Milner's 212 safe chest . Year(s) of fabrication ?

francantolin

Hello everybody,
I’m new in this forum ( and with safe’s too !)

I recently bought an old Milner’s 212 safe chest ( fire resistant ),
I know they were produced during lots of decades:
So I don’t really know if its more 1850 or 1900 and + !…

Maybe someone has informations about the year of fabrication
with the serial number : it is engraved: 55894 EE

The key has no number but works, a copy ?

I will post some pictures !

Kind regards

Francesco

francantolin

the cat in the chest ( not the Hat !)

Chubby

I really envy you that coffer!

212 is not a model. It is a reference to the boiling point of water.

I hope some of the experts will be able to help you with details.

francantolin

Hello Chubby,

thank you for your message !

The chest has some damage on the brass front plate but I will dismantle it and try to straight it out gently with a round '‘ bouterolle’' ( after heating the piece ?!).

Glad if someone has informations with the serial number.

Kind regards

safeman

Francesco,

As shown below, the letters EE denote the dimensions of the chest.

The lock number dates from approximately 1865-6.

The model List No.2 was only used briefly for the chests and was later given to the basic Fire-Resisting wrought iron safe range which lasted up th the turn of the Century.

Chubby

5 guineas, then, was serious money!

I was particularly impressed by the fact that the paper label is still on the back of the lid.

francantolin

Hello Safeman,

thank you for the precious informations !! 🙁y):🙁y):🙁bow):
Did you take them from one of your book ?! It’s so cool !!

I like too the old price, few pounds in 1860 were sure a lot of money !!

For the inside paper ( Chubby) , I’m wondering if it’s not a new one artificially aged
( how can I know it / test it ?!…)

Kind regards !!

Chubby

There would have been few people making that per month in those days!

As to artificial ageing of the document, I am out of my field there. Ask a curator at your local museum.

safeman

francantolin wrote
Hello Safeman,

thank you for the precious informations !! 🙁y):🙁y):🙁bow):
Did you take them from one of your book ?! It’s so cool !!

I like too the old price, few pounds in 1860 were sure a lot of money !!

For the inside paper ( Chubby) , I’m wondering if it’s not a new one artificially aged
( how can I know it / test it ?!…)

Kind regards !!

Thank you for your kind remarks Francesco.

I have over many years collected much information on the early safemakers but far too much to include in my websites. This includes an (as yet) unpublished and illustrated description of Milner’s products from 1845 to 1937 from which the attachment was taken.

With regard to the advertising label, yours is in the best original condition I have seen. The chest must have been stored in an excellent environment.

The earliest which date from about 1845 depict the whole range of fire-resisting products in which your chest is designated with the single letter “E”.

Later labels included an illustration of Milner’s display at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

This includes engravings of the early locks used by Milners - Thos.Turner and Hobbs & Co. The List No.2 Chests are shown on your label but not on this example.

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