Info needed on J.BAUM LOCK AND SAFE COMPANY safe
Matthew D. Harding
recently bought a farm whereby the owners had once used a room as an office,
and inside the room is the above-mentioned model safe. The door is currently
open, as well as the combo lock being open.
Questions: has anybody heard of this safe company? Are they still around? Is
it a good safe? The writing on the inside has patent numbers from 1919 to
1921, is this safe 70-odd years old? And finally, what are the odds of
reverse-engineering the safe to get the combo and use it as a functioning
safe? The thing must weigh 1000 pounds if it's a cent, I would assume it is
reasonably fireproof as well.
Anyone with any info please send me email, since I can't guarantee I will be
reading this group (although I will try). And anybody that sends me any info
will get a virtual cappucino for free :-).
Thanks in advance,
Matthew.
P.S. If I can figure out the combo I want to convince my father to give it to
me for my house. Are modern-day townhouses structurally equipped to have these
things on anything other than the basement??? :-(((
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Matthew Harding | ma...@worldlinx.com
WorldLinx Telecommunications, Inc. | X.400 gateway: matt.h...@tc.resonet.com
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA | ENVOY: M.HARDING
613-781-1151 *** Per Ardua Surgo ***
Why can't everybody stop making fun of my sister, Tonya???
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Jay Hennigan
>Hi all, first time post to alt.locksmithing (cheers of applause). My father
>recently bought a farm whereby the owners had once used a room as an office,
>and inside the room is the above-mentioned model safe. The door is currently
>open, as well as the combo lock being open.
>
>Questions: has anybody heard of this safe company? Are they still around? Is
>it a good safe? The writing on the inside has patent numbers from 1919 to
>1921, is this safe 70-odd years old? And finally, what are the odds of
>reverse-engineering the safe to get the combo and use it as a functioning
>safe? The thing must weigh 1000 pounds if it's a cent, I would assume it is
>reasonably fireproof as well.
I haven't heard of that particular company, and judging from the patent
numbers, it is probably from sometime in the 1920s (after the last date,
obviously).
If the door is open, any locksmith experienced in safe work can reset the
combination to your choice relatively easily.
It is best not to do too much exploration on your own in terms of taking
things apart. Safes of that vintage often were made with boobytraps like
teargas vials set to rupture if the safe was mishandled. Even if nothing
that severe, beware of "re-lockers" or spring-loaded devices to lock the
safe even if the right combination is dialed in the event of tampering.
If the back of the door has a keyhole behind the lock that looks like a
diamond with a flag off of one point, the job is a cinch for a qualified
locksmith.
>P.S. If I can figure out the combo I want to convince my father to give it to
>me for my house. Are modern-day townhouses structurally equipped to have these
>things on anything other than the basement??? :-(((
If it can handle a waterbed, it can probably handle *one* of these, but I
wouldn't put a dozen in the middle of the room.
-Jay
johnmoo...@gmail.com
Derek Broestler
> I have a 1906 J BAUM LOCK AND SAFE COMPANY SAFE. IT WORKS PERFECT, I have the combination, I am curious about its value. And on the knob of the handle it has the numbers 24260, and then on top of those is an upside down 7. WHAT do these represent, and what purpose do they serve. It has all t2interior drawers, and hinged door. Is it possible to obtain the key for them which will allow me to lock them also. ? Please email me with any assistance possible please. Thank you.
While I'm not intimately familiar with that manufacturer, I can give you at least some info for now and when my buddy who specializes in safes, and does some restoration to antique safes gets back from vacation I can ask him for specifics. I SUSPECT the number on the handle is either a model and, or serial number as I found a few on line all with different numbers on the handles. (this is what I'll have to check with my buddy on)
As far as value, I can say definitively that antique safes are worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for them. Because they're antiques and not made to modern standards for security (but are still MUCH more secure than anything your gonna buy at a box store) value is pretty arbitrary. Some people love to collect them and might be willing to pay $2000 for one in very good condition or one that's been beautifully restored, other people looking for a more practical application and just looking for "a safe" might only be willing to pay $200. Going rate on Ebay seems to be about $450, but the two that I saw were only in "OK" shape.
As far as keys, pretty MOST locksmiths should be able to make you keys for the interior drawers, even if they have to order the key blanks for them if they don't have them in stock, probably for very cheap if it's a "smaller" one with wheels and that you can get the safe to them instead of them coming to you.
At my old shop we'd charge $15 a lock if you brought it in, but that was pretty much the cheapest in town, and what you'll pay going to depend on the going rate where you live... Most people, understandably, aren't going to want to bring it in, so you'd pay a trip charge in addition to the price for the keys if you'd want the locksmith to come to the safe, so definitely get a few price quotes if possible.
Remember when looking for a locksmith, use the google map listings NOT the ads at the top of the page (the ads almost always scammers), check reviews there and on other sites like yelp, ask to see a business license (and state locksmith license if your state requires them) and insurance certificate and get a WRITTEN quote BEFORE work begins. If they have a physical storefront, even better (though about 80% of legit locksmiths are mobile only) The only people that'll have a problem with you asking for that documentation are scammers. I don't want anyone to get ripped off, and I'd hate to see such a great antique safe get ruined by some hack claiming to be a locksmith.
J.B. Wood
> As far as value, I can say definitively that antique safes are worth whatever someone is willing to pay you for them.
Sincerely,
--
J. B. Wood e-mail: arl_1...@hotmail.com
