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Antique Safes/York lock and safe co safe to sell

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Expert: - 6/18/2011


Question
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Dear Safe Experts:

My Sig Other has a safe made by York Lock and safe company he got from a man who just wanted to get rid of it (too heavy to move), so he has no documentation or old pictures.  However the safe seems to be in decent condition for an old safe and he would like to sell it.

I have included one picture.  I have more pictures and they are in close up detail.  What other details or further pictures do you need to give a general appraisal?  Also, what type of dealer should I be looking for to sell this to?

Thank You, Teresa

Answer
Teresa,

I would be happy to look at your safe.

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 2 or 3 photos 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.

Our informal evaluation is at no charge, however if you feel you need a formal evaluation or appraisal for insurance, estate sales, donations for tax write offs, or to establish it as an antique, there is an administrative fee for this service.


you have a number of choices any selling the safe.  You can use Ebay or Craigs list, however auction sites leave you at the mercy of the bidders.  If you have a nice safe and everyone wants it, you might get more than your asking price, however, I watched one safe go yesterday for "sub-value" as no one was bidding!
Locksmiths and safe companies generally don't take consignments.  They are interested in selling their own products, not yours.  If they buy it from you, again it is going to be for a fraction of its value because they are in the business of selling, not buying or collecting.
Antique dealers will usually take consignments, but they will want a percentage as a commission, and unless you personally know them, you may not be able to trust them.  They may sell your safe for a substantial amount, but only report a smaller amount to you, which they will then take their percentage out of.  
Your other option would be direct advertising in local papers, want ads, etc.  You have more control over the price and sale of the safe.
Documentation is very helpful in selling OR in buying a used item or a potentially antique item.  I see on a daily basis (especially with antique dealers) items that are from the 1920's - 1940's that are listed as from the 1800's.  They are mislabeled, mis-represented, and lied about to make them seem more than they are.  I recently questioned a very prominent antique dealer about a safe that was built between 1915-1920, that was listed as an antique, which it wasn't (antiques are over 100 years old), and the asking price was at $14,300.  The reason the price was so high is that one of the buyers for the antique store mis-identified the safe and paid too much for it, and they were simply trying to recoup their loss, by selling the safe off to an unspecting customer.

Evaluations are very important when selling used or antique items,

Let me know what you want and don't forget to send your photos to me.

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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