Antique Safes/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Victor Patent Safe | 5/28/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I recently just purchased a new home and it came with a monster sized Victor safe in the basement. ... A: Amanda, the award was issued to Victor Safe & Lock Company for their "EXHIBIT" during the 1904 ... | ||
| safe | 5/26/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I recently inherited my Grandmothers safe. I could not find any company logos or information on it. ... A: Jan, I would be happy to look at your safe. It appears to be from the 1850's-1870's. In order to ... | ||
| Herring Hall Marvin Safe Co | 5/25/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a Herring Hall Marvin Safe Co, looks like it painted green nad has the words Yale on the ... A: Marlene, HHM didn't place serial numbers on all of their safes, which means that we sometimes have ... | ||
| Cannonball safe | 5/25/2012 | Doug MacQueen |
| Q: I have an old Cannonball safe I think is from the 1880's. It is about 57" tall and 36" in diameter. ... A: Glenn, can you post a picture of it? Where are you located and have you ever had it open? If you ... | ||
| Wheel Pack | 5/25/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a Mosler Harring Hall & Marvin Cast Iron Fire Safe. I need the wheel pack for this safe. The ... A: Ben, Mosler and HHM (Herring-Hall-Marvin) were two separate companies which never merged. In 1959 ... | ||
| Chubb vault products | 5/24/2012 | Mike Palmer |
| Q: We are currently carrying out a renovation to a British era Bank building in Sri Lanka, and wish to ... A: Firstly I should point out that Chubb products manufactured and sold overseas often varied ... | ||
| Antique Mosler Safe | 5/24/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I am looking for information on a safe that my father has given me. I have been looking online for ... A: Aron, to be an "antique" your safe would need to be over 100 years old. To be a collectible, it ... | ||
| OLD SAFES | 5/23/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a really old Yale Safe with a date of Feb. 5 1895. I want to know if there is a way to unlock ... A: Andrew, Sorry, but you don't have a "YALE" safe. Yale was a lock manufacturer only, and the date ... | ||
| York Safe & Lock Co. York , PA. | 5/23/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have an old safe door that was removed from our local court house 30 years ago.Sargent & Greenleaf ... A: Tim, The York safe company was in business from 1883 until 1959. The 1865 was the "established" ... | ||
| Marvin Safe Co. | 5/23/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: My husband and I recently purchased an old colonial from the 1800's that still has a NY MARVIN S. ... A: Tracy, I would be happy to look at your safe. please send the following photos including ones of ... | ||
| PACIFICOAST SAFE & VAULT, PORTLAND OR | 5/23/2012 | Doug MacQueen |
| Q: My grandfather willed to me a 2500-3000lb safe/vault. It is made by Pacificoast Safe and Vault Co., ... A: Susie, Pacific Coast Safe & Vaults Works appears to have been a regional company from the early ... | ||
| safe | 5/23/2012 | Tom Gordon |
| Q: I am trying to get some info about a WALKER&WORSEY of birmingham safe , i also have both keys for ... A: I am afraid that apart from them being 2nd tier manufacturers of low quality safes around 1900 I ... | ||
| Determining Age and Value Of Antique Mosler Safe | 5/23/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have an antique Mosler safe that I am looking to sell. It is 64" tall X 38" wide X 30" deep. I ... A: Scotty, I would be happy to look at your safe. Note: hopefully the lock is not damaged, and/or ... | ||
| Reliable safe and lock co. | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have an old iron safe made by the reliable safe and lock co of covington,KY. I have no combination ... A: Robert, While the safe is not an antique it is still a collectible. This company manufactured ... | ||
| John Tann Safe | 5/22/2012 | Mike Palmer |
| Q: We have a John Tann safe,and would like to know how old it is, and if it has any value. I do have ... A: Edward Tann was the founder of the world's first firm of safe makers and later, as John Tann they ... | ||
| Antique Safe box | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a small Safe Box Hall's Safe & Lock Co. / San Francisco that belonged to my great great ... A: Ines, Sorry but based on the serial number that appears in the photo (90792), your safe would have ... | ||
| Cary Safe - Floor Model | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: We have a large, floor model safe(with wheels) and would like to sell it for a fair price, but have ... A: Bettina, I would be happy to look at your safe. In order to answer specific questions, identify, ... | ||
