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Antique Safes/selling an old Alpine safe

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Expert: - 12/15/2009


Question

Alpine safe
My family somehow acquired this safe back in the early 1900's, its dimensions are approx. 39"height, 25"wide and 25"deep, it still has the original lock mechanism, and is in working order but has acquired some rust. we are wondering what something like this might be worth and/or where to sell it? thank you for any info you can give.

Answer
Ken,

Alpine Safe Company was in business from around 1880-1899, so your safe is considered an antique.

In order to rate, identify, or evaluate your safe I am going to need pictures.  Evaluation photos should consist of full exterior / interior views, and detail photos of the dial, handles, hinges & acorns, wheels or castors, locks and bolt work (you may need to open the back panel of the door to photograph), cabinetry, art work and any special details or damage.

Photos should be high resolution digital pics, to allow me to zoom in, to study in detail the safe you are requesting evaluation of.  Please review your photos before sending them.  If they are out of focus, or you can’t see them – then neither can I.  If the photos are larger than 2mb you may need to send them two at a time per email.

We try to be as unbiased as possible when evaluating and appraising, or offering possible restoration options to you.

Send the photos of the safe to andy@securitysafeusa.com

Informal evaluations are no charge.  If you need a formal evaluation or an appraisal for insurance, estate or resale purposes, we have an administrative fee for the extra work.


Selling your safe would be like any other item - advertise, ebay, craigslist, garage sales, flyers to antique stores etc.  Obviously the ultimate price the safe goes for will depend on your motivation as the seller, and the motivation of the buyer.
If you have to sell the safe quickly, you will be willing to take a lower price inorder to dump it.  If the buyer has several potential safes to buy he would be offering lower.  The more desireable your safe is, and the longer you can sit on it, the more likely you will be to get asking price.
You should always have three prices in mind - asking price, price you want, and bottom line price.  This gives you a little negotiation room.

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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