Old safe, new manipulator :-)
Not long after we got it, before the AllExperts website closed, someone there took a look at a few pictures of the safe and provided some information. They said that the safe was distributed by Hall-Marvin Co., and manufactured by Schwab, likely around the 1920s (1915-1935). They also narrowed down the list of possible locks that would be on it.
I've been slowly reading/re-reading The National Locksmith Guide to Manipulation, and the lock feels like it's a two wheel (with driver). The dial binds up when the handle is turned, and I was unable to find a drop-in point, so I'm working under the assumption that it's a straight-in fence. As I turn the dial while applying pressure on the handle, I don't find any false gates. There's just one spot where I can feel the fence drop in, and the drive cam binds. I can wiggle the dial within the 3 number range between where it drops -- it drops in at 85 when turning the dial left and 88 when turning right.
It's my understanding that my next step should be to measure the penetration of the fence into the wheel pack by how much motion there is on the handle. The National Locksmith Guide has designs for a tool to build to help in this measurement. This is where I diverged from the book, partly out of time constraints, and partly just to see if it worked. I attached a laser pointer to the handle (parallel with), and pointed it at a wall about six feet away. On the wall, I attached a yard stick so that I could measure inches. I think proceeded to turn the dial AWL, park the wheel pack at every 2.5 steps, then rotated right to the drop in point, turned the handle, and measured the laser pointer on the wall. I realized there was some slippage in the laser pointer, so before each measurement I'd confirm that it was pointed at the same place on the yardstick to start, before turning the handle. The start to finish movement of the laser was about 18 inches, just to give you some idea of magnitude. I went through the dial once, but my measurements were all within about an inch of each other (+/- 5%). At this point I realized I might be barking up the wrong tree and maybe should get some help.
Am I completely on the wrong track here? If the range where I can feel the fence drop in is between 85-88, where should I be testing the handle? Is my laser idea completely ludicrous or have others used similar? Is +/- 5% actually the range I'm looking for and I should true up laser attachment and re-measure even more carefully?
Any help is much much appreciated. If/when I get this open, I'll post a shot of what's in there!