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Antique Safes/Civil War Safe?

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Expert: - 12/19/2009


Question

Civil War Safe
Hello I was wondering if you could tell me a little about this old safe? Is this from e civil war era? early or late 1800's ? I bought it from a garage sale at an old 1840 home that was being torn down. The family members told me that they have never seen it open and that they know it has been several decades since it had been open. I have someone who maybe able to open it but he can't find any info on it. I researched the name at the top and found that the name Wm. F Oehl was a captain in the cvil war and he was from central Ohio and that is where I bought it and I am living. Anyway can you tell me how old this is or a combo # But it also has the largest skeleton key hole I have seen.Also has large steel rings on both sides, maybe for a ship???  I have many other pictures.Anything will help. I have many pictures if needed.   Thank you Rob

Answer
Rob,

Very interesting, you may have an early Hall's safe from pre-civil war.  Joseph L. Hall began manufacturing safes around 1846, and formed Hall's Safe & Lock Company in 1848.  If this an early Hall's safe, this would indicate that it was made between 1846-1848.

The dial does not appear to be original, and without being able to examine some of the other items on the safe, I won't be able to tell if they are original or not also.   Definitly send me the pictures that you have as well as where the safe is located.

The steel rings on the sides of the safe were merely to help in moving the safe, and possibly to anchor it down with chains if necessary.

In order to identify, evaluate or appraise your safe, I’m going to need photos.  They should include full exterior and interior.  Detail photos should include pictures of the dial, handles, hinges, artwork, locks, bolt work, castors, cabinetry and any special details or damage.  
Note:  You may have to remove the back panel on the door to gain access to the lock and bolt work - I will need these pictures.  If you have a particular detail that you have a question about, I will need a photo of it also.

Please use as high a resolution as possible.  Pictures which are “thumbnails” or low resolution, out of focus, or from a distance, don’t help when we try to evaluate the container.
Note:  with higher resolution, you may only be able to send 2-4 pictures per email, depending on the size of the file.  Our server only will allow a max of 6 mb per email.

Please send all of the requested photos to;   Andy@securitysafeusa.com

Our informal valuation is at no charge, however if you need a formal evaluation or appraisal for insurance, estate sales, or to establish it as an antique, there is an administrative fee for this service.

Obviously if you can't open the safe, getting the interior pics of the lock and bolt work will be difficult for now.

Who ever your someone is that may be able to open this safe, should be able to do it with little to no damage, as parts are not going to be easy to come by.  If you have any questions concerning their methods of getting the safe open, ask me BEFORE they destroy the safe!!!!!

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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