Like the crazy I am... I bid successfully on this old safe that hasn't been opened because the combination is long since missing. Now what do I do with it ha ha ha.... open it? Resell it as is, restore it.... make it into a bird cage?? :-) HELP! Pretty cool looking I think
Should I touch it up a bit?
Really like to old coloring
I don't know if I ever want to open it. It seems so cool to let your imagination run wild as to what may be inside....
I want to stop and rust but I do like the way it looks. I need someone to guide me on this one so that I don't ruin it!
In my estate sales, we call this a boat anchor because it doesn't unlock. However, I would see if a locksmith could open it. Safes are cool things to have! You could always use it for storage. It looks pinkish, is that true?.
Call it what you will Pamela knott, and I am not sure why you troll posts to make negative comments (I look at a few of your comments elsewhere). What truly matters is that I like it and will have fun doing something with it.... and besides I like to fish, ha ha ha! But you have a wonderful day anyway, I truly mean that!
Can you tell at all if something is inside? I just had a idea if it was mine I would try to get it open and if I did I would put dirt inside and plant some kind of flowering vine and use it as yard art.Oh my head now is full of ideas what I would do. :)(And what's inside). lol
@Redeemwood I would somehow open it, too. If you can't - perhaps, a welder might be able to do so. Then, if you refurbish, it would make a cute little cabinet or accent "table" on wheels for books to place on a shelf inside, and a darling lamp on the top, or a vase...or even a cushion as a storage bin/ottoman of sorts.
I would look up M.H King to see who it might have been. Also there's a # on the top that looks like 655,which I would think it was labeled in archive somewhere. J.Baum safe & lock co. In Cincinnati O. to see what era this might have been. I wouldn't do anything until i found out all the info that I could on it. It's a nice piece of furn for show and a communication starter for one thing.
Why not start a contest with the grand kids? The first one to open it gets.... Make a butcher block for the top of it and you have a truly one-of-a-kind side table. It is an amazing piece and I would have been over the moon to bid on this and actually get it! You are very blessed with this piece of history.
I wouldn't change the outside at all, take it to a body shop and have a few coats of clear sprayed on it, or you can do it yourself with a clear lacquer. It will stop the rust and keep it looking just like it is for many years.
I put a call into a safecracker and am waiting his response. I don't want to drill and damage the safe so I am hoping that they can do the old stethoscope safecracking technique.... :)
I would try to remove some or all of the pink, use some sealer to stop the rust and make an end table out of it. What a wonderful conversation piece! More than likely it is empty, but the mystery would remain! You could check with a locksmith, but the cost might keep me from opening it, plus loving the thoughts and conversations it would spur!
As a family genealogist @Redeemwood I would love to know the history of the safe!! Was it in a bank that was robbed? Was it in a business? Might find some interesting tidbits to share with visitors besides just seeing what is inside!!
I would have to know what was in it! Although I did get burnt purposely once with a jewelry box with secret compartment lol but it was fun! Id find a old fashioned thief, lol. Then Id close it back up and sell it to some one else with a curious nature! Good luck!
It is definitely a conversation piece. I wouldn't do anything but clean it. If you can get a locksmith to open it that would be awesome. You could possibly have the lock reworked and store pistols and ammo in it.
Hello: I take rusty tools etc. and clean off any loose rust and wire brush them. I use red transmission fluid heavily and then rub it down untill just the shine is there. Non oily and will not rust. As for opening the safe, find a local rehabilitated safe cracker...Good luck..Mike aka Pop
I really hope you do try to find out the safe's history then go from there. If not do get a safe cracker and go for it. Best of luck to you, keep us all posted :)
Not sure what you mean abut a bird cage, hopefully not one you intend to put a bird in. Those metals are dangerous and would kill a bird, It would be to heavy for a cage anyhow, but I may not be following the train of thought you are. I love it, as is, and would maybe use it as a side table. Dont think I would cut into it, but maybe go to a lock smith for this type of thing,
Can it be opened by removing hingrs, etc. Clean it up somewhat and you could put shelves inside. Might be surprised at what is inside. New treasure. If you do open it, let us know what you found
I would take it.. Tell my kids we inherited it and not open it at all. Boy would they go nuts trying to figure out whats inside. You can drill a hole and put a camera inside to see what's there.
