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Antique Safes/York Safe missing combination

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Expert: - 10/23/2008


Question

The safe
We have come into procession of an old safe. It is locked and we have no idea of what the combination is. The dial goes up to 100. There are four wheels on the bottom of it. There are also two large hinges attached to the front of the door. It is quite heavy and measures 16 inches deep; 15 inches wide; and 22 inches tall.  The front door reads YORK SAFE & LOCK CO.   YORK, PA. I do not see any serial number on it. I have a couple of pictures that I will attempt to submit also. We have a wonderful family story behind it and I was hoping to enhance that story with more information on it. For example how old is the safe? What is its value? Most importantly, what is the combination or how can I find the combination?

Answer
Kay,

A little York history.  The York Safe & Lock company was founded around 1883.  They have built some of the world's largest vaults, and during World War I built most of the U. S. Army's howitzers. In 1935 York Safe & Lock Co. completed a big plant addition for armament production, and was hard at work building carriages for the U. S. Army's three-inch anti-aircraft guns. The carriages were so intricate that the dismantled parts took up 52 square feet of floor space, and the most that can be produced is ten or twelve per month. The company also had on its books a big Government order for tank armor.
What happened to York Safe & Lock after the death of the owner, S. Forry Laucks in 1942?...
Not long after Laucks death, York Safe company, holding scores of millions of dollars in Navy contracts, ran into trouble.
The Navy stepped in to operate parts of the company because so many defense contracts were at stake. Parts of the company became known as the Navy Ordnance Plant and later Blaw-Knox, a company the Navy brought in to manage the factories.
So, the government played a big role in the company both before and during World War II. Defense contracts rescued the company from the Depression. Banks naturally weren’t buying safes during the 1930s. And the Navy had to step in to make the company work after Laucks death.  The Diebold Safe Company aquired the York Safe & Lock Company from the Navy around 1946, and continued the label until the late 1950's

Unfortunately there are no sources for original safe combos.  The only "factory" combination that I have for York Safes is:

4 times left to 20,
3 times right to 30,
2 times left to 50,
1 time right to 0

Without seeing the safe or more information it is difficult to tell it's age, one reference that you can check would be the hinge "acorns".  If they are solid (cast material), the safe is probably pre-WWI, if they are hollow (formed sheet tin/brass), the safe is post-WWI to Pre-WWII.  Sorry I can't do better than that.

The factory combo probably won't work as the combo has more than likely been changed several times.  Your best bet would be to contact your local safe company (yellow pages under "safes & vaults).  They should be able to get it open and working for you.
Cost will probably be in the $300-$500 range.

Value:  In its current condition (locked up it is worth $0-$100.  Depending upon the condition when it is open, it could be worth more, but I will need to see quite a few more photos to give you any kind of potential value.

I hope I have given you a little more info, if you need a referal for a safe company near you let me know.

Andy

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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