2

Hi there Suzzie

This is so kind of you to start me off with these links. The George Davis I am searching for dates from 1760-1833 but this is a great place to start.

Thank you again

Suzzie Belcher

No problem lorddlm2, just happy to try and help, I love the London Gazette, it has so much history, but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes.
But guess what I’ve just found 🙁clap):

George Davis page 432 > List of Patents
Referrence book: REPERTORY OF ARTS and MANUFACTURES CONSISTING OP ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIFICATIONS of PATENT INVENTIONS AND SELECTIONS OF USEFUL PRACTICAL PAPERS FROM THE TRANSACTIONS of the PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES OF ALL NATIONS &c &t VOL X LONDON PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY THE PROPRIETORS NO l8a FLEET STREET WHERE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THIS WORK ARE REQUESTED TO BE ADDRESSED 1799

George Davis Useful Projects > 397
Referrence book: ANNUAL REGISTER i OR A VIEW OF THE HISTORY POLITICS AND LITERATURE For the YEAR 1799 & LONDON Printed by T Burton No 31 Little Queen Street for the Proprietors of Dodsley’s Annual Register, W Otridge and Son; R Faulder; J. Cuthell; Ogilvy and Son; R Lea; J Nunn; J Walker; Lackington, Allen and Co; E Jeffery and Vernor and Hood 1801

George Davis Tradesmen > Kings Household 1819
Referrence book: THE ROYAL KALENDAR And COURT and CITY REGISTER For England Scotland Ireland and the Colon FOR THE YEAR 1819 Including a Correct LIST of the Sixth Imperial Parliament summoned to meet for their First Session August 4th 1813

George Davis Page 117 > 1820
Lord Chamberlain’s Department. locksmiths, John Hanson and Son, George Davis, M. Bidwell. Locksmith. Lord Chamberlain, Marquis of Hertford. Vice-Chamberlain, Vise. Jocelyn. Secretary, John Calvert, esq. First Clerk, Thomas B. Mash, …
Referrence book: Rider’s British Merlin …:
With Notes of Husbandry, Gardening, Fairs, Marts, and Tables for Many Necessary Uses …

George Davis Feb 13 1833 > Corporate Officers - Windsor
Referrence book: ACCOUNTS AND PAPERS NINE VOLUMES RELATING TO CORPORATE OFFICES and CHARITABLE FUNDS Session 4 February 15 August 1834 VOL XLV 1834

George Davis Page 91 > Quote: This key was formerly in the possession of Mr. George Davis, locksmith of Windsor who held the appointment of locksmith to the Castle for many years having succeeded his father therein who had previously held the same appointment for a …
Referrence book: A miscellany of objects from Sir John Soane’s Museum:
consisting of paintings, architectural drawings and other curiosities from the collection of Sir John Soane

George Davis Page 5 > Quote: I have nothing more to say but remain your affectionate Brother George Davis was probably John Davis’s grown-up son, since he succeeded him as royal locksmith in 1798.
Referrence book: Regency editor:Life of John Scott. Patrick O’Leary. Aberdeen University Press, 1 Jun 1983

Suzzie Belcher

and a little more …

George Davis Quote: The lock on which it is based was invented by George Davis in 1799 (UK patent 2,306) for use on cabinet dispatch boxes for the government of King George III [22]. Davis’s patent lock was operated by turning the quite ordinary looking warded
Referrence book:High-Security Mechanical Locks: An Encyclopedic Reference
By Graham Pulford

Suzzie Belcher

and a little gem …

George Davis Quote: On the north side of the altar, in St. George’s chapel, at Windsor, is the tomb of King Edward the Fourth, being a large slab … who has carefully examined it with Mr. Davis, his Majesty’s blacksmith at Windsor, and obligingly communicated to us …
Referrence book: Magna Britannia: Bedfordshire. Berkshire. page 210 . 1813

enjoy …

lorddlm2

Wow Suzzie!! What a treasure trove of information you happened upon. This is fantastic. I know how I am spending my evening now.

