Banks and companies began to see the value of using safes, as did merchants, wholesalers, traders and manufacturers.

In the mid-19th century, industry and trade had begun to thrive in Sweden as well. Alongside all the key achievements of the world’s industries to date, the exhibition demonstrated several models of safes from various manufactures from around Europe. The first World Fair (called the Great Exhibition) took place in London in 1851, and a special Crystal Palace was built in Hyde Park to host it. A large number of British and American inventions of tumbler, combination, code and time locks from around this time helped protect their contents. The beautifully painted steel cabinets also required unpickable locks. The ideal insulating materials presented a technical challenge Marr used finely crushed marble, with clay and porcelain to bind it.Īnother contemporary inventor, Thomas Milner from Sheffield, achieved even better insulation by using alum and other alkaline salts to create an insulating layer of steam when the safe was heated. What was new about Marr’s safe was the idea of using double walls of steel with heat insulation between them. Most likely, British engineer William Marr designed the first modern-style fireproof safe.

Are bank safe deposit boxes fireproof