I don't think I would clean it up too much. Maybe lightly use some steel wool to get the worst of the rust, but leave the worn look and maybe wax over it. I would want to retain the original paint on it. But DEFINITELY open it. There may be some antique papers in there you could display as well.
Gee, we have a safe with the same provenance. Ours was owned by a coin dealer, and no combination. Do you blow it open, sell as is, or I like the idea of a table base!!!
Found this info online. I think it would be beautiful in its patina'd condition. Just wax it really well pop a wood top on it and use it as a table lamp or a entry table. Beautiful find. J. BAUM SAFE & LOCK COMPANY (1916 to mid-1920’s), Cincinnati, OH.
1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis – Participant – Dept. D., Group 41, #0827, won a “grand prize” for their display at the exposition, (NOT any particular safe).
The J. Baum Safe & Lock was organized May 26th 1916 to succeed the Baum Safe Company, established in 1893 to succeed the Warth-Baum Safe & Lock Company. J. Baum bought out all Warth’s interests in the company in 1903. Warth-Baum Safe & Lock Company was organized around 1870. The predecessor company was the Warth Safe & Vault Company.
It was reorganized AFTER the founders death December 17, 1915 to incorporate and honor his name.
However, my recent research indicates that the company WAS doing business as "J. Baum Safe & Lock" prior to the 1916 date. It may simply be that the company had NOT "Incorporated" until that date!
At a minimum WHAT we do know is that your safe would have been built AFTER the 1908 "patent" date, and before the company closed in the mid 1920's. What we need to do now is to try to narrow this date down somewhat for you.
The "A. F. Anderson & Co., Los Angeles" was probably just a distributor or sales agent.
Omigosh, curiosity would kill me! Get a locksmith to open it posthaste. :) Even if it's empty, it now has a function. I wouldn't do too much with it; just clean it up, don't mess with the vintage finish, maybe wax over it? I love it!
A professional locksmith can open a safe, without doing any damage. I would then cut a stencil for the lettering and refinish it. and reapply the lettering. ( I worked in a 100 year old company where a safe hadn't been opened in 25 years a a Norlock employee opened it, reset the combination and wrote it down for us.)
Definitely open it before selling it. Old safes often had tons of asbestos in the walls, so be careful if you think you can hammer it open. Not! It is probably worth the locksmith drilling it and then the new owner can have a new combo put in it if they want to. My Dad was a locksmith for over 60 years and when he passed we had several old safes to deal with. One had old ammo in it, so you just never know.... Just be careful, as you never know what lurks in old locked safes.... :)
I would keep it the way it is and see what a locksmith would cost to open it. It would drive me crazy wondering if anything was in it and that if there was if it was worth anything. I would definitely keep it in this antique condition. Other than waxing it with a
I would be trying to find a way to open it, like a locksmith. The curiosity would get the best of me. IMO I would probably keep it the way it is, after a good cleaning, perhaps a special wax to highlight it's vintage stage. Would make a good conversation piece with a piece of glass or mirror covering the top.
I'd have to get it opened! LOL I would probably wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any loose dust, etc. and then seal it to keep it from rusting further. If you love the looks of it as is, why refinish it? If it's antique, may be best to just wax it rather than putting on some sort of poly coat.
we have the same safe, and to get it open you will need a stick of dynamite. there is no easy way to do it for the way they were made back in the day! Good luck!!
Have you given it a good topple to see if it sounds like it contains anything? I would somehow get it open without causing any damage, then jusy clean and wax it......it's beautiful. Did you pay a ton for it? Would love to get my hands on a piece like that at an auction!
