English Black Leather Writing Box on a Brass Stand

an English black leather monogrammed writing box on a brass stand, lock stamped J. Bramah 124 Piccadilly, leather stamped H. RODRIQUES 42 PICCADILLY. England. late 18th century. MEASUREMENTS: 18.25" H x 18" W x 12.25" D    Joseph Bramah started out by training as a cabinet-maker. In 1784, after attending some lectures on lock making, he patented his first lock and in the same year set up the Bramah Locks Company at 124 Piccadilly, London. Joseph Bramah was a true inventor in every sense of the word, patenting other very notable inventions like an improved flushing toilet, bank note printing press, and a hydraulic press to name but a few. The technical achievement and level of security offered by Bramah’s ‘unpickable’ locks were considered far beyond anything presented by his peers. Joseph Bramah, in collaboration with his chief engineer, Henry Maudslay, created what he called the ‘Challenge Lock’; this padlock was displayed in Bramah’s shop window from 1790 with the notice: The artist