Antique Safes/Questions Answered by Expert Tom Gordon
| Subject | Date Asked |
| safe | 5/23/2012 |
| Q: I am trying to get some info about a WALKER&WORSEY of birmingham safe , i also have both keys for ... A: I am afraid that apart from them being 2nd tier manufacturers of low quality safes around 1900 I ... | |
| Chatwood's safe | 5/5/2012 |
| Q: Just wondering if you could identify this safe. Is it missing a front plate? I am trying to date it ... A: I would guess at 1/2-3/4 tonne and although it is strong and fairly secure you may have trouble ... | |
| Chatwood's safe | 5/5/2012 |
| Q: Just wondering if you could identify this safe. Is it missing a front plate? I am trying to date it ... A: the pictures are not as large and clear as I would like, but I would say that it looks like it is ... | |
| Thomas Perry & Sons Safe | 4/23/2012 |
| Q: Picture shows the safe plate removed for cleaning purposes from a safe made by Thomas Perry & Sons ... A: A picture of the safe would have been very useful but it is reasonable to estimate that it is ... | |
| Cyrus Price & Co antique safe | 4/16/2012 |
| Q: I have inherited an antique safe and wonder how much it is worth? The manufacturer is Cyrus Price & ... A: 212 is the boiling point of water and was referring to it being filled with sawdust and alum. When ... | |
| History & Value of old safe | 4/12/2012 |
| Q: I bought a floor safe 10 years ago at an auction. Would like a little history on mfg and today's ... A: Without a picture, I have to guess that the nameplate is written on 4 lines with a wavy edge. ... | |
| Antique Safe | 2/25/2012 |
| Q: I have an old Fabrik von F. Schmidt (Hamburg) safe that was passed to me by my parents, who obtained ... A: The Germans were probably the original mass manufacturers of safes and there were many, many small ... | |
| Phillips and Son Birmingham | 2/13/2012 |
| Q: I was wondering how i go about getting a new key. I have a Phillips and Son Birmingham, List 1 Reg ... A: A photo would help but I can still say that any locksmith shop should be able to make a key to it. ... | |
| Patent ratner safe | 2/4/2012 |
| Q: I'm looking at a renovation job at the moment that has a large safe built into the living room of ... A: The safe may have been placed there as the building was built or added afterwards. If it was ... | |
| Milner safe - date | 1/28/2012 |
| Q: I posted a question to Terry(Andy earlier and he was very helpful but suggested you may be able to ... A: Late 1800's Serial number stamped on edge of door or hinge or on lock. It is a pretty safe so enjoy ... | |
| Milner & son Safety Box | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I have a MILNER & SON PATENT FIRE PROOF PORTABLE SAFETY BOX (1840 Manufactures label still in ... A: I am afraid that they are quite common and have no security value nor much other value-I cannot see ... | |
| T.Withers & Son safe | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: We recently bought a T.Withers & Son safe from a gentleman in his late 70's. he claims his great ... A: 1892 is when the patent was granted which would thus be the earliest date that the safe could have ... | |
| Milner Safe.... | 11/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a black safe, rounded on all corners, with a solid brass drop ring handle. The brass ... A: It would be interesting to see a picture down into the keyhole but I think that this is a Chatwood ... | |
| Safe mage by F Grove & Sons, Birmingham | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: We are wondering how much a safe might be worth made by the above manufacturer as we wish to get rid ... A: It is likely (despite the weight) for the body to be filled with a mixture of sawdust and alum. This ... | |
| A. Frankel Safe | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: I believe I have an old English safe from around 1900. It has the marking "A. Frankel" on the ... A: I believe that I have an early safeplate from them and although the brass nameplate that you show in ... | |
| A. Frankel Safe | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: I believe I have an old English safe from around 1900. It has the marking "A. Frankel" on the ... A: From Vienna rather than Britain. Despite what this link says, they were one of many producers in ... | |
| milner 212 key safe | 8/23/2011 |
| Q: hello i have a Milner 212 key safe with 2 keys it has queen Victoria emblem could you tell me if it ... A: Milner were probably the most prolific manufacturers of safes-mainly what would be considered very ... | |
| opening a closed safe | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: we have an old safe that is locked and we do not have the combination. it is a safe from your ... A: I don't know which company you think that it came from, but we are in the UK and it didn't come from ... | |
| S&G Safe Refurbishment | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: Dad has given me Granddad's 1930's or older S&G safe, perhaps 2.5'x2.5'x3.5' tall on wheels #400#?#. ... A: It should be cheaper and better to open it non destructively. Ask them whether they can manipulate ... | |
| Antique Safe | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I have recently discovered a safe within a boarded over inglenook fireplace. The name on the door ... A: If the handle moves fully AND appears to be moving the boltwork as well. then it is probably rust ... | |
| Chatwood vault door | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: From a demolished building I have recovered an old Chatwood vault door. The weight has been ... A: I assume that what you have is a door without the frame. The frame is a simple thing, with the sole ... | |
| Samuel Wither Safe - No key | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I have inherited a Samuel withers safe,approx dimensions 17x18x24 with no key,searched high and low ... A: The two screws merely hold on the brass keyhole surround (escutcheon). There is no connection with ... | |
| whitfield safe | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a built in witield safe which I have been using to store documents. It is now failing to ... A: I am reluctant to say this because you could get too brutal with it but there is a possibility that ... | |
| Samuel Withers & Co safe | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: Please can you offer any advice on the value of the safe in the attached image. I have read about ... A: I am afraid that the scrap value is negligable despite it being heavy because mainly it is filled ... | |
| save security box | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a save security box and I am wondering what you think of it. It says in the front Waterlow & ... A: It is probably a J Tann safe, used by the printers whose name was painted onto it. I am afraid that ... | |
