Expertise Will answer Safe & Vault related questions concerning age, value, restoration, moving, opening & repairing, parts, operation and history.
Experience Over 35 years in the Safe & Vault industry. 21 years with current employer.
Organizations Safecrackers International
Education/Credentials Graduate of Locksmith Institute
Graduate of Lockmasters (Safe Lock Servicing, Manipulation, Safe Depostit lock Servicing)
Factory trained by AMSEC, MAJOR, STAR, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-MAS, Allied-Gary, ISM, Lord, Brown Safe, EXL, Mosler, Diebold.
Certified Instructor for the California Locksmiths Association
Awards and Honors Retired US Army Reserve Warrant Officer (CW4), with 32 years of total service. With numerous awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Past/Present Clients US Secret Service, FBI, BATF, Local Law enforcment agencies, 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.
Q: I came upon your website as I was trying to find information on an antique safe we have had in my ... A: Alpine Safe & Lock Co., manufactured safes during the late 1800's (mid 1880's-1899 or there abouts). ...
Q: I bought a diebold safe at a sale. It was open but I have no combination for it. How do I go about ... A: Gary, Diebold does have many parts still available, however they have recently revised their parts ...
Q: I have a S. Withers, Birmingham, Westbromwich safe, It has a lion on top of a crown on a brass ... A: Sharon, Fortunately you are lucky, most safe manufactures have very little information about them ...
Q: I bought a diebold safe at a sale. It was open but I have no combination for it. How do I go about ... A: Gary, You indicated, the safe "WAS" open. Does this mean that you have locked it up and you don't ...
Q: have combonation, don't know which way to turn dial. can't open safe. Not in use for more than a ... A: Jack, you didn't mention if the lock, unlocked or not! This would be important in diagnosing the ...
Q: have combonation, don't know which way to turn dial. can't open safe. Not in use for more than a ... A: Jack, The dialing sequence is as follows: 4 times left to the first number 3 times right to the ...
Q: I have an Alpine safe that is in relatively good condition. The paint has some scratches but all ... A: Cindy, Alpine Safe Company was one of many small safe companies that sprank up in the late 1800's, ...
Q: I have recently purchased a property that has a vault door on the inside. It is marked on the door ... A: Bo, Take some pictures of it to include the full exterior and interior, also detail photos of the ...
Q: I am looking into purchasing a restored safe. One is a Wells Fargo the other J Baum The logo the ... A: Barbara, I would have to see both safes to determine which one I thought was the better investment. ...
Q: Was wanting to get some info on this Yale vault door, age, value, etc. It was removed from a court ... A: Mike, After seeing the picture of your hinge, I went back and took a look at several of my ...
Q: My dad passed away and left his old Gary safe and i have no idea how to get into it and i know there ... A: Albert, Sorry to hear about your dad. If you don't have a combination then you will have to ...
Q: Was wanting to get some info on this Yale vault door, age, value, etc. It was removed from a court ... A: Mike, The vault door is not a Yale. Yale only made locks. Based on the handle it looks like a ...
Q: I am trying to set a price on a cannonball safe. Please let me know what this type of safe is ... A: Barbara, I did email him after I learned you were interested in selling. I know that he has read ...
Q: ! Thanks for taking the time to help those of us that really appreciate you expertise. I have ... A: Lenny, Unfortunately the pictures did not make it through with your letter. Feel free to send them ...
Q: I am trying to set a price on a cannonball safe. Please let me know what this type of safe is ... A: I may have someone interested in purchasing your safe. Once he responds, if he sends me an email ...
Q: I have a 36"H safe made by the Hermann Safe Co. (believe it was purchased around 1930). Having lost ... A: Chrisine, Your local hardware store should have a product called "Goof Off". This should remove ...
Q: we have a diebold safe at our church that hasn't been used for years.we don't kneed it and don't ... A: Charles, With out seeing the safe I cannot evaluate it. I will need photos of the exterior and ...
Q: I have a safe that says, Hall's Safe and Lock Co on the front. It says it was built in Cincinnati ... A: Marc, Here is the basic info on Hall's Safe and Lock Co.; Hall's Safe & Lock Co., Cincinnati, OH. ...
