York House Safe - How Old Is It?

[Rob Smith]

I have a working safe from the York Lock & Safe Company of York, PA. I'd
like to know the age of this piece if someone here can give an educated
guess.

It's on four wheels, about 3 inch diameter, and the inside measures 14
inches wide, 18 high, and 13 deep. Thick steel makes the outside 22.5 inches
wide, 27 high (32 including wheels) and 22 deep.

It has some pin-striping around the inside of the door and mechanism, with
the words "House Safe"; "York Safe & Lock Co."; "York, Pa", and "S.F.
Prentzel, Agt."; "153 N. 4th St. Phila." hand lettered on the door as well.

It has a working four-digit combination using a brass spinner with 100
markings by tens and a "tee" handle for opening the door latches.

The floor is carpeted and there are wooden shelves inside, and one shelf
holds a small keyed lock-box (5 x 5 x 10 deep).

I could post a link to pictures if that would help someone place the age.

The safe came with my house in upper Bucks County, PA. I do not know the
history, though I was given the correct combination by the previous owner.

There are no markings on the back, and I cannot find any other markings to
indicate date of manufacture. I would appreciate any input from this group.

Any chance this unit qualifies as "fireproof"? I'm still keeping birth
certificates in the freezer based on something I once read. I'd rather use
the safe for valuables if it were truly a "safe" place to keep them.

Thank you.

Rob Smith

- * * * Please reply to this newsgroup - the email address used is a phony *
* * -

[--Shiva--]

Post by Rob Smith
Any chance this unit qualifies as "fireproof"?

by the new standards? no

Post by Rob Smith
I'm still keeping birth
certificates in the freezer based on something I once read. I'd rather use
the safe for valuables if it were truly a "safe" place to keep them.

it might slow the uneducated down as far as getting it
open..but..

Post by Rob Smith
Thank you.
Rob Smith
- * * * Please reply to this newsgroup - the email address used is a phony *
* * -

on the handle? OR the center of the dial-whats it say there? if
anything...
sometimes there is a patent date, so you would know that its
LATER than..whatever the patent says.

--Shiva--

[Rob Smith]

Shiva, you were right about the center of the dial. It has more information
stamped on it, very tiny. It says: "Yale Lock M'F'G Co. - Stamford, Conn."
around the perimeter. The middle is filled with the following lines:
"PAT'D
July 25, 1871
Sept. 2, 1873
July 28, 1874
Sept. 7, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880"

I wonder why the last date is repeated? I looked very closely to see a
difference, but there was none.

Does anybody know what the next date would be? Perhaps someone has seen a
similar list of dates and knows the next one? That way, I could get a
realistic range.

As for the fire-safety, Shiva, your comment about the freezer keeping out
the uneducated was quite funny. I had a good laugh. Seriously, though... how
effective is an older safe like this one at safe-keeping documents from
fire?

Post by --Shiva--

Post by Rob Smith
Any chance this unit qualifies as "fireproof"?

by the new standards? no

Post by Rob Smith
I'm still keeping birth
certificates in the freezer based on something I once read. I'd rather use
the safe for valuables if it were truly a "safe" place to keep them.

it might slow the uneducated down as far as getting it
open..but..

Post by Rob Smith
Thank you.
Rob Smith
- * * * Please reply to this newsgroup - the email address used is a phony *
* * -

on the handle? OR the center of the dial-whats it say there? if
anything...
sometimes there is a patent date, so you would know that its
LATER than..whatever the patent says.
--Shiva--

[--Shiva--]

Post by Rob Smith
July 25, 1871
Sept. 2, 1873
July 28, 1874
Sept. 7, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880"
I wonder why the last date is repeated? I looked very closely to see a
difference, but there was none.

2 patents issued that day..

Post by Rob Smith
Does anybody know what the next date would be? Perhaps someone has seen a
similar list of dates and knows the next one? That way, I could get a
realistic range.

range could be into the 20's..

Post by Rob Smith
As for the fire-safety, Shiva, your comment about the freezer keeping out
the uneducated was quite funny. I had a good laugh. Seriously, though... how
effective is an older safe like this one at safe-keeping documents from
fire?

its NOT..
it has mass, but given the right fire, it becomes an oven and
destroys worse.
--Shiva--

[Rob Smith]

Shiva, given the frequency of those patent dates between 1871 and 1880,
while it COULD be into the twenties, I'm hoping it was earlier (1881?). I
don't know how likely it is that someone would have a similar list of dates
with one or two more in the list, but I'll hope to see some response.

I suppose that if I want to use this safe as well as look at it (it is a
decoration at this point) I'll have to put a fire-proof box inside. Would
you say that placing a new technology fire-safe box inside this old safe is
in any way WORSE than just having the fire-safe box under the bed (for
documents, not valuables in a monetary sense)?

Finally, if the safe is working, and has always been working, should I worry
that it will suddenly stop working, based on some of the threads I've
reviewed in this forum?

Thanks for your input.

Rob Smith

Post by --Shiva--

Post by Rob Smith
July 25, 1871
Sept. 2, 1873
July 28, 1874
Sept. 7, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880
Nov. 2, 1880"
I wonder why the last date is repeated? I looked very closely to see a
difference, but there was none.

2 patents issued that day..

Post by Rob Smith
Does anybody know what the next date would be? Perhaps someone has seen a
similar list of dates and knows the next one? That way, I could get a
realistic range.

range could be into the 20's..

Post by Rob Smith
As for the fire-safety, Shiva, your comment about the freezer keeping out
the uneducated was quite funny. I had a good laugh. Seriously, though... how
effective is an older safe like this one at safe-keeping documents from
fire?

its NOT..
it has mass, but given the right fire, it becomes an oven and
destroys worse.
--Shiva--

[--Shiva--]

Post by Rob Smith
I suppose that if I want to use this safe as well as look at it (it is a
decoration at this point) I'll have to put a fire-proof box inside. Would
you say that placing a new technology fire-safe box inside this old safe is
in any way WORSE than just having the fire-safe box under the bed (for
documents, not valuables in a monetary sense)?

if its big enough to accept a 'fire rated' container, for PAPERS,
go for it..its harder to have someone walk off with one in a big
safe, than 'under the bed'...
a 'computer media safe' is a SPECIAL item, and VERY pricey. has
far different requirements as far as temp/humidity/ than paper
containers. the price difference is MANY times between the 2.

Post by Rob Smith
Finally, if the safe is working, and has always been working, should I worry
that it will suddenly stop working, based on some of the threads I've
reviewed in this forum?

take a coin out and flip it.. heads it will fail in a week, tails
it wont..
it may be in GREAT shape.. it may be on its last legs, we cannot
tell you 'over the 'net'.
that is why i suggested you find someone to look at it, check
and lube as necessary..
they may see it and say OH THIS IS REALLY GOOD..
or they may say, whoever had this before did 'this' to it, and
that has cause a potential 'something' to happen to it..
Can we tell you how to lube? yes, but we wont, CAUSE as you
disassemble, you would not know, this piece was installed
backwards, or this piece is really worn..or WHERE IS the piece
that should be 'right here'?

I had a fairly new 'gun safe' fail on a man.. after taking it
apart, i asked how long it had been giving him troubles?? OH, it
had been getting hard to open for 3 months, he said, ..but he
kept using it..

it is FAR cheaper to get something fixed that is OPEN, than drill
it open. and if you intend to use this, then you need some 'in
person' assistance.

--Shiva--