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Antique Safes/Sherman C. King safe

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Expert: - 1/3/2009


Question

Sherman C. King safe
I have an old safe and I would like to know what it's approximate value is.  I am attaching pictures.  On the outside it says Sherman C. King.  On the inside Kosler Safe & Lock, Cincinatti, OH Mosler Safe Co. (something) NY.  Also the dates July 17 & Aug 28 '83

Answer
Tina,

You have a nice looking Mosler Safe (7 step door).  Look really closely at the "K" and I think you will see that it is actually an "M".  I know it looks like a K, but that's the way they drew them 120 years ago.  Sherman C. King was probably the original owner, if you know what area the safe came from you can probably do a little research to find out a little more about the original owner.  I did find several references to C.S. King in "Ancestry.com", for the 1890 time frame, but you need to have an account with Ancestry.com to research any further.

There should be some numbers stamped in to the handle on the outside of the safe.  This is the safe serial number.  The same numbers maybe stamped throughout the safe on various places like the wheel curb (round silver thing on the back of the door), or possibly on the keys.  I'll need these numbers to approximate the age.

The dates on the back of the door are the Patent dates, the safe would have to be built after these dates, you can be pretty sure your safe was built after 1883 and before 1890, so it is between 100-120 years old!

The Mosler plant was in Cinncinnati, OH until they moved to Hamilton, OH in 1890.  The plant remained in Hamilton until it closed down in 2001.  The New York reference was probably a Mosler distributorship, as it was not the factory.

Current condition of the safe is good, but the paint job is in need of restoration and the cabinetry probably needs replacement.  It is also missing two drawers, one inside the little compartment and one below the compartment.  It is also extremely fortunate that you have keys to all of the compartments and the door is open, hopefully you have the combination and it works.

Current value is $500-$750, with restoration work the safe could be worth $1500-$2000.  The bad news is that professional restoration work may cost more than the safe would be worth.  Options are restoring it yourself, or perhaps getting a local high school or junior college art department to take the safe on as a restoration project.  Similarly, the wood shop department could take on the cabinetry as a restoration project also.

Good luck and remember to send me the serial number so I can date the safe a little more accurately.

Andy  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you so much, this helps me a bunch. I will look for the serial numbers.


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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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