I would sand blast it then ponder what I do ..probably look up safes on the internet and copy the one I like...cool I will be happy to buy it..cheap of course lol
Maybe it was taken out of service properly. Try turning the dial to the left about 4 times and stop on '50' then turn it back slowly and you might feel it 'drop in' at somewhere between 25 and 75. Continue to the right to open.
If that doesn't work but you feel a bump or something between those two numbers (25 and 75) rock the dial slightly on each side of the 'bump' and it might drop in. Continue right to open.
If that doesn't work. Try it again by turning to the right about 4 times again stopping on 50. Turn back toward 75 to 25 trying to feel the 'bump'. If it stops it's probably unlocked.
You could paint is but I'd just clean it up unless I wanted to actually restore it with the original color and lettering.
@Jeff Hawkins I will try that Jeff. Is that the standard way of taking a safe out of service? I had never heard that but then I don't know anything about safes.
I think it's a really cool piece. I'd try to clean up a bit and seal with poly. I would def. try to find a locksmith or search your area for someone that restores items such as this and they may be able to help get it unlocked without a lot of damage. Good luck with it.
You could Google this for images and how to's on opening it.I would have to open it!!May contain some piece of priceless memorabalia,directions to where Jimmy Hoffa's body is,etc.LOL
yes try to get it open!! also I would not mess it up with paint, just clean up ...put glass on top & save it until open....old safe maybe worth a few...cents... either way it a neet piece.... do try to open it some how check it out on line also
First Who was M H KING ? Then I would Find someone who can open it, and then and only after being sure that there is no Historic Value to this would I ever Dream of Changing it in any way.
OH MY! Full of gold coins I am sure! Please keep us informed of what you find inside. Somewhere on the outside of the safe there is an ID number. Get that number and call the manufacturer; they will send you a form to fill out and then they will give you the combination. Hubby bought a "Sentury" safe and this is how he got it opened. He still uses it. If it is an old one, you can find a locksmith that deals in this type of work.
Open it...heard about a month ago a man bought a safe in a storage auction and was going to just throw it away but decided to pry it open first and it was filled with old cash! (Sorry don't remember exact amount)
we had such a safe given to us without the combination.. looked almost like the one above.. we had a friend who is a locksmith get it open and put in a new combination..and we had a safe.. It was so danged heavy we had to keep it in the garage on the cement floor as was too heavy for the house...but we did find a couple valuables in it when it was opened...
M. H. King was possible the same person who founded King's Discount Stores in 1915 in Burley, Idaho and has 26 stores in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. It looks to be a portable floor safe, probably late 1800's or early 1900's.
Did you ever get it home? They are extremely heavy and that's usually a story in itself!! It usually takes a wrecker to get it home. And the wheels don't turn, only roll back and forth. I wonder why they did that?
@Redeemwood I take it the former owner left an actual combination on it then. Sorry the other didn't work but that is a nice enough safe to have it opened and repaired professionally.
@Lucy Fraser ha ha ha, I think I have almost worn the dial out. I actually wrote down some numbers that I thought I could feel.... I am having a blast with this... even if it is empty its worth all the fun!
@Redeemwood Well Happy Birthday early. Maybe it will have a nice birthday present in it for you. With my luck it would have counterfeit money. Lol! Good Luck.
Ok!!! The NEW scheduled day of Safe Cracking is this Friday April 25th starting at 9am Mountain Standard Time. I have no idea how long it will take or if it will open because he is a self described "Old fashioned touch and feel" safe cracker... Loving it!!
The suspence is killing me! Open it, not open it, open it, not open it. OPEN IT! If you lived in Missouri, I know a great lock smith that could open it for you.
The safe cracker was unsuccessful..... :( apparently a tumbler inside may be broken or something.... sorry folks but I am going in from the back.....I cant wait any longer.... stand back everyone!!
Ok! I got it open (with some minor damage to the back side) I disassembled the tumbler and figured out the combination (that took me a couple hours as I am not a safe cracker). Nothing inside and the wood shelves were a little rough and the keyed door was without a key. I think I am going to refinish the interior with new wood and (one drawer and the metal keyed door are in good shape). This will probably be a great winter project,,,unless I just cant leave it alone that long :)
I love the inside color! Your idea of cutting off the front 4" so the whole front could hang on a wall would be so cool! One of a kind, for sure! But how do cut something like this? And how do you hang something like this?
