A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 18

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" London, July 22, 1851.

"We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we attended, with the permission of Mr. Bell, of 34, Great George-street, Westminster, an invitation sent to us by A. C. Hobbs, of the city of New York, to witness an attempt to open a lock throwing three bolts, and having six tumblers, affixed to the iron door of a strong room or vault, built for the depository of valuable papers, and formerly occupied by the agents of the South Eastern Railway Company ; that we severally witnessed the operation, which Mr. Hobbs commenced at 35 minutes past 11 o'clock, a. m., and opened the lock within 25 minutes. Mr. Hobbs, having been requested to lock it again with his instruments, accomplished it in the short space of seven minutes, without the slightest injury to the lock or door. We minutely examined the lock and door (having previously had the assurance of Mr. Bell that the keys had never been accessible to Mr. Hobbs, he having had permission to examine the keyhole only). We found a plate at the back of the door with the following in- scription :- ' Chubb's new patent (No. 161,461), St. Paul's Churchyard, London, maker, to her Majesty.'

" Mr. HARDLEY, 26, Great Earl-street. Mr. WILLIAM N. MARSHALL, 42, Charing-cross. Mr. W. ARMSTEAD, 35, Belitha-villas, Barnsbury Park. Mr. G. R. PORTER, Putney Heath. Mr. F. W. WENHAM, Effra-vale Lodge, Brixton. Mr. A. SHANKS, Robert-street, Adelphi. Mr. T. SHANKS. Robert-street, Adelphi. Colonel W. CLIFTON, Morley's Hotel. Mr. ELIJAH GALLOWAY, 42, Southampton-buildings.

Mr. PAUL R. HODGE, 9. Adam-street, Adelphi.

Mr. CHARLES H. PEABODY, I, Norfolk-street, Strand."

Notwithstanding the above testimony Mr. Chubb con- tinued to deny that his lock had been fairly opened.

881

Bridgeport.

Mr. Hobbs, having disposed of Chubb's lock, thought it about time to give his attention to the challenge lock of Mr. Bramah, and hence went into the shop where the lock was hanging in the window and asked the shopman if that was a real lock. "Of course it is," said the man. "Then I would like to see it," said Mr. Hobbs. The man, not knowing who he was speaking with, asked if he were a locksmith, to which the reply was, no; but that he was very curious about locks and would like to see it. Placing the lock in Mr. Hobbs' hands the man turned to wait on a customer. Mr. Hobbs, taking his pen-knife and feeling of the points of the lock, the man became very much annoyed, and said : " What are you doing?" " I was only feeling of those pieces to see if they would move," said Mr. Hobbs, for he had been told they would not, and that the lock was a trap. But the examina- tion assured him that it was not. The man seemed very much excited and took the lock. Presently one of the pro- prietors came in and Mr. Hobbs told him he desired to try to open the lock, and also told who he was. In reply he called Mr. Hobb's attention to the challenge, which read: "The artist that will produce an instrument that will pick this lock shall receive 200 guineas reward the instant it is produced." Mr. Hobbs then said that it was generally understood that the offer was to anyone that would pick the lock without injuring it, regardless of how it was done, and that if they would not submit it to a fair test they must take it out of the window or he would make it known to the public as a fraud. The gentleman said he would consult the proprietor and give · an answer.

It so happened on the following morning that the London "Times " had an article giving a description of a case of jewels, a collection of great value belonging to Hope, the banker, and saying, that "the case was secured by one of Bramah's locks; that it was also understood that an Ameri- can gentleman had thrown down the gauntlet and offered to pick both Chubb's and Bramah's locks. Is it safe?"

The following morning a letter was published in the "Times" from both Chubb and Bramah saying; " If the American gentleman or any other person will pick our lock

882

History of Stratford.

he shall have the 200 guineas reward." Mr. Hobbs went direct to Bramah and said he was satisfied he intended to do what was right, and in order to have a fair test they would have three arbitrators to make the arrangements and see that the test was fairly made. The arbitrators were chosen, the lock fastened to a door, and Mr. Hobbs was notified that all was ready.

