Mosler's Boston showroom

wylk

I spotted this on eBay, a 1952 photograph of Mosler opening a new showroom in Boston that included a bank vault. On the back of the photograph is:

October 21, 1952

Mosler’s new Boston Showroom has world’s only sample bank vault

One of the permanent showroom features of the Mosler Safe company’s
new Boston showroom is a life-size bank vault, complete with
steel vault linings, safe deposit boxes, ventilating system, grill
gate, burglar-alarm system and massive 10-ton fire and burglary-
resistant door. At recent opening day ceremonies, Col. Paul Hines
(center), industrial advisor to Boston’s Major John Hynes, cuts ribbon
in front of vault door as John Mosler (left), vice-president, and
Edwin H. Mosler, Jr. (right), president, Mosler Safe company, look on.
The opening of the ultra-modern showroom marked the celebration of
Mosler’s 80th year in Boston

The address of the showroom is not stated. The text suggests it might be a new location, but it might just be a new showroom in their old location, 84 Sudbury Street. Does anybody know more? Google Earth seems to think there is no such street (it does include “New Sudbury”).

Yankee

Sorry to say that street no longer exists in Boston. That entire neighborhood was demolished to make way for what is now City Hall Plaza, and surrounding buildings. To my knowledge, that photo is referencing the updated showroom at their only Boston address.
This part of town was where most of the safe company’s had their offices, and as such, that part of Boston’s history is lost forever.

wylk

It appears that Mosler had at least one other address in Boston though it was nearby, namely 51-53 Sudbury, per an 1898 bill that was for sale on eBay:

They were still at 51-53 Sudbury in 1908 when they took over MacNeale and Urban:

Yankee

My error. Mosler did indeed move down Sudbury St. I was going from memory, and that is clearly failing me…I’ll see if I can dig up more info or photos of the Boston Office.

Dean Nickel

The local Boston Historical Society would have more I am sure.

Ryan Krakowsky

Mosler’s new Boston showroom in 1952 was located at 375 Boylston Street. Unfortunately, this building does not exist today…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3489885702/

wylk

Many thanks for the extra info! I did “walk around” the area with Google Earth’s street view, and some of the buildings are still there but not the one of interest, as Ryan said.

Ryan Krakowsky

Here’s a couple more photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3404558314/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mit-libraries/3404583332/