| CH GRIFFITHS & SON SAFE | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I have inherited my parents' fabulous, old, very heavy safe with the CH Griffiths plaque on. It is ... A: These safes do not have an insurance rating and are also not collectable because they are not either ... | |
| phillips and son safe | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: i came across Phillips and Son safe while cleaning out mums shed. The only numbers i can see are ... A: I cannot see the picture but most Phillips and Sons safes were only very low grade. They made a lot ... | |
| fire resistance | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I notice that most experts in this field warn people about the lack of fire resistance of old iron ... A: Fire protection is about much more than stopping fire getting through the gap at the edge of the ... | |
| Lost Key | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I am the owner of a brass safe, which displays a badge on the front that reads Prise Medal London ... A: Prices made many safes-a picture would help enormously. If the door is unlocked then you might take ... | |
| Milner patent fireproof safe | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: I have recently restored a 27 inch cubed Milner, fitting it with an internal chest of drawers and ... A: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Antique-Milners-212-Fire-Resisting-Holdfast-Plate-/280630140676?pt=UK_Ant ... | |
| John Tann Reliance Safe | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a John Tann Reliance safe which was in my house when I bought the property. It's identified ... A: it is a chunky and heavy safe but has no insurance rating and no collectable value. The nameplate on ... | |
| Milner Safe Identification | 12/17/2010 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a Milner Safe. Its external dimensions are 24" High x 20" x20". The Safe ... A: The number doesnt really tally with records-are you sure there is not a letter before the long ... | |
| Cox safe | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently was given a Cox floor safe. The key looks like the old skelton key used for door locks on ... A: If it is a UK Cox safe then many of them were made for the ministry of defence - but not all. It ... | |
| Concrete Safe | 11/23/2010 |
| Q: We have a solid concrete safe with a single lock and handle under the stairs in our house. Its ... A: if the infill between the inner steel and outer case is concrete then it islikely to be relatively ... | |
| used round vault door | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: We are looking for a pristine non-code complient vault door that will be secured in the open ... A: I presume that you mean one that is big enough to walk through so you should realise it might weigh ... | |
| open safe !but no key | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: I've moved into my grans old house and there is a Thomas withers sandwell security safe unlocked ... A: The brass plate might be worth £5-£10 on ebay but the safe will cost money to remove unless you take ... | |
| Peltz safe | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: When cleaning out an archive this summer I found an old safe labeled Peltz. It stands about 1 metre ... A: Peltz were from Dusseldorf, Germany. You are not at all likely to get the safe open by yourself, ... | |
| Lock | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: Your profile says you are into antique locks? This safe I am trying to identify has a lock that ... A: The Bramah type mechanism that you have, was widely copied in both the US and the UK. The safe is a ... | |
| George price safe | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: We have a very heavy George Price Ltd safe and wonder what value it may have. There is a plaque on ... A: A picture is the obvious thing to help. The very strong likelyhood though is that it is worth less ... | |
| safes | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: i have an original s.withers safe for sale could you advise where to go for a quotation. A: I am afraid that Withers made many, many low quality safes, mainly fire resisting rather than ... | |
| value my safe | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: i have a cyrus price and co safe i am trying to find out how much it will sell for or is there some ... A: 212 is the boiling point of water in F...because the alum mixed in with the sawdust that this safe's ... | |
| Chubb Fire Cabinet | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I was searching for information on a fire cabinet we have in an office and came across this site. I ... A: This is as you know a fire protection cabinet-the wall cavities are filled with a fire resisting ... | |
| Phillips and Bros Safe | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have been given a safe by a local farmer, to add to our new house on our farm, however it is in ... A: Firstly, remember that this will not be a secure safe. That apart, you can have a pretty antique but ... | |
| milners 212 | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: i have a milners 212 thief resisting safe,i've tried to look it up on the net but can't find the ... A: I am not sure what wheel you are talking about because it would be very uncommon for Milners to have ... | |
| Antique Safe | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a F E Wilson & co safe and would like some more information about it, all ive been able to ... A: This safe is from shortly before then and is, I am afraid, one of many very similar safes that were ... | |
| Antique Hall Safe | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: There is a Halls safe we are considering purchasing, but the seller does not have the combination. ... A: Yes it can be drilled, no you can't get the numbers from the serial number (remember that the ... | |
| Vault Door | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: We are looking to find the value of some vault doors that we recently removed from our school due to ... A: Thet are often pretty but there is a surplus of vault doors, they are very expensive and ... | |
| skidmoores safe | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: i have a skidmoores bent steel safe it has to draws in the bottom it stands 34 ihches high and is ... A: If it had a key it would tend to sell for £50 but it would cost that to make a key and if it is very ... | |
Antique Safes
Answers by Expert:
Tom Gordon
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
UK lock, physical security and safes with worldclass collections of safe plaques and Chatwood items. I do NOT have expert knowledge of American safes.
Experience
25 years as a master locksmith, giving training around the UK and Eire to ALOI and MLA members.
Organizations
COLTI
Publications
DIY Week, COLTI, ALOI, MLA
Education/Credentials
In the eighties and nineties I took every course that I could in the UK and the USA at ALOA
Awards and Honors
Locksmith of The Year 2010 Locks & Security Monthly (UK)
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