The museum in the Tann Safe factory at Borehamwood exhibited 41 safes from dates between the 1790’s and 1938. It was dismantled in 1990 with the merging of the Company into Rosengrens. Unfortunately it was never photographed but the earlier and smaller museum from which it developed in 1985 was recorded, a section of which is pictured here.
The concept of having a Museum of safes came originally from J.W.Levy, the largest safe distributor in the UK and the first organisation to publish a Safe Ratings List as part of their service to the Insurance Industry and to the ABIS in particular. In addition, a small collection of about 8 safes was installed in the basement of the Levy showrooms at Holborn Circus with a view to demonstrating to insurers and security professionals the weaknesses of some of the earlier forms of construction of bodies, doors, and lockwork.
It was from this concept that the first and more elaborate Museum was assembled at the Tann factory in 1985 when Levys became part of that Company and the City offices closed. A fully illustrated and descriptive piece on the Museum is included in the ‘safeman’ website and can be accessed directly thought the following link.
http://www.safeman.org.uk/safemuseum.htm
