E. Hipkins & Co safe

hipkins

Hi everyone,

We have come across an E.Hipkins & Co Dudley Inflexiblesafe, around 5 feet tall, with original keys, and after unsuccessfully not finding anything through search engines, I came across this forum hoping that someone might be able to give me a bit of background to this safe, its era, etc, and i guess it wouldn’t harm to know the approx. value of these.

Thank you,

Russell Stoner

Welcome to this forum, we would love to see images of your safe, sometimes it does give us a view to valuing such a product.

eg: is the safe in original livery? has it been tastefully restored? Does it still have its original keys

These are just a few of many questions that help formulate an appraisal.

Appraisals will vary, as your safe will not have a modern Insurance rating & is not vaible for modern use of storing cash & valuables. The maker bit the bullit many years ago.

Looking forward to seeing your safe

Russell

hipkins

Thanks Russell for your feedback. The safe is not in pristine condition, does have quite a bit of rust, but its all repairable. Internally it is in pristine condition, the internal side of the door is painted red and has the E. Hipkins “stamp”. We have the original key, the only key missing if for the internal drawers, which requires a key with a hollow tip.

Russell Stoner

Thanks for the images.

Its age, judging by the bent steel body process appears to be c1890. It’s hinges dictate this too.

Value, well. it will make a nice tool chest. wine cooler..get the picture!!

Can you let us know if it has dovetail dogging & boltwork? or standard oblong, this too gives an indication of original strength rating?

Regards
Russell

ahmed

Hello Everyone; I am from Turkey ın Istanbul.(e-mail addres: ahmt.bora@hotmail.com)
I have an E.Hipkins Dudley Inflexible Antique Safe. its about 130 years. I want to cell this money case.
But i dont know how I can cell it? such us from where i can cell it.
thank you for reading.

Chubby

You have got a safe with a Hipkins name plate and a Ratner escutcheon. Which one is correct?

Take some pictures of the inside so we can give you a better opinion.

ahmed

Chubby wrote
You have got a safe with a Hipkins name plate and a Ratner escutcheon. Which one is correct?

Take some pictures of the inside so we can give you a better opinion.

Hi;
I dont know which one is correct. ı have this plate and that key which is ratner safer.
this money case very heavy. its at my summer place ı can not take another photo now. But I will take another pictures after one month later. But it has partions at inside and its not subsequently made. I remember it was from orginal style. it has three part. First one is to put papers like a drawer. second part is to put money and last one is to put valuable things. and this three part has a one door at inside. it is not money case cover. it is at inside.another thing is these parts has keys each other at inside. hope you understand me 🙂

[unknown]

safeman

To add to the mystery, the hinges are identical to those used by Milners
in the 1920s on their List1 an 2.

The Ratner escutcheon is well polished and looks as if it has been there
from day one. Single keyways sometimes used.

The Hipkins plate however looks like it is attached with steel screws - not
original probably.

The interior should solve some of the mysteries whenever clear pictures are made available.

ahmed

safeman wrote
To add to the mystery, the hinges are identical to those used by Milners
in the 1920s on their List1 an 2.

The Ratner escutcheon is well polished and looks as if it has been there
from day one. Single keyways sometimes used.

The Hipkins plate however looks like it is attached with steel screws - not
original probably.

The interior should solve some of the mysteries whenever clear pictures are made available.

Thank you for definations. I will do it soon 🙂

[unknown]

Jonnyg

My grandfather recently left me a similar safe, I believe that it belonged to his grandfather before him. I have the original key, but there doesn’t seem to be a key for the little box inside (this could turn up on a proper search of the house). Am I correct in saying that these safes do not hold any particularly significant value, mine seems to be in pretty good condition for its age and I believe that it was covered for many years. Thanks for any pointers that you may have.

Jonathan

Russell Stoner

Very tidy!!!

Shame it is not a safe for securing valuables!! In that sense it has no retail value, however, to a collector well yes, there is a value.

I suggest you have a look at Ebay or Gumtree. Get a feel for what has been sold, not what is selling. You can then pitch in a realistic sell price.

Oh: if you cannot find the drawer key(s) a competent locksmith can make keys for you.

Regards
Russell

Jonnyg wrote
Hi

My grandfather recently left me a similar safe, I believe that it belonged to his grandfather before him. I have the original key, but there doesn’t seem to be a key for the little box inside (this could turn up on a proper search of the house). Am I correct in saying that these safes do not hold any particularly significant value, mine seems to be in pretty good condition for its age and I believe that it was covered for many years. Thanks for any pointers that you may have.

Jonathan

[unknown]