Great Cary Safe --- Can't work the combo

[4thGen]

I'm the fourth generation of our family business and have a Cary Safe from 1892. My Great Grandfathers. On the handle is the number:
24135 I believe.
I am trying to open. I am sure I have the right combo ... there are actually two, but confirming how the combos work. Do I spin to the right or left to clear? Is the number of times around going past it first? Etc.
How it is written on a piece of paper:

Combo One.......................Combo Two
55 1 R..............................53 R 4 X
95 4 L..............................96 L 3 X
66 3 R .............................64 R 2 X
26 2 L .............................26 L 1 X
Back to open......................91

Thank you for your help

[Squelchtone]

Hi,

Could you post a photo of the piece of paper? when you type it in, the forum software bunches everything together. (ahh I see you added .... to clean it up)

upload photo to image hosting site of your choice, or use http://imgur.com or http://tinypic.com

Thanks
Squelchtone

[4thGen]

If I did it right for the pic of the safe.

http://imgur.com/bZPPEAO

[bitbuster]

What, if anything, is written on the dial cap? If you say there is 5 numbers in the combo then that means it has 4 wheels (the wheel pack) plus a driver wheel. Does the dial bind when you apply pressure to the handle? When dialing a safe combination don't worry how many numbers you go past the "preceding" number. Once you dial each "line of the combo" that's it.

Right 4x to 53
Left 3x to 96 (don't worry about how many times you go past 53)

Right 2x to 64 ( " " " " " " " " " 96)
Left 1x to 26 ( don't worry how many times you go past 64)

Since the combo appears to have 5 numbers then try:
R 5x to ??
L 4x to ??
R 3x to ??
L 2x to ??
R 1x to ??

OR L 5x to ??
R 4x to??
L 3x to ??
R 2x to ??
L 1x to ??

[Squelchtone]

If I did it right for the pic of the safe.

http://imgur.com/bZPPEAO

Sorry, I meant I'd like to see a photo of the combination, not the actual safe. Sometimes non safe folks write the combination down in their own short hand that only makes sense to them, and its useful to see the paper to get a better handle on what they meant. Although it's good you posted the photo of the safe. I see that the door is open, which is great, you can take out the tumblers and just see what the numbers are set to.

I had envisioned a safe door with 2 dials and you had to dial in a combination on each dial, but in your photo there only seems to be a single dial, am I understanding it correctly?

Thanks
Squelchtone

[74TR6]

A picture of the dial would be a help. Anything written in center of dial---Yale or Carey? From the picture posted, my guess is a Yale. If the combination is a full five numbers, try the above post of:
L 5x to first number
R 4x to second number....(ie 96)....the fourth time 96 comes to index mark
L 3x to third number
R 2x to fourth number
L slowly to stop

Second choice would be to change the directions of each step above, starting R 5x first. The last number noted in your list reminds me of some that end turning to R

I have seen times when owner wrote the combination in reverse order, or added a constant number to each correct number.

Last query; is the back panel of the door a smooth sheet or a round disk, approx 3" diameter in center?

[4thGen]

Much thanks for ideas.
I have uploaded new pictures of the safe, dial, and inside. Also have the sheet of paper with the combo's.





This weekend I will try again.

Again, much appreciation.

[Squelchtone]

Whatever you do, don't shut the door and spin the dial.

If you remove that round cover in the back, it will become pretty self explanatory, but we can show you some photos of the combination changing process to help things along.

I'd start ignoring those written instructions, they seem to be in someone's personal "code" of how they opened it, but it doesnt make sense having them listen in 2 columns like that.

We're gonna help you make new instructions that you can safe somewhere and pass to family members for generations to come. At a minimum, ignore the left column, lets focus on the right side.

Try this:
Dial Right/Clockwise past 53 4 times and stop on the 5th time

Dial Left/Counter-clockwise past 96 3 times and stop on 96 the 4th time.

Dial Right/Clockwise past 64 2 times and stop on 64 the 3rd time.

Dial Left/Counter-clockwise past 26 1 time and stop on 26 the 2nd time.

Dial Right/Clockwise until the dial stops dead at 91, at this point the bolts should retract into the door.


Let us know when you're in front of the safe, I'll check in on this thread over the weekend.
Squelchtone

PS. Inside that chrome cover is the wheel pack, here is an example, I have tinted the combination wheel green to show the part that you pop off the central hub and reposition in order to set a new combination.

[bitbuster]

i concur with 74tr6. Yale lock. possibly a Y6.

[74TR6]

Great pictures, thanks for posting the update. Very nice Cary safe.

I also vote to ignore the confusion of the directions you have on paper. If you remove the two screws holding the silver disk, you will remove the lock pack; may need to rotate disk slightly to remove. You will find a stack of three or four brass disks as per photo posted by Squelchtone. These disks or wheels correspond to numbers in combination. If you find three disk, you have a three number plus driver number; first three are changeable, but driver (final) number is not. Driver is still in door attached to spindle.

Compare the top disk of your lock pack to green/brass photo. Numbers and increment marks are on the outer (green) section; just below the division line on the brass, you will find a small index mark by one number. That is a number of the combination. If you found four disks/wheels, and you find index at 42, the fourth number in your combination is 42. Don't try to take to lock apart yet; the other numbers can easily be read, but a little progress at a time.

Keep safe door open: With lock pack removed, turn handle to extend bolts and rotate dial. Turning dial one direction will find the final number as the dial will stop; note direct and number.

[4thGen]

This is fantastic. I think I'm going to have more fun with this project than I intended.
Will let you know how I do, and if I run into a road block.

As background, I am the 4th generation of a family printing business. I've tried hard to retain some of the memorabilia, though previous family members have not been as interested. I had 4 safes, though sold 3. They were twice as big and a bit more industrial. Moving costs to our new location were crazy. This one was manageable, and was my great grandfathers from the start of the biz . It is right next to his roll top desk, and the his desk I also use.

Again, I really appreciate the help. I didn't have any idea how to attack.

[4thGen]

Squelchtone - - - your surmise of the combo worked. Thanks.

Still want to play with the combo.

[GWiens2001]

Glad Squelchtone got it right and your safe is open. A saying about a blind mouse comes to mind.

Gordon