Q: Terry, Thanks for sharing your knowledge of old safes with us. I have 2 old safes, number one is a ... A: Dean, First I'll start with the keys - recommendation, get extras immediately before you lose or ...
Q: my dad owns an old Cary safe and I am wondering what it is worth and how old it is. Please let me ... A: Mandy, First question would be "for what purpose to you need to evaluate your safe"? The reason I ...
Q: I may inheret a Mosler Safe, Buffalo NY is painted on the front, black safe...very nice hand ... A: Kris, Lets go over your questions as there are some problems; first Mosler was never in Buffalo, ...
Q: I have what I believe to be a Jesse Delano hobnail safe.I'm curious to know its age and how to ... A: Yanni, Jesse Delano was making "Hobnail Safes" in the 1830s and 1840s. That would put your safe ...
Q: We had our safe stolen and are seeking a replacement value for insurance. Also we would like to ... A: Jon, Pictures would help as I have no access to the original factory orders. Based on the serial ...
Q: we have a safe door in our new home.the round door handle works to move the bolts that come in and ... A: Deborah, Your description of the safe is rather vague. I will need to see some photo's of your ...
Q: I have an ancient monster of a safe on my hands. Here are the specifics: Diebold Safe and Lock Co. ... A: Alisse, you can send the extra photos to my email address, see signature line. Appraisals are ...
Q: I have an ancient monster of a safe on my hands. Here are the specifics: Diebold Safe and Lock Co. ... A: Alisse, If you just want a basic value and some ideas for selling, I can do that on this site. You ...
Q: I have a safe that I am thinking of selling and I would like to know how much you think the safe is ... A: Josie, Your York Safe is from the 1930's to 1940's and is basically just a record safe, designed to ...
Q: What is in the walls of the old floor safe Is there Lead in them that makes them so heavy? I have an ... A: The old safes, like the Cary's, were basically made of thin sheet steel and angle iron (for strength ...
Q: I have a fully functioning old safe. It has two complete sets of keys. As far as I know it is German ... A: Chris, You haven't given me any worthwhile info to work from. I will need photos of the safe to ...
Q: I have a York & Lock Co.safe,Serial # L3237. Can you tell give any info. about age and value. Thanks A: Your York cannonball safe is probably 1920's vintage. In its current condition it has a value of ...
Q: I have an old safe that I would like to know the age and value of. There is gold colored "hand ... A: Michele, Edward Crosby Morris was born in Norwich, VT on June 18th 1844. He eventually moved to ...
Q: i have an 1800ish safe that i need a 4.75 diam cast iron wheel for and possible help in opening ... A: Jack, you may need to replace all of the castors at the same time. The address listed below is a ...
Q: this safe has been in our family for quite sometime my grandfather had it in his Belgium Lace Shop ... A: Karin, The photo you included doesn't show much detail. I will need to see more photos to give you ...
Q: TERRY. I have been restoring antique safes for 25 to 30 years. I just ran across your web site. I am ... A: Bill, No, in fact I have been toying with just that idea as there really isn't a "history of safes" ...
Q: I was recently given an old safe that has been in storage for ages. No one knows the combination ... A: Lin, This is a unique little safe, Concordia, KS only has a population of about 5000-6000 people. ...
Q: My aunt who is 93 has this old safe in her house. We are needing to make a decision about what to do ... A: Carolyn, The safe you have, appears to be a York. York Safe & Lock Co., was established in 1882. ...
Q: My description is partly based on memory. It is in storage. The safe is about 40 inches high by 25 ... A: Kathleen, The picture is a little dark so it is hard to get an idea of the condition. There were ...
Q: I recently purchased a building with a antique Diebold Safe it is black with what looks like the ... A: Justin, Without seeing photo's of the safe, any guess on the age or value would be just that - a ...
Q: ave you ever heard of a Macy safe. It is extremley heavy, double doors, combination lock. How do I ... A: Steve, Macy's was not a manufacture. I suspect the safe was probably a Diebold, Mosler or HHM, ...
Q: I have an old safe stamped Gibraltar on it - It would appear to be from the early 1900's - I ... A: Don, Please send me some photos of your safe. Unfortunately the name Gibraltar is one that has ...
