Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 2/9/2012

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a building around 2 years ago that had contained this safe in it.  The safe is a large safe standing around 4 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide.  It has original wood shelves and drawers with a lock box and key inside.  The inside of the door has a painted red and gold pinstripe and a flower in the center.  The lock on the outside has an inscription around the base that says Marvin's Patent and in the center of the dial it says MAY 1865.  It stands on four large cast wheels.  On the front of the wheels it reads Marvin's Dec. 2 on one side and Patent 1808 on the other side. I have not moved the safe since I moved in as it is extremely heavy.  I believe the safe came from a hotel that was around back in the early 1900's.  I do have the key to the lock box and the combination to the safe.  The safe is a really nice piece however I live on the second floor and it cannot stay on the first floor anymore. I would like to sell the safe and was wondering what the value is? I attached a picture of the safe, and I have more pictures of the inside, if you could please send an email I will forward over pictures of the lock, interior, hinges, handle and dial...etc.  Thank You.

ANSWER: Scott,

The information on the wheels is actually:  Marvin DEC. 1   and Patent  1868

This company was in business from 1838 until they merged with two other companies in 1892 to form Herring-Hall-Marvin.  Obviously if the safe has a Patent date of 1868 on it, it could not have been made before this date, nor after the 1892 merger date, so this gives us a period of 22 years to look at (1868-1892).
Note:  Patent dates are NOT manufacturing dates.  Patents were issued for periods of up to 20 years and could be used by the manufacturer as a reference even after the patent had expired.

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 7mb 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 don’t send me “cell phone” photos.

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.



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

QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response, I will email additional pictures.  If the safe was made anywhere from 1868 - 1892 does this mean the dial with the engraving MAY 1865 replaced the original dial? There was no paper work in the safe or any documents pertaining to it, however I do know the original owner who's family once owned the hotel I mentioned the safe belonged to.  What sort of documents should I look for? The combination I have was written on a piece of paper that says old hotel safe.  I can pull up pictures of the hotel and possibly old newspaper articles but they may not necessarily have the safe in them...Are there serial numbers anywhere to look for? Thanks again, Scott

Answer
Scott,

No the date on the dial is a patent date for the lock, and does NOT reflect when the lock was installed.  All this indicates is that the safe could NOT possibly have been built prior to the issuance of the patent.  Similarly, the safe could not have been built prior to the patent date on the castor support.

If there are no serial numbers on the handle, then there may not be any on the safe.  Some manufacturers used them and some did not.

As far as documentation, photos of the hotel, or the safe in use, or original letters when the safe was obtained, which refer to the safe, etc.