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Antique Safes/1871 safe by Detroit Safe Co.

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Expert: - 11/5/2008


Question
QUESTION: I have an old safe made by Detroit Safe Co. It meashures 33"w X 26"Deep X 44"H, the handle has 462 ?2?. The lock is Seargant and Greenleaf, Rochester, NY Pat 9/18/1860, Jan 9, 1866, 8/28/1866, 7/14/1867.  EX7 NEARS  7/14/1871. i DON'T HAVE PICTURES YET, but can you tell me anything from this. I don't have combination so can't open.

ANSWER: Anita,

All of the pat'd dates were for the lock manufacture, Sargent & Greenleaf.  That coincides with your date of manufacture.  Other than that, No.

Send me some pictures of the safe and I'll see what I can come up with.  Include full photos of the safe, with detail pics of the dial, hinges, handles, castors, art work and any special details.

If you don't have a combination, you are going to have to contact your local safe company to have it opened.  You will be looking at around $350-$500 to have it opened and repaired.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Andy
andy@securitysafeusa.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

Detroit safe
Detroit safe  
QUESTION: Here's the pictures of the safe.
Thanks for your help!

Answer
Anita,

The pictured attached is just the dial.  I also need full pictures of the interior, exterior and detail phots of the dial, hinges, handles, castors, lock & bolt work, art work and any special details.

Send them to my email address

Andy
andy@securitysafeusa.com

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Terry V Andreasen (Andy)

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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