Old Safe?... I know nothing! Help!

[TessaB]

I have a safe that was donated to me. I am unsure on how to open it but do have the combination (and directions that I cannot not seem to understand) I'm looking for any and all information you can give me to help me identify a brand, time and how to open. Handle numbers and no branding anywhere. Lock goes from 20-100 with a break between.

[MartinHewitt]

Can you show us the description?

Until then I can give you only standard instructions which work for most locks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEYjgOFKR1U

[TessaB]

These are the instructions left with it.

40-55-30R
1) start at 0 (zero)
2) turn right 1 less than 4 times to 40
3) turn left 1 less than 3 times to 55
4) turn right 1 less than 2 times to 30
5) turn left slowly to 0 (zero)
turn handle to the left and open

There is no zero on the lock??
what the R mean??
I cant seem to post photos so I hope this works

[TessaB]

It also has a star as the marker if this helps at all. Has "patented July 2 -097 Oct. 13-1908" on the lock.

[Squelchtone]

I have a safe that was donated to me. I am unsure on how to open it but do have the combination (and directions that I cannot not seem to understand) I'm looking for any and all information you can give me to help me identify a brand, time and how to open. Handle numbers and no branding anywhere. Lock goes from 20-100 with a break between.

We'd love to help, but without photographs of the dial, the handle, the wheels and a photo of the entire door/front of the safe, there is not much to go on.

Old safes are identified by long check list of things that include the design of the door hinges, shape of the finials, the dial, the handle, the location of the dial and handle on the door, distance from handle to dial, the shape of the door (square corners or rounded corners) the shape of the safe body, the shape of the wheel castors, and some other features that are used to identify the maker and the time and place it was manufactured.

Please post the directions you have, and the combination, and we may be able to rewrite it in a way that it easier to understand or dial. Martin's video link on how to dial a safe should be very helpful as well.

To share photos with us, click here: https://imgbb.com/ and press the big blue button at the top that says START UPLOADING

Looking forward to seeing your safe,
Squelchtone

EDIT: I just saw your follow up, your safe lock was made by Sargent & Greenleaf, but the safe could have been made by a number of other companies. Please take a photo, and then put the photo on your computer desktop and go to https://imgbb.com/ and follow what I wrote up above here

[Squelchtone]

on your safe 100 is the same as 0, so change the directions from start at 0 to start at 100, and the last turn change it to Left slowly to 100.

ignore the R in the combination for now, that's probably not important.

oh lord.. I just read your instructions and whoever wrote them needs to be smacked..

Try this:

Turn dial Right three times past 40 and stop on 40 the fourth time around
Turn dial Left two times past 55 and stop on 55 the third time around
Turn dial Right one time past 30 and stop on 30 the second time around.
Turn dial Left to 100 and see if the dial stops dead or if it lets you keep turning from 100 to 20 where it *should* stop turning and then you can try the handle.

[TessaB]

[TessaB]

Can you see the pictures?

[MartinHewitt]

Loud and clear.

[Squelchtone]

Can you see the pictures?

yes. check up above, I edited one of my replies with some dialing instructions that may be easier to try.

[TessaB]

on your safe 100 is the same as 0, so change the directions from start at 0 to start at 100, and the last turn change it to Left slowly to 100.

ignore the R in the combination for now, that's probably not important.

oh lord.. I just read your instructions and whoever wrote them needs to be smacked..

Try this:

Turn dial Right three times past 40 and stop on 40 the fourth time around
Turn dial Left two times past 55 and stop on 55 the third time around
Turn dial Right one time past 30 and stop on 30 the second time around.
Turn dial Left to 100 and see if the dial stops dead or if it lets you keep turning from 100 to 20 where it *should* stop turning and then you can try the handle.

Tried this and it doesn't stop....

[MartinHewitt]

It is beautiful safe with extremely well preserved paint. Please be nice to this safe.

I can't identify the manufacturer. From the dial the lock should be from Sargent & Greenleaf and I think it should open with the method shown in the video. The 0 in your description does irritate me most as there is no 0 on the dial. Maybe the description is not for this safe?

[TessaB]

The safe was donated with the instructions on a note card! I know the instructions are meant for this safe... they just don't make sense! I feel like I have tried everything and it just wont catch on the 100 or 20 at the end??

[Squelchtone]

doh.. sorry I think you need to switch the Left and Rights


Turn dial Left (like turning volume knob down) three times past 40 and stop on 40 the fourth time around
Turn dial Right two times past 55 and stop on 55 the third time around
Turn dial Left one time past 30 and stop on 30 the second time around.
Turn dial Right (like turning volume knob up) to 100 and see if the dial stops dead or if it lets you keep turning from 100 to 20 where it *should* stop turning and then you can try the handle.

[TessaB]

doh.. sorry I think you need to switch the Left and Rights


Turn dial Left (like turning volume knob down) three times past 40 and stop on 40 the fourth time around
Turn dial Right two times past 55 and stop on 55 the third time around
Turn dial Left one time past 30 and stop on 30 the second time around.
Turn dial Right (like turning volume knob up) to 100 and see if the dial stops dead or if it lets you keep turning from 100 to 20 where it *should* stop turning and then you can try the handle.

I just tried this again and it doesnt even sound right when turning it. It click for the 40, and the 55 when following the other directions but never stops. The handle does wiggle a little? Is this normal?