He first took measurements of the keyhole. The follow- ing from the London "Observer" gives the method of pro- cedure in opening the lock :

We next come to the mode in which Mr. Hobbs felt out the notches in the sliders for the purpose of adjusting them to their proper places. For this purpose he used a plain steel needle, with a moderately fine point, and another with a small crook at the end, and something like a crochet needle ; the former for push- ing in the slider, and the latter for drawing it back when it had been pushed in too far. By feeling along the edge of the slider delicately the notch was found and adjusted, and its exact position was then accurately measured by means of a thin and narrow plate of brass for future reference, and marked upon the brass slider, by way of a record; so that when the operator left the lock at night everything was in its usual normal position, and to all intents and purposes as if nothing had been done to it, but he meantime carried away with him the results of his day's progress, and began on the succeeding day from the point where he left off. The lock which was the subject of Mr. Hobbs' operations had no less than 18 sliders, each of which had to be adjusted to its proper place, and the reader will be able from this to appreciate the time, and labor, and patience required. Independently of the two small instruments we have described, Mr. Hobbs used a third bent one as a substitute for the small lever or projection at the end of the key by which the bolt is shot and withdrawn. This was also permanently fixed in the lock during his operations, and by a simple piece of mechanism so arranged as to exert a con- tinual pressure on the cylinder. The two hands of the operator being thus at liberty, he was enabled to use both in feeling out the notches in the slides, com- mencing with those that offered the greatest resistance, and moving them up and down until he felt that the resistance had ceased, by the notch being adjusted to the steel plate. He thus proceeded through the entire eighteen, and then the barrel moved a little round, and he by this means ascertained that he had got the sliders adjusted to the false notches, and had to commence de novo. By repeated trials in this way he succeded in finally adjusting the whole of the sliders to their proper places; the cylinder then revolved, and the lock was opened. Although the operation was performed by steps, and although different instru- ments and different steps were taken to accomplish it-the spring being held down by one piece of mechanism, the sliders adjusted by another, and the cylinder turned by a third, the committee have, on a full consideration of all the circum- stances, come to the decision that Mr. Hobbs has fairly picked the lock, and have decreed that he should obtain the two hundred guineas.

And also the following is the report of the committee :

883

Bridgeport.

"Report of the Arbitrators to whom the Bramah Lock Controversy has been Referred.

" Whereas for many years past a padlock has been exhibited in the window of Messrs. Bramah's shop, in Piccadilly, to which was appended a label with these words . 'The artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock shall receive 200 guineas the moment it is produced ;' and Mr. Hobbs, of America, having obtained permission of Messrs. Bramah to make trial of his skill in open- ing the said lock.

" Messrs. Bramah and Mr. Hobbs severally agreed that George Rennie, Esq., F.R.S., of London, and Professor Cowper, of King's College, London, and Dr. Black, of Kentucky, should act as arbitrators between the said parties.

"That the trial should be conducted according to the rules laid down by the arbitrators, and the award of 200 guineas be decided by them ; in fine, that they should see ' fair play' between the parties.

"On July 23d it was agreed that the lock should be enclosed in a block of wood and screwed to a door, and the screws sealed, the keyhole and the hasp only being accessible to Mr. Hobbs, and when he was not operating the keyhole was to be covered with a band of iron, and sealed by Mr. Hobbs, that no other person should have access to the keyhole. The key was also sealed up, and was not to be used until Mr. Hobbs had finished his operations. If Mr. Hobbs succeeded in picking or opening the lock, the key was to be tried, and if it locked and unlocked the padlock it should be considered as a proof that Mr. Hobbs had not injured the lock, but had fairly picked or opened it, and was entitled to the 200 guineas.

" On the same day (July 23d) Messrs. Bramah gave notice to Mr. Hobbs that the lock was ready for his operations.

"On July 24th Mr. Hobbs commenced his operations, and on August 23d Mr. Hobbs exhibited the lock opened to Dr. Black and Professor Cowper (Mr. Rennie being out of town). Dr. Black and Mr. Cowper then called in Mr. Edward Bramah and Mr. Brazalgette, and showed them the lock opened. They then with- drew, and Mr. Hobbs locked and unlocked the padlock in presence of Dr. Black and Mr. Cowper.

" Between July 24th and August 23d Mr. Hobbs' operations were for a time suspended, so that the number of days occupied by Mr. Hobbs was 16, and the number of hours he was actually in the room with the lock was 51.

"On Friday, August 29th, Mr. Hobbs again locked and unlocked the padlock, in presence of Mr. G. Rennie, Professor Cowper, Dr. Black, Mr. Edward Bramah. Mr. Brazalgette and Mr. Abrahart.

"On Saturday, August 30th, the key was tried, and the padlock was locked and unlocked with the key by Professor Cowper, Mr. Rennie, and Mr. Gilbertson, thus proving that Mr. Hobbs had fairly picked the lock without injuring it. Mr. Hobbs then formally produced the instruments with which he had opened the lock.

