Chubb, Charles

▪ British inventor

died May 16, 1845, Islington, London, Eng.

      British inventor and entrepreneur, founder of the locksmith firm of Chubb & Son (now Chubb & Son PLC), which in the 20th century became a major corporation manufacturing and distributing locks, safes, alarms, fire extinguishers, security systems, surveillance equipment, and other products.

      Beginning the hardware trade in Winchester, Hampshire, Chubb moved first to nearby Portsea and then to London, where he founded Chubb & Son, initially in the area of St. Paul's Churchyard. There he worked to improve the “detector” lock originally patented in 1818 by his brother Jeremiah Chubb of Portsea. This “Chubb lock” had tumblers and, in addition, a lever called a detector, which made the bolt immovable when someone inexpertly tried to pick the lock. He took out further patents in 1824, 1828, and 1833 and also patented fireproof and burglarproof safes.

      His son John Chubb (1816–72) took out more patents on locks and safes and greatly expanded the business, which was carried on by John's three sons, John C. Chubb, George H. Chubb, and Henry W. Chubb.

* * *