@Redeemwood What a cool ending....Or beginning. And as someone mentioned what a great story to be passed down. Maybe you can write about it all your feelings the excitement all the things you imagined could be in it, etc. I dont know what you paid but the entertainment value alone, seems worth it! Thank you soo much for taking me on the journey with you. Let me know how it ends up looking so many possibilities. I think were it me I would find some paint to match interior red, trim it out just like it is in a yellow taping off the name in the front to leave it exactly as it is even the color around it. Id use it as a table leaving it so it opens as a conversation piece, leaving the story written inside of it.
Blessings! Lucy
@Lucy Fraser I like that in life there is never an ending, only the beginning of a new adventure.... the same is true with the life of this old safe, it will soon embark on a whole new adventure!
Too bad there was nothing in it but I still love it! The idea to cut all but 4" and make a wall hanging is definitely cool--but I think if save that genius idea for a less antique one. Maybe even a new one made to look antique & chippy. This one has history, the inside is so cool and would look fab refinished. I'm sticking with the table idea because it'll preserve the safe itself. Maybe add a beautifully stained and rough hewn wood top for a rustic look, or a glass top suspended about an inch up with some kind of risers--like gear pieces, and it'll become industrial chic. Either way works to me!!
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Your comment...
hve a locksmith open it you may find a treasue in it
In my estate sales, we call this a boat anchor because it doesn't unlock. However, I would see if a locksmith could open it. Safes are cool things to have! You could always use it for storage. It looks pinkish, is that true?.
Call it what you will Pamela knott, and I am not sure why you troll posts to make negative comments (I look at a few of your comments elsewhere). What truly matters is that I like it and will have fun doing something with it.... and besides I like to fish, ha ha ha! But you have a wonderful day anyway, I truly mean that!
pam, your cool, ignore the bully
Can you tell at all if something is inside? I just had a idea if it was mine I would try to get it open and if I did I would put dirt inside and plant some kind of flowering vine and use it as yard art.Oh my head now is full of ideas what I would do. :)(And what's inside). lol
@Redeemwood I would somehow open it, too. If you can't - perhaps, a welder might be able to do so. Then, if you refurbish, it would make a cute little cabinet or accent "table" on wheels for books to place on a shelf inside, and a darling lamp on the top, or a vase...or even a cushion as a storage bin/ottoman of sorts.
I would look up M.H King to see who it might have been. Also there's a # on the top that looks like 655,which I would think it was labeled in archive somewhere. J.Baum safe & lock co. In Cincinnati O. to see what era this might have been. I wouldn't do anything until i found out all the info that I could on it. It's a nice piece of furn for show and a communication starter for one thing.
Why not start a contest with the grand kids? The first one to open it gets.... Make a butcher block for the top of it and you have a truly one-of-a-kind side table. It is an amazing piece and I would have been over the moon to bid on this and actually get it! You are very blessed with this piece of history.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it,....lol
I wouldn't change the outside at all, take it to a body shop and have a few coats of clear sprayed on it, or you can do it yourself with a clear lacquer. It will stop the rust and keep it looking just like it is for many years.
I love the safe! I would def try to open it! Restore it , then turn it into a mini bar! Let's us know your outcome!
I put a call into a safecracker and am waiting his response. I don't want to drill and damage the safe so I am hoping that they can do the old stethoscope safecracking technique.... :)
@Redeemwood You know a safecracker? Cool!
I would try to remove some or all of the pink, use some sealer to stop the rust and make an end table out of it. What a wonderful conversation piece! More than likely it is empty, but the mystery would remain! You could check with a locksmith, but the cost might keep me from opening it, plus loving the thoughts and conversations it would spur!
