19th Century Joseph Bramah English Burled Walnut Lap Desk

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Title: 19th Century English Burled Walnut Lap Desk by Joseph Bramah.

Description: Offered is a burled walnut brass bound lap … Read more Title: 19th Century English Burled Walnut Lap Desk by Joseph Bramah.

Description: Offered is a burled walnut brass bound lap desk (writing box/travel desk), in the campaign/military style, by Bramah of London. The piece has a fine Bramah lock, lower lock plate is stamped atop “BRAMAH – PATENT - LONDON”. The box is finished in a burl walnut veneer, opens to the original tooled leather writing slope, compartments for writing needs beneath and above for - a pen storage/tray, stamps and (2) inkwells. The lower internal compartment accessed by shifting (2) internal sliders. The upper compartment secures with a lock, within there are (2) secret drawers that can be accessed only when lid is open by use of a hidden (in plain sight) mechanism – to open, one pulls up on a compartment divider - releases an interior sprung panel. The bottom is covered in a green felt. This magnificent box was acquired either directly from J. Bramah & Son, 124 Piccadilly or purchased from Asprey, Bond Street, London. Atop the piece bears a plaque reading, “With Mr. E. Pratt’s compliments – In token of his appreciation – And high opinion of – Mr. H.M. Haywood’s – Strict integrity and faithful – Service. – Derby. Dec. 23rd, 1876.”

Measures: 16 W x 9.75 D x 6.25 H inches (Open position - 16 W 19.5 D x 4.25 H inches).

Includes: Portable travel desk, historical brief with photos.
Does not include: Key, inkwells.

Condition notes: Very good; light wear not commensurate with age and use, structurally sound (e.g. minor wood loss and stress cracks at rear hinges, a natural in lid, rubbed engraving wear, sporadic extremity wear). A beautiful piece.

Provenance: E. (Edwin) Pratt (EP) (the gift giver, was born in in Derby in 1836 and after an apprenticeship, worked as clerk to the Derby Borough magistrates in the 1860s and 1870s. Trade directories for 1870 and 1874 also show him as chamberlain to the Corporation offices at the Town Hall, Market Place, Derby, EP also served as an officer of The Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers or another militia regiment. By 1881, he had retired and moved to Lincoln. As EP later served as Mayor of Lincoln, first citizen, for two consecutive years, it seems his political aspirations may have been the biggest influencer. Borough Chamberlain EP of Derby is pictured in a portrait and full body shot (in uniform) photos taken c. ee images at "Derbyshire Photographers' Profiles" and included historical brief.

Henry Mansfield Haywood (HH) (1859- ), the gift recipient, born in Derby was the eldest son of Mr. Edward Haywood, formerly in business as an engineer in Derby. HH attended The Derby School, recorded from n the year 1872 the Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became King and Queen) were present at the School prize distribution, and Captain Haywood, who was one of the successful boys, had the honor of receiving from the hands of their Royal Highnesses a prize for Latin, a book, in which the Prince graciously inscribed his autograph.

Consecutively, HH commenced his business career in February 1873, as junior clerk in the office of Mr. Edwin Pratt (EP), then Clerk to the Borough Magistrates, and also Chamberlain to the Corporation. Then HH joined Mr. Harvey Whiston, Clerk to the Justices, with whom, until his appointment to Chief Constableship (appointed Chief Constable of Derby, recorded in “The Justice of the Peace, February 12, 1898), he was honorably associated as his deputy. On the occasion of his marriage, in 1880, the magistrates, at a special meeting, presented to HH a marble timepiece, bearing an inscription; and, in addition, other articles of silver. The presentation was made by the Mayor, on behalf of the Bench, in eulogistic terms. This was by no means the only mark of appreciation that HH received from the civic heads of the town, for on the retirement of the outgoing Mayor, those gentlemen had invariably recognized in public the efficient services he rendered them during their respective years in office.

HH during the period of his career as Deputy-Clerk to the Justices, rendered service in many local affairs. He was formerly Secretary to the Committee annually charged with the arrangements for entertaining the outgoing Mayor to the Committee to a public banquet, to celebrate the completion of his term of office. The several civic heads of Derby frequently called his powers into requisition in connection with banquets and balls; on three special occasions his administrative capacity was particularly valuable. The occasions referred to were memorable in the history of Derby, and were two banquets, provided on a scale of great magnificence by Sir Alfred Haslam, when the Queen visited Derby in May, 1891 (See historical footnote:... reference to occasion in greater detail), and a similar entertainment in honor of the Lord Mayor of London, when he visited Derby.

