ID Safe

Aug 30, 2006 Last reply: 19 years ago 2 Replies
D

I acquired an old safe. It appears to have been painted (black) over, hiding the mfgr name. From the inside plate, I made out: PAT DEC 28 85, JUNE 29 87, OCT 11 87, REV 1 87. The safe measures (~feet) 2.5 H (including cast wheels), 1.5 D, 2 W. The safe has 3 bolts; 2 on the opening side of door, 1 on the hinged side. The interesting part is that there is no handle to unlock the bolts, only the combination dial on the door. I'm curious as to the mfgr, and any ideas on how the mechanism functions (clockspring?) with only a dial.



Thanks, Dan



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M

getting a brand name would require 2 things.. someone with knowledge of the old safes and a GOOD picture of both the hinges and the dial.. NOT posted here..

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has a public section.. might post the pictures somewhere, and post a note at Clearstar needing help id'ing the safe as to brand..

you run the combo, and as you make the LAST turn of the dial it pulls the 2 bolts back on the door side.. I would imagine the hinge side bolt is fixed.. no clockwork mechanism.

--Shiva--

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S

Not really enough info. Link to a picture of it or alternately try using thinner etc to strip the paint. Off the shelf solvents will often remove cheap spray paint but not factory paint.

Not all that unusual, although a bit more so when the locking mechanisms bolt isn't the only one securing the door.

The final turn of the dial usually to the right retracts the lock bolt which in turn allows the bolts that actually keep the door shut to retract under spring pressure or the bolts linkage is directly connected to the lock bolt and is actuated by the final turn of the dial, more reliable since a broken or fatigued spring won't cause a lockout. If it's open there is probably an inner panel you can remove to get to the linkage but you should probably not mess with the back cover on the lock itself. If you poke around in it at all make SURE that it still unlocks correctly EVERY TIME before you shut the door.

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