old safe literature

Gary Stephenson · 2023-03-11T14:07:16+00:00

having a sort / clear out and found these, any info on approximate dating would be nice / appreciated. Chubb manual of safes and strongrooms, mentions 1968 isolator introduction and some 1973 brochures, so assume 1973 or close after.

Cepasaccus

Maybe put them on archive.org?

safeman

Huw Eastwood wrote
Having dug out two large crate loads of lock, safe and strongroom brochures it’s got me pondering over the best way to post the best ones up. Was going to just keep adding them here on Gary’s old safe literature thread as it does make sense to keep it going with everything under one search title.

There’s way too much to post up every individual sheet and page as there’d be thousands but I’m happy to post the best ones up as and when I get time.

Huw, I have a rather jaundiced view of brochures. Put them back where you found them. Back in my Tann days I had a factory visit from members of the MLA. We did the factory tour followed by our Museum, my pride and joy, and during which I noticed my number of guests had dwindled. I found them jostling around the Xerox with sheaves of Tann Brochures. Now I understand the theory of Pride of Possession and I have quite a few myself as part of my job was Safe Identification. In fact it was only this week that our old friend Jaden was on looking for a Bankers MK9.
What I collect is photographs of old safes which can be very useful in helping people put a name to the old family relic. Mostly from Australasia I add and among which are many R.Tann Defiants.
Without an Index… well need I say more

[unknown]

Redoubt

On eBay UK, there is a Small Milner Safe(with a dog on top).

It looks very heavy with, round locking bolts, and plated handles/badge.

Does anyone have any literature on this.

I just searched Milner safe.

safeman

Redoubt wrote
On eBay UK, there is a Small Milner Safe(with a dog on top).

It looks very heavy with, round locking bolts, and plated handles/badge.

Does anyone have any literature on this.

I just searched Milner safe.

This is a Milner List 3 Redoubt. It was a 1919 development of the previous Model but with Round Bolts, and extremely heavily constructed lockcase with angle frame 3½“ x 3½” plus ½“ door plate. The body thickness is ¼” increasing in line with the safe dimensions for fall protection to 5/16″.

[unknown]

safeman

safeman wrote
Huw Eastwood wrote
Having dug out two large crate loads of lock, safe and strongroom brochures it’s got me pondering over the best way to post the best ones up. Was going to just keep adding them here on Gary’s old safe literature thread as it does make sense to keep it going with everything under one search title.

There’s way too much to post up every individual sheet and page as there’d be thousands but I’m happy to post the best ones up as and when I get time.

Huw,

Re-reading my reply to your Post I am cringing at my response in such a sour and negative manner.

As Churchill said “ I’m having a few black dog days” at the moment and must learn to control my curmudgeonly attitude.

Apologetically …. John.

[unknown] [unknown]

Huw Eastwood

No worries at all John. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, hope you are feeling better soon.

Safeone

John, as a long time member of the ‘black dog’ club it passes but, like a storm, when you are in it the passing is slow. Remember you are important and take time for yourself when you have to as too much becoming way too much is very damaging.

Redoubt

safeman wrote
This is a Milner List 3 Redoubt. It was a 1919 development of the previous Model but with Round Bolts, and extremely heavily constructed lockcase with angle frame 3½“ x 3½” plus ½“ door plate. The body thickness is ¼” increasing in line with the safe dimensions for fall protection to 5/16″.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23402[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]23403[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]23404[/ATTACH]

Thanks for that John.
Much appreciated.
Its a lovely little safe.

[unknown]

safeman

Safeone wrote
John, as a long time member of the ‘black dog’ club it passes but, like a storm, when you are in it the passing is slow. Remember you are important and take time for yourself when you have to as too much becoming way too much is very damaging.

I think it’s all down to old age which I suppose is something for which I should be grateful. I’m being very well cared for and lucky to still be at home. Your words are much appreciated. “Where’s your stiff upper lip John? ” “ Just above my weak quivering jaw.” I’m actually feeling a bit brighter today. Thank you again and I hope things are improving in your world.

John.

[unknown]

Huw Eastwood

Redoubt wrote
Thanks for the brochures Huw

Love the Chubb Strong room Brochures with the images of the Foundry.

Redoubt, for more big chubb and tann doors it’s worth a look on the wonders of world engineering site- if you search for the oddly titled ‘romance of the safe deposit’ there’s a 7 or 8 page feature under the ‘romance of’ series on a few of the famous 25 and 30 ton doors from the 1930s, with black and white photos- worth a look if you haven’t seen it 👍
You might have to dig around though as from memory it wasn’t that easy to find.

