Meilink safe Help

[Tim Moisio]

Hello form Northeast Ohio. My buddy has two old safes no combo. I have been studying manipulation on youtube but will need guidance i am sure.
If I can open them I can have one.
Meilink Safe company safes. Here is pics of safe. When I turn handle there is no drag on dial. Does this mean this not a straight tailpiece
Need some guidance. Thanks. Direction for manipulating for a newbie greatly appreciated

[MartinHewitt]

I can't find a Meilink that is looking like that. Maybe something relabeled? York and Barnes look like that. Because of the star index marker I guess it is an S&G lock. You should in this case be able to feel two contact points and manipulate it quite normally. Dialing is 4L-3R-2L-R if it is a 3-wheel lock. The spring in these locks can be very weak and so will be the contact points. If you provide the patent information on the dial it might help to guess a bit better the type of lock.

[Tim Moisio]

I can't find a Meilink that is looking like that. Maybe something relabeled? York and Barnes look like that. Because of the star index marker I guess it is an S&G lock. You should in this case be able to feel two contact points and manipulate it quite normally. Dialing is 4L-3R-2L-R if it is a 3-wheel lock. The spring in these locks can be very weak and so will be the contact points. If you provide the patent information on the dial it might help to guess a bit better the type of lock.

Martin, Thanks for your patience. Finding this fun. At 68 looking for another hobby, particularly winter months here in Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie.
Patent date is July 2 1907 Oct 13 1908. Just cant feel any contact points. You may be correct weak spring.
When I turn handle should dial be binding and hard to turn? Nothing in my case.
Cant seem to find any schematics of this style lock on net. Not sure how it is working.
Many S&G, but none with handle to open. Same principle?

Thanks for your help

[Hoarder]

Kinda resembles a J. Baum safe with the curves and acorns. Lock dial looks Yale to me... Turn the dial 6 times counter clockwise and stop. Then, turn the dial slowly and consistently 6 times clockwise and count the "bumps". Might take several times for consistent results. How many?

[Visitor]

No it's not direct drive, the lock has a bolt that once withdrawn will allow the handle mechanism to move.

If time is not an issue you might manipulate it open for your first experience but prepare for it go take a very long time depending on your abity to pick it up (I'm saying this might take you months or years to learn manipulation on going from what you've already said).

You need to read up on feeling contact points.

Not really the right terminology to suggest a straight tail piece on combo locks, you're referring to direct drive amongst other terms but as I say this isn't a direct drive.

I agree with hoarder, it looks like a yale dial but we need better pictures and how many wheels it has, it could be something totally different to your average 3 wheel s&g lock and it could be a lot harder or indeed easier to open than one.

That all said it could be anything behind that dial if the lock or dial has been updated or renewed at some stage for any reason.

The easier, quicker and sure fire way is to drill and scope but that's the box opener in me coming out.

Lastly, I don't really watch YouTube so I'm not so sure it's going to teach you manipulation too well depending on who you're watching but i was once asked to proof read an article by deviant ollam on safe manipulation which I thought would be good for a noob to understand what you're trying to accomplish, it might be worth printing that out for a read if it's still out there somewhere.

[MartinHewitt]

I really can't find a patent for the two dates. The star was AFAIK used only by S&G as index marker and it does not look very Baumish to me. If you get two contact points it should manipulate all basically the same. If you get one contact point and gear sounds, it's a Yale. In any case counting the wheels and knowing their number is very important!

Visitor, there have been quite a few videos about manipulation lately, even an 8-episodes series. So there is really a lot for people who prefer video material.

[Tim Moisio]

Thanks all for comments. I will try what was suggested, more research, take more photos and give up date. Just hate to drill, yet that maybe necessary.

[MartinHewitt]

It only depends on you if it is necessary!

[MartinHewitt]

I expect something like this without the fancy decoration:
viewtopic.php?f=100&t=11840&p=114988&hilit=sargent#p114988

[Tim Moisio]

I expect something like this without the fancy decoration:
viewtopic.php?f=100&t=11840&p=114988&hilit=sargent#p114988

Thanks!. That post helps greatly. Now I have a better visual and a possible starting point.

[Tim Moisio]

Update: Worked many hours the last 4-5 weeks after watching videos, barely finding right contact point, graphing and re-graphing. RCP is very weak. Just not making progress. I have a safe guy coming Saturday to either manipulate or drill and scope.
Will post pictures when done.

[gearhead92]

Any updates on resolution to this lock or pictures? Would love to know details since I recently bought a safe with this exact dial and I'm trying to manipulate as well!

[MartinHewitt]

He was last here March 2021. I don't think we will ever know.

Interesting find! This one indeed looks similar to yours, but hinges are different and most of all the distance handle/dial. The lock linked by me doesn't show a change in dial turning behavior when the handle is turned.