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Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:37 am
by bitbuster
Went to an on-line auction site to inspect some household items i'm considering bidding on. Not bidding on this item but there was a Cole file cabinet with a small "safe" behind a key-lock door. I was given the key to the door but was not given the safe combo. I took out the middle file drawer and found a 6 digit number and then took the decoding numbers and got the combo to the safe. Opened the safe within 1 minute. This is no secret as many other members know where to look and have the decode numbers. These file cabinets were made in the '60s-'70s. Entire cabinet is made of pressed sheet metal and the safe is very low security and meant only for papers and not fireproof. The decoding trick only works if the combo is original from factory. I have yet to encounter one whose combo has ever been changed.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:19 pm
by bitbuster

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:34 pm
by pmaxey83
Is that floral paper on top a security feature?

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:16 pm
by bitbuster
yes, it's so gaudy that it will keep thieves away.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:29 am
by Bobbyd518
I know this is an old post but I'm hoping someone can still help. I have an old Cole cabinet/shelf and of course do not have the safe combo. I did locate what I believe is the 6 digit decoder number but have no idea how this number corresponds to the combination. Any input? Thanks in advance.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:58 am
by bitbuster
Got this at auction Wednesday night. The number you have must be decoded to get safe combo. My safe also has the 6-digit numbers which I decoded to get the combo. The safe was also open and I could have just used the peephole to get combo but I like using the decode 'trick'. Using the number decode 'trick' will only work if the combo HAS NOT been changed since leaving the factory. These safe/file cabinets were made from post-WWII to late '60s and maybe into early '70s.
http://imgur.com/a/P8Lwz

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:24 am
by Bobbyd518
Thanks for the response. How do you decode the numbers or do the decoder trick?

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:59 am
by bitbuster
Bobbyd518 wrote:Thanks for the response. How do you decode the numbers or do the decoder trick?

You will 1st need to establish yourself on this forum. Introduce yourself .

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:36 am
by Bobbyd518
Okay... Well I'm Bobby nice to meet you.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 1:53 pm
by bitbuster
File cabinet similar to a Cole but the tiny locks are different. Cole has 3 wheels and a driver while the Challenger has 2 wheels. Dial sequence is also different pertaining to direction.
http://imgur.com/a/m1uRz

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:39 pm
by bitbuster
Just sold both pictured file safes to 1 buyer. Here's the kicker.......the Cole safe would NOT open when showing the items. He bought it anyway. Can't count how many times I opened it in the past few days and with no problems.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:58 am
by Bobbyd518
Here's a pic of my Cole.

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 2:37 pm
by Jim 1950
This is my first time here. I have two old file cabinets with Cole combination locks. One has N-302185 written behind a drawer and I have the combination, 89 19 34. The other cabinet has N-551948 written behind a drawer. Is there a way to get the combination from that number? It looks like the one posted by Bobbyd518. Thanks, Jim

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 5:23 pm
by Jim 1950
Cole3.jpg
Cole2.jpg
Cole1.jpg


These are pictures of the Cole cabinet. Is there a decoder for the number written behind a drawer?
Thanks
Jim

Re: Cole file cabinet with safe

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 11:11 am
by jharveee
Try 52-17-59?
I don't know about decoding. Just changed the order and added and subtracted numbers based on the way the other example combo worked.
If that made any sense?