You are here:

Antique Safes/meilink's antque safe lacking combination

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/28/2008


Question
safe almost the same as mine
safe almost the same a  
QUESTION: Hello.I am attaching a photograph I found on the internet of a safe which is almost identical to the one I own - indeed the only differences are that mine doesn't have the heavy gold coloured band around the edges of
the door and the wording on mine is "Meilink's Deposit Vault" not "Meilink's Home Deposit Vault". The numbers on the combination go up to 50. The company currently representing Meilinks in the USA (FireKing) has been trying to assist me in tracing the factory setting but the serial numbers on the handle are badly worn and difficult to make out. They look like the letter C followed by 36556. I believe it was likely manufactured 1906-1910 and the numbers on the combination dial only go up to 50. The safe is in perfect condition and perfect working order - we had it open a couple of months ago. My husband died suddenly last month and I do not have the combination. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


ANSWER: Kathy,

It is great that Meilink is trying to help you, but I don't think their records go back that far.  Hopefully they can help.  I have most of the combos for the older "wall chests" but not the small safes.

If they cannot come up with some numbers to help you, and you can't find your combination, you will probably need to contact a professional safe technician to have the safe opened.  Check your yellow pages under "safes & vaults" to find a safe company in your area.
If you can't find anyone, let me know and I'll see who I might know close to you.

Andy
Andy@securitysafeusa.com

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

QUESTION: I have contacted a couple of companies in my area who have safe experts but had no response from them yet. If you have any suggestions about whom to contact, I'd be grateful,
Kathy.

Answer
Kathy,

You might try the following:

Canadian Safe Manufacturing
170 Chatham Street,
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 2B6
Tel: (905) 528-7233
Toll Free: 1-800-267-7635
Fax: (905) 528-7728
Email: info@canadiansafe.ca

They are a manufacture, but they should have a listing of safe technicians in your area.  If you don't get a response from them let me know.

Andy

Antique Safes

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.