Dimmy, your wonderful old John Tann Reliance safe was probably made in the early 1860’s just after Edward Tann died and his son John set about modernising the company. There will pobably be a serial number stamped into the top moving bolt which might be in the region of 1150. Unfortunately the records of Tann numbers around this time have long disappeared but I have seen similar safes to yours from Australia with similar numbers.
John Tann set up a number of agents including Brush & MacDonnell Sydney, A. Abrahams Adelaide, and A.M Hertzberg Brisbane. They also participated in the Sydney Exhibition of 1879.
I will attach one or two images which may prove to be of interest. If you wish to learn the full history of the Tann company you might have a look at my Safeman website under the heading of Edward Tann & Sons.
http://www.safeman.org.uk
The safe looks as if it is in pretty good condition as it stands and would probably need no more than a wash down and a coat of
semi-matt varnish.
It is probably a No.2 quality which would have a body of ¼″ wrought iron plate and a door ‘made-up’ to about 1″ thickness by having ⅛″ outer and inner plates sandwiched over bar iron outer frame and spacers.
A great piece of Industial Archaeological history.
