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Antique Safes/Miller safemaker

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Expert: - 6/8/2011


Question
miller safe
miller safe
HI,
I purchased a victorian house several years ago, and in the cellar was a safe which looks old, but I have not been able to find any info about this safe, and I was hoping you may be able to tell me if there is any value to it. The safe is made by Miller safemaker manchester and is fire resistant, it is also floor standing and is very heavy to move.

I look forward to your response

thanks.

Jayne

Answer
Jayne,

I'm basically an expert on American Safe manufactures between the early 1800's through the mid 1900's.  I haven't the resources to research all of the British manufactures as well, but I'll see what info I have.

Generally all the British safe makers from the early 1800's through the early 1900's made safes which were virtual copies of every other British safe.  The main differences being the name plaques (or plates), the lock and handles.  I'm sure there were probably other minor differences but if you lined up 30 different safes side by side, you would see what I'm talking about.

Yours is unique in that it has a "skirt" and "castors", which was more of an American trait.

The majority of the safe makers in England were centered around the West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Birmingham areas.  This the first safe maker that I've heard of from Manchester.

You may want to check with Tom Gordon the other "antique safe" expert on this site as he is a UK lock, physical security and safes specialist, with a world class collection of safe plaques and Chatwood items from British safes.  Tom lives in the UK and will have a better knowledge of these safes.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but I still loved your safe.

Andy

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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