New purchase: Chatwood safe

Harrishawk

Picked it up today! My first, for me, heavy safe to bring home….
Bought it locked but door open. I’ve asked a few weeks ago if I could open the back cover of the door and safeman gave me good news.
Lock is allready out of the door and I have to make a key now. Was not easy with bolt out! You can see one screw behind the bolt that gave some trouble.

Any news on data of the lock and safe are welcome.
Here are some pictures:

Harrishawk

Some extra pictures

safeman

Harrishawk wrote
Some extra pictures

Congratulations on your new acquisition.

I’m out of my comfort zone on the matter of Chatwood locks but no doubt someone
will come to your aid.

[unknown]

safeman

safeman wrote
Congratulations on your new acquisition.

I’m out of my comfort zone on the matter of Chatwood locks but no doubt someone
will come to your aid.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20563[/ATTACH]

In case you are impatient, here’s a little piece on the lock.

Your Chatwood Lock.
The first lock Patent was dated 28[SUP]th[/SUP] May 1860 and was probably made for Chatwood by the
the famous locksmith Charles St Aubin to a design by one of Chatwood’s partners at the time,
Robert Wharton Parkin. The levers incorporated the spring which was a new concept and the
key operated in the centre of the lever pack which was also new and was designed to prevent
the insertion of gunpowder of any effective quantity.
It also incorporated an anti-pressure bolt stump to prevent picking. This lock also had the facility,
if required, to be key-retaining. i.e. the key could only be removed if the boltwork was thrown.
(to preclude leaving the key in the door through forgetfulness).

[unknown]

Harrishawk

Thanks a lot Safeman!

Gary Stephenson

I love those locks, total quality. Paintwork is in quite good nick too for the age.

Chubby

The whole thing is quality, and in such good condition.

I do like those drop handles.

safeman

Chubby wrote
The whole thing is quality, and in such good condition.

I do like those drop handles.

A little piece of memorabilia to put into your ‘inexpensive’ safe.

[unknown]

Harrishawk

Thanks again safeman!

Harrishawk

Lock is clean and I polished the levers. So it runs very smooth. Key is also ready!
So job done. Only to polish the outside and I have a nice safe.

Tom Gordon

Harrishawk wrote
Lock is clean and I polished the levers. So it runs very smooth. Key is also ready!
So job done. Only to polish the outside and I have a nice safe.

Very good condition paint!
i don’t have my references handy but about 1890

[unknown]

Huw Eastwood

Now that’s a nice looking safe, looks beautiful condition and makes that Mosler you picked up look like a 1950s refrigerator!

Harrishawk

Lol Huw! But I still like my refrigerator🙁rofl):

Chatwood is done. Polished with antique wax but the brass still with patina.

Two keys and ready for his place in this house🙁y):

Huw Eastwood

Well done that’s a lovely sheen from the wax, and an original example like that wins every time for me over the blinged-out over done restorations- that’s beautiful !

I remember you are not a stranger to hands on precision stuff and you do a lot of lathe and mill work making fine pens but even so, cutting your own keys from blanks to a Chatwood lock is quite an achievement so well done all round, big pat on back and weekend beers well earned !

Harrishawk

@[deleted]
you wrote in a atoher topic about this safe Pre 1875. This type of lock first made around 1860. So this safe should be between 1860 and 1875?

And can someone tell me about the list numbers? This is list 3. But what is 2,4 or 5 for example. Is list numbers only by Chatwood?
This is fire proof I think and also keep burlars out for a while?

I don’t know exact the difference between fire safes and burglar safes. :s:
Cheers!

safeman wrote
_____________________________________

A little piece of memorabilia to put into your ‘inexpensive’ safe.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20567[/ATTACH]

[unknown]

Harrishawk

Thanks Huw! Yes, your are right. I make some pens.
but always nice to hear that I did a nice job🙁happy):

safeman

Harrishawk wrote
@[deleted]
you wrote in a atoher topic about this safe Pre 1875. This type of lock first made around 1860. So this safe should be between 1860 and 1875?

And can someone tell me about the list numbers? This is list 3. But what is 2,4 or 5 for example. Is list numbers only by Chatwood?
This is fire proof I think and also keep burlars out for a while?

I don’t know exact the difference between fire safes and burglar safes. :s:
Cheers!

The date has to approximate as the Chatwood records for safe and lock numbers can be misleading, and as I said earlier, the first safe number I found was 24621 and dated 1875.

Regarding List numbers, I attach a note giving each quality at the same approximate time as yours was produced. The List 3 does not appear to have changed specification after this time. Many safe companies used the term List as their prices per quality. i.e. Milner, Tann, and Ratner.

As to your question on burglar resistance, that depends on many factors - the skill of the burglar, which in turn depends on the desirability of the contents, access to the property and occupancy, noise levels of tools etc. The weight of the safe should preclude removal. (8 cwts approx.)

Lastly, the difference between fire and burglar resistance. Generally down to mass of material (see table above). Good fire resistance benefits from quality of chemical mix in body and door chambers. Chatwood use Cedar Wood sawdust with Alum Crystals. Also unlikely to burst open under falling masonary by body plate thickness and jointing.

Enjoy.

[unknown]

Harrishawk

Thanks for the info!