Inventor Joseph Bramah Patented a New Safety Lock

Joseph Bramah was born April 13, 1748, in   Stainborough Lane Farm, Stainborough,  Barnsley  Yorkshire. He was an English  inventor  and  locksmith. He is best known for having invented the  hydraulic press. He is considered along with William George Armstrong, a father of hydraulic engineering. Early Years Bramah  was the second son in the family of  four sons and two daughters  of Joseph Bramma (different spelling), a farmer, and his wife, Mary Denton. He studied at the local school and after finishing school he completed a carpentry apprenticeship. He then moved to  London, where he began working as a cabinet-maker. In 1783 he married Mary Lawton and the couple established their home in London. They eventually had a daughter and four sons. Water Closet In  London, Bramah worked installing water closets (toilets) which were designed by Alexander Cumming in 1775. He discovered, though, that model being installed in London houses had a tendency to freeze in cold weather. Although it was technically his boss who improved the design by replacing the usual slide valve with a hinged flap that sealed the bottom of the bowl, Bramah obtained the patent for it in 1778,  and began making toilets at a workshop. The design was produced well into the 19th century. Bramahs original water closets are still working in  Osbourne House,  Queen Victorias home on the  Isle of Wight. Bramah Safety Lock After attending some lectures on technical aspects of  locks, Bramah patented the Bramah  safety lock  on August 21, 1784. His lock was considered unpickable until it was finally picked in 1851. This lock is now located in the Science Museum in London. 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 same year as he received his lock patent, he  set up the Bramah Lock Company. Other Inventions Bramah 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, Bramah patented a machine for printing banknotes  that was used by the Bank of England. One of Bramahs last inventions was a hydrostatic press capable of uprooting trees. This was used at Holt Forest in  Hampshire. While superintending this work Bramah caught a cold, which led to pneumonia. He died at on December 9, 1814. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Marys,  Paddington . Bramah ultimately obtained 18 patents for his designs between 1778 and 1812. In 2006 a pub in  Barnsley was opened named the Joseph Bramah in his memory.