| weight of Syracuse Safe Co. safe | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: We are hoping to move an antique safe from its current location on the 2nd floor of a relatively ... A: Sue, Unfortunately across the country there are only a handfull of large safe companies. Because ... | ||
| Hall's Safe Co. Key | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a Hall's safe made around 1906 with a missing interior door key. It may be in a box full of ... A: Brent, The key should be a flat key, less than 1/16 inch thick, about 1/2" high and about 2-3" ... | ||
| antique safe | 5/22/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Hey my names Kyle and i have this safe which i believe is really old from the research that i have ... A: Kyle, I have been in the field last week and through at least noon tomorrow. When I get into the ... | ||
| weight of Syracuse Safe Co. safe | 5/21/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: We are hoping to move an antique safe from its current location on the 2nd floor of a relatively ... A: Sue, I'm having trouble with the claim that you have found a "mover" with the "PROPER" equipment to ... | ||
| antique Milner safe - idea of weight | 5/20/2012 | Mike Palmer |
| Q: I'd love to buy an antique safe to restore and use as a coffee table/talking point in our home. ... A: I love to hear of people finding uses for these old safes and they do scrub up really well. However ... | ||
| A McCaskey Register Co. Safe | 5/19/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Do you know where I can get the paint and decal work redone for a McCaskey Register Co. Safe in ... A: Nicole, You have several options, if you have some good photos of the art work, you can have decals ... | ||
| huge key | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I purchased this key at an estate sale and was told that it was used for a bank vault. It is 17" ... A: Alicia, While it will make a great decoration, I can tell you that THIS key was NEVER used by a ... | ||
| need help with antique safe | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I've been having a very difficult time finding information on my antique safe. I recieved it from a ... A: Joey, I doubt that the safe was every owned by Wells Fargo. The two biggest FAKED items on safes ... | ||
| Tumbler assembly on a york safe | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I came into possession of a york safe recently, the tumbler and dial have been removed. I have the ... A: Christopher, This is why I request this type of info - so we can talk apples and apples. After ... | ||
| dialing instructions | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: My mother passed away and I found a Sabeth Desk & Safe Co. safe in the garage. I think the ... A: Mike, The "Sabeth Desk & Safe Company" was a general "office furniture" supplier at the turn of the ... | ||
| Mosler Safe 99508 | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Andy, After your quick response yesterday I went home and looked more closely at the handle of the ... A: Susan, I'm not sure who might be in your area, but someone nearby that I would recommend would be ... | ||
| Tumbler assembly on a york safe | 5/18/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I came into possession of a york safe recently, the tumbler and dial have been removed. I have the ... A: Christopher, The lock that you have referenced wasn't even around when your York was made. This is ... | ||
| Possible Mosler Safe | 5/17/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I recently bought a house built in 1853. There is a safe with no apparent markings (old ... A: Susan, I would be happy to take a look at your other photos. Send them to me at: ... | ||
| victor safe | 5/17/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: witch numbers on the safe are model# for id the relocker 900840 or the 901920 fire rating A: Robin, Manufacturers rarely ever put the model of the safe on it. The numbers that you are ... | ||
| diebold cannonball | 5/17/2012 | Doug MacQueen |
| Q: our cannonball safe is locked. looking for advise to open. the time lock mechanism was removed and ... A: Cory, that is a problem. Do you have the combination for it? There are a few different setups so ... | ||
| Possible Mosler Safe | 5/17/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I recently bought a house built in 1853. There is a safe with no apparent markings (old ... A: Susan, Well, it could possibly be a Mosler, but I don't think it is as old as you think it is. ... | ||
