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Antique Safes/Samuel Withers and Thomas Withers safe

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Expert: - 12/10/2009


Question

Samuel Withers and Tho
i have a Samuel Withers and Thomas Withers safe, i have pictures i want to sell this and was wondering if you are interested or know of anybody, also maybe its history

kind regards

lisa


Answer
Hi Lisa

Thanks for your question.

Thomas, born 1838 or 1839 Bilston, Staffordshire (birth not registered). He married Sarah Welch.  He died on 20.2.1887 of “chronic enteritis - duration of last illness: 8 months”.  His occupation is given on his death certificate as “Iron Safe Manufacture”.  He is the founder of Thomas Withers & Sons.

Samuel, born 1841, Smethwick, Staffordshire (birth not registered).  He is one month old at the time of the 1841 Census, when the family was living at Grove Lane, Smethwick.  Married Rosanna Newbold.  Died 1922.  He is the Samuel Withers of Samuel Withers & Co.

If you want to know the full story of the Samuel & Thomas Withers go to www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/locks/gazetteer/withers/withers.htm

Now let's talk about your safe.  It would be described as a 'square cornered' safe and is of a type that was already considered obsolete by 1890.  It is constructed of mild steel plates riveted onto an angle iron frame.  The cavity between the inner and outer body would probably be filled with a primitive 'fire proof' mix of sand and sawdust.

As a security or document safe it has no value whatsoever.  However, some people like them as curios and you sometimes good examples being sold on eBay.  There is little point contacting a second hand safe dealer as they tend to throw away safes of this age. If you do offer it for sale, insist that the buyer collects as the cost of transport could be more than the safe is worth.  All of this assumes that the safe is unlocked.  If it is locked, leave it where it is and forget about it because the cost of getting it drilled open and made good would definitely exceed its value.

I hope you find this useful.

Regards,

Mike Palmer FSyI
Insurance Liaison Coordinator

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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