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Antique Safes/Antique safe about 100 yrs old

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Expert: - 9/6/2008


Question

steel safe
this safe has been in our family for quite sometime my grandfather had it in his Belgium Lace Shop in the Congress Hotel. It has been moved around to other family business and then into my garage.  I think it could weigh around 1500 to 2000lbs.  It's dimensions are 70"h 36"w 24"d. If you could give me an idea of what i could possibly sell it for it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Karin,

The photo you included doesn't show much detail.  I will need to see more photos to give you a better estimate.  One of the questions I have is what are you planning to sell it as?  If you are selling it as a safe, the value would be in the $0-$250 range.  It has very little fire and burglary protection by todays standards.  If you are planning on selling it as an old (antique) safe or conversation piece, the value may go up based on condtion, age, manufacture, history, etc.  Because it has been in your family for quite some time you should be able to document some interesting stories as well as the actual history and locations the safe has been at, this will always make the safe more desireable to future owners.

Send me photos to include full interior/exterior shots, and detail photos of the dial, hinges, handles, locks, castors art work, cabinetry, etc.

As soon as I receive the photos we can give you more detail and potential value.

Andy
andy@securitysafeusa.com

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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