Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 7/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: A buddy of mine has acquired a Meilink safe. At the bottom of the safe just below the door it is written John Wanamaker, New York.

Unfortunately the plate covering the inside of the door has been replaced. I assume that manufacturing info, serial # etc would have been on this plate..

The safe itself is aprox. 20" high, 16' wide and 18 " deep. From it's size I would assume this would have been a personal safe one would keep in his office.

Inside on one side there is 4 compartments. The bottom one is empty. the next 2 up have locking doors on the front. The top one has a hinged top.

It ios black with gold stripes around it. It is lead lined.

The two hinges have chrome knobs on top of the hinge bolt.

It has for steel wheels that allow the safe to go sideways only.

On the door it says Meilink safe Toledo Ohio.

On the combination wheel it says Meilink special lock.

Any idea on the model of the safe and how old it might be?

Any chance that the safe may have actually have belonged to John Wanamker the department store tycoon?

my info would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers  from Canada

ANSWER: Dave,

Meilink has been producing safes since 1899.  Their web page is www.meilinksafe.com or you can call them at 1-800-452-4655.  Their parent company is the FireKing Security Group, www.fireking.com, their customer service number is 1-800-528-9900.  If you talk to them they may be able to give you a more accurate idea of the age of the safe, though with out the serial number it will be difficult.

As far as the name "John Wanamaker, New York".  It was general practice by distributors, all the way through the 1950's to paint the name of the original owner on the safe.  It is possible that this may have belonged to the department store tycoon, but without documentation or photographs of the safe at one of his locations it is all speculation.  This would be worth some research time on your part.  You never can tell, one of the stores or his estate may want to purchase the safe from you.

Sorry, I can't be more help, but in most cases it is difficult to guess a safes lineage unless records are available.

The safes "special lock" was one that meilink used on their earlier models.  As the company progressed they eventually quit making their own lock models and used standard safe locks made by Yale or Sargent & Greenleaf.  This would probably put your safe in the early 1900's, up to maybe 1920 or so.

Good luck with your research -

Andy
andy@securitysafeusa.com

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

QUESTION: Hi Andy

Thanks for the info. That is a big help. We did after some carful looking find a letter "C" and a number on the "T" handle which was 56121.

Do you think they may be able to tell me more? I found their web page but it seems to mainly about modern safes.

Again many thanks. Dave

Answer
Dave,

Generally, most of the companies are only interested in selling new safes, but if you get a hold of someone in customer service with a sympathetic ear, and indicate that you are trying to do some historical research for "_________" (insert reason here), you never can tell, they might get you some more info.

But be prepared to send photos and have the serial number ready.  Go over the safe with a fine tooth comb and a magnifying glass so that you have all the info available, available.

Andy