Antique Box Guide

The Chubb lock company was founded in 1818 by brothers, Charles and Jeremiah Chubb, at their premises on Temple Street, Wolverhampton. This was enabled by Jeremiah’s invention of the ‘Detector’ lock, winning him 100 Guineas in a government competition to create an un-pickable lock that could only be opened by its own key.

His Detector lock mechanism was designed to automatically jam the lock as soon as any attempt was made to pick it, and thus would let the owner know about the unauthorised attempt.

In 1823, the Chubb company was awarded a special license to supply King George lV and the royal household. They later became the sole supplier of locks to the General Post Office and a supplier to Her Majesty’s Prison Service.

In 1827, Chubb opened its first London premises at 57 St Paul’s Churchyard. They remained at this location until 1877 before moving to 128 Queen Victoria Street, London. Over this time, led by John Chubb (Charles’ son) and later by his own three sons, they had also moved and expanded several times around Wolverhampton and London. The Chubb Lock company still remains in business today.

Jeremiah Chubb’s Detector lock was only first successfully picked in 1851 by Alfred Charles Hobbs; this being the same man that successfully picked Joseph Bramah’s ‘Challenge Lock’.

See our section on the Chubb Detector lock.

Charles Chubb.

Lithograph of the Chubb stand at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Etching of the Chubb building in Wolverhampton, circa 1870.

Chubb, 128 Queen Victoria Street, London.

Front view of a Chubb ‘Definitive’ Detector lock from 1849.

Top view of a Chubb ‘Definitive’ Detector lock from 1849.

Extra Large Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Concealed Drawers.

Chubb lock plate from an antique jewellery box by Asprey.

A Chubb lock taken from an antique jewellery box in burr walnut with cantilever mechanism.

Antique Jewellery Box in Burr Walnut with Cantilever Mechanism.