Steve Coles Ive recently bought this safe knowing nothing about it. It is 22″ width, 22″ depth and 28″ Height. It has two internal locking drawers and on the reverse of the door is stamped 212. The numbers on the keys read I-1026 and it matches the same number on the right hand top side of the safe. On the top left hand side is written 1862 could this be a date? Any information would be most appreciated. Regards Steve
Huw Eastwood Hello Steve, can you post a pic with the door open showing the back of the door, locking bolts etc, Milners List 2’s and List 3s been covered lots on here, here’s dates for some lock numbers; https://www.antique-locks.com/showthread.php/2751-Milner The search function top right of each page will show up everything covered, search terms like List 2, List 3, Strong Holdfast etc
safeman Steve Coles wroteIve recently bought this safe knowing nothing about it. It is 22″ width, 22″ depth and 28″ Height. It has two internal locking drawers and on the reverse of the door is stamped 212. The numbers on the keys read I-1026 and it matches the same number on the right hand top side of the safe. On the top left hand side is written 1862 could this be a date? Any information would be most appreciated. Steve, serial number I-1026 is a List 3 Milner made in 1897. Number 1862 will be the lock number. [unknown]
Steve Coles EvtHuw Eastwood wroteHello Steve, can you post a pic with the door open showing the back of the door, locking bolts etc, Milners List 2’s and List 3s been covered lots on here, here’s dates for some lock numbers; https://www.antique-locks.com/showthread.php/2751-Milner The search function top right of each page will show up everything covered, search terms like List 2, List 3, Strong Holdfast etc Hi Huw, thanks for your reply. I’ve taken some photos as requested but am unable to post them as they need shrinking? I need some help doing this and will send them as soon as I can. Kind regards, Steve. [unknown]
safeman Huw Eastwood wroteNo need Steve, safeman has already identified and dated it from the serial number. Steve, From an historical point of view however I would be very interested to know what the back of the door looks like. Are the sliding bolts rectangular or round? From the date of 1897 the banded body should have been square cornered with a bolted on lockcase and rectangular bolts. Yours, having a four corner bent body should have a solid lockcase of angle iron with round bolts but which my records indicate was not in production until about 20 years later. To save you the trouble of reducing the file size of your photographs and as an additional check, is the edge of the door plate ½'‘ thick or 1’' thick? Thanks in anticipation….. [unknown]
Steve Coles Hi, The door plate is a half inch thick and the locking bolts are rectangular not round. If you need me to send photos I can send them to your mobilevia WhatsApp? Regards Steve
safeman Steve Coles wroteHi, The door plate is a half inch thick and the locking bolts are rectangular not round. If you need me to send photos I can send them to your mobilevia WhatsApp? Very kind of you Steve but I haven’t a clue about today’s communications systems. Your information is quite enough to confirm that Milners were earlier than I had previously thought in bending their safe bodies. Thanks, John. [unknown]
Huw Eastwood safeman wroteVery kind of you Steve but I haven’t a clue about today’s communications systems. Your information is quite enough to confirm that Milners were earlier than I had previously thought in bending their safe bodies. Thanks, John. Safeman if it’s any help and having the pics will complete the dates puzzle I can PM my mobile number to Steve as I have WhatsApp and can then post it up here. If not, I will wait a day or so and remove steves mobile number for obvious reasons. [unknown]
safeman Huw Eastwood wroteSafeman if it’s any help and having the pics will complete the dates puzzle I can PM my mobile number to Steve as I have WhatsApp and can then post it up here. If not, I will wait a day or so and remove steves mobile number for obvious reasons. Yes Huw, it will complete the initial post and may even lead to something else. [unknown]
Huw Eastwood Steve I’ve PM’d you my number. Safeman I will upload asap but I can only resize via my Android based phone so have to resend from WhatsApp to email to resize and then email again over to my iPad which I use for this forum. Things get very tedious and problematic using a mobile phone to type where the keyboard keys are a tenth of the size of your fingertips! TBH Even the iPad is nothing like the luxury of a proper PC or laptop keyboard.
safeman Huw Eastwood wroteSteve I’ve PM’d you my number. Safeman I will upload asap but I can only resize via my Android based phone so have to resend from WhatsApp to email to resize and then email again over to my iPad which I use for this forum. Things get very tedious and problematic using a mobile phone to type where the keyboard keys are a tenth of the size of your fingertips! TBH Even the iPad is nothing like the luxury of a proper PC or laptop keyboard. What did we do before the miracle of digitalisation? Perhaps a charcoal sketch? [unknown]
Huw Eastwood Here goes, well done Steve they are cracking photos Always liked these list 3’s with the staggered hexagon bolts and dovetails, used to see dozens of them for Dewhurst in the 1980s.
safeman Huw Eastwood wroteHere goes, well done Steve they are cracking photos The excellent photographs indeed prove useful as they show that, not having lining or door chambers, this is not a fire-resisting version of the List 2 but what is often referred to as a ‘Plate Safe’ intended for the safe keeping of valuable non-inflammables such as the family silver plate and jewellery. [unknown]
safeman safeman wroteHuw Eastwood wroteHere goes, well done Steve they are cracking photos The excellent photographs indeed prove useful as they show that, not having lining or door chambers, this is not a fire-resisting version of the List 2 but what is often referred to as a ‘Plate Safe’ intended for the safe keeping of valuable non-inflammables such as the family silver plate and jewellery. Steve, Here’s an interesting photograph of a List 3 Plate safe which I could’nt find before which shows the basic body construction of your safe. [unknown] [unknown]
Steve Coles Hi i was just wondering what was the outcome of my safe Re date , build and weather the safe was unusual for this year. kind regards Steve
safeman Steve Coles wroteHi i was just wondering what was the outcome of my safe Re date , build and weather the safe was unusual for this year. kind regards Steve The date of manufacture being 1897 it is surprising that it has a bent rather than a square body as it was thought to be into the early 1900’s before the “List 3 Improved” was catalogued. Being a non-fire resisting “plate” quality is not all that unusual. Best regards. [unknown]
Steve Coles As I’m moving house soon. Has the safe any Value or should I leave it behind As this is very heavy would appreciate some info. Kind regards STEVEsafeman wroteYes Huw, it will complete the initial post and may even lead to something else. [unknown]
safeman Steve Coles wroteAs I’m moving house soon. Has the safe any Value or should I leave it behind As this is very heavy would appreciate some info. Kind regards STEVE The safe has little or no value Steve when considering removal costs. [unknown]