" We are therefore unanimously of opinion that Messrs. Bramah have given Mr. Hobbs a fair opportunity of trying his skill, and that Mr. Hobbs has fairly picked or opened the lock, and we award that Messrs. Bramah and Company do now pay to Mr. Hobbs the 200 guineas.

" GEORGE RENNIE, Chairman, EDWD. COWPER, J. R. BLACK.

"Holland street, Blackfriars, September 2d, 1851."

884

History of Stratford.

Comments of the London newspapers :

Since the opening of Messrs. Bramah's lock, Mr. Hobbs and his lock have become the objects of much interest and curiosity to the visitors of the Great Exhi- bition. Hard-handed and intelligent mechanics and delicate ladies, scientific men and savans, with dandies and dilettanti, crowd round him whenever he makes his appearance in the United States department, and listen with an eagerness which at times threatens serious consequences ; for he is almost overwhelmed by the numbers and the pressure to hear his explanations and illustrations of the principle on which the parantoptic lock is constructed. Whatever may be thought of the vauntings of some of his countrymen, we must say that Mr. Hobbs has invariably referred to himself and his performances with much modesty, and never makes any allusion to them until questioned and pressed by those around him, and then treats them, not as something wonderful to boast of, but the natural result of his intimate acquaintance with the mechanism of locks.

We confess that the Americans in the two public contests in which they have recently been engaged with us, have shown a propriety and good feeling which is calculated to shake our preconceived notions of the American character. Commo- dore Stevens, in his conduct of the yacht challenge, exhibited throughout a gentle- manly courtesy and a disposition to accede to the wishes of his opponents, which must produce a favorable impression upon the minds of all who have read the correspondence and the details of the contest. Mr. Hobbs, flushed with victory, and looked upon by three-fourths of the public as little else than a wizard, has been snubbed and sneered at by some of his opponents ; but yet there is not a line or a word in any of his published letters at which the most captious could take offence. He has a very humble opinion of his own merits, and believes that there are a hundred men in London, who, if they set themselves seriously to work, could do what he has done.

Mr. Hobbs always takes great pleasure in referring to the kind treatment and attention he received in the several con- tests he had with his many competitors during the time of the World's Fair in London, and well he might, for they made of him a lion, and for once he received his merited deserts.

The excitement caused by the complete overthrow of the locks in general use in England brought out many new inventions, and some, although the parties had reason to believe to the contrary, still held to their old ideas. Mr. Hobbs had been in London but a short time when he received a letter from William Brown of Liverpool, the head of the House of Brown, Shipley and Company, bankers, requesting him to call at St. James Hotel. Complying with this request, he found Mr. Brown was the inventor of a lock, which was then in use on the bank of the company. This lock he thought very secure, and after explaining its construction,

885

Bridgeport.

making sketches of some of its parts, and showing how many thousand and million combinations it had, the various ways it could be locked, with only one way to open it, he asked Mr. Hobbs how it was possible to open it without knowing the word on which it was locked? Mr. Hobbs replied that he thought the lock very much like the Letter Pad Lock in point of security, and if so, it could easily be opened. Mr. Brown in much surprise said, " you certainly do not under- stand me." Mr. Hobbs requested him to explain it again, which he did, very carefully pointing out the impossibility of opening it with its many obstructions, and then asked again, " Do you really think it could be opened?" Mr. Hobbs saw that he was well satisfied with the lock as his own invention, and on his repeating the question a third time concluded to let him enjoy his own opinion and said he could not give an opinion without seeing the lock itself. Mr. Brown seemed well pleased at this and requested Mr. Hobbs to call at their Banking House whenever in Liverpool.

About five months after, Mr. Hobbs received a copy of the proceedings of the Archeological Society of Liverpool, which contained a paper on locks by William Brown, M.P., in which the same lock was described, and it wound up as follows: "During the time of the exhibition in London, I saw Mr. Hobbs and described this lock to him. At first he seemed to think he could open it, but after a more thorough explanation was made to him, so that he more fully under- stood the lock, I again asked him, and his answer was so evasive that I concluded he could not open it, and I am hav- ing another like it put on a new safe that is now being made for our bank."

