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Antique Safes/safe combination

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Expert: - 4/6/2009


Question
We have an old floor safe that is an army green color.  How do you interpret this combination:
left        right        left         right
80/4   -    70/3    -    40/2    -    8 -10

Answer
Theresa,

The dialing sequence for your combination would be as follows -

4 times left to the first number (80)
3 times right to the second number (70)
2 times left to the third number (40)
1 time right, slowly to stop (should be around 95, but yours may stop early)

Note:  Left is counter clockwise, right is clockwise.  Do not count the revolutions of the dial, count the individual number as it ARRIVES at the 12 o'clock index mark.  For instance, your first number would dial - turn counter clockwise (left) stopping the fourth time the number 80 arrives at the index mark.
Most of the government chests used either Mosler locks or Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) locks.  If it is an S&G lock it may have a small butterfly knob in the center of the dial.  If so your last turn would be as follows:

1 time right to zero - stop.  While holding the dial, turn the butterfly knob clockwise 1/4 turn.  Continue turning the dial right to stop (around 85).
To lock the dial, you would turn the dial back to zero, and while holding the dial, turn the butterfly knob counterclockwise 1/4 turn, then spin off the dial at least 4 times.

Hope this helps.

Andy

Antique Safes

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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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