Lets redo another safe!
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:40 pm
I started another safe project and will share the the challenges in this thread. In the last few threads I waited till the project was almost done and stuffed it all in a small number of posts, I am going to do it a little differently this time. It takes a lot of time to write up text and insert pictures so I will make shorter posts as the safe progresses. I hope to keep this safe on the fast track but with the days getting shorter, there are a lot of other things that need to get done before winter sets in. The action in safe sections on several forums have been really quiet lately so I will try and stir up some action here.
With several safes sitting in the wings and two that I really want to do bad, the last thing I needed was another safe. But when this one turned up on Craigslist at a very reasonable price and It was only 30 miles from home, I couldn't refuse. It was still in use, hidden in a closet in a nice storage building stuffed to the gills with money, jewelry, and legal papers. I still wasn't sure who made it as all it said was Manganese Steel Money Chest.
Although it was showing it's age, the safe was different than any other I had seen and I fell in love with it. Complete with the time lock and most of the original artwork, I wouldn't have to be searching for parts for this one. After some minor negotiations, a deal was struck. I returned a few days later with the trailer to collect my prize. The seller's son was there with a neighbor's fork lift to help load. Real easy this time.
My uncle tagged along on this junk run. I had mentioned to him that there was also a 1937 McCormick Deering Farmall F12 for sale so we ended up with a full trailer after he bought it. The load drew a lot of attention on the way home with one semi driver darn near dislocating a disk while rubbernecking and giving a thumbs up while I was stopped by an intersection checking the load. I appreciated his enthusiasm!
Once home in the shop and after some investigation, it turns out this is quite a safe. Diagnosed as a National Safe and Lock Company of Cleveland, Ohio lug door bank chest on the antique-locks forum, it seems to be an uncommon safe. I have not been able to find much information on National or this model and only one picture of another safe like it. Next time we will start looking at some unique features that National used on this safe. Stay tuned.
With several safes sitting in the wings and two that I really want to do bad, the last thing I needed was another safe. But when this one turned up on Craigslist at a very reasonable price and It was only 30 miles from home, I couldn't refuse. It was still in use, hidden in a closet in a nice storage building stuffed to the gills with money, jewelry, and legal papers. I still wasn't sure who made it as all it said was Manganese Steel Money Chest.
Although it was showing it's age, the safe was different than any other I had seen and I fell in love with it. Complete with the time lock and most of the original artwork, I wouldn't have to be searching for parts for this one. After some minor negotiations, a deal was struck. I returned a few days later with the trailer to collect my prize. The seller's son was there with a neighbor's fork lift to help load. Real easy this time.
My uncle tagged along on this junk run. I had mentioned to him that there was also a 1937 McCormick Deering Farmall F12 for sale so we ended up with a full trailer after he bought it. The load drew a lot of attention on the way home with one semi driver darn near dislocating a disk while rubbernecking and giving a thumbs up while I was stopped by an intersection checking the load. I appreciated his enthusiasm!
Once home in the shop and after some investigation, it turns out this is quite a safe. Diagnosed as a National Safe and Lock Company of Cleveland, Ohio lug door bank chest on the antique-locks forum, it seems to be an uncommon safe. I have not been able to find much information on National or this model and only one picture of another safe like it. Next time we will start looking at some unique features that National used on this safe. Stay tuned.