As a family genealogist @Redeemwood I would love to know the history of the safe!! Was it in a bank that was robbed? Was it in a business? Might find some interesting tidbits to share with visitors besides just seeing what is inside!!
I would have to know what was in it! Although I did get burnt purposely once with a jewelry box with secret compartment lol but it was fun! Id find a old fashioned thief, lol. Then Id close it back up and sell it to some one else with a curious nature! Good luck!
It is definitely a conversation piece. I wouldn't do anything but clean it. If you can get a locksmith to open it that would be awesome. You could possibly have the lock reworked and store pistols and ammo in it.
Hello: I take rusty tools etc. and clean off any loose rust and wire brush them. I use red transmission fluid heavily and then rub it down untill just the shine is there. Non oily and will not rust. As for opening the safe, find a local rehabilitated safe cracker...Good luck..Mike aka Pop
Blow it up! :-)
Just clean and display it..really is a beauty!
Touch it up and make it a side table.
Name: M H King Company #6 Street: 1455 Main Street Gooding, id 83330-1838 Phone: (208) 934-4461
I really hope you do try to find out the safe's history then go from there. If not do get a safe cracker and go for it. Best of luck to you, keep us all posted :)
Put it on elevated legs and turn it into a bar..
I would have to see whats in side..how could you not? Then preserve it
Not sure what you mean abut a bird cage, hopefully not one you intend to put a bird in. Those metals are dangerous and would kill a bird, It would be to heavy for a cage anyhow, but I may not be following the train of thought you are. I love it, as is, and would maybe use it as a side table. Dont think I would cut into it, but maybe go to a lock smith for this type of thing,
cant you remove the hinge pins?
Call a safe cracker
I'm sure Wyle E. Coyote would buy it
Make a wonderful base to an Island
Can it be opened by removing hingrs, etc. Clean it up somewhat and you could put shelves inside. Might be surprised at what is inside. New treasure. If you do open it, let us know what you found
If you decided to open it, let us know what's in it!!!
call a locksmith, ask how much
sit a beautiful plant on it
see if it has a serial number and google it
I would take it.. Tell my kids we inherited it and not open it at all. Boy would they go nuts trying to figure out whats inside. You can drill a hole and put a camera inside to see what's there.
@Kimberly I actually thought about doing that Kimberly! I am a bit ornery that way!
find a locksmith that sells this type of safe. They just might be able to open it. Could have a treasure inside
What if there are deadly chemicals or a old body? lol
I don't think I would clean it up too much. Maybe lightly use some steel wool to get the worst of the rust, but leave the worn look and maybe wax over it. I would want to retain the original paint on it. But DEFINITELY open it. There may be some antique papers in there you could display as well.
Clear coat and use it as end table! Really cool find!
Even if you can't open it, I think it would look really cool - restored - and a really cool antique table lamp on top.
Gee, we have a safe with the same provenance. Ours was owned by a coin dealer, and no combination. Do you blow it open, sell as is, or I like the idea of a table base!!!
I love the way it looks.I wonder what is inside? :)
It would make a good paper weight!!
@Diana Letterman Baker Only if you never wanted to get to that piece of paper again Diana.... :)
Found this info online. I think it would be beautiful in its patina'd condition. Just wax it really well pop a wood top on it and use it as a table lamp or a entry table. Beautiful find. J. BAUM SAFE & LOCK COMPANY (1916 to mid-1920’s), Cincinnati, OH. 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis – Participant – Dept. D., Group 41, #0827, won a “grand prize” for their display at the exposition, (NOT any particular safe). The J. Baum Safe & Lock was organized May 26th 1916 to succeed the Baum Safe Company, established in 1893 to succeed the Warth-Baum Safe & Lock Company. J. Baum bought out all Warth’s interests in the company in 1903. Warth-Baum Safe & Lock Company was organized around 1870. The predecessor company was the Warth Safe & Vault Company. It was reorganized AFTER the founders death December 17, 1915 to incorporate and honor his name. However, my recent research indicates that the company WAS doing business as "J. Baum Safe & Lock" prior to the 1916 date. It may simply be that the company had NOT "Incorporated" until that date! At a minimum WHAT we do know is that your safe would have been built AFTER the 1908 "patent" date, and before the company closed in the mid 1920's. What we need to do now is to try to narrow this date down somewhat for you. The "A. F. Anderson & Co., Los Angeles" was probably just a distributor or sales agent.
