Inherited Mosler Safe, but Have Questions about the Combo

[Daidalon]

Hello All,
I recently inherited a Mosler safe and am having some trouble parsing the combination that was passed down with it.
The combination and the accompanying descriptions are written exactly as follows:

"80 - Right 4 times
3 times 30 to left
30 to right - slowly to 20
Bring back to 30 slowly."

I've tried doing exactly as described as well as any other additional variations of the combo that I could think of, but haven't had any luck. The first two lines of directions are clear, but based on what I've read about how 3/4 number safes function, the last two lines don't make sense. Shouldn't there be two turns before the third number and then one turn for the final number (assuming this is a 4 number lock)?

The number on the dial of the safe (as can seen in the attached image) is 42 8598. I tried to find the type of safe this is by using the Mosler serial number list on this forum, but didn't have any luck. Based on who I inherited it from, I would say it was made between 1900-1950, but this is a guess at best. I don't even know if it's a 3 or 4 number lock because of the strange combo I was given. The safe's dimensions are 12x12 inches and 7 inches in depth.

The dial itself is easy to turn sometimes, however other times it's difficult to turn. For example, the first two turns to the left can be easy, but then the next turn will be more difficult. After a fair amount of turning, I couldn't discern any pattern in the easy/hard to turn fluctuations. I read that if older safes are difficult to turn, going slowly is necessary. Maybe this explains the "slowly" directions in the combo?

From what I hear, it was last opened maybe 10-15 years ago, but has always been kept indoors so no wear/damage has come to it.

I'm not very knowledgable about safes, other than what I have read over the past week or so, so any help trying to decipher this combo would be appreciated

[Squelchtone]

Try this:

Sit safe on it's side so when you open it you can pull the door and it will swing open much easier than trying to lift it upwards.

Right = clockwise
Left = counter-clockwise

Turn dial Left passing 80 three times, stopping on 80 the fourth time around.
Turn dial Right passing 30 two times, stopping on 30 the third time around.
Turn dial Left passing 20 one time, stopping on 20 the second time around.
Turn dial Right until it stops.

Your pull knob is missing, so you may have to grab the dial in order to pull the door open.

[Daidalon]

Thank you for the quick reply!

No luck, unfortunately. There is a hitch/stop-point-pressure on 25 the first time around during step 3 and on 20 the second time around also during step 3, but there is no stop when turning right during step 4.

[Squelchtone]

Thank you for the quick reply!

No luck, unfortunately. There is a hitch/stop-point-pressure on 25 the first time around during step 3 and on 20 the second time around also during step 3, but there is no stop when turning right during step 4.

ok, adjust step three to this:

Turn dial Left passing 30 one time, stopping on 30 the second time around.
Turn dial Right until it stops.

[Daidalon]

Still no luck
Thanks for the continued help.

[MartinHewitt]

The most common for this safe is the CD-120, but this dial is not a CD-120 dial. It is a dial that provides a bouquet of locks that could sit behind it. As all the normal dialling didn't work, then maybe it is a flipper fence lock. The instructions say to start with turning right, which is exactly what would fit to this type of lock.

So ....

Turn right until the dial is at least the fourth time at 80.
Turn left until the dial is exactly the third time at 30.
Turn right until the dial is exactly the second time at 20.
Turn left to stop.

[Daidalon]

It didn't open, however after the sequence you suggested I felt a good amount of resistance turning to the left. The resistance occurs roughly 1.5 turns to the left after stopping at 20 during step 3, so around 70, and then continues to occur every subsequent turn around 70. During the final turn to the left, should I hear any sort of click signifying the safe opened?

[Squelchtone]

It didn't open, however after the sequence you suggested I felt a good amount of resistance turning to the left. The resistance occurs roughly 1.5 turns to the left after stopping at 20 during step 3, so around 70, and then continues to occur every subsequent turn around 70. During the final turn to the left, should I hear any sort of click signifying the safe opened?

The dial should stop dead and should not let you turn it any more if the safe is unlocked.

Check your forum direct message inbox, just send you something.

Squelchtone

[Squelchtone]

Try this, I think I know what they did on that lock:

Turn Right until the dial is at least the fourth time at 80.
Turn Left until the dial is exactly the third time at 30.
Turn Right slowly until the dial is exactly at 20
Turn Left slowly until the dial is exactly at 30 and slowly keep turning Left to see if dial stops or allows you to keep turning to 40.

If that doesn't work, then you'll have to do an exhaustive search by dialing every combination that starts at 80-30-00 and goes to 80-30-99 you can skip every few numbers to speed things up.

using this sequence:

Turn dial Left passing 80 three times, stopping on 80 the fourth time around.
Turn dial Right passing 30 two times, stopping on 30 the third time around.
Turn dial Left passing __ one time, stopping on __ the second time around.
Turn dial Right until it stops.

80-30-00
80-30-03
80-30-05
80-30-07
80-30-10
80-30-13
80-30-15
80-30-17
80-30-20
80-30-23
80-30-25
80-30-27
80-30-30
80-30-33
80-30-35
80-30-37
80-30-40
80-30-43
80-30-45
80-30-47
80-30-50
80-30-53
80-30-55

... all the way to ...

80-30-90
80-30-93
80-30-95
80-30-97


Let us know if one of these worked, thanks.
Squelchtone