The 1851 salesman who tried to break every lock in London
In short: In 1851, a salesman named Alfred C. Hobbs traveled to England with a secret cargo: a trunk full of lock-picking tools. He wasn't just there to sell products; he was there to publicly dismantle the security of his competitors.
While officially tasked with promoting Day and Newell’s 'parautopic' lock at the Great Exhibition in London, Hobbs embarked on a mission of industrial sabotage. He used his charisma and technical skill to demonstrate that the prevailing locks of the era were fundamentally flawed.
The 'Great Lock Controversy' began when Hobbs used his collection of picks, wrenches, and rakes to prove that his rivals' security measures were insufficient. It serves as a fascinating historical case study on how public demonstrations of vulnerability can shift market standards.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hobbs and His Locks: The Great Lock Controversy of 1851
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