Investigator’s Tool Kit

Did you know that in Victorian and Edwardian times, there were only about 18 lock designs in all the world? And 90% of the locks could be unlocked with one of THREE master keys!

It’s no surprise, then, that the Imposters always carried the most common master keys in their pockets or bags.

Today, it’s a bit trickier…but if you frequently need to find your way into locked rooms (from forgetfulness, of course!), you can buy model door handles and locks and lock pick sets specifically designed to help train you.

Precision is often required in the world of investigating. Just ask Yates, who occasionally drills holes to plant listening devices. To avoid drilling in the wrong place, he falls back on the obvious: measure twice, bore once. 😉 Soft, pliable measuring tapes may be a bit more difficult to use, but they’re easy to slip into a pocket and don’t weigh you down.

Accuracy is important in more than physical measurements–it’s just as crucial in matters of time. When coordinating efforts, it’s vital that all members of the team have a dependable, accurate watch, and that the team has syncronized their timepieces. In 1909-1910, Wilsdord hadn’t yet perfected his Rolex wristwatch, and pocket watches were still the most reliable.

Okay, I admit it…I exaggerated how small flashlights were by 1909, just for ease of storytelling. The ones commercially available at the time were a bit bulky for a lady’s handbag. But let’s just assume our crew had some ingenuity and rigged their own. At any rate, small flashlights come in handy for everyone. Especially those slinking about in the dark!

This may seem obvious, but how often do we find ourselves needing to write something down but lacking the utensils? A pen or pencil and a notebook is a must for any investigator…even ones as skilled in memorization as the Fairfax siblings.

We think of microphones as being modern inventions, and they are…but as early as the late 1800s, there were amplification devices, first designed as hearing aids. The Imposters are in possession of a rather cumbersome Aukophone (a later version pictured here that is considerably more transportable) that had been their grandfather’s as he lost his hearing. Very handy for listening in on hushed conversations!

Though adhesive bandages weren’t invented until 1921, first-aid kits have been around for far longer than that! And though the Imposters pride themselves on their skill and care, they still wouldn’t risk leaving evidence behind them in the form of blood drops in case of scrapes or punctures. They would most assuredly have a first-aid kit with bandages and salves with them on any excursion.