Looking for 3" x 5" x 18" Bond Boxes / Bond Tins

[BlueLock]

Can anyone point me to where I could find a few metal Safe Deposit box "Bond Tins" with a hinged lid that will go into a 3" x 5" x 18" deposit box/opening? The actual size of the existing box is approximately 2-5/8" high, 4.5" wide and 17.5" long with the hinged portion of the lid around 10.5" long.

Something like this:



Apparently, these were a semi-standard size back in the early '70s, but almost everything made today has a 24" depth opening. I called at least a half-dozen suppliers, and all have only bond tins for a 24" depth. I did get a quote for a custom size from one of the companies, but the price is extremely high per box. While that is an option, it does not feel like the best option.

Thanks,
Blue

[Squelchtone]

ebay is your friend for stuff like this

[EDIT: I don't math so good.. you're looking for a 17.5" inch long box, not 21.5" inch long.. the links below are for 22" boxes..

From Washington State, bid currently at $5.99 + shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144486785782

from NYC, Buy It Now price of $9.99 plus shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154912632091

[BlueLock]

Thanks Squelchtone,

Math is fun

eBay is littered with good deals for the 22"-ish length boxes. Calling around today, I found a couple places that have nice new boxes for a good price, but they are all ~22" long as well. I briefly considered buying some nice 22" boxes, then modifying them to be ~4" shorter... Certainly "do-able", but not too excited about that prospect. But, for the price difference between those and three custom made Diebold boxes, I could buy a decent cutter, metal folder, tack welder, primer and paint for less... But, I would rather find the right sized boxes if at all possible.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

There is a guy in like Broken Arrow OK that specializes in used bank equiptment and probably has what you need. Call Lockmasters and they can probably give you his number. He buys out closing banks and resells that stuff.

[BlueLock]

Excellent! Thanks Sammy. I will be calling Lockmasters, and hopefully talking to "the guy" tomorrow.

[BlueLock]

Lockmasters was a semi-dead end. They did not know anyone in Broken Arrow, but referred me to their internal guy that does bank stuff. He said that he might be able to get a box with the right the height and width, but definitely not the 17.5" depth, only 22"... The option here would be to get 22" boxes and cut them to size. I shall keep looking for now.

That said, their guy is not in Broken Arrow, so that could still be an option. If anyone knows the guy in Broken Arrow, please PM me with his contact info so I can reach out.

Thanks again

[billdeserthills]

My welder has a sheet metal brake, I wonder what someone would charge to make some?

[BlueLock]

My welder has a sheet metal brake, I wonder what someone would charge to make some?

Diebold wants $138 each. Seems a little high.

I have been thinking more and more about getting some 2.5" x 4.5" x 22" long and cutting and welding them to size. Not ideal, but should work.

[billdeserthills]

I think you'll need a spot welder, I suppose you could braze or silver solder them together-- I have used pop rivets to hold together thin sheetmetal drawers before

[BlueLock]

Agreed. Spot welding would be the best way to go. I have no doubt that these boxes are not treated nicely by the employees. The box is something that likely gets set down hard on a table on a near-daily basis and dropped every so often. For the price of 1 new custom-made box, I can pick up a "one time use" spot welder at Harbor Freight.

Then again, pop rivets plus silver solder might work very well. Definitely a lower cost option that should hold up.

The trick to either option will be to "properly" fold the tin and keep the lid in good shape.