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Antique Safes/Schwab Safe Identification

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Expert: - 11/22/2008


Question
I have a Schwab safe, Data Bank, Wright Line.  The first two letter/numbers on it are A5.  The colors on the plate are a teal blue.  Can you give me any information on the age and value?  The combination has been broken off and will need to be prepared.  We have not had it opened since we got it.  Thanks for your time.

Answer
Diana,

Schwab has been making safes since 1872.  The Wright Line was manufactured from the 1960s through the late 80's or early 90's.  You can contact Schwab directly if you need an exact date by serial number.  Their info is:

Schwab Corp.
110 Professional Court • PO Box 5088
Lafayette, IN 47903-5088
800-428-7678
765-447-9470
765-447-8278 FAX
Hours: Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST

The Wright Line Data Safes were designed to keep the interior temperature of the safe below 150 degrees F in the event of a Fire.  The A label indicates a 4 hours safe.  Normal fire safes would keep an interior temperature below 350 degrees F.  The reason being paper chars around 412 degrees F and combusts around 451 degrees F.
Data safes need the extra protection because of the media that they protect like microfiche, computor discs, computor tape and film.  These items melt above 200 degrees, so they need to be kept well below this temperature.
The current line of safes, the Fireguard Media Safes are listed below 125 degrees and are tested for drop protection and explosion resistance.

Current Resale Value of the safe in its locked up condition is $0.  If you called my shop we would probably charge you to haul it away.  That being said, once the safe has been opened and repaired it would have resale value.  Cost to have your safe opened and repaired would be around $450 to $600 plus parts which could be another $150-$200.

Generally speaking a used safe such as yours in good condition, open with a working lock, and no problems would be worth 40-50% of a new safe of the same size and offering the same protection.  If you are planning on selling the safe, I will need more info about it inorder to compare it to current production safes.

I will need full pictures interior/exterior and detail photos of the dial, handle, castors, and any special features the safe may have.

Hope this has helped to answer some of your questions, if you have more don't hesitate to send them along with a detailed description of the safe and photos to my email.

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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