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Expert: - 10/20/2009


Question
I'm looking at a safe that was manufactured by Wilshire Safe and Scale Co. San Francisco/Seattle WT (Washington Territory) It would have been made around 1860 (before Washington became a state). It is approx 60"x36"x31", double doors outside and double doors inside. The owner is looking to give it away if he can get it out of his store. He contacted several different companies to remove it (it's sitting on a slab 3' high) and was told they would have to cut a hole in the ceiling or take the wall out. I haved searched high and low for information on this company and can't find anything. Based on information from other safes of similar sizes and era, I'm estimating it's weight at 3000lbs. Being as accurate as possible is critical to my plan for removing it having only to hoist it and remove a door casing. Do you happen to know anything about this company?

Answer
Hello Bret

Wilshire safes were not marketed in Europe so I have no knowledge of them.  However I have forwarded your enquiry to a colleague in California who will respond to your enquiry.

Regards.

Mike Palmer FSyI
Insurance Liaison Coordinator

Antique Safes

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Mike Palmer

Expertise

I earn my living identifying safes and suggesting cash limits for risk advisors and insurance surveyors in the UK. I'm not able to comment on safes made in the USA but will be happy to take questions on all major British and European manufacturers.

Experience

I have been in the UK safe industry for 40 years and have one of the largest archive databases of old safe literature and serial numbers in the country. I started with Chubb in 1960 and became Assistant Manager of their Bank Security Division before moving on to become the Insurance Liaison Manager with the John Tann Group. I became Sales & Marketing Director for Guardian Safes Limited before semi-retiring. I am a Fellow of the Security Institute and Chairman of Eurosafe UK, a trade body representing the interests of UK safe makers and distributors. I now work as a part time consultant.

Organizations
I am an invited advisor to the Safe Committee of the Association of Insurance Surveyors and a Fellow of the Security Institute.

Publications
I have had literally scores of articles published in various security trade publications. So far this year I have had 24 features published in various journals including Keyways, Professional Security, Pawnbroker and Safe India.

Education/Credentials
I have no relevant educational credentials.

Awards and Honors
In 1997 I was awarded the annual shield by the Association of Insurance Surveyors for "..outstanding services to crime prevention"

Past/Present Clients
I have represented or been an agent for the John Tann Group (Stratford, Ratner, Dreadnought and Tann safes); Churchill Safes, Chubb Safe Co Ltd, SLS Safes, SMP Safes, Dudley Safes and several others

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