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Expert: - 6/20/2011


Question
The # on the handle is 125913. Inside on the door is 5319.  Made by the mosler safe and lock co. Hamilton, Ohio. The knob contains the following patents Sept 7, 1880; 2Nov 2, 1880; July 18, 1882; Mar 4 1884;Mar11,1884; and 2 Aug 23, 1884.
It's 42/1/2" high,30/1/2 " wide,and 23 1/2" deep.
The door is 26 by 31" and the inside panel is 17 by 22" and it is 6 " thick.
The inside panel says The Mosler Safe Co. Hamilton, O. and below the lock is MOSLER PATENT.

It appears that the safe was blasted open once upon a time and then repaired (I'm guessing somebody replaced the door)and put back into service.  Everything works but the outside walls are pushed out slightly (maybe 1/16 inch) and there is a 1/16th wide crack between the holes where the door lock engages with the safe. Holes that were drilled in the back of the safe have been filled and sanded flat.  There are also separation clacks on three of the four corners of the front of the safe.  From a resale perspective and with these characteristics is it worth the time to restore the safe or should I just remove the door and scrap the box.

Thanks in advance;

Steven D Schlueter

cell #  

Answer
Steven,

The short answer is "it depends"!

If you are planning on using the safe as a safe, then no it isn't.  This safe will not meet any standards for fire or burglary resistance, regardless of how much money, time and effort that you put into it.

If you are simply going to use it as a display safe, then I say go ahead.  Cost to restore it would depend on what you plan on doing with it.  With all the separation cracks, etc. I wouldn't put it in the category of "I'm going to use it every day"

Think of it like your great grandfather (or older).  Would you even consider putting him to work at your business?  Hopefully not!  These old safes did what they were originally intended for and deserve to be retired.  Also, the standards that they were built to protect against over 100 years ago, are NOT what they would be expected to protect against today.

Also, the patent dates are NOT manufacturing dates.  Patent dates were generally issed for up to 20 years, but could be used far after this if no changes were made.  Based on your serial number your safe would have been built between 1896 to 1898.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Andy

Antique Safes

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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

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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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