Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 10/10/2008

Question
Hi, I have a S. Withers, Birmingham, Westbromwich safe, It has a lion on top of a crown on a brass plaque and the handle is connected by a brass hand, Could you give me any information on this maker and if it could be worth anything please.

Answer
Sharon,

Fortunately you are lucky, most safe manufactures have very little information about them and it can take weeks or months to dig out even small tid-bits.
The attached  email address will give you not only a history of the company but of the safe maker and his family, this is rare to get this much information about a safe maker from the mid 1800's.

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/locks/gazetteer/withers/withers.ht...

The second email address I have for you is from an antique shop in Allen, Texas, that I believe, currently has an S. Withers engish safe for sale, asking price is $5850.

http://www.antiquingdallaswithpamela.com/items/544886/item544886store.html

I think that this is a bit much but someone will probably cough up the dough, thinking they are getting a great deal.

As far as rating your safe, the following are some of the standards that I go by, I would need photo's of your safe in order to offer some type of value.

Rating Antique Value is based on several things, such as (but not limited to):
1.  Condition:  (excellent, good, fair, poor)
2.  Age
3.  Manufacture
4.  Type:  (Fire, Data, Burglary (bankers or jewelers)
5.  Construction methods:  (sheet steel, cast iron, composite, heavy steel/manganese)
6.  Size / Weight
7.  Art work  (original/refurbished/restored)
8.  History:  (documented with and without photo’s)
9.  Purpose of resale -  as an antique or for use as “Burglar safe or Fire safe“

Condition is based on different levels such as:
Excellent - Like new / out of the box
Good - Used but in like new condition/all parts available and work
Fair - minor damage, paint scratches, combo's and keys are available and/or doors are locked open.  Interior has minor damage.
Poor - Locked missing combo or keys, missing parts (ie locks, wheel packs) major damage, safe has been repainted over existing paint.  Interior damage, drawers missing, locks damaged, missing, etc.

The type of safe can change the value dramatically as Bankers & Jewelers safes are more sought after than cast iron record safes.

Purpose of "use"  If you are going to refurbish the safe and use it as an antique the value will be more than if you were going to use it as a "safe".  The reason being the safe was built 100 years ago, it would not stand up to current fire and burglary standards at all.

If the safe has documented history and/or if you restored it to original condition you could significantly improve the value of the safe.

If you decide to restore it, I have some ideas that will be of help to you, but unless it is a really unique safe and/or you are really in love with it, you should plan on spending more than it is worth.

Remember that the majority of these safes were built prior to cutting torches and/or most of the electrical tools that we have today.  The do not meet current burglary or fire protection standards and as such should not be used for overnight storage of valuables such as:  cash, jewelry, valuable documents, guns or computer media (discs, thumbdrives, microfiche).  

Depending on how large your safe is you could use it as an interesting conversation piece or storage and display of collectible items that you may have.  Don't be afraid to convert the interior cabinetry over to a nice display cabinet of some sort.

Hope this helps out,

Andy