By Mary Bellis
Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah patented the Bramah
safety
lock on August 21, 1784. Joseph Bramah's lock was considered unpickable
until it was finally picked in 1851. The inventor went on to create a Hydrostatic
Machine (hydraulic press), a beer pump, the four-cock, a quill sharpener,
a working planer, methods of paper-making, improved fire engines and printing
machines. In 1806, Joseph Bramah patented a machine for printing
banknotes that was used by the Bank of England.
According to lock expert Sandra Davis, "In 1784, he patented his lock which for many years had the reputation of being absolutely unpickable. He offered £200 to anyone who could pick his lock and although many tried it - it was not until 1851 that the money was won by an American, A.C. Hobbs, although it took him 16 days to do it! Joseph Bramah was deservedly honoured and admired as one of the earliest mechanical geniuses of his day."
The
Locks of Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah is a central figure
in early Victorian lock making and manufacturing. Joseph
Bramah was honored and admired as one of the earliest mechanical geniuses of his
day.
Joseph
Bramah and Sons
Joseph Bramah was a pioneer in the
machine tool industry.
Bramah
Lock Company
Joseph Bramah was granted a patent
for his lock on the 21st August 1784 and set up the Bramah Lock Company.
The History
of Locks
Locks
and Blocks
Hydraulic Press
According to Channel4.com:
"In 1795, the British engineer Joseph Bramah invented the hydraulic press
using the principle of hydraulic power, and then he came up with hydraulic power
transmission, using a pump and motor."
