Antique Safes/safe

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Expert: - 10/19/2009


Question

safe
Hi,
I have a old Hall-Marvin safe. I was wondering how old it is and if it is worth anything. Size is 22H x 14D x 14W
I took off the inside door panel and found some numbers. Hopefully it is the serial number.
It was engraved in one part 4 743 and also etched in the door. The bottom has the number 4 and on top of the door is 473. I attached pictures.
Thanks

Answer
Leon

Sorry it took so long to get back to you.  I hate it when I can't find one of my pictures that I use to identify old safes.

The "Hall-Marvin" company was not a manufacture, they were a distributor.  They may have manufactured something at one time or another but EVERY safe I have seen with their logo has been something else.  They sold safes from several different manufactures, yours happens to be a "SCHWAB" safe.  Here is the basic history for this company.  

SCHWAB SAFES, (1872-2008)
  The Schwab Corporation was established in 1872 in Lafayette, In, by Leo Schwab.
  1963 acquired Midwest Safe Co., Cannelton, Indiana
  1998 all safe & vault production moved from Lafayette to Cannelton, to bring all manufacturing under one roof.
  Purchased by Sentry Safe in August 2008.

As I don't have a listing by serial number for safes manufactured by Schwab, I can only give you an educated guess about the age, which I would place around 1885-1895, this would make the safe around 110-120 years old.

Value:
Fire & Burglary     $0     This safe does not meet current standards and should not be used for overnight storage of cash, jewelry or valuable documents.
Resale value        $350-$500
Antique value       $500-$750     More if the safe has restoration work done and safe is cleaned up.

Hope this helps.

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

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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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