Chubb safe identification and valuation.

grantharg · 2017-02-06T15:17:02+00:00

Hello, I have recently relocated my Pharmacy and was wondering what to do with and how to identify my Chubb safe. I purchased the pharmacy with safe included about 10 years ago. The previous owner occupied the site for 25+ years and I assume he had the safe for that period. I have tried to determine its age, model, value etc too no avail. Still have both sets of keys and the safe is fully functional. Can you please offer me some assistance? Safe weighs approx 800-1000kg. Plate on Front door reads: "By Royal Appointment CHUBB Lock & Safe Makers 128 Queen Victoria St London" Inside spine of door has 2 rectangular plates-1st has “61309” 2nd has fish emblem with “Chubb London” 2 locks are present both with same fish emblem covering key entry as a sliding shutter. 1st has “T” and 2nd has possibily a “B” or “R” dimensions H:122cm D:610 W:710cm Please advise if you require any further information. I’ll try and get some pictures on here soon Thank you for your time and assistance Grant Hargreaves.

grantharg

The dimensions are exactly as stated in the catalogue and one key is hollow.

Chubby

That is to stop you trying to use the wrong key. They simply won’t fit! Often when a second keylock has been added afterwards you don’t get that feature but it sounds as if yours is original. That is partly why I asked about you having seen inside the back of the door. Often a later addition second lock has no hardened plate but yours should have hardened plates over both locks.

You can check the weight from the figures struck into the top of the door, if they are there. They used to be on most Chubbs of that age. You don’t really need to as you have the figure from the catalogue now.

grantharg

Thanks all that’s have helped with the identification of this safe. I’m truly thankful as my limited technological abilities were leading me nowhere fast… I actually plan now to take the safe home. If I were to insure it, how would I go go about getting it formally valued? I live in Western Australia.

Paul Prescott

grantharg wrote
Thanks all that’s have helped with the identification of this safe. I’m truly thankful as my limited technological abilities were leading me nowhere fast… I actually plan now to take the safe home. If I were to insure it, how would I go go about getting it formally valued? I live in Western Australia.

Old safes such as this generally are not worth very much (if anything). The reasons being :

Collectors - there are’nt many (if any) people who ‘collect’ safes. And those that do look for examples of special technical interest. Yours while nice is not really ‘special’.
Relocation - the relocation costs of such a safe will be considerable. As such if it’s on your way and you want rid of it you may get it taken away for nothing or could have to pay someone to do it for you.
Use - while I maintain that such a safe is going to be better than many low grade new units sold today many insurance companies disagree and as such it greatly limits the available market for such a safe and accordingly the price it will command.

So - it’s going to be worth what someone will pay - there is no way of getting a formal valuation that will have any meaningful purpose IMO.

[unknown]

Chubby

I imagine that it would be covered in a general insurance policy as an item of office furniture/equipment.

A separate question is insuring the contents. Some general policies cover a small amount of cash provided it is kept in a safe. Often no type of safe is specified for these low sums.

Of course if you want to go any higher, the insurers will start to require a particular model or range of models.

grantharg

Might put it in my bar room and lock my scotch in it. 😃.
I actually really like the look of it.
thanks again to all that helped. I still can’t believe it’s a 100 years old!!

Safeone

How does this work? This Chubb safe appears to have bolt holes that are straight ahead……. am I missing something ?

Huw Eastwood

Those are not for the actual locking bolts Safeone, there are mating fixed lugs on the back of the doorplate which close into them, often have socket screws for adjustment to take up play in the door when locked. The locking bolts shoot out into the continuous vertical gap that’s visible behind them.

safeman

Safeone wrote
How does this work? This Chubb safe appears to have bolt holes that are straight ahead……. am I missing something ?

These recesses will have corresponding pins attached to the rear of the door which when closed will help prevent the door from being wedged.

[unknown]

Safeone

Ah Ha ! Get it now (derr) and thanks for the info :-)

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