Herring & Co New Patent Champion

Dave

I recently bought a safe and on the inside of the door it had a wooden placard the said New Patent Champion PTD Dec 12 1871. I am having problems getting the combination to work. I think the cylinder plates are dirty as I am dialing in the last numbers to align the grooves previously dialed number plates begin to move ever so slighty misaligning the grooves for the lever to fall in. I was interested to see if anyone had any information on this kind of safe with a Dexter lock so I can clean it and use the safe, maybe even change the combination. How do you clean and with what to let all the cylinder plates move freely not affecting the other plates that have been set? I have pics of the Dexter lock, I tried to attach to this thread.

Dean Nickel

I would suggest that you find a safe tech to look at the lock for a clean and lube. Many larger lock shops would be where I would look as they would have one on staff or call around to find a shop that you can drop it off to have the service done as this will save you money as they don’t have to drive out to you.

If the door lifts off that will save you some moving of the box.

Doug MacQueen

The problem is usually the isolator washers separating the wheels. They have locating tabs which must fit very snug on the wheel post. Their function is to prevent any rotation of the wheels that have already been aligned. Heavy use can cause wear on the tabs and the wheels will move slightly out of alignment. This can be cured by carefully swaging them with a tiny punch and hammer to spread and widen the tabs. Over doing it will then require careful filing to fit. Doug

Dave

halflock and Doug,
Thanks for the assistance. I will give it a try.
Dave