Last time, we brought you the story of one of the most famous locksmiths of all, Linus Yale Junior, but he’s by no means the only influential locksmith over the ages. Sometimes, a historical figure that had a huge role to play in locksmithing may not be commonly renowned for those specific deeds, but may instead be more acclaimed for another form of innovation. Such is the case with Joseph Bramah, who is perhaps more lauded for being one of the two ‘fathers of hydraulic engineering’.
Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah was originally apprenticed as a carpenter, and started work as a cabinet maker in London during his early working years. However, his talent for invention soon began to shine through, as he was instrumental in improving water closets during the 1770s. Although this might not sound very glamorous, the existing models were notorious for freezing in the cold, yet Bramah managed to assuage this difficulty by sealing the bottom of the bowel with a newly patented hinge flap. Some of these water closets still work today, and the design was used until the 19th century.
Locksmithing
From our perspective though, Bramah’s real appeal comes from his dealings with locks. Having patented his own lock design in 1784, Bramah opened his own business, the Bramah Locks Company, in London, Piccadilly. The branch still exists today around the country, but at the time the reputation of Bramah locks was based upon their notable resistance to being tampered with.
The ‘Challenge Lock’
The window of Bramah’s store played host to a ‘challenge lock’ for many years, with a contest that offered a 200 guinea reward to any ‘artist’ who could pick or open the lock. For 67 years, nobody was able to aspire to this feat, until an American Locksmith, Alfred Charles Hobbs, succeeded in meeting the requirements. Despite initial scepticism, the prize was awarded as promised, although it must be said that it took Hobbs 51 hours in total to crack this impressive lock! You can still see a rebuilt version of this famous lock in the London Science Museum, and it’s well worth a look.
Other Works
Bramah also worked upon precision machine tools, but the aforementioned area of hydraulics is perhaps what he’s most known for. The hydraulic press was his brainchild, although he was actually a prolific inventor in numerous respects. Even today, the hydraulic press carries the moniker of ‘Bramah Press’, so, despite not being a household name, Bramah is far from forgotten.
We may not have a hydraulic press to our name, but if you’re looking for a locksmith in Kent then be sure to consider the team at AFS Security. We take just as much care to ensure high standards as any locksmith over the ages, so be sure to contact us today by calling +44(0)208 471 9000 or send an email to enquiries@afs-security.com and we’ll be happy to help.
