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Antique Safes/antique safe value and how to open w/o combination?

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Expert: - 9/3/2008


Question

Concordia Antique Safe
Hello.  I was recently given an old safe that has been in storage for ages.  No one knows the combination and it is locked.  It measures 24 1/2" tall, 17" deep, and is 161/4" wide.  It is marked "Concordia Safe Co. Concordia, KS".  I have included 2 photos.  Can you give me an idea as to it's value and do you have any suggestions on how to get the combination lock opened?  I had someone tell me that most old safes had two common combination numbers of 25 and 50, and I only need to figure out the third number. Any truth to this?  Thanks very much for any info you can provide.

Answer
Lin,

This is a unique little safe, Concordia, KS only has a population of about 5000-6000 people.  As this was not a major safe manufacture and it probably wasn't in business for more than 10 years, I don't have a record of it.  I'm doing some research to find out more about the company.  They may have been a distributor and not a manufacture, as the safe looks like a York.

As to the combination.  The combo "50" (not 25), is usually only on current, new safes shipped from the factory.  The combo would be set at the distributor.  Antique or old safes were not set up this way.
The only factory combo that I have for the York safes is:
4 times left to 20
3 times right to 30
2 times left to 50, and
1 time right to 0

In it's current condition (some paint damage, missing acorns, locked - no combo, unknown interior condition), the safe is probably worth $0-$250.  
You are probably looking at around $350-$600 to have the safe opened if the York combo does not work.  Once the safe is opened, repaired and has a working combo it would be worth $100-$400
Restoration costs to repair the paint, replace missing acorns, repair any interior/cabinetry damage to improve the value would probably cost more than the ultimate value of the safe.

Without having a working combo you will probably have to have a safe technician or locksmith with safe training open the safe.  Manipulation is possible but most locksmiths do not have the training.  The safe tech will probably drill the safe, but make sure they know what they are doing as again, many don't have safe training and will cause more damage than should be necessary.  The safe can be opened and repaired where you won't know that it was drilled.
I know this isn't the best news in the world, but it is a cute safe and if you are planning on keeping it, it would be worth it.

Let me know if I can help further, I'll get back to you with any news I find out about the Concordia Safe Company.

Andy
andy@securitysafeusa.com

Lin,

I haven't forgotten about your safe, I have looked around and pretty much determined that the Concordia Safe company was a small distributor - not a manufacture.  The safe is either an Alpine Safe or a York Safe.  I would actually need to see a photo of the bolt work and lock inside the door to determine which.  
This, however doesn't change my original evaluation and recommendations.
Let me know if you need more info.

Andy

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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