Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 12/7/2009

Question
Hi Terry,

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge

I just bought a beautiful safe manufactured by Marvin Patent. The safe is in great condition, appears to have original interior paint,wood cabinetry,two locking area's within the safe. There is castings on the front wheels "1865" and embedded on the combination know May 25, 1865. The pin striping, ornamentation appears original. The interior door paint is a landscape scene with gold and red embellishment around the perimeter. The safe measure apx. 27" deep, 37" high and apx.35" wide. I had the top, sides and back repainted and striped exactly as it appeared. I also had parts of the outside of the front door repainted, leaving all the detail original. I purchased this safe from a safe collector in Cleveland Ohio. I wanted this safe knowing that it was made some time shortly after the end of the Civil War knowing it would become a family heirloom

Could you please tell me what you know about this safe.

Thank you again.............Dan S  Russell Ohio  

Answer
Dan,

The manufacture was the "Marvin Safe Company", not the "Marvin Patent Safe".  The safe had a patent to which it was manfactured to.  Patents specify details of the construction so that another company can not copy your design.  If the patent date is on the dial of the safe, then it would be for the lock and not the safe.

I will not be able to tell you any specific details about "YOUR" safes history as there are no records that would have followed your safe.  You would need to identify previous owners and attempt to contact them or family members to see if they have any specific information for your specific safe.  Basically all I can do is fill in the basic company history.

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.

Basic History:

MARVIN SAFE COMPANY  (1838-1892)
  Founded in 1838 by Azor S. Marvin.  In 1843, Daniel Fitzgerald had secured a patent and had begun the manufacture of the first so called “Salamander Safes”, which were fire resistive.  In a short time, as the business grew, he needed much more capital, and so Mr. Azor S. Marvin was induced to engage in the business with him.  A few years later Silas C. Herring also secured a right to manufacture safes under this patent.
  (See Stearns & Marvin), at some point (1853-1860) Stearns & Marvin appear to have worked together manufacturing safes built under the B.G.Wilder Patents.
  Azor S. Marvin was in the Union Army during the Civil war.  He served in the Battle of Gettysburg, PA.  He resigned his Capt. Commission in Jan. 1865.  He died August 5th 1899.
  The Marvin Safe Company was part of the 1892 merger with the Herring Safe Company and the Hall’s Safe & Lock Company to form Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Company (HHM), which remained in business until it was acquired by Diebold Inc. in 1959, and closed in 1962-1964.

STEARNS & MARVIN  (1853-1860)
  New York City Business Directory (1853) 144 & 146 Waters St.,  
  The only makers of safes combining Wilder’s and Rich & Co’s Patents.
  Fairbanks & Company, 189 Broadway near Dey St., was an Agent for Stearns & Marvin
  Charles E. Lipps was an expert safe repairer for Stearns & Marvin, and he also worked for the Terwilliger & Co.  He started in the safe business around 1850.
  (See Roberts & Rich).  Roberts & Rich had the patent rights to manufacture the Wilders safes.  These patent rights were passed through their successors – Rich & Roff, Roff & Stearns and to Stearns & Marvin.  Before the expiration of the original patent, Roff assigned to Stearns.  The patent was renewed for seven years.  After the renewal the safes were manufactured by Stearns & Marvin.  On the 1st of November, 1860, Stearns sold out to Marvin, and delivered possession of the stock of safes on hand.  In a court case at the time it was determined that as Marvin did not have rights to the patent, he was only a partner in the manufacture of safes, the firm was only protected by the license issued to Stearns.  When the safes manufactured passed from the authority and control of Stearns, the license was at an end, and the rights of the patentee terminated.  The Marvin Safe Company continued until its merger in 1892 with Herring & Hall.
  Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen (1850-1921) came to New York in 1868.  Shortly there after his art work was seen by representatives from the Marvin Safe company.  From 1871 to 1880 he worked decorating the doors to safes of the Marvin Safe Company.  (see Homage to the Sea).

An interesting side note, a nephew of Azor Marvin, one Sylvester S. Marvin, trained for a short period of time at the Marvin Safe Company.  In 1860-1862 he served with the 28th New York Volunteer Company K, during the Civil War.  Sergeant Marvin was wounded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.  Marvin arrived in Pittsburgh in 1863 where he established himself in the cracker business, and founded the house of S.S. Marvin Co., one of the largest concerns of its kind in the United States.  In 1888 Marvin and his partner C.B. Rumsey organized the National Biscuit Company, better known as NABISCO.

Please send me the requested pics, as I would like to see what you have.
ANDY