You are here:

Antique Safes/John Tann's Reliance Safe

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/10/2009


Question
Hello, I will be shortly moving into a work shop where there is a John Tann's Reliance Safe. From what I can gather, previous tenants have never had keys for it. I would love to get this majestic thing open to use. It has 2 key holes no keys. How much would it be to get it open and some new keys made? Is it impossible?

Answer
Hi Nicky

John Tann is the world's oldest safe maker, established by Edward Tann in 1799.  They were made at the Reliance Safe Works and all models carried the name John Tann Reliance Safe together with the anchor logo.  Over the years there have been hundreds of different models, some high grade, some low.  The older, low grade safes are worthless and are not worth restoring.  Other, more recent safes may be worth the investment.  In order to advise you further, I need to identify the model and to do this I will need a picture of the entire front of the safe.  Please send it to mike.palmer@tiscali.co.uk and I will get back to you by return.

Regards,

Mike Palmer FSyI
Insurance Liaison Coordinator

Antique Safes

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.