Further, HH served in The Chief Constables’ Association, an organization that primarily operated for social purposes (also considered legal and operational issues), provided services for senior officers of City and Borough Forces. Capt. HH, Chief Constable of Derby, is pictured in a group photo titled, “Congress of Chief Constables in Manchester, 1909” (British Police History). See included historical brief for an included portrait photo/image.

Public history - Gift presentation: "Prior to EP's departure from the town, he presented HH with a handsome walnut writing desk, in token of his appreciation and high opinion of his strict integrity and faithful service" (Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 14 August 1908) (see last image).

About 19th Century Derby Society and the Derbyshire Constabulary (DC): Class distinctions were rigid and a strong social feature in Derby. The executive of the DC, like the borough chamberlain and chief constable, figured with their beadle in gowns and cloaks on state occasions, was really a sub-committee of the Town Corporation, and the society differed little in composition and function from its progenitor of the Middle Ages. It enacted that no man, on the completion of his seven years’ apprenticeship, should commence business in the borough without the consent of the Company, and that no stranger should commence business unless he received their permission, and paid a composition or acknowledgement.

Historical footnote: When Queen Victoria came to lay the foundation stone for the new hospital in Derby on May 21st, 1891, she knighted Mayor, Alfred S. (Seale) Haslam Esq. (or his services and gave permission for the term “Royal” to be used, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.

On that occasion, at the grand mayoral banquet, Mr. Alderman Roe, MP, submitted the toast of “The Visitors.” He said the Mayor could not fail to be highly delighted at seeing so many visitors amongst his guests... (Applause). He coupled with the toast the name of the Mayor of Lincoln (EP), Mr. Edwin Pratt, in their midst. All who knew him would sincerely congratulate him upon serving the office of Mayor of Lincoln for a second term, knowing that in the future, as well as in the past, he would perform the duties with dignity, ability, and efficiency...

The Mayor of Lincoln (EP), who was very cordially received, also responded. He said it was very difficult for him, as a native of Derby, to realize that he was now only a visitor. He could not, however, help remembering that in the town of his birth that he was for more than a quarter of a century actively connected to its municipal life and government. As a visitor he desired to offer the Mayor his sincere and hearty congratulations upon the honour that day bestowed upon him – (applause) – and he could truthfully say that no one had more fully deserved such a recognition from his Sovereign. (Applause.). He remembered that he (EP) had been identified with two previous Royal visits to Derby, and on both those occasions the town had good fortune to have at the head of its municipal affairs gentlemen whose princely liberality and great energy produced such successful issues to those important events. (Applause.).

This concluded the toast list, and the gathering dispersed. The official event recorded Mr. Edwin Pratt as a visiting guest and Mr. H.M. Haywood as an invitation recipient (as previously mentioned, HH was charged with the arrangements for entertaining on this memorable occasion in Derby history.).

About the Maker: Joseph Bramah (JB) (born in Stainborough, Barnsley Yorkshire, was an English inventor and locksmith. Unable to continue farm work due to an accident, left him lame at 16, he went on to apprentice the village carpenter in Yorkshire. Later he came to London as a journeyman cabinetmaker. The lock was not Bramah’s only successful invention, he is best known for having invented the hydraulic press. Along with William George Armstrong, he can be considered one of the two fathers of hydraulic engineering....

After attending some lectures on technical aspects of locks, JB designed a lock of his own, receiving a patent for it in 1784. Bramah was granted letters patent for “a LOCK, constructed on a new and infallible Principle, which possessing all the Properties essential to Security, will prevent the most ruinous Consequences of HOUSE ROBBERIES, and be a certain Protection against Thieves of all Descriptions”. In the same year he started the Bramah Locks company at 124 Piccadilly, which is today based in Fitzrovia, London and Romford, Essex.

The locks produced by his company were famed for their resistance to lock picking and tampering, and the company famously had a “Challenge Lock” displayed in the window of their London shop, beneath an inscription read, “The artist who can make an instrument that will pick or open this lock shall receive 200 guineas the moment it is produced.” The challenge stood for over 67 years. The “Challenge Lock” is in the Science Museum in London. The Bramah lock was truly inventive and a complete departure from the locks that had existed before. Many box locks were very simple and could easily be opened with a lock pick.

JB received a second patent for a lock design in 1798. He was a prolific inventor and obtained 18 patents for his designs between 1778 and 1812.

References: British Police History, Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal - 14 August 1908 (see last image), Derbyshire Photographers' Profiles - 1873-1874.

Addendum: The British Police History Organization recently (Wednesday March 10th, 2021) requested permission to use images of the desk on their forum to preserve this bit of public history for posterity.
In the not too distant future, images of the desk will be used as a reference when associated with Mr. Haywood. See less