wylk Wonderful, thanks for sharing. Are there any Corliss safes to be seen anywhere, outside of a few people’s garages? Some old county assessor’s office, or museum? When did Mosler stop making the Corliss safes?
Paul Prescott Thanks for posting those, seeing pictures of the actual safe answers a lot of questions about they way they work and were constructed. I’m assuming these are the ‘standard’ size model, I seem to recall that they made some massive ones too ?
Doug MacQueen In total I know of about 30 so far and seen most of them. Irving Isacoff in Ocala Florida has 6 or so in his collection at his salvage yard. Considering the 60 or so other cannonballs that he has I would say that is where you would want to go. At this time I don’t know of anyone anxious to sell theirs. I have been trying to post some more pics of the one disassembled. The two side by side are ser no 35 and 36 in the Providence City Hall Vault. Corliss first showed at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, sold out to Mosler in 1896 I think and it seems Mosler kept building for another 20 years. About 400 made under Corliss and the same under Mosler. Corliss had 2 models the Spherical in two sizes, at about 8,000 and 11,000 lbs, and the Planet in two sizes 14,000 and 32,000lbs.
Paul Prescott Very nice, thanks for going to the trouble to post them. The small one, was it a standard model or a sample ? Does anyone have any catalogue information on these ?
Doug MacQueen Cool stuff huh? The little one is a salesman sample. I do have some catalog info but I don’t know where it is at this time.
btanders The local Antique shop by me has a old bank check signed by the Bush Brewing Company with a Corliss safe picture on it (top left side) looks very old, I forgot to look at the date on the check. The guy’s asking $54 +tax, I go there every so often if someone was looking for something like that for their collection. I wouldn’t have a problem picking it up and shipping it to them, the shop is just down the street from me so it’s not a big deal. I’d buy it but I don’t have a need for it in my collection. Thanks Todd
Doug MacQueen This is Ser# 18 and you can see it is quite different mechanically from any others I have found. I can only date it to sometime between 1876-79. Compare it to the drawing from the 1876 Phil. Centennial. It does appear to been altered By Corliss at some later date. Unfortunately I can not tell you who showed me this or where it is. Doug
Adrian Weber Hey Doug, I have to say that I have not seen a safe like this in action yet. The normal cannonballs yes but not this type, very interesting! :8):
ltrrigging Garry Wilson wroteDoug, Thanks for sharing the great pics. Hi, I just purchased this picture of this Hoxie, Kansas Corliss safe and noted that it has a parting strip at the bottom of the globe.I sent pictures of my Corliss safe from Louisburg,NC realized the parting strip is missing or it was made without one. All the reference pics I’ve seen online doesn’t show one. I’m starting the restoration on the safe soon I just want sure i’m not missing any details. Was this added on? THANKS, RICH [unknown]
Doug MacQueen It appears the trim was used somewhere starting around ser. # 600. They are screwed on so check for holes and that will tell you if it had it. Be sure to post after the restore. Doug
