How Old Is My Safe?

How the tool works

Every maker changed its name, its address and its locks over the years, and each change leaves a mark you can still read on the door. We’ve collected those marks from our maker histories, each with its source: more than 200 clues for 18 British, French and American makers, the published serial and lock number lists, and the patent dates that turn up on plates.

Tick what you can see and the tool narrows the window. A name that a firm only used after its incorporation sets the earliest year; an address it left sets the latest. Where two clues can’t both be true, it says so instead of guessing.

What it can’t do

• Replaced parts fool it. Plates, handles and locks were sometimes swapped during repairs, so one clue on its own can mislead.
• Most makers kept no public register. Only Mosler published a year-by-year serial list; for Chubb and a few British firms we have dated examples. Our serial number lookup guide explains what survives for each maker.
• A patent date is only the earliest possible year. Makers kept printing it for decades.

The full method, with worked examples, is in our guide on how to date an old safe. If your maker isn’t listed, or the clues don’t add up, send us photos of the plate, lock and serial number and we’ll take a look, free.

Frequently asked questions