found a locked box embedded in the foundation of my house

[vince_glortho]

In a remarkable coincidence, I got a call from my folks yesterday saying that they were remodelling my mother's office and when they ripped out the floor, they found a safe cemented into the foundation of the building. They're in a hurry to continue with the project and are telling me that they're actually planning to seal it in another layer of concrete within a few days. I haven't seen the thing with my own eyes yet, but I had them read off the make and model number for me. The manufacturer was a company called "Major Safe Company of Los Angeles", SN 5445, Model K?625DD, where ? is either a 1, l, or I, they're not sure. I did some really quick research and discovered that the company was bought out in '97 (I think) by American Security Products Inc. This "safe" is apparently a cylindrical thing that you stick a key in, turn, and rotate the cylinder to lift it up. They tell me there is no combination component to it, it's just a lock and key.

So I'm not necessarily looking for advice on how to pick it so much as how to proceed. Is there an organized compendium out there mapping manufacturers to lock types that I should consult and see if I can pick it? Should I save the time and effort and call a locksmith? Has anyone had any experience with one of these boxes? Any advice would be appreciated.

(And yes, I've tried the search function on these pages. Unfortunately, "major", "safe", and "company" are words that are used quite a bit in these forums and a search for them brings back a whole lot of great info that I'm not looking for

Thanks a bunch!

PS: This is a lot of fun. I feel like the main character in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Gold Bug"

[UWSDWF]

call a locksmith...

[RangerF150]

Agreed!
You got a couple of days to figure out how to open a safe, not going to happen. Again you get the correct tools and learn how to use them the safe will be safe, safely burried under concrete!
In addition, the mere mentioning of safes in the open forums is not allowed, so you have to join the advanced forums before you will get any advice on how to open it, that's going to take some time.
Therefore the above brief, but to the point advice given by our illustrious member UWSDWF is indeed sound advice

[blake1803]

1) Call a locksmith (or rather, call a few) for the reasons Ranger mentioned above

2) Be sure to keep us updated on what gets found in that thing!

[Raccoon]

I would advize the folks to cement around it. There's no reason to destroy a perfectly useful floor safe.

I've never heard of someone cementing OVER an existing foundation, but to each their own. At least block off that area with a metal slab that can be later lifted from the new layer of cement.

People pay good money for this sort of feature in an office!

[raimundo]

another possibility is to pull it out and fill the hole. Floor safes by major may be dial operated, you mention picking it, but are you sure its got keyed tumblers?

[HeadHunterCEO]

is there any rust on it?

[samfishers]

if it got a keyhole, it must have been cemented so you would have to drill it i guess!

[UWSDWF]

what the f are you on their fish?

[TOWCH]

Seriously, cement around it. It takes 10 minutes or so to build a form for the opening and well worth the effort. It will make them good money if they sell the house.

[vince_glortho]

Sorry to leave ya'll hanging, it's been a really busy week. So I convinced them to call a locksmith. He came and drilled out the lock, saying something about a secondary lock that would have tripped if it were drilled in the wrong spot (my mom isn't too interested in the technical details and didn't really pay much attention), and left it in a state where the lock can be replaced. I also convinced them not to pave over it. In fact, they've suddenly decided they have a use for it

As for what was in it.....a 3" piece of yellow yarn. That's it. Ah well, $190 bucks is a small price to pay for the thrill of the hunt, especially when it's Mom and Dad's money. Didn't really expect to find any treasure anyway.

Still haven't seen this thing. I'm heading up there this weekend and I'll have a look at it then, but it's somehow not quite as exciting any more.

[vikeif]

Sorry to leave ya'll hanging, it's been a really busy week. So I convinced them to call a locksmith. He came and drilled out the lock, saying something about a secondary lock that would have tripped if it were drilled in the wrong spot (my mom isn't too interested in the technical details and didn't really pay much attention), and left it in a state where the lock can be replaced. I also convinced them not to pave over it. In fact, they've suddenly decided they have a use for it

As for what was in it.....a 3" piece of yellow yarn. That's it. Ah well, $190 bucks is a small price to pay for the thrill of the hunt, especially when it's Mom and Dad's money. Didn't really expect to find any treasure anyway.

Still haven't seen this thing. I'm heading up there this weekend and I'll have a look at it then, but it's somehow not quite as exciting any more.

a 3" long piece of yarn or a 3" diameter yarn ball?

I have a feeling that it was either part of a scavenger hunt thingy or the last owner of the place had an amazing sense of humor

[Wolfe]

If you could take a picture of it i would like to see it. Its a pretty nice find you have. you made a good choice not to cement over it.

[WOT]

any update?

[zeke79]

Good job convincing them to keep it. It will come in very handy for securing documents etc and as TOWCH stated it will add some value to the house when or if they every decide to sell it.