Help me identify an old safe.

[Ed]

I'm looking for information about a safe that is in a building I
purchased. I was unable to find a serial number or brand name on it.
I do have some photos of the dial, hinges, latches, etc.. I am hoping
that this will help. Also, I am looking for the correct procedure on
how to enter the combination (in case I do get lucky and find it some
where)

You can see the pictures here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2jswr/Safepics.htm

It has dates of 1907 and 1908 for patents. Also, the dial is numbered
from 20 to 100 with a blank spot. It looks like this safe may have
been drilled twice already judging from the plugs that seem o be
installed in the door.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ed

[--Shiva--]

Post by Ed
I'm looking for information about a safe that is in a building I
purchased. I was unable to find a serial number or brand name on it.
I do have some photos of the dial, hinges, latches, etc.. I am hoping
that this will help. Also, I am looking for the correct procedure on
how to enter the combination (in case I do get lucky and find it some
where)
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2jswr/Safepics.htm
It has dates of 1907 and 1908 for patents. Also, the dial is numbered
from 20 to 100 with a blank spot. It looks like this safe may have
been drilled twice already judging from the plugs that seem o be
installed in the door.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed

the acorn hinge pin helps... I dont have my book handy but that
I think says a brand.
handle is odd...
got the combo?


--Shiva--

[--Shiva--]

herring marvin hall

thats what was in my mind as well..

--Shiva--

[JOCK tec]

herring marvin hall

[Ed]

Thanks for the quick response. Is there a source available on the
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination. There is
paperwork in filing cabinets all over this building and I am hoping to
stumble across the combination. It would help if I knew how many
numbers I was looking for.

Thanks,
Ed

herring marvin hall

[--Shiva--]

Post by Ed
Thanks for the quick response. Is there a source available on the
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination. There is
paperwork in filing cabinets all over this building and I am hoping to
stumble across the combination. It would help if I knew how many
numbers I was looking for.
Thanks,
Ed

herring marvin hall

3

--Shiva--

[Joe Kesselman (yclept Keshlam)]

Post by Ed
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination.

Virtual all safes are either three or (less commonly) four numbers.
Obviously, each of those numbers may be more than one digit.

If it's three then the most common sequence would be: Turn the dial left
4 times to the first number, right 3 times to the next, left 2 times to
the last, then right until the dial stops, at which point the handle
should turn.

Note that if folk are even slightly clueful, almost ANY number in the
building may be the combo. They may have recorded it as phone number, a
zip code, a customer number, a price, you-name-it. What they
emphatically should *NOT* have done is write it down as "SAFE
COMBINATION" or in the obvious 23-35-17 sort of sequence.

(Actually, they shouldn't have written it down at all, but folks often
ignore that advice. I usually recommend that, if they absolutely must
put it on paper, they not only mask it as some other kind of number but
apply some additional encoding -- add or subtract a modifier that
they'll remember -- so that even if someone figures out what it is they
still can't use it without that unrecorded piece of additional information.)

[Putyourspamhere]

Subject: Re: Help me identify an old safe.
Date: 12/15/2003 11:37 PM Eastern Standard Time

Post by Ed
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination.

Virtual all safes are either three or (less commonly) four numbers.
Obviously, each of those numbers may be more than one digit.
If it's three then the most common sequence would be: Turn the dial left
4 times to the first number, right 3 times to the next, left 2 times to
the last, then right until the dial stops, at which point the handle
should turn.

If that doesn't work then reverse the sequence.

Note that if folk are even slightly clueful, almost ANY number in the
building may be the combo. They may have recorded it as phone number, a
zip code, a customer number, a price, you-name-it. What they
emphatically should *NOT* have done is write it down as "SAFE
COMBINATION" or in the obvious 23-35-17 sort of sequence.

This is however most likely how they did it if they did it at all. Most likely
in close proximity to the safe in question.

(Actually, they shouldn't have written it down at all, but folks often
ignore that advice. I usually recommend that, if they absolutely must
put it on paper, they not only mask it as some other kind of number but
apply some additional encoding -- add or subtract a modifier that
they'll remember -- so that even if someone figures out what it is they
still can't use it without that unrecorded piece of additional information.)

A very good idea, but not something most people do on their own.

[Billy B. Edwards Jr.]

Someone in the following posts answered most of your questions, but if
you want to look for it on the web you need to have the names in the
right order. You would be looking for 'Herring Hall Marvin' or HHM.
BBE.

