Antique Safe ID Help

Regina

Hi all,
I’m kind of an all around hoarder and safes seem to be no exception.
I bought this safe locally, which has been opened by someone who destroyed the dial and ring. I have no pictures of what they might have looked like. I am trying to identify it. Features of note: 3 hinges, About 1000lbs, thick door, exposed bolt work with “japanned?” finish on the locking bars. Lock was a Yale. My guess is Probably OB. Painted over. No obvious markings, guessing pre 1900. Hoping to determine the correct dial and locate some artwork to pattern off of.

Thanks for any help!

David Hovey

Not many US cast iron safes have the handle located below the dial and on the same vertical plane. National was one of them. My guess a very early National Safe.

Regina

David Hovey wrote
Not many US cast iron safes have the handle located below the dial and on the same vertical plane. National was one of them. My guess a very early National Safe.

I leaning that way as well as well after much google image research. I figured it had to be pretty early to be susceptible to such a crude punch attack. The only things that make me question it, is it lacks that distinctive “ice chest” handle on the LH of the door, and the Japanned flash copper finish on the exposed boltwork. The only pics I have found of exposed boltwork Nationals had plated and elaborately etched designs in them like Matt’s. What other period makers had models with the handle below the dial?

Thank you for your help!!!!!!

[unknown]

David Hovey

What other period makers had models with the handle below the dial?

The only thing that comes to mind is the original Protectall, Mosler Protectall’s, and HHM/York/Diebold record safes.

I know this is no help to you.

Now that I’m thinking, off the top of my head, I don’t know any other US mfg. of cast iron safes that have.

Regina

So, I ended up getting it.
Here is my flicker folder that will chronicle the restoration.
I’m hung up now on finding a dial and ring. Hopefully I will have some luck this weekend.

David Hovey

Nice work on the fire tube repair. I see you have an original Yale lock. How long of a dial spindle do you need.

Regina

The original one would have been in the neighborhood of 7-7.5″ long, but I’m not picky. As long as it isn’t smashed I can couple even a stub length one to what’s left of the original. It looks like a 5/16-40 spindle. The fire tube is some wacky thread. Like .775″ X 14 tpi????? Probably have to make a nut from scratch.

The thing that intrigues me about the safe is that it has “Banker’s Style” boltwork, but seems to be really only a fire safe. The front of the door is just sheet metal and the inside of the door is maybe 10ga separated by about 6″ of plaster mixed with what looks to be asbestos. I think it would look really classy painted up nice. I can handle stripping it down and painting it black. I have found some artwork online and hope to find a local sign guy that could do the lettering and striping. I see there are stickers on ebay, but unless they are the waterslide type I think they would look tacky. I’m thinking a variation on the theme of this door: