Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 9/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a small floor safe manufactured by Reliable Safe and Lock Co., Inc, Covington, KY.  The safe is currently closed and locked.  The problem is that I don't know the combination and am unable to find any information on this manufacturer.  I am inquiring how to obtain the combination and or have the safe opened?

Thanks you
Nick

ANSWER: Nick,

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information about this company.  They were in business from around 1895 until they were bought out by Mosler in the early 1940's.  Again unfortunately, Mosler went belly up about 8 years ago, so there are no records available concerning this company.
Reliable used a couple of different locks on their safes, most notibaly was their own lock which had the dial and handle as an integeral unit.

I do have one series of combinations that you can try, if these don't work, then you will need to contact a local safe company.

4 times left to 42,
3 times right to 88,
2 times left to 99,
1 time right slowly to 22.

If this doesn't work try adding 5 numbers to each number in the combination until 20 sets have been tried.
If the driver wheel number is not 22, you can determine the drive wheel number by putting slight pressure on the handle and turning the dial until you feel the driver gate.

Note:  If this doesn't work, you may have one of the other locks that Reliable used.

Good luck and let me know if it works.  I would also appreciate some photos of the safe and lock as the number I have in my collection for Reliable is limited.

Andy



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Andy,

Thank you for the information above.  I will try this and get back to you shortly.  
Being that information is limited regarding this manufacturer, is the safe any more valuable?

Thanks
Nick

Answer
Nick,

Yes, no, maybe so!

It really depends on the safe individually.  If you have a unique or rare safe, you would still have to find someone interested in collecting THAT particular safe.  People don't generally collect safes in order to have the whole "set", so to speak.

They buy one that they want to show off.  This means that a safe that is really eye catching is worth more than a unique rare one.  Eye of the beholder kind of thing!!!

Selling the safe depends on two key elements - your motivation as a seller, and the other guy's motivation as a buyer.
Your motivation - need space, need money, wife wants it gone, etc. etc.  The more time you have on your side the closer you will come to your $$$$ goal.  The fewer safes available for sale, the stronger your price is.
Buyers motivation - great display safe, fits in with decor, has family name, grandfather bought a popcicle from a store that had a similar safe (sorry, that one just came to me), etc, etc.  The more time the buyer has on his side the better his barganing options.  The larger the number of potential safes he has to look at the more his chance of getting a safe at "his" price.

Value is very circumspect in this market.  I have seen great old safes sit in our showroom for years, and yet, the other day we had a man walk in and buy three at one time - go figure.

Andy