History of Safes
Old safes, and the stories behind them
Hi, I’m Greg. This is my hobby blog about safes, vaults and the people who made them (and the ones who tried to break in). I go through old patents, trade catalogues and newspapers so you don’t have to, and every article lists its sources.
For owners
Found an old safe?
Most people arrive here with the same few questions. Pick yours.
Who made it?
Type a word from the plate, answer three questions.
How old is it?
A sourced date range from the plate, lock and body.
How heavy is it?
Weight from its outside size, before anyone lifts it.
Is it worth anything?
Real prices, and what makes one worth more.
I’m locked out
Options, rough costs and who to call.
How do I move it?
Moving, selling or getting rid of an old safe.
Not sure where to start? Read I have an old safe: what now?
From the blog
Latest stories
The London Silver Vaults: From Chancery Lane Safe Deposit to Silver Market
The London Silver Vaults began as the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit, a Victorian strongroom where wealthy Londoners left their family silver. Today…
The Securitas Depot Robbery: Britain’s Biggest Cash Heist
On the night of 21 to 22 February 2006 an armed gang took about £53 million in banknotes from the Securitas cash…
Priest Holes: The Secret Hiding Places of Tudor England
A priest hole is a hiding place built into an English house so that a Catholic priest could vanish when the searchers…
Are Fallout’s Vaults Real? The Cold War History Behind Vault-Tec
Fallout’s vaults aren’t real, and there was never a Vault-Tec. But almost everything about them, from the giant door to the bunker…
The Fallout Shelter Sign: What It Means and America’s Cold War Shelters
The yellow-and-black fallout shelter sign marked a building that the US government had approved as a public shelter against radioactive fallout. It…
Kelvedon Hatch Nuclear Bunker: The Secret Bunker Under an Essex Bungalow
Kelvedon Hatch is a three-level Cold War bunker under a field near Brentwood in Essex, entered through what looks like an ordinary…
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Safe makers
What does the plate say?
Most owners only know the name cast on the door. Pick it to read the maker’s story and how to date their safes.
British makers
Chubb · Milner · John Tann · Ratner · Chatwood · Hobbs Hart · Samuel Withers · Price
American makers
Mosler · Diebold · Herring-Hall-Marvin · Hall’s · Victor · Cary · Hamilton · Meilink · York · Detroit · Schwab · Remington Rand
Elsewhere
Fichet-Bauche (France) · J&J Taylor (Canada) · Australian makers
See all old safe brands, A to Z, or try the maker finder. Name not on the list? Send me a photo of the plate.
Thanks for stopping by
Can’t place your safe? Send a few photos of the plate, the lock and the inside of the door. It’s free, and you get an answer by email. Or try the maker finder first.