CHUBB

chubb, charles (d. 1845), english locksmith, started a hardware business at winchester, subsequently removing to portsea. here he improved on the "detector" lock (q.v.), originally patented in 1818 by his brother, jeremiah chubb. he soon moved to london and then to wolverhampton, where he employed two hundred hands. in 1835 he patented a process intended to render safes (q.v.) burglar-proof and fireproof, and subsequently established a large safe-factory in london. he died on the 16th of may 1845, and was succeeded in the business by his son, john chubb (1816-1872), who patented various improvements in the products of the firm and largely increased its output. the factories were combined under one roof in a model plant, and the business grew to enormous proportions. after john chubb's death the business was converted into a limited company under the management of his three sons.