Imgur.com LOVES safes! Make sure to post pictures over there and they will guide you! They just really want to see what is inside!
Omigosh, curiosity would kill me! Get a locksmith to open it posthaste. :) Even if it's empty, it now has a function. I wouldn't do too much with it; just clean it up, don't mess with the vintage finish, maybe wax over it? I love it!
Don't know if this will work but, curiosity would make me try it. http://www.ehow.com/how_6247244_open-dial-safe-combination.html
A professional locksmith can open a safe, without doing any damage. I would then cut a stencil for the lettering and refinish it. and reapply the lettering. ( I worked in a 100 year old company where a safe hadn't been opened in 25 years a a Norlock employee opened it, reset the combination and wrote it down for us.)
I would have to open it, and yes redo it!
Dont you want to see if there are treasures in it ? That must be kinda heavy huh. Nice coloring on it
Definitely open it before selling it. Old safes often had tons of asbestos in the walls, so be careful if you think you can hammer it open. Not! It is probably worth the locksmith drilling it and then the new owner can have a new combo put in it if they want to. My Dad was a locksmith for over 60 years and when he passed we had several old safes to deal with. One had old ammo in it, so you just never know.... Just be careful, as you never know what lurks in old locked safes.... :)
Cool end table as is!
Great idea!
looks like a pretty good boat anchor.....
have a locksmith drill it open.. shouldn't take much since it's so old. I think it looks cool just as is.
I would keep it the way it is and see what a locksmith would cost to open it. It would drive me crazy wondering if anything was in it and that if there was if it was worth anything. I would definitely keep it in this antique condition. Other than waxing it with a
Open it then put a clear coat over it. Write a letter from your family and seal it back up
Gosh curiosity would drive me nuts. Lol
BLAST Man!!!
@Becky My kind of lady Becky! :)
If you do open it please let us know if you find anything interesting in it.
I would be trying to find a way to open it, like a locksmith. The curiosity would get the best of me. IMO I would probably keep it the way it is, after a good cleaning, perhaps a special wax to highlight it's vintage stage. Would make a good conversation piece with a piece of glass or mirror covering the top.
Get that thing opened!
I'd have to get it opened! LOL I would probably wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any loose dust, etc. and then seal it to keep it from rusting further. If you love the looks of it as is, why refinish it? If it's antique, may be best to just wax it rather than putting on some sort of poly coat.
we have the same safe, and to get it open you will need a stick of dynamite. there is no easy way to do it for the way they were made back in the day! Good luck!!
Open, clean, then put a piece of glass on top and admire!
Re - sell it. Moving it will be a bear.
@Larry Anderson Not really Larry..... A bear would be much easier to move than this old man, suckers HEAVY!!!! :-)
Have you given it a good topple to see if it sounds like it contains anything? I would somehow get it open without causing any damage, then jusy clean and wax it......it's beautiful. Did you pay a ton for it? Would love to get my hands on a piece like that at an auction!
I would sand blast it then ponder what I do ..probably look up safes on the internet and copy the one I like...cool I will be happy to buy it..cheap of course lol
Maybe it was taken out of service properly. Try turning the dial to the left about 4 times and stop on '50' then turn it back slowly and you might feel it 'drop in' at somewhere between 25 and 75. Continue to the right to open. If that doesn't work but you feel a bump or something between those two numbers (25 and 75) rock the dial slightly on each side of the 'bump' and it might drop in. Continue right to open. If that doesn't work. Try it again by turning to the right about 4 times again stopping on 50. Turn back toward 75 to 25 trying to feel the 'bump'. If it stops it's probably unlocked. You could paint is but I'd just clean it up unless I wanted to actually restore it with the original color and lettering.