Post by Ed
Thanks for the quick response. Is there a source available on the
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination. There is
paperwork in filing cabinets all over this building and I am hoping to
stumble across the combination. It would help if I knew how many
numbers I was looking for.
Thanks,
Ed

herring marvin hall

[Ed]

Post by Billy B. Edwards Jr.
Someone in the following posts answered most of your questions, but if
you want to look for it on the web you need to have the names in the
right order. You would be looking for 'Herring Hall Marvin' or HHM.
BBE.

--------Thanks, I did notice many more results when searching in that
order. I tried it a couple of ways after the original poster
mentioned the name.

ED

Post by Billy B. Edwards Jr.

Post by Ed
Thanks for the quick response. Is there a source available on the
internet that could explain the correct way to enter a combination and
also tell me how many numbers are in the combination. There is
paperwork in filing cabinets all over this building and I am hoping to
stumble across the combination. It would help if I knew how many
numbers I was looking for.
Thanks,
Ed

herring marvin hall

[Evan]

Ed:

That safe looks very cool...

Needs some clean-up though (it looks kinda like it was salvaged off the
Titanic)...

If I was in your shoes I would find a locksmith in the area who has
experience working with safes and pay that person to open it for you...

Trying to find a combination written down somewhere it pointless... Do you
even know when the last time the safe was used ???

Pay someone to open it for you -- you can have the combination reset and the
lock itself serviced... Cleaning up the exterior of the safe would probably
be good too if you are planning to sell it...

Evan

[Ed]

Post by Evan
That safe looks very cool...
Needs some clean-up though (it looks kinda like it was salvaged off the
Titanic)...

Yeah, I scraped off lots of old paint and rust looking for any
identification marks...

Post by Evan
If I was in your shoes I would find a locksmith in the area who has
experience working with safes and pay that person to open it for you...
Trying to find a combination written down somewhere it pointless... Do you
even know when the last time the safe was used ???

Well, I'm not actually "trying" to find the combination, but I figured
I might stumble across it. There are many paper records that I'm
gonna go through just because I'm a curious person.

I can guarantee it's been longer than 10 years since it's been used!

Post by Evan
Pay someone to open it for you -- you can have the combination reset and the
lock itself serviced... Cleaning up the exterior of the safe would probably
be good too if you are planning to sell it...

I think I agree about paying someone, I wouldn't want to ruin it. I'm
going to keep it, just so I can say I have it. It will be nice to
store some important documents in and I imagine the price for opening
it is comparable to the price of one of those decent fire proof safes.

Post by Evan
Evan

If anyone has any recommendations for a locksmith in the SW PA area,
please let me know. Thanks for all of the responses so far.

Ed

[--Shiva--]

Post by Ed
If anyone has any recommendations for a locksmith in the SW PA area,
please let me know. Thanks for all of the responses so far.
Ed

2 things...
GENTLY try turning the handle, and see if the dial gets harder
to turn... IF IT DOES, there is a chance it can be manipulated.

2

www.savta.org see if anyone is listed LOCALLY...
call him, tell him you got a HHM safe... describe the dial (that
sets the type of lock it is real good0 and see if he can/would
manipulate, or if worst case, drill a small hole...
it WOULD be repairable, so that it doesn't show, especially
assuming you are going to repaint?

--Shiva--

[--Shiva--]

Post by --Shiva--
www.savta.org see if anyone is listed LOCALLY...
call him, tell him you got a HHM safe... describe the dial (that
sets the type of lock it is real good0 and see if he can/would
manipulate, or if worst case, drill a small hole...
it WOULD be repairable, so that it doesn't show, especially
assuming you are going to repaint?
--Shiva--

SOMETIMES HATE spell checkers...

HHM !!!
--Shiva--

[Henry E Schaffer]

Post by Ed
...
I think I agree about paying someone, I wouldn't want to ruin it. I'm
going to keep it, just so I can say I have it.

That's reasonable - and as part of the pride, you might look at
restoring the original "look".

Post by Ed
It will be nice to
store some important documents in and I imagine the price for opening
it is comparable to the price of one of those decent fire proof safes.

It is important to distinguish between "safe" (in the sense of a box
that is hard to get into) and "fire proof" (protection from elevated
temperatures).

Your safe won't provide much fire protection. The inexpensive "fire
proof (gag)safes" (I'd call them "containers" not "safes".) won't
provide much protection against entry.

You can mix and match by, e.g., putting a fire proof container inside
your safe.