Thank you so much again for taking the time to search for all this - I’m so appreciative

Scott Klemm

Very interesting! I did not recognize the lock at first. I don’t have this government dispatch box lock, but I do have one of its keys. And, the key itself is as interesting as the lock. Quite unusual. There does appear to be a lock plate missing that would have the keyhole. Since it was not mentioned, I presume that it was here where the following message was inscribed: “If any one apply for a Key inform a Secretary of State & you shall receive 50 pounds.”

Suzzie Belcher

Good morning Scott, I agree with you, its a very interesting looking key, I think that its ‘pretty’. But have you noticed that taking the photo that end on, it’s like a little person, start at the top, round hole for the head, then a neck, two arms, body and two legs.
🙁giggle): Sorry, too much influence from playing with the grandchildren.
If I am correct, think that you are correct in your assumption that the plate had the engraving on it.

Scott Klemm

The inventor of this lock, George Davis, was honored with the patronage of King George III. It is said that once the king offered to confer knighthood on Davis who replied “Sire, it would sound very odd, were I to meet a gentleman in the street, and he were to say ‘Sir George Davis, please to come and mend my smoke-jack.’” I have described my key and the operation of its lock in my book, Unlocking the Portals of History. Its discussed in my last chapter (8) on keys. Other chapters are 1. Ancient Locks, 2. Locks of Spain, France and Central Europe, 3. British Locks, 4. Locks from Scandinavia and Russia, 5. Locks of Asia and the Middle East, 6. American Padlocks, 7. American Rim and Other Lock Types. The 118 page, illustrated book may be obtained from the Museum Store, San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, CA 92374-4560 USA.

Suzzie Belcher

Thank you Scott.
Where might one purchase your book?

Scott Klemm

Hello Suzzie. The book must be purchased from the museum. You can write to them at the address I provided. Or, if you want to speed things up, you could telephone them at (909) 307-2669 ext. 228. (Of course you would need to take in consideration the change in time.) The book cost U.S. $15.00. They would have to tell you the cost of mailing. If you do get the book, I would like to hear what you think. I put in a lot of time in researching it as well as photographing my collection. Scott

Suzzie Belcher

My apologies Scott, I misread your post.
I shall write to the museum and get the ball rolling.
Of course, I’ll be happy to let you know what I think of your book.
I and many others in this trade do appreciate how much time and effort that you have put into writing the book. I am hoping that you have managed to build something of an image of his character, this is what especially interests me about the great masters.

Richard Phillips

Oldlock has said it: George Davis, 1799.
These locks were sometime used on government despatch boxes, and many private users used similar despatch boxes, in various colours. Bramah locks were popular indications of quality, as were Mordan copies. Mordan worked briefly for Bramah just before Bramah died, by which time the lock patent had expired. Unlike many of the bramah copies, Mordan locks are as good quality.
It is not clear when the government stopped using Davis locks on despatch boxes, for at various times later they used Bramah, Mordan, and Chubb locks. Presumably well into the mid-19C Davis locks were still used. The story of the unauthorised request to a Wolverhampton locksmith for a duplicate key in 1815 is given in PRICE pp337-338. He was paid 20 guineas (read pounds) for reporting this request, but declined the offer of a further £100 reward for naming the customer!! That would have been equivalent to about 2 years wages. Micky Atwell started working on changing government despatch box locks just after WW2, and found a Davis lock. Sadly now too late to ask him whether it was still in service or lying about the workshop.
PRICE also gives the story Scott Klemm posted.

John Chubb had a disparaging remark about the Davis lock in 1850, reported in On the construction of locks and keys, p30. He dismissed it as ‘expensive, without affording any very great security’.

The OP’s lock appears to be missing a plate on the front, which would have a vertical keyhole. Once the puzzle is known, the lock is a warded lock. The absence of any marking on a well-made lock with a clearly stamped number, is odd. It might be assumed to have been made after the patent expired, but the despatch box to which it was fitted might be older than the OP suggests. Such private boxes commonly had a long life.

I have no further info on Davis to add to Suzzie Belcher’s impressive list - has the OP approached either the Windsor Public Library, (Bachelor’s Acre, Windsor SL4 1ER) or the Berks. County Record Office (9 Colley Ave. Reading RG1 6AF)?