@Jeff Hawkins I will try that Jeff. Is that the standard way of taking a safe out of service? I had never heard that but then I don't know anything about safes.
I think it's a really cool piece. I'd try to clean up a bit and seal with poly. I would def. try to find a locksmith or search your area for someone that restores items such as this and they may be able to help get it unlocked without a lot of damage. Good luck with it.
end table and leave it alone ,maybe some bees wax
Do you know if anything is inside? I'd have to know...lol
@Stephanie George I tried to shake and listen like you would a Christmas present but it was too heavy.... LOL!
Why don't you contact the Cincinnati Safe Co. and ask if there is a way to know the com for the safe that they made? http://www.doubleasecurity.net/safe_inventory/J.BAUM/J.BAUM.htm
You could Google this for images and how to's on opening it.I would have to open it!!May contain some piece of priceless memorabalia,directions to where Jimmy Hoffa's body is,etc.LOL
I hope I see you on world news when you open it and find it contains a fortune! In the meantime, paint it, like in Brenda H.'s photos!
@Kim D I have a call into Geraldo Rivera, I am thinking this is right up his alley... :D
yes try to get it open!! also I would not mess it up with paint, just clean up ...put glass on top & save it until open....old safe maybe worth a few...cents... either way it a neet piece.... do try to open it some how check it out on line also
Maybe I am the only one...but I think you leave it just like it is! I thinks it's beautiful!
First Who was M H KING ? Then I would Find someone who can open it, and then and only after being sure that there is no Historic Value to this would I ever Dream of Changing it in any way.
end table, it is really cool!
I'd have to try to get it open -- curiousity would kill me!
OH MY! Full of gold coins I am sure! Please keep us informed of what you find inside. Somewhere on the outside of the safe there is an ID number. Get that number and call the manufacturer; they will send you a form to fill out and then they will give you the combination. Hubby bought a "Sentury" safe and this is how he got it opened. He still uses it. If it is an old one, you can find a locksmith that deals in this type of work.
Open it...heard about a month ago a man bought a safe in a storage auction and was going to just throw it away but decided to pry it open first and it was filled with old cash! (Sorry don't remember exact amount)
Buy a fancy cabinet to display it in...
I would leave it alone and put glass on top and use it for a table
I would lightly sand it and use it for a table...
A good locksmith should be able to open it without damaging it.
Bore it
My Dad has one of these built in the basement wall and his lock messed up. We called a locksmith and he opened it for $25
Cut the back open! Put wheels on the bottom, shelves in it and store stuff in it!
I would HAVE to know what is inside ! I wouldn't repaint it, I agree add a top and make it a side table.
we had such a safe given to us without the combination.. looked almost like the one above.. we had a friend who is a locksmith get it open and put in a new combination..and we had a safe.. It was so danged heavy we had to keep it in the garage on the cement floor as was too heavy for the house...but we did find a couple valuables in it when it was opened...
Love the wheels!
M. H. King was possible the same person who founded King's Discount Stores in 1915 in Burley, Idaho and has 26 stores in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. It looks to be a portable floor safe, probably late 1800's or early 1900's.
I see a fantastic end table!!!!
Did you ever get it home? They are extremely heavy and that's usually a story in itself!! It usually takes a wrecker to get it home. And the wheels don't turn, only roll back and forth. I wonder why they did that?
@Redeemwood I take it the former owner left an actual combination on it then. Sorry the other didn't work but that is a nice enough safe to have it opened and repaired professionally.
get a lock smith to open it that way you can do what you like with it
Darn........ Safe Cracker had to cancel for today.... He will be here Monday morning!!!
The suspence mounts! Too bad my brother aint still alive itd be a snap lol!
I can't wait to hear what's in it! Meanwhile I agree with most. Clean it up a bit then seal. Great end table.
@1 result is available, use up and down arrow keys to navigate.redeemwoodI am in suspense also. Did you ever find out what's inside???
