Locking Laboratory Desks ALVW D. BOSTON Wabash College, Cmwfordsville, Indiana
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ANY high schools and colleges have installed laboratory desks with master keys for the instructor and one or more keys for each student locker. Such desks, when used over a long period of time, require frequent repair or replacement of worn-out locks and keys. Sometimes keys are. misplaced or lost, necessitating the installation of new locks and often the introduction of one or more additional master keys. The writer has found that many of the difficulties of usine locks and keys can be eliminated bv the substitutionof a keyed combination padlock system. Keyed combination padlocks all unlock with one combination when the master key is used. The keyless combinations used by the students are all different. The use of such a lock with the proper type of hasp and iron plate is illustrated in Figure 1. A 'Iginch steel plate of dimensions about X 5 inches is bolted to drawer A2 with bolts of the proper length in such a way that i t extends out over drawer Aa. With this plate drawer AQis held in a locked position when drawer Az is closed. Drawer Az and compartment A, are locked by securing to the door of A, a hasp which lifts up over its mounting screws to fit over the round loop of an eye bolt bolted to the supporting frame between drawer Az and compartment A,. When the' hasp is locked in the up position i t extends over the lower edge of drawer Ax, locking it in place. Thus all three compartments are secured by one padlock. By placing the hasp and plate in different positions i n y system of drawers or comDartments can be locked with one padlock. The writer has used this system successfully on 150 lockers over a period of 5 years. The inconvenience of having to open drawer A2 in order to obtain access to drawer A3 was eliminated by storing in the latter drawer apparatus infrequently used. The following advantages proved by experience and use should be noted. 1. This padlock system offers more positive protection to the locker and its contents. Drawers or compartments cannot be forced open easily. Worn or stray keys cannot be used. 2. This system when installed will last indefinitely.
3. The cost per desk of the complete installation is less than the cost of replacing worn-out locks and keys. 4. The instructor's master key alone or the instructor's master combination will not give access to the lockers. 5. The locker cannot be locked without first closing all compartments.
6. The locks can be moved from desk to desk or from one laboratory to another, thus enabling the instructor to issue the same lock to the same student each year. All of this equipment can be purchased with the usual electroplated coat of zinc or cadmium for protection against fumes except the iron plate, which can be made up by a local machinist, and the carriage bolts, which should be given a coat of aluminum paint.
lee cream is older than you think. In fact; i t is now a year older than we thought The tradition that i t rmsfimt introduced a t the White Hoase during the adit ministration of President Madison has been upset by the discovery of an advertisement in the Louisiana Courier, of April, 1808, a year before President Madison took ofice.
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