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Description:
Ref: 866WB      http://hygra.com/box/866WB 

Brass bound solid mahogany writing box of dovetail construction in the military style with countersunk carrying handles. The lock is stamped Lambley & Co Patent.  The box opens to a sloping  writing surface and compartments for pens and inkwells. There are further places for storing papers under the writing surface. Beneath the pentray there is a nest of three secret drawers with turned bone pulls. The drawers are concealed behind a sprung panel which is released when a rod is inserted through the lock. This can only be done when although open the lock is locked. There is another lock on the writing flap giving some security when the box was left open on a desk.  But when the flap is opened there is another box with lock beneath. This slips out of the box. 

Origin: UK;  Circa: 1810; Materials: Mahogany, Brass.

Size: 50.5 cm wide by 24.6 cm by 14.5 cm:  20 inches wide by 9.7  inches by 5.7  inches.

Condition: good overall; working locks and keys; see images.

Keywords: Hygra.com, Antique box, traveling desk, writing box, rosewood, writing box, secret drawers, brass inlay, lap desk, Lambley & Co, Tompson lock, Patent, Military style, Campaign box 

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boxes@hygra.com

The firm of  LAMBLEY A & CO PORTABLE WRITING DESK MFR LADIES' WORK CASE MFR  Birmingham  was active from 1800. -

An advert of 1800 has James, 33 Deritend St. Birmingham, "manufacturer of all forms of small cabinet articles for traveling &c".

Lambley, Abraham Birmingham, cabinet travelling and dressing case maker (1800 -18). At Mosley St, Deritend 1800-05, Bordesly and Deritend Birmingham in 1809 and Birchole St, 1816-18. Recorded as Abraham Lambley & Co 1816-18.

Tompson a locksmith and Lambley a cabinet maker had a partnership which was dissolved in 1809. 

The lock design is also described as Tompson's patent.  

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16328/page/2067/data.pdf 

The Gazette, www.thegazette.co.uk.

It is interesting that only Lambley's name is on the lock. It would seem from an announcement in the London Gazette that following the dissolution of the Tompson Lambley partnership that Lambley could continue to use the Tompson/Lambley  lock on his own boxes.  Tompson went on to make boxes on his own account:

See:  Exceptional Regency Rosewood Triple Opening Writing Box  with Tompson lock  Circa 1825  http://www.hygra.com/uk/n11/WB604 

The lock on An Early 19th Century Captains Box with elaborate secret drawers and compartments Fitted with dressing accessories By  George Palmer London. http://hygra.com/uk/wb/wb101/index.htm  is stamped "Tompson and Lambley --GR Patent."

The lock body is made from milled cast brass. 

The hole at the bottom is to allow the rod to trigger the mechanism of the secret drawer panel. 

In the open position the bolt is flush with the lock plate. It has been retracted into the lock.

Lock in open position with key. The bolt has been retracted into the lock

The key has slots to accommodate the wards in the back-plate. The key just passes into the lock. 

The key now engages with a second lever which has to be in the correct position for the bolt to move from right to left. 

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When the lock is in the open position the bolt has retracted into the lock.

This was the special of the lock.

The box is innovative. The steel screws of the 1790's boxes were now a problem.

The escutcheon is inlaid into the surface. This was then secured with two screws. The brass screw-heads have been ground flat to surface.

Hygra: Antique Brass bound and Accented Solid Mahogany Traveling Writing Desk With Lambley's Patent Lock Circa 1810.

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