Antique Mosler Safe

[Parksy52]

Hi all,

I'm new here. I'm looking for help identifying the age of this Mosler safe, found in a garage. The safe is open, and I have the combination, along with some original paperwork found inside. Thanks in advance!

 

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[xr7ator]

Cool safe. I have a similar one that I kept from going to the crusher but unfortunately mine is locked up and I can't get it open. Mine's a four wheel as well.
Too bad it has been painted as the original art work on these things was very nice, imo.
Your paperwork states in the 1880's and that seems right to me.
What are your plans for it?

 

[Parksy52]

I'm really not sure what my plans are for the time being. I know very little about safes in general. It could use a bit of cleaning.

 

[A2coins]

That is really cool and they are not cheap

 

[A2coins]

Welcome to tnet alsi. Tommy

 

[Parksy52]

I forgot to mention that both interior boxes have functioning locks with original keys.

 

[Kona Koma]

That’s a nice old safe. Great paper work as well.

 

[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Parksy5! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - I searched Google and found a very interesting article - not about yours but very company informative and interesting...

The company and patents behind the Archives Center's vault doors...

​

 

[sandchip]

Very nice, and I would agree that the enclosed paperwork pretty well gives you the age. I'd be very cautious about cleaning in order to not damage any of the hand painted lettering and decoration. Lettering enamels have no hardeners in them and cleaners like 409 and Fantastik will take 'em off just like paint remover.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I agree. Looking at your paperwork, it is dated 188? That has to be the era it is from. That is a nice old safe, and will make a great display piece in your home (if you have room)

 

[Parksy52]

Thanks all!

I appreciate the information regarding cleaning. Maybe just some mild soap and water to get some of the buildup off.

The handwritten numbers on the paperwork are odd. The number written in for the year, along with the first number in the original combination, appear as what looks like a check mark with a horizontal line projecting from the top. I'm wondering if that was used in place of a zero.

I would love to clean the safe up and display it in our home, but I'm not quite certain how I'd get it into the house. The weight of the thing is incredible! I don't believe our back deck could handle the weight, and horsing it up 2 stairs to the lower level might prove difficult, too!

Also... I'm curious about the numbers written on the handle - 41685. Would that be a model number? Serial number?

 

[ARC]

Might want to wear not one...BUT 2 ... back braces. heh

 

[JoeInMO]

The "Handle Number" on that safe looks like 41685. That means it was made before 1886 and no records remain before 1886. After that there are pretty good records, including original combinations.

From 1946 through 1989 all serial numbers were suffixed with a dash and an additional number(s) which indicated the number of a specific unit manufactured in that lot group (i.e., 12345-52 = the fifty-second unit built under lot number 12345 during 1956).

Prior to 1946, the numbers were referred to as “handle” numbers - usually stamped on the handle of the safe.

Note that serial numbers beginning with 30,000 are used on safes being manufactured at Orangeburg, SC; and no longer include “dash” numbers.

Year Number
1992 32400
1991 31315
1990 29380
1989 29100
1988 28835
1987 28513
1986 28133
1985 27669
1984 27284
1983 26959
1982 26740
1981 26434
1980 25989
1979 25486
1978 25118
1977 24701
1976 24327
1975 24041
1974 23661
1973 23156
1972 22472
1971 21787
1970 21090
1969 20375
1968 19650
1967 19020
1966 18139
1965 17291
1964 16688
1963 16044
1962 15455
1961 14878
1960 14338
1959 13676
1958 13144
1957 12623
1956 12214
1955 11848
1954 11544
1953 11253
1952 10881
1951 10570
1950 10131
1949 9851
1948 9507
1947 9266
1946 9024
1945 438547
1944 428744
1943 421321
1942 391329
1941 372831
1940 364880
1939 359691
1938 355991
1937 351836
1936 346504
1935 342731
1934 338601
1933 334952
1932 331904
1931 327160
1930 323417
1929 318541
1928 314038
1927 309379
1926 305989
1925 303898
1924 302663
1923 301415
1921 290469
1920 287743
1919 278839
1918 273388
1917 271009
1916 265585
1915 258394
1914 253174
1913 247403
1912 239225
1911 231134
1910 222927
1909 213388
1908 205674
1907 199264
1906 190882
1905 183574
1904 176237
1903 168668
1902 161418
1901 153849
1900 146889
1899 140451
1898 135318
1897 130880
1896 125947
1895 121102
1894 115767
1893 110461
1892 106257
1891 100046
1890 95530
1889 90196
1888 84617
1887 78657
1886 50717

 

[gunsil]

Cool safe, looks just like one of mine. It is easy to open the dial mechanism to change the combination to whatever you like. I got mine from a used safe place and the guy taught me how to do it in five minutes. Regarding getting it into your house, the door comes off easily just by lifting it up when open. The little acorn tops on the hinges unscrew easily. This takes a lot of weight off since the door is the only part with thick steel. The body is basically sheet steel over walls made of steel bars and concrete. The door hinges may or may not have little ball bearings in them so put something like a big sheet of paper under the door when you lift it off so you can find all the little balls. When putting the door back on simply stick all the balls back on the lower race with clean grease. If there are no bearings just clean and grease the hinges. Without the door you should be able to roll it around and if you're worried about floors just put down some 2x10s down to distribute the weight. Apiece of 3/4" plywood would help distribute weight also. I got a bigger one down in a friend's basement with just two guys after removing the door and using 2x10s on the stairs. Got it back out the same way when he moved.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice safe!

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Very neat. Just remember those old safes are no longer fire proof. The moisture that was in the insulation material is long gone. I know someone that lost a staggering amount of money in a fire by relying upon an old safe.