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Antique Safes/Safe appraisal

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Expert: - 12/13/2009


Question

Cramer Elsenburg V.O.C
Hello!

Please help me to appraise the following safes:
  
Cramer Elsenburg & Co. It was made by Cramer Elsenburg & Co in Amsterdam, Netherlands in period between 1800-1850. That is one of the rare occasion Netherlands made safe to be found and can be purchased. From 1910 safe was in the possession of Netherlands sugar mill in Jakarta (Indonesia). Weight: about 400 kg, 74x52x111.

Mathijs de Clerk Fischet

It was made by famous safe manufacture Fisher in 1890 (in Paris, France). Weight: 350-400 kg, 73x52x108.

Friedrich Weise-Wien Austria

Safe was made 1856 in Vienna, Austria. It is made of 100% Austrian copper and it is fireproof. Weight: 400 kg, 73x70x174.  

Answer
Hello George

When you ask for an appraisal I guess you are asking for a value.  The Cramer Elsenburg Safe certainly looks as though it could date back to the early 1800's but I have absolutely no idea of what it may be worth.  Who would want to buy such an ancient safe?  Perhaps a museum in Amsterdam would be interested.

As for the Fichet safe, if it was indeed made in 1890 it is possible that Fichet Bauche would be worth approaching.

Finally, I have not ideal what the Friedrich Weise-Wien safe is.  It seems unlikely that any safe would be made entirely of copper - what would be the point?

My speciality is identifying and evaluating safes for insurance purposes - I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

Regards,

Mike Palmer FSyI
Insurance Liaison Coordinator
Guardian Safes Limited

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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