@Lucy Fraser ha ha ha, I think I have almost worn the dial out. I actually wrote down some numbers that I thought I could feel.... I am having a blast with this... even if it is empty its worth all the fun!
@Redeemwood Well Happy Birthday early. Maybe it will have a nice birthday present in it for you. With my luck it would have counterfeit money. Lol! Good Luck.
Ok!!! The NEW scheduled day of Safe Cracking is this Friday April 25th starting at 9am Mountain Standard Time. I have no idea how long it will take or if it will open because he is a self described "Old fashioned touch and feel" safe cracker... Loving it!!
Enjoy...It would make me crazy but happy too! lol...
what is in it or havent you fuond out yet?
@Redeemwood where did you get it to strt wth?
See above...opening this Friday "I hope"! I got it at an auction a few weeks back.... its been a scheduling nightmare to get a safe cracker here!
I agree, I would still keep it anyway. I think it is awsome.
Well I hope your GRAND OPENING lands you a wonderful fantastic valuable gift! Good Luck Buddy I am rootin for ya!
The suspence is killing me! Open it, not open it, open it, not open it. OPEN IT! If you lived in Missouri, I know a great lock smith that could open it for you.
The safe cracker was unsuccessful..... :( apparently a tumbler inside may be broken or something.... sorry folks but I am going in from the back.....I cant wait any longer.... stand back everyone!!
HOW FUN!!! Even empty, this is an amazing story to pass down forever!!!
As for uses...can't one get a new tumbler system? USE IT! These old safes where built to withstand anything, as you have yourself discovered!
Ok! I got it open (with some minor damage to the back side) I disassembled the tumbler and figured out the combination (that took me a couple hours as I am not a safe cracker). Nothing inside and the wood shelves were a little rough and the keyed door was without a key. I think I am going to refinish the interior with new wood and (one drawer and the metal keyed door are in good shape). This will probably be a great winter project,,,unless I just cant leave it alone that long :)
I love the inside color! Your idea of cutting off the front 4" so the whole front could hang on a wall would be so cool! One of a kind, for sure! But how do cut something like this? And how do you hang something like this?
@Redeemwood I'd go for it! If you can do it! I'd have to hire all that done. You are very lucky to be able to do it yourself!
@Redeemwood What a cool ending....Or beginning. And as someone mentioned what a great story to be passed down. Maybe you can write about it all your feelings the excitement all the things you imagined could be in it, etc. I dont know what you paid but the entertainment value alone, seems worth it! Thank you soo much for taking me on the journey with you. Let me know how it ends up looking so many possibilities. I think were it me I would find some paint to match interior red, trim it out just like it is in a yellow taping off the name in the front to leave it exactly as it is even the color around it. Id use it as a table leaving it so it opens as a conversation piece, leaving the story written inside of it. Blessings! Lucy
@Lucy Fraser I like that in life there is never an ending, only the beginning of a new adventure.... the same is true with the life of this old safe, it will soon embark on a whole new adventure!
@Redeemwood So glad you got it opened, love the little wooden drawer inside and so awesome that you could figure out the combination. Happy Birthday!
Too bad there was nothing in it but I still love it! The idea to cut all but 4" and make a wall hanging is definitely cool--but I think if save that genius idea for a less antique one. Maybe even a new one made to look antique & chippy. This one has history, the inside is so cool and would look fab refinished. I'm sticking with the table idea because it'll preserve the safe itself. Maybe add a beautifully stained and rough hewn wood top for a rustic look, or a glass top suspended about an inch up with some kind of risers--like gear pieces, and it'll become industrial chic. Either way works to me!!
if you got a lock smit bet he could of opened it ..lol
It's a wonderful piece! Anxious to see what you do with it.
I'm with Jim - I'm eager to see what you do. Might make a great family time capsule
Get a lock smith
Your not craze. I’ve done the same,
Have some strong pick it up and drop it. It won’t hurt the safe, but it will open.
There is a company in upstate ny that sales parts for old safes. They are probably very knowledgeable about antique safes. 518-271-0783
Good luck