William Burnham Woods

“ If it were found to be necessary to hold the rims of the wheels rigidly immovable while the combination of the lock was being changed, the idea of changing the irregular aperture in the wheels through which the key in the Rickards' device was thrust to one of the shape and size of the key would occur to the rudest and most unskilled mechanic. The suggestion of such a change could not be called invention, and ought not to be dignified by letters patent. ”

“ The evidence shows that what Rosner thought had never been done before had been done by means of the device of Rickards, embodied in the lock of Evans & Watson, which is substantially the same contrivance as that covered by the first claim of Rosner's patent.
The Rickards device embraces a set of wheels consisting of an outer rim or hub and a set of fastening devices or bolts, so constructed as to engage and disengage with a set of cogs on the central hub. When the bolts are in place, the outer rim and the central hub are firmly fastened together ”

“ When the key is inserted, and the fastening device thrown back, it will be seen that the rims of the wheels are held stationary by the key, while the centers may be turned to any different position by the spindle, thus setting the lock to a new combination. ”