Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 6/4/2011

Question
I have a Halls safe number 12170 on handle.It is a combination lock and is closed. We don't have the combination. I live in Western Australia at the moment originally from NJ. Can you give me ideas and also the age of the safe.It is very pretty with a picture of a tree in color under the lock.

Answer
Sue,

There have been several "Hall's" safe companies, so I would need more information or photos to try to determine what you have and how old it is.

The basics are:

The "Hall's Safe & Lock Company", (1848-1892), Cincinnati, OH.  Began by Joseph L. Hall and his father in 1846, started the company in 1848.  Joseph died in 1889 and his Brothers (William & Edward) merged the company with two others to form "Herring-Hall-Marvin" in 1892.

In 1896 after fulfilling contractual obligations with HHM, Edward and William left to begin a new company, "Hall's Safe Company".  HHM immediatly sued them over the use of the name "HALL'S".  This case went all the way to the Supreme Court where it was determined that while the original Hall's safe company and all its rights were now owned by HHM, the brothers had never given up the right to the use of THEIR name.  They began making safes under the name "Hall's Safe Company" from 1906 until the mid 1940's.  They were restricted however, from using any reference to the fact that they had learned their trade in the original Hall's Safe & Lock Company.

There have been several minor companies since then but your safe is probably not from one of these.  I understant that you can't open the safe, but the following list indicates the photos that I need to identify or evaluate your safe, so do your best.

In order to answer questions, identify, evaluate or appraise your safe, I'm going to need photos.  They should include full exterior and interior.  Detail photos should include pictures of the dial, handles, hinges, artwork, locks, bolt work, castors, cabinetry and any special details or damage.  Note:  You may have to remove the back panel on the door to gain access to the lock & bolt work – I will need these pics.  
If you have a particular detail that you have a question about, I will need a photo of it along with your question.
I will also need to see any documentation that you have in regards to your safe.  If your safe has a unique historical perspective, you should be able to document this with letters, newspaper articles or photos, if not it is simply a story and will have no bearing on the value of your safe.

Please use as high a resolution as possible so that I can examine details of your safe.  Pictures which are low resolution, out of focus, or from a distance don’t help when we try to evaluate the container.  Note:  with higher resolution, you may only be able to send 2-4 pictures per email, depending on the size of the file, I have a 6mb limit per email.  If photos are larger than 2mb each, you may only be able to send two per email, requiring several emails.

Please send all of the requested photos to:  andy@securitysafeusa.com

Note:  As I am in the field several days each week, covering a huge service area, I may not get back to your photos immediately, but I will respond as soon as I get an opportunity.

Andy