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Expert: - 10/26/2009


Question
I have a Diebold Safe %26 Lock Company Safe that is the door to my son's bedroom.  It came from a local department store in Arizona that went out of business in the late 70's.  It has the combination posted on the front of the door, as it was installed and acquired by the previous homeowner.  

My nephew was playing with the turn dial and the whole door locked up.  I can't even turn the dial to do the combination, which I was told still and did work.  How do I reset the door so that we can turn the dial and possibly do the combination?  It will not lock my son in his room.  Just purely for show.  But, it did work.  

The only other identification marks that I can find is on the inside of the door where all the bolts locked, I can see the number 4 on top of the numbers 30684

Thank you.
Robyn

Answer
Robyn,

If the dial will not turn, then I doubt the door is locked.  The handle and bolt work may be jammed holding the door closed, but if the bolt work is not extended all the way, the lock cannot spin off.

If the door is locked open, then again the bolt work may not be extended and locked correctly to allow the lock to operate correctly.

This is a hands on problem that will require a safe tech to actually look at the door, diagnose the problem and come up with a solution.  I would have them deactivate the lock so that you don't have a problem with it in the future.

Check your yellow pages under safes & vaults for a company near you, or let me know where you are and I'll see if I have a referal.

Andy

Antique Safes

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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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