[unknown]

safeman

Huw Eastwood wrote
Redoubt, for more big chubb and tann doors it’s worth a look on the wonders of world engineering site- if you search for the oddly titled ‘romance of the safe deposit’ there’s a 7 or 8 page feature under the ‘romance of’ series on a few of the famous 25 and 30 ton doors from the 1930s, with black and white photos- worth a look if you haven’t seen it 👍
You might have to dig around though as from memory it wasn’t that easy to find.

Hello Huw, nobody more surprised than me to find the site right away.

The Author has some unusual interpretations of the technical information given to him.

Turning to other Deposits mentioned of course I’m very familiar with Chancery Lane Deposit and the adjoining London Silver Vaults. The National Safe Deposit in Victoria however is unusual in the extreme.

[unknown]

Huw Eastwood

Hiya John, yes there was definitely confusion in the text and I think from memory some ridiculous comparisons or scenarios were made as well, but that’s typical journalism I suppose.

The articles were I think from the late 1930s or early 40s, so I’d imagine information on such sensitive installations was scarce back then which probably didn’t help.

Cheers for posting that on the National deposit centre. What an incredibly advanced installation for the late 1870s.
I’d love to see pictures of the blank slab doors or the hydraulics if any have survived.

Daniel John

Hi Gary

Any chance on seeing more pages of your Tann Catalogue? I’d love to, as I have a number of Tann items in my collection.

Regards

Daniel

safeman

Daniel John wrote
Hi Gary

Any chance on seeing more pages of your Tann Catalogue? I’d love to, as I have a number of Tann items in my collection.

Regards

Daniel

While I fully understand the desire of Lock Aficionados to collect such literature it may be possible for safe collectors to acquire more detail elsewhere.
If you have specific Tann Safes in mind and can provide all the detail, numbers etc., including photographs of the door both open and ajar, I might well be able to provide more information to enhance your appreciation of Tann’s work including dates of manufacture, and how many made.
You are probably aware that there were 2 safemakers under Tann name - John Tann Reliance and R Tann Defiance.

[unknown]

Redoubt

Huw Eastwood wrote
Redoubt, for more big chubb and tann doors it’s worth a look on the wonders of world engineering site- if you search for the oddly titled ‘romance of the safe deposit’ there’s a 7 or 8 page feature under the ‘romance of’ series on a few of the famous 25 and 30 ton doors from the 1930s, with black and white photos- worth a look if you haven’t seen it 👍
You might have to dig around though as from memory it wasn’t that easy to find.

Thanks for this Huw.
Some great images of s some beautiful doors.
Unbelievable amounts of materials they used to build the vaults back in those days as well.

[unknown]

Gary Stephenson

Pictures of the old Tann literature.

Redoubt

Great stuff Gary

I love this old literature and pictures.

Tannsteel sounds fantastic.

Huw Eastwood

Cheers for these Gary- I’m still kicking myself over that Tann book but I’m supposed to be selling everything off and not adding to it! Hope it went to a good home cheers mate

safeman

Huw Eastwood wrote
Cheers for these Gary- I’m still kicking myself over that Tann book but I’m supposed to be selling everything off and not adding to it! Hope it went to a good home cheers mate

Greetings Huw,

Here’s something that escaped the Tann Brochure.

This was a Packed Lance Test on a Tann 450 Anti-Lance Door on behalf of the Clydesdale Bank in Glasgow. Just like earlier Tannsteel tests the British Oxygen Company provided the equipment.

The Lance uses phenomenal amounts of Oxygen and in preference to linking up a number of cylinders they provided a lorry mounted horizontal large capacity tank and two operatives. While one - suitably protected, used the lance the second man prepared and lit a second lance to allow an uninterrupted process.

A template/shield gave little protection and there had to be a break to allow his recovery from Hyperthermia. First impressions were the vast amount of smoke created.

The incorporation of solid carbon within the protection gave the required results. The secondary outcome was to give a clear indication of the limitations of the illegitimate use of similar equipment in such circumstances.

[unknown]

Gary Stephenson

Huw, yes it went to a safeman/collector.

John, I remember watching a lance test at Chubb on a vault door section, and in about 30 seconds the room was so full of dense smoke it would have made further working without ventilation impossible

« Previous Page Next Page »