Here is an odd one...

00247

This safe was at a local auction. It is a strange one in that it has a cast body with a small (₁₂″) round rotating door that has the combination lock above it. Once open, it reveals a space and another smaller (₈″) round door that has two flat keys much like a safe deposit box. When that door is opened there is a small cubical of about 12″ square. No identifying names or numbers were seen.

The lock was a S&G and by the looks of it I would guess this safe would not be classified as an antique.

It certainly was odd enough to peak my interest but the logistics of getting it out of the building was enough of a deterrent for me. Wedged between the wall and a military bomb shelter (estate of an eccentric owner) it sat in a little room with poor concrete. Substantial weight and no wheels confirmed that decision.

Has anyone seen one of these beasts?

Chubby

That really is an unusual unit. I have never even heard of one before. Similar to George Price’s idea of the lock in the frame.

What is that padlock in the picture? Is it an Ingersoll?

Huw Eastwood

That looks a real oddball, it instantly reminded me of some specialised cash handling units from the late 1970’s or early 80s, think from memory they were by Major, similar size and shape in blue with small rectangular chrome badges. They were only similar in overall design though, the ones I’m thinking of did have the locks mounted on bright chrome doors and not in the body like that one.

If I’m honest I don’t think I’ve ever seen an example of any safe with the lock mounted remotely in the body like that, although I posted a photo my Father took a while back of a George Price as Chubby has mentioned, one that he’d encountered but was long before my involvement in the trade.

00247

Chubby wrote
What is that padlock in the picture? Is it an Ingersoll?

Funny, I never noticed the padlock until I looked at the picture later. I was so enthralled by the safe and how I could possible get it out of the building I overlooked it. It is mounted to the bomb shelter so possibly a military lock? The deceased owner was a bit eccentric so there were a number of things that made for an interesting auction.

There were a number of other safes there garnering my attention. All the safes had the combinations, something I though was strange in of itself. Surely, you would think one combination would be lost. I bought the unusual Victor I showed in another thread. There were also 3 chest style safes. These two sold after my Victor which was first. They sold for $10 each to the new property owner. Heavy and no wheels… a poor combination. (pun intended)
Note the time delay lock cover on one lock. I probably should have bought it for that and left the safe.

There was a very nice United States Safe Company Safe that had beautiful exposed bolt work in the very heavy door. A mostly original interior and very good graphics. Sold for $350 to the new property owner. No wheels was a drawback

This small Cary with double round doors was in nice condition and was a bit strange. The top door gave access to a cash drop cylinder which dumped to the lower compartment. Sold for $65

Two Diebold cannonballs sold for $10 each. Now before you crap your pants or accost me for not buying, it would have been a HUGE undertaking to get them out of the building. At ₃₅₀₀ lbs it was an intimidating thought. Both had minor issues but had the time locks and explosion proof locks. Again bought by the new property owner.

This chest safe was interesting. Loved the pressure bars and hinges. I got sidetracked and never looked inside, I regret that now. Another $10 safe to the same guy. Nobody wanted to try getting them out.

Anyone familiar with a ventilated safe? This one had ventilation holes in various places. They had been covered with welded on metal strips so it looked pretty sad. Even though this one could have been moved no one was interested. $5 to the same buyer.

That was it for safes other than the safe that started this thread. There was a vault door that wasn’t sold as it was part of the building. Couldn’t see a name on it and it was in rough shape.

It was an entertaining day and I returned the next morning with my Bobcat, a floor jack, crowbar, and plywood to retrieve my Victor. Life is good!

[unknown]

Doug MacQueen

That’s quite an odd collection of safes. I looked through the thumbnails of McOmies hinged round door safes and found nothing with similar hinges as that concrete cladded round door. The lock in jamb had been used by Beard & Bros. of St.Louis as well as Chicago Safe. Almost certainly the chest would have been made in the 1950’s or 60’s, probably for a gas station. Surprising that more like it haven’t shown up as it was not a simple construction for a straight on burglary chest.

Doug MacQueen

MostMost of this stuff looks like what you see inside bank vaults. That more modern ventilated chest may have been for an ATM electronics. The Cary is a Gary, a much more recent maker. $10 bucks for an open Diebold cannonball? OMG!

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

00247 wrote
This safe was at a local auction. It is a strange one in that it has a cast body with a small (₁₂″) round rotating door that has the combination lock above it. Once open, it reveals a space and another smaller (₈″) round door that has two flat keys much like a safe deposit box. When that door is opened there is a small cubical of about 12″ square. No identifying names or numbers were seen.

The padlock is a Sargent and Greenleaf 826B made for the US military. It is the unshrouded version of the 831B.
BBE.

[unknown]