| Challenger Steel Products Brooklyn New York | 5/16/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a 3 Drawer Filing Cabinet with a Rotary dial safe attached and was made by Challenger Steel ... A: Charlie, Well you are PARTIALLY correct. The serial number could have been tracked THROUGH the ... | ||
| Hall Safe | 5/15/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Andy, I was looking for info on a safe we use at our American Legion hall. I am the Commander, and ... A: Hugh, The safe was manufactured between 1848 and 1892. Shortly after Jacob Hall's death in 1889, ... | ||
| antique safe | 5/15/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Hey my names Kyle and i have this safe which i believe is really old from the research that i have ... A: Kyle, The Hall's Safe & Lock Company was in business from 1848 until shortly after Jacob Hall's ... | ||
| Looking for more info on our safe | 5/14/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Inherited our safe from my father-in-law and was hoping to get more information on it. It is ... A: Phynx, Your safe was probably made in the mid to late 1800's. While the first plaque gives a model ... | ||
| schwab safe | 5/14/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: I have a customer that has a schwab safe, approx 1920's....the customer does not have the ... A: Robby, I'm not sure what your skill or training level is with safes, however if you had any ... | ||
| Diebold lock part missing | 5/14/2012 | Terry V Andreasen (Andy) |
| Q: Terry, I bought a Diebold safe from the factory where I work. They probably purchased it new, no one ... A: David, Sorry, but individual lock parts have never been available for sale. The locks are sold as ... | ||
| Rand Kardex Bureau Filing Cabinet | 5/13/2012 | Doug MacQueen |
| Q: I am inquiring into the possible value of this 1925 Rand Kardex Bureau Filing Cabinet. I am ... A: Monica, if it is in good working condition, meaning the drawers pull easily when heavily loaded, it ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Terry V Andreasen (Andy)
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Safe and Vault related Questions; Antique Safe Repair and Restoration; With over 40 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer. Current Project: Restoration of two Tilton & McFarland Safes from the 1860's. Will answer Safe & Vault related questions concerning age, value, restoration, moving, opening & repairing, parts, operation and history. Note: It is not my intention to teach you to open safes or to provide information which may aid in the unlawful opening of a safe. I will not give out drill points or information which I deem inappropriate.
Experience
40 years in the Safe & Vault Industry. Service Manager for one of the largest Safe & Vault companies on the West Coast. Graduate of Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing, Safe lock Manipulation and Safe Deposit Lock Courses. Graduate of Locksmith Institute.
Certified Instructor for the California Locksmith Association teaching Basic and Advanced Lock Servicing, Basic Safe opening and Repairing.
Factory Trained by AMSEC, LORD Safes, LeFebure, Mosler, KabaMas, LaGard and Sargent & Greenleaf
Organizations
Safecrackers International and the
National Antique Safe Association
Education/Credentials
Graduate of Locksmith Institute 1972
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing 1974
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Manipulation 1975
Graduate Lockmasters Safe Deposit Lock Servicing 1985
Instructor Certified - California Locksmith Association - 1985
Factory trained by AMSEC, MAJOR, STAR, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-MAS, Allied-Gary, ISM, Lord, Brown Safe, EXL, Mosler, Diebold.
Awards and Honors
2009, 2010 & 2011 Listed in AllExperts top 50 Experts. All Experts Categories - Safes & Security Containers, Locksmithing, Antique Safes.
Retired US Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), with 32 years of total service. With numerous awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
US Navy - 1971-1981
US Army Reserve 1984-2006
US Army Retired Reserve 2006-present
Past/Present Clients
US Secret Service, FBI, BATF, Local Law enforcment agencies, Diebold, Hamilton Pacific, Red Hawk Int., Chubb International, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Mechanics Bank, El Dorado Savings Bank, many Credit unions and smaller banks. McDonalds, Togos, BurgerKing, TacoBell, Carls Jr. FoodMaxx, SaveMart, Lucky's, Albertson's, Raley's, Safeway, NobHill, Bell Markets, PW Markets. Great America, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, UA Cinemas, and many homeowners and small businesses.
Provide warranty service for lock and safe manufactures.
Service area is Northern California - Fresno to Oregon, including western Nevada
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