This isn’t really a “collection”….but another hobby….and thought you might get a chuckle or two out of our latest caper. I’ve always had an interest in vintage combination safe locks and earlier in this thread posted some pics of some safes I’ve built. A locksmith buddy happened to find out about those particular interests of mine. He’s an expert on all locks auto, commercial, and residential…..but not so much on old safe locks…….so he asks me to go along on calls for safe “lockouts” or combination changes, etc.
A recent call was to an old warehouse where his customer had an old business floor safe from the early 1900’s that he wanted to restore. He knew it was empty but the combination had been lost before he acquired the safe. We were able to get the safe open, remove the dial lock, and I brought it home to service and rebuild parts where needed. The lock is a very nice bronze Yale combination lock. To remove the years of wear and bring it back to life again, it needed some new bushings fabricated, shims, and a custom spring. With some clean up and configuring a new combination of the owner’s choice, it was ready to reinstall for him.
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But…….an old dark warehouse, vintage safe, vintage bronze Yale combination lock…..it was just ripe for a photo shoot! Some black material, a little Velcro fastening, and a few minutes on the vintage sewing machine provided the proper apparel for a couple of old safe crackers! Not to mention our box of fake “Dupont Door Openers”, should we need them.
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The customer was extremely pleased with the restored lock and could hardly stop laughing long enough to take this pic. We told him we’ve never met a safe we couldn’t open! He said he was even more pleased that we didn’t have to blow the door off this one!
In case you're wondering which "mug" belongs to me............... I'm the handsome one!
We're presently looking to expand our enterprise and looking for an accomplice......err.....business partner.
Must be willing to work nights. Possess a fast car. And have high speed driving skills!! Occasional long term "Time Off" may be provided......complete with room and board. Send resume!