Charles Courtneys books, Volume I & II

[Vaughan Armstrong]

Sorry

[4xlock]

I suspect that the mechanism on the front cover of the "Unlocking Adventure" is discussed in "The Master Locksmith Reference" Vol 3.

I don't think it was Charles Courtney's invention but much older. I have a copy of a document which discusses current state of some opening techniques before 1920. It would appear to be for risk assessors (in the US) in the banking industry at the time. Reading between the lines techniques were known for most early mass produced locks before 1890. For example first commercial use of diamond tipped drills was for opening safes. Well according to a newspaper article of the time.

If the Volume 3 has in fact turned up then it might not be too long before we are enlightened as to the content. I don't think the contents would be a surprise but just given little attention these days, apart from gadgets like the dialer.

[Doug MacQueen]

The 4" holes put in this money chest in the early 1890's were probably that first use of diamonds.

[Huw Eastwood]

I suspect that the mechanism on the front cover of the "Unlocking Adventure" is discussed in "The Master Locksmith Reference" Vol 3.

I don't think it was Charles Courtney's invention but much older. I have a copy of a document which discusses current state of some opening techniques before 1920. It would appear to be for risk assessors (in the US) in the banking industry at the time. Reading between the lines techniques were known for most early mass produced locks before 1890. For example first commercial use of diamond tipped drills was for opening safes. Well according to a newspaper article of the time.

If the Volume 3 has in fact turned up then it might not be too long before we are enlightened as to the content. I don't think the contents would be a surprise but just given little attention these days, apart from gadgets like the dialer.

I always thought Leschot’s 1860s diamond cores for blast hole drilling to aid tunnelling were the first, closely followed by the oil/mineral/mining industries.

[4xlock]

This was published in the New York Tribune Sat Dec 6 1862
Whoever wrote this clearly does not understand the concept of hardness, as you don't temper diamond, but either way it shows the concept of diamond tipped drills. This was used to promote Franklinite in manufacture of safes and vaults. Somewhere, if I can find it, I have an earlier reference. Interesting to note these are genuine diamonds rather than synthetic.

[4xlock]

I always thought LeschotÂ’s 1860s diamond cores for blast hole drilling to aid tunnelling were the first, closely followed by the oil/mineral/mining industries.

1863 was patent date here. Diamond tipped drills were earlier and as far as I can see originated for safe opening. Not core drills at this point allowing for the core drill patent. James Sargent regarded drilling a small hole into a safe lock and poking a wire in it to open was "non destructive".

[Doug MacQueen]

Curious about this patent but the PDF doesn't respond.

[Doug MacQueen]

Also what do you think about the 4" core drilled holes which were being put in numerous money chests including a Franklinite included Herring?

[4xlock]

Curious about this patent but the PDF doesn't respond.

It's not the patent pdf but it should open as a pdf of the newspaper article from 1862. The actual article is always best to show early provenance.

[4xlock]

If I can track it down I have an earlier reference by a few years about the use of diamond for drilling due to it's absolute hardness. I think this newspaper article miss-interprets that information.