Milners B561 Floor Safe

lomo

Hello, just bought a Milners B561 Floor Safe purely because I thought it a beautiful item. Please view photo. I noticed user on another thread Ian D. Lewis saying the B refers to the year 1890… Really! We bought it at a house clearance. The original supplier, Broderick’s in Dublin (Ireland) still exists and the owners had paid to have the code cracked only to loose it, so I’m told Brodericks will charge us about €100.00 to obtain it. Any comments on age/ type much appreciated.

Paul Prescott

B series does normally suggest a date of 1890. However the manner of construction and the style of badge confirms that this safe was made after 1945.

Also, I hope you did’nt pay too much, unless that locks is on a factory code still I doubt you’ll get it opened for a 100 euro ….

lomo

Yes, well I thought it looked 1930s to my untrained eye! I paid €50 for it - I’m going to use it as an occasional table, the likes of which I couldn’t get for twice that amount, so I’m pleased. Will be calling the supplier today; their info is above the badge and they are still in the same building. I have been assured they have the code already and will charge me €100 for it.

safeman

Your Milner B561 safe looks rather familiar to me - very similar to the ‘Merlin’ quality of the 1960’s.
It came in 3 sizes, A,B and C. Does it measure 28″ in height by any chance? That would make it a size B.

There’s something else about it which makes me think ‘Whitfield’. This was an earlier Milner post-war safe which had a handle virtually identical to the one fitted on your safe.

The plate or badge is not one which I recognise which in turn makes me think export, and which could account for the mixture of handle and plate, either/neither Merlin or Whitfield.

Anything on the back of the door? Are the bolts fastening the door rectangular or round?

I have a copy of the original price list if it’s a Merlin.

Paul Prescott

I used to own a merlin, they had a chrome ‘ L ’ horn type handle and the plate was rectangular. So maybe this is the model before the merlin ?

lomo

safeman wrote
Does it measure 28″ in height by any chance? That would make it a size B.

Yes it’s 28″ high. It’d also make sense with the B in the name.

safeman wrote
Anything on the back of the door? Are the bolts fastening the door rectangular or round? I have a copy of the original price list if it’s a Merlin.

Back of the door; can’t see because it’s locked! The bolts are sort of rounded rectangles… Maybe it’s the imported type because it’s been brought into Ireland.