Mosler Cannonball Safe (Parts Missing)

[djed]

Just bought the safe pictured in the attached:

https://imgur.com/FHk2Yu6
https://imgur.com/jY9QEOt
https://imgur.com/3m5XNOU

It was rusting away in the desert.

It's missing the dial and handle (which may turn up later, but no guarantees).

It ended up being too heavy for me to move (or even stand up for that matter). I'm getting quotes of $400+ to move it

Should I walk away from my $150 purchase price (a sunk cost) or ???

[74TR6]

From whom are you getting quotes to move the safe? I was looking at a cannonball style of about the same size and talked with a local, independent wrecker service. He offered to move safe with rollback for $100 or less. Distance was 20 miles round trip. Have you talked to a service with a rollback?

Nice looking project. When you get it moved, post plenty of pictures of your resto work

[djed]

70 miles each way. Those are quotes from a transport company with a roll off.

[Squelchtone]

some fun pictures of safes being moved/removed, and your cannonball may be 6000 lbs like the one in this page: http://heavyweightsafeandvault.com/gallery.html

[djed]

Before I left the safe in the desert, I harvested some of the parts "to protect my investment". A few of the parts are stamped 88-1. Does that mean anything to you guys?

[cledry]

Before I left the safe in the desert, I harvested some of the parts "to protect my investment". A few of the parts are stamped 88-1. Does that mean anything to you guys?

87?

[djed]

Very clever Jim.

I was thinking model number but I appreciate the math lesson.

[kwoswalt99-]

At that price I'd find a way to get it home for sure.

[djed]

Well - for a $370 transport fee, the safe got delivered to the street in front of my house.

https://imgur.com/obW55TE
https://imgur.com/G8XXzmx
https://imgur.com/GoMWl8e

We almost lost it on the way off the truck but the driver figured it out and actually stood it on its wheels.

https://imgur.com/dx88V2X

As the driver drove away, I was left with the scary thought of getting it up my driveway.

https://imgur.com/fsObjXU

With some patience, some recovery straps, a winch, and the never-say-can't attitude my parents instilled in me, I worked the beast up my sloped driveway.

https://imgur.com/6wX2BRm

And here it sits.

https://imgur.com/g391dHP

The top seems like it's going to open but the bottom is locked. The dial barely spins.

I'm going to need to build a wooden platform for the top before I open it in case the hinge has trouble.

Shall I continue updates in this thread or start a new one?

[Mighty]

Continue in this one- I'm going to subscribe. I've got to see this happen.

[billdeserthills]

Your wife must be one sweet, gullible lady & I admire those qualities in a mate.
Do you own a metal lathe, or was that on the short list?
I mean, I can't imagine where you'll find the parts you'll need?

[Squelchtone]

turn to right to open. spray a penetrant like PB Blaster the hole where the missing 5H locks bolt would extend into in case the mechanism is stuck or dry

[djed]

Thank you. That door (the big round one) opens but I've taken the hinges off to clean and grease them so I don't dare open the door or it (all 800 lbs of it) will fall out and crush me. I'll get it cleaned up, reassembled, build a safety platform just in case, and then open it. I'm hoping to find missing pieces inside. I must say that notwithstanding the rust, Mosler did a great job greasing every single part (which made the removal of the pieces much easier).

[jbrint]

That thing is awesome. I am also subscribing to this.

[djed]

Your wife must be one sweet, gullible lady & I admire those qualities in a mate.
Do you own a metal lathe, or was that on the short list?
I mean, I can't imagine where you'll find the parts you'll need?

Yes. She even helped with the blocking when I had to readjust the winch and recovery straps.

I knew I was going to have a problem if the Mosler 5h lock is not hiding inside. I'm not worried about the plate - my sense is that will be easily fabricated. It will also give me a chance to have some cool design etched into whatever I have to fabricate.

The other problem is the crank to open the top. For now, I can use my 3/4" drive socket wrench with a 3/4" to 1" adapter. However, I'll need to get creative on that one. I think all the other parts are there.

I am a novice and welcome any and all suggestions.