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Expert: Terry V. Andreasen (Andy) - 2/7/2009


Question
QUESTION: Can you tell me where I can find photos and information about a bank vault door from National Safe and Lock of Clevland. The door was installed around 1915.

ANSWER: Pat,

Are you looking for pictures of a specific door when it was installed, or just pictures of a National door?

What specificially are you looking for?

Andy

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

QUESTION: My son and I are opening a resturant during demolition we found the vault door.This is located in Carson City MI at what used to be Farm and Merchants State Bank. The bank opened in 1915 and closed during the depression. It appears that the door is highly detailed with pin stripping and gold leaf casing. The vault has been turned in to a cooler in doing so they cut a hole in the center of the door to route all the wiring and etc. The door is missing the exterior locking mechanisims. I would like to see photos of a door of this time era to help in the restoration. We are not interested in it opening or closing we just want it to look like the original door. We can take a photo and e mail it to you if that would help. Also ould you know if there is a vendor out there somwhere that sells parts to these doors?

Answer
Pat,

I have the National Safe & Lock Co, listed from 1861 to 1929.  Unfortunately the history of this company is extremely limited.  I have included the following web address which does have an advertisement for one of their vault doors.  I also have a picture of one of the nicer decorated doors, but that's about it.

http://books.google.com/books?id=VXYoAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA79&lpg=RA1-PA79&dq=%22Nat

As this company has been out of business for 80 years, there are no parts available for their products.  This means that if you are going to restore the door, you will have to fabricate or have a machine shop fabricate any parts that you need.  The lock on the door was manufactured by Yale, which I also have a picture of, but I haven't seen it installed on anyone else's equipment.

Please send me pictures of your door, so that I have a better idea of what you are looking at.  Also, I'll need your email address to send you the pictures that I have.  If you can give me exact measurements of the mounting holes for the lock, I'll see what I have that might work.

The photos need to have enough detail so that it would be like I was standing at the door looking for my self.  Please include a photo of the lock mounting area.

You can send them to me at:  andy@securitysafeusa.com

Andy

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Terry V. Andreasen (Andy)

Expertise

Safe and Vault related Questions; Antique Safe Repair and Restoration; With over 38 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

38 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 ClearStar

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 - Listed in AllExperts Top 50 Experts. All Expert 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 and Western Nevada)

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