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Antique Safes/E.C. Morris & Co safe

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Expert: - 11/23/2008


Question

Garry with Larger MacL
Hi Terry.  I'm a household goods mover near Boston, MA.  I have accepted 2 safes for my personal use.  I have attached a picture of me with my larger Macneale & Urban.  If you look at it, you will see that I had it painted.  I lettered it with gold vinyl and attempted the gold lines with gold paint.  Have I reduced the value by doing this?  Are there local companies that will restore them properly?

My second safe has painted on the front facing out, "E. C. Morris & Co
 BOSTON"
If EC Morris manufactured safes in Readville, MA,why does the inside facing of the front door have the MACNEALE & URBAN logo. Did the firm resell too?  

Thanks for you time.

Sincerely,

Garry H.

Answer
Garry,

The answers are no, no and yes!

That was easy, oh you want details too!  Ok,

The neat thing about safes is that most people will never own more than a couple, which means that if you are only going to have a couple of something, you want something that reaches out and grabs your attention, or the attention of your guests (people you show your stuff off to).

Granted if you have an antique safe that you are planning on selling, it should be as closely restored to original as possible.  If you didn't get it to resell it, but to use as a display item, then it should express your personnality.  Somehow I see you opening up that Macneal you are sitting next to, opening the custom Humidor built into the interior cabinet and retreiving a $100 stogey, Pulling an expensive bottle of wine or your favorite whiskey out of the built in bar and sitting back to relax.  Now that would be a neat safe!
If you happen to have a baseball collection I could see a custom, oil painting of Ty Cobb on the front of the safe and inside, a handmade cabinet with pull outs to display all of the autographed base balls you've collected.

Got the idea!

Second question as to restoration.  There are several safe companies in your area.  Most safe companies don't take on restoration projects as they are very time consuming, take away from their normal everyday work, and don't rake in the cash that the work would deserve!  However you have a couple of alternatives if you can't find a safe company interested in a restoration at a reasonable price.
First, do it yourself, artwork can be easier than you would think.  If you are not an artist, (I'm not), you can find pictures, paintings, etc of the items that interest you.  Glue or laminate them on to the safe, pin stripe, and cover with several coats of clear coat, gloss.
Second, Find a local high school, community college or art college that might take the project on as a restoration.  The wood shop might similarly take on the interior cabinetry.  Cost: minimal, time: a couple of semesters.
Third:  Professional painters or auto body shop, custom cabinet manufactures for the interior.  Think of is as a really expensive BurgerKing - you can have it your way if you have the cash!!!!

After Mr. Ireland retired - 1890 (Morris & Ireland Safe Co.) kept the business going as E.C. Morris & Co.  In 1893 he reorganized the company as the E.C.Morris Safe Company, unfortunately it only last three years, closing the doors for good in December 1896.
Not only did they manufacture but they also so sold other safes, many of which were re-labled with the E.C. Morris & Co. logo.
This still goes on today.  The company I work for imports from all over the world, when the safe goes out, it has our sticker on it.  You know, "advertising"!  This way we get repeat business and new customers when they see our logo.

Hope this answered some of your questions, and you enjoyed the "wit"
Good luck with your safes.

Andy
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThanks Terry, Yes I enjoyed your response. I could tell you were the right guy to ask. As far as what I collect that I might put into my safes, maybe, smaller safes. Just kidding, I do like to keep in there, items of significant sentimental importance. Those are great ideas for restoration or areas on which to work. I gather that the wood interior configuration is different with each safe. Thanks again Terry for you help. I'll watch for more on the topic when it comes up. Garry H.


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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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