Mr. Hobbs, thinking it now time to give Mr. Brown a call, went to Liverpool and met him at his Banking House. Mr. Brown was very glad to see him, and said his new safe was just coming in, therefore he could not show the new lock but that the old one would do as well. Calling his cashier he directed him to lock the safe, which he did. Mr. Hobbs then began to explain what he should do if he should attempt to pick the lock. There was no key, but there was a T wrench to put in a hole to throw the bolts when the pointers

886

History of Stratford.

on the dial were in their proper position. Mr. Hobbs said, " you do not think anything of that wrench, do you ?" " No," he said, " we put that on the top of the safe at night." Mr. Hobbs then said, "if I wanted to open the safe I should take the wrench and put it in, so that I could feel the bolts while turning the pointers on the outer dials." Presently the cash- ier called Mr. Brown, saying a gentleman wished to speak to him. Mr. Brown asked to be excused and turned to go away, but before he reached the door, the bolts went back, and the safe door came open. Mr. Hobbs then called to Mr. Brown saying, "Don't leave me here with this safe open." Mr. Brown, in great surprise said, "How did you open it?" "I don't know," said Mr. Hobbs, " I was turning the pointers round and it came open ; perhaps it was not properly locked, have it locked again. The cashier locked it again, and Mr. Hobbs said, " I will now show you how easy it is to open this lock." Then turning his back to the door, and without look- ing at the lock opened it in less than ten minutes, showing Mr. Brown that his lock was worthless. Mr. Brown seemed very well satisfied, but not much pleased by the information he had received.

This success of Mr. Hobbs in showing the failings of the locks then in use in England, and the want of proper machin- ery in the business, suggested the idea of starting a lock factory with the view of getting it fairly running within three years and then disposing of it. Hence a partnership was formed and a building hired in Cheapside, London, and the securing of machinery to take the place of hand labor was begun. The progress was so slow that during the first year but little head- way was made. Being then convinced that the time required would be much longer than at first supposed, Mr. Hobbs sent for his family, being determined to carry out what had been started. The second year began to make some show, and at the end of the third year a new building was required for the factory, which was built outside of the city, retaining the one at Cheapside for a store.

Mr. Hobbs was soon convinced that there was a great difference between the English and American way of doing business, and while pushing matters as fast as possible, he

TELFORD.

Celford premium.1854.

INSTIT CIV. ENGINEERS.

INCORP: 1828-

Awarded

Alfred Charles Jobbs. Afsoe : Just : U.O.

887

Bridgeport.

began to think about returning to the United States, although he had formed acquaintances and associations that he did not like to give up. The character and notoriety gained during the exhibition held on, and he received much attention from many in high position. He became a member of the Society of Arts, and by request gave a lecture before it on the subject of ancient and modern locks. Afterward he was called on for the same by many corresponding societies. He was also an associate of the institution of Civil Engineers, and wrote a paper on the principles and construction of locks. From this society he was awarded the Telford Medal, the highest premium ever given by it, and this was the third one brought to the United States, a representation of which is herewith presented in illustration. It is a most beautiful thing in itself and as an honor bestowed as it was, is well worth the price- less estimate placed upon it by its owner.

As time went on the business of lock-making increased and the addition of machinery suited for that special purpose was almost daily obtained. A new store was added, and a large portion of the business of the Government and Bank of England were given the firm, which added very much to their position and standing. In August, 1860, Mr. Ashly, one of the firm, died, and Mr. Hobbs then saw an opportunity to sell out and go home. A very satisfactory bargain was made on one condition, which was that the name of Hobbs should be continued on the sign, for which a premium was paid ; and the name of Hobbs, Ashley and Company was changed to Hobbs, Hart and Company, 76 Cheapside. If any one should go there and ask for Mr. Hobbs they would proba- bly be informed that he had stepped out.

Mr. Hobbs and his family left London in October, 1860, and arrived in New York November Ist. He has visited London several times since, and there is no business more flourishing in that city than Hobbs, Hart and Company.

During the nine and a half years Mr. Hobbs had been in London great changes had occurred in New York, so that he found it not easy to enter into satisfactory business arrange- ments. He went to Boston, but finding nothing there more promising, he, after a few months returned to New York.

- -. -- -

888

History of Stratford.

There he soon met Elias Howe, Jr., with whom he had an intimate acquaintance before he went to England. Mr. Howe proposed that he should go to Bridgeport and take charge of a factory that was being built for making sewing machines. This position he accepted, after a few visits of inspection, and took charge of the completion of the building and the fitting up of the machinery. Although he had no knowledge of sewing machines, yet the business was started entirely under his supervision, and this continued until Mr. Howe's interference with the details ot the running of the factory and giving and contracting orders, made it advisable for him to resign his place, which he did about 1865.

