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Antique Safes/vault door hinge

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Expert: - 4/16/2009


Question
I have a pair of bank vault doors. The are 14 inches wide, about 76 inches tall and have a working key locking mechanism in the center of the doors. What should I use as a hinge to attach them to a door frame? Each door has 2- 2.5 inch long, round, cylinder shaped holders. I don't know the manufacture but they are from the Illinois Rockford Bank. I tried a gate style hinge but pin or rod was too big for the hinge opening. Do you know where I can purchase the correct installation hardware or what type of hardware would best substitute the original hardware?
Thank you very much.
Lisa

Answer
Lisa,

First I would need to see exactly what you are trying to describe.  As I doubt you are going to find replacement parts, they are going to have to be fabricated.

From your description, I would think these were the day gates not the actual vault door.  Which of course makes a difference.

What are your intentions for the doors?  How are you planning on useing them?

Though you could simply "attach" them to a wall or frame, I would recommend making a separate frame that will support both doors.  This frame could then be attached where ever you plan on using them.

For strength & stability, I would recommend 2"x2"x3/8" angle iron, as a frame.  With 1"x1/4" battens welded on the inside edges to support the door and locking bolts.  Weld a 3 to 4"x 1/4" thick plate accross the bottom of the angle iron to support the frame and give you a threshold.
The angle Iron will give you a sturdy support to weld the lower hinge supports once they have been fabricated.  If you do it right and the frame is square when secured to the walls, the doors should open smoothly.

Its not a big project, but it does require some skills like measuring, cutting & welding steel and a small amount of machining work, and lifting of heavy objects (the frame, the doors, etc.)

This will be a fun job.

Andy  

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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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