38 • historyoflocks
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Kromers’ Automat
By Brian Morland, curator of The History of Locks Museum,
who comments on and describes artefacts from the collection.
Left: Front and rear views
of the Kromer Automat,
mounted on a display
block which simulates
the safe door slab,
where its operation can
also be demonstrated.
HoL Museum artefact
number: 263.
Below: Theador Kromer
(1839 - 1928) Joint
Founder of the firm,
with his brother Carl.
»»The film industry very
often depicts the surreptitious
opening of a safe combination
lock, with either the villain or
hero having an ear pressed
up to the safe (perhaps with
the aid of a stethoscope,
or similar listening device,)
listening intensely to the
clicks as the dial is rotated.
In reality, like all locksmiths,
the first requirement is to positively
identify the exact model and version
of lock from the presented situation,
such as a locked door or safe. Once
inspected and identified, the second
essential requirement is to have an
intimate knowledge of that exact lock in
order to interpret what is felt, measured
and heard. The Automat has very loud
and positive ‘clicks’, however they give
no clue to finding the numbers. Even if
the combination numbers are known,
the unique dialling procedure would
probably defeat the uninitiated.
Theador Kromer, was born on 21st
October 1839 in Neustadt, in the Black
Forest region of Germany. Together
with his brother Carl, he founded a
firm making precision instruments and
locks. Theador was inspired by locks
and travelled extensively in England,
visiting lock and safe makers. He was
even employed in America, a