XXXV
THE AURES LOCK LATCH
The Aures lock differs from the preceding ones in the use of metal springs, but wooden ones may be substituted; for instance, a wooden spring like the one in [Fig. 209] may be put under the bolt or latch shown in [Fig. 219], which is practically the same latch; that is, if you turn the latch in [Fig. 209] upside down it will make the latch shown in [Fig. 219]; also, if you take the bolt or lock B in [Fig. 219] and make it of one piece of wood with a spring to it, like the one shown in [Fig. 208] or [Fig. 209], or make it exactly like the one shown in [Fig. 201], the Aures lock can be made altogether of wood. But with this lock, as described below, metal springs were used (Figs. [219], [220], and [221]).
The Door
The door shows the two strings H and K coming through gimlet holes near the top. [Fig. 218] represents the outside of the door. The strings may be concealed by covering their ends with a board as shown in this diagram, but even if they are not concealed, one unacquainted with the lock will not know how to work them in order to open the door.
A in Figs. [219], [220], and [221] is the latch which is made of a piece of wood about eight or nine inches long by about one and one half inches wide by an inch or three quarters of an inch thick. A hole is drilled near the centre of the latch and a screw placed through which is screwed into the door so that the latch will extend about two or three inches beyond the end of the door.
D (Figs. [219], [220], and [221]) is a catch or stop which is fastened to the door-jamb and keeps the end of the latch from flying too far up to lock the door.
B ([Fig. 219]) is the key which is made of the same sort of wood as the latch; a hole is drilled in this also but it is here placed about one inch from the top. A screw is run through this, as in the hole in the latch, and screwed into the door ([Fig. 219]).
Fig. C, [219] is a small block of wood on which a steel-band spring has been screwed to keep the key in its proper place. The block is screwed to the door a short distance above the top of the key.
Fig. J, [219] is a nail or peg placed in the door close beside the key when the key is vertical; this is intended to prevent the key from being shoved over too far by the force of the band spring F.