An Early 19th Century Red Leather Red Leather Despatch Box the bevelled top embossed with a gilt coronet and mounted by a swing handle, the lock stamped Davis's Patent* with a crown and GR (George Rex) and retaining its original key. The interior is lined with green velvet and with integral raised sides.
*Based in Windsor Berkshire, the lock maker George Davis patented his 'Double Chambered' lock in 1799
Boxes with Davis's Patent locks were almost exclusively used for government despatch boxes requiring extra protection for sensitive documents.
Dimensions
34.5 x 19 x 12.5 cm
How to operate the Davis's Patent lock
To Lock
Insert the key into the lock and rotate quarter turn anti-clockwise. Then push key further into the inner chamber. The key is then rotated
another quarter turn clockwise locking the box. The key may now be withdrawn and removed.
To Unlock
Insert key and rotate quarter turn clockwise., Then insert the key further into the lock and turned
anti clockwise Withdraw and rotate the key clockwise and further turn to unlock the box. The key
can then be removed by turning it further clockwise and withdrawn.