While engaged in the Howe shop the Metallic Cartridge Works were built by the firm of Schuyler, Hartley and Gra- ham of New York. They purchased two small concerns of this character, one in Springfield, Mass., and the other in South Coventry, Conn. In looking for a suitable place to build a manufactory they fixed upon Bridgeport, and pur- chased a lot of land between East Washington avenue and Barnum street, and bounded on the east by Pembroke Lake which gave them the advantage of a water front. They built a main building of 120 feet by 40, three stories in height, and a few small wooden buildings around the yard.

When this was ended there was but little use for metallic cartridges. The breech-loading pistols and guns were not largely upon the market, and for some time the business looked rather doubtful. Mr. Hobbs had been out of employ- ment for a few months, when on his way to Washington he went to the store of this firm in New York, and inquired if they desired any one to take charge of their cartridge works, when the reply being in the negative he went on to Washing- ton. The next morning he received a telegram from Mr. Schuyler requesting him to return to New York at once. On meeting the firm he made arrangements to take charge of the cartridge shop for one year. This was in 1866. Things looked very blue. But little could be done excepting putting up machinery and trying experiments. The next year, how- ever, made quite a different showing. Soon their buildings were filled, more added, and at times from 1,000 to 1,500 hands

889

Bridgeport.

employed. From that time-1868-great progress has been made. Cartridges have been made in great numbers, machinery been constructed for making them, and a very large home trade established. More land has been purchased, new build- ings erected, and a large number of hands employed. The manufacturing department has been under the charge of Mr. A. C. Hobbs, it being considered one of the largest and most successful enterprises of the city of Bridgeport.

Philo Hurd was born in Brookfield, Conn., July 25, 1795. He was the son of Jabez and Lucy (Blackman) Hurd, and attended school from an early age until his fourteenth year, assisting his father in the work of the farm, more particularly in the summer months, and gaining thereby a vigorous con- stitution and industrious habits. He had a great desire for a thorough education, and for a time attended the private school of the Rev. Dr. Williams, but from lack of means he was compelled to relinquish his studies, and at the age of fifteen he entered the store of Oliver Warner in New Milford. Here he remained several years, during which Mr. Warner presented him with the uniform and accoutrements of a cavalry soldier at an expense of more than $100. This was during the war of 1812, but he was too far from the seaboard to see active service. Mr. Warner meeting with reverses young Hurd spent the summer in farming and afterward found a position as clerk in Woodbury. In 1816, in connec- tion with Frank Taylor of Danbury, he opened a dry goods store at Augusta, Ga. They landed at Savannah during a most severe prevalence of yellow fever, October 3, 1816. They were quite prosperous, but great inducements having been offered from Darien, Georgia, Mr. Hurd went there the following year, remaining several years, during which his brother Samuel Ferris Hurd joined him. In 1823, with his brother, he opened a dry goods store on the corner of Wall and Middle streets under the firm name of P. and S. F. Hurd.

On the 6th of October, 1823, he married Melinda, daughter of Agur Tomlinson of Brookfield, Conn. After several years he united with Isaac and William DeForest in the Boston coasting trade, after that, with Stephen Burroughs in the West India trade, having an interest also in the whaling business.

890

History of Stratford.

He was sheriff during a period of ten years, and while occupy- ing this position was invited by Alfred Bishop to engage in the railroad business, then in its infancy. This was about the year 1838. He bought the right of way for a portion of the Housa- tonic railroad, then was engaged on the N. Y. and N. H. rail- road in the same business. He located the line of the Nauga- tuck railroad, bought the right of way, superintended the construction of the road until its completion and in the mean- time was made superintendent of the road, which position he held for seven years, and on resigning received a handsome silver salver and pitcher from the employees of the road in token of their regard. He then took charge of the Madison and Indianapolis railroad and its extension then building to Peru, as Vice-President and Superintendent, but receiving in less than a year a handsome offer, he came to New York and accepted the Vice-Presidency of the Hudson River railroad, remaining a few years until he was offered the presidency of the N. Y. and Harlem railroad. He brought that road and its affairs into a prosperous condition, but at the expense of his own health, and after partially recovering from a severe ill- ness, he resigned his position and went to Florida and the Western States, and the following year to Europe, taking the "grand tour " and spending the winter in Italy. He returned in good health and engaged in a few business enterprises, but for the last twenty or more years of his life he has enjoyed a quiet leisure, often passing his winters in Florida or some other genial clime and his summers in Saratoga Springs and at Bridgeport with his daughter Mrs. J. E. Dunham.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 18

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor] Number of Pages: 904

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904