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 Northern Bank Robbery: Belfast’s £26.5m Cash Centre Raid of 2004
On 20 December 2004 about £26.5 million in cash was taken from the Northern Bank’s cash centre in Donegall Square West, Belfast,…
The Battle of the Safes, 1867: Herring vs Chatwood in Paris
In August 1867, at the Paris Exposition, two teams of workmen attacked each other’s safes with hammers and wedges against the clock.…
Book Safes: A Short History of Hiding Things in Books, and How Safe They Are
A book safe is a hiding place dressed as a book: a real volume with its pages glued and cut out, or…
Bank Night Safes: The Story of the Night Depository
A night safe, or night depository, is a small locked hatch in a bank’s outside wall. A business customer drops a locked…
SF-700, SF-701 and SF-702: GSA Security Containers Explained
The SF-700 isn’t a safe. It’s a form: the record of a GSA security container, with its combination sealed in an envelope.…
How Master Keys Work: Change Keys, Grand Masters and a Little History
A master key works because each lock in the system is built to accept two keys: its own change key and the…
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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.