Review: HPC, Inc Safe and Vault Manual

[Jacob Morgan]

HPC, Inc Safe and Vault Manual, copyright 1948 by W.J. Wright, no ISBN, 8 1/2" X 11", 221 pages.

A few notes right off the bat:

1) if buying a used copy, be aware that this book (like many, if not all, of the safe books of the era) require a separate key to figure out the drill points and illustration numbers. If that used copy does not include that sheet, then the illustration numbers and drill points may not make any sense. There were multiple printings, and it is unsure if different printings used different keys.

2) the copyright was 1948--there were many printings, a note in my book says the sixteenth printing was in 1991, but it looks like it has not been updated since 1948. For the more recent printings it looks like someone goes down to the local Kinkos and has a batch spiral bound. There were a lot of different safe manufacturers in that era and this book goes into them. But, that was almost 70 years ago. And of course it does not have anything to do with electronic locks.

3) this was before the era of micro-drilling, where bore scopes are used, after drilling a small hole, to preferably allow one to spin the dial so the safe can open normally before that tiny hole is repaired. In this book 3/8" is a common drill size. Presumably everything in the book works, but perhaps given micro-drilling and bore scopes these days, a better method might be had in some cases? In the olden days, locksmiths where probably more likely to drill and punch locks.

Leaving aside what it is not, what it is is probably the best source readily available on all the old safes in circulation. It goes over how to figure out what safe one has, and then how to open it. Also how to change the combination.

Contents:
1. Combination Changing Principles (hand, screw, and key)
2. Opening Safes Mainly drilling, after one figured out what safe they were dealing with.
3. Time Locks
4. "Try Out" Combinations Lists of the standard factory combinations. For example, J. Baum Safe Co had 4 factory combinations, and maybe no one ever changed the combination? So if the owner can not remember the combo, and does not know that it was ever changed, try those 4 combos before drilling holes in things.
5. Identifying Safes This would be valuable to someone working on old safes--one of the first steps would be to figure out what make and model of safe one had. Not all safes have the maker name and model number on them, or name plates could have been painted over, lost, etc. Given the shape of the handle, the hinges, size and style of casters, color scheme, etc., it might be possible to determine the make and model. But note that for 70+ year old safes, casters could have been removed, hinges altered, the safe repainted, etc.
6. Combination Changing A surprisingly long section, nearly 100 pages of factory instructions on how to change combinations on what looks like every combination lock in existence at the time.

The opening part is probably what most people are interested in. As is apparently typical of this era, it has instructions on how to neutralize nitroglycerin left over from a failed burglary attempt. The how to open each specific safe part is fairly brief, about a paragraph per safe that mentions the preferred method of attack, a drill point to use, etc., but it goes over a great number of safes.

My impression of it is that it would be almost mandatory for someone who collects or works on old safes. It is more than just a list of drill points, it goes into trouble shooting, the all-important identification of safes, and how to change their combinations. This list price of this book is fairly high ($60+), and for a locksmith who wants to get into opening common safes these days there might be other books that would be a better deal. I am not a safe technician, and comments from any of the people here who do work on safes would be very welcome.

[billdeserthills]

As a locksmith and safe opener who also owns this book I would suggest that the two books published by the National Locksmith
and put together by Dave McOmie on Antique Safes would be a better use of your money, if you do intend to open safes
Just my opinion, not trying to harsh on your mellow

[willinchicago]

Jacob, Bill, or anyone with a copy of this book:

Would anyone be willing to share the 4 factory combinations used by the J Baum Safe Co? It would be greatly appreciated. I only have one safe to crack and it's an antique J Baum one.

Thank you in advance!

Will

[GWiens2001]

Looking in my copy (4th printing, 1971), it does not list the factory combinations. At least not where I am looking.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Jacob, Bill, or anyone with a copy of this book:

Would anyone be willing to share the 4 factory combinations used by the J Baum Safe Co? It would be greatly appreciated. I only have one safe to crack and it's an antique J Baum one.

Thank you in advance!

Will

stand by. I'll see if I can dig them up, I think I owe someone else an email of common factory combos.

... a few minutes later....

nope, no dice on Baum or J Baum factory combos in my usual source, I also have the HPC book somewhere downstairs, hang on....

[Squelchtone]

Looking in my copy (4th printing, 1971), it does not list the factory combinations. At least not where I am looking.

Gordon

I have the same book, is yours 85 pages? IF so it is not the same book as being reviewed by Jacob, ours is the combination changing manual. Also have the 4th printing 1971. sanity check: p31 is for Mosler R 1 0 1 hand change lock.

[willinchicago]

Looking in my copy (4th printing, 1971), it does not list the factory combinations. At least not where I am looking.

Gordon

I have the same book, is yours 85 pages? IF so it is not the same book as being reviewed by Jacob, ours is the combination changing manual. Also have the 4th printing 1971. sanity check: p31 is for Mosler R 1 0 1 hand change lock.

Thank you both for checking!

Maybe Jacob or someone with the different book will take a look and see if theirs does include it.

I appreciate the time and energy you both spent. Thank you again!

Will

[Jacob Morgan]

Page 92, 1991 16th printing.

There are:

4 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co. Safe

5 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co. Chest, Y&T Lock

4 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co Safe, Y&T Lock

6 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe - Chest - Vault X type lock (not Y&T)

[willinchicago]

Page 92, 1991 16th printing.

There are:

4 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co. Safe

5 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co. Chest, Y&T Lock

4 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe Co Safe, Y&T Lock

6 tryouts for a J. Baum Safe - Chest - Vault X type lock (not Y&T)

Jacob,

Thank you for checking. It's definitely not a chest but I'm not sure which lock it is. Would you be kind enough to let me know the 8 tryouts? You can certainly PM them if you don't want to post them in the forum.

I greatly appreciate this.

Will

[74TR6]

Have two copies of this book; from an '83 printing, p92: J. Baum Safe Co

L-4: 10-63-42-91
R-3: 29-19-90-27
L-2: 30-28-63-87
R-1: -3--3--0-43

R-4:30-35-40
L-3: 20-25-30
R-2:50-40-40
L- to stop at "0"

These are not listed as "coded" data

The code sheet information is the same for both printings I have. Previous post referenced possible change in the coded method by printings

[Squelchtone]

Have two copies of this book; from an '83 printing, p92: J. Baum Safe Co

L-4: 10-63-42-91
R-3: 29-19-90-27
L-2: 30-28-63-87
R-1: -3--3--0-43

R-4:30-35-40
L-3: 20-25-30
R-2:50-40-40
L- to stop at "0"

Am I understanding correctly that you read these in columns going down, so the 1st combo is actually:

L4: 10
R3: 29
L2: 30
R1: 3

Thanks
Squelchtone

[74TR6]

Yes, vertical is correct. Copied directly from data given; all are presented this way

[willinchicago]

Thank you, 74TR6! Looks like the dealer helped my relative change the combination on this, so unfortunately these did not work. It was certainly worth a try!