Social Distancing Project Time! Mosler Safecracking!

[GalloMachisimo]

Hello all! What with the world going crazy about covid-19, I figure I'll have a little more time on my hands here at home. So I thought I'd put some attention on a project that hasn't been getting it's due. When my wife and I bought our home about three years ago, we inherited a small, built-in Mosler safe. We found it with the note shown in the picture.

It's a little shocking that curiosity hasn't gotten the better of me before now. But now that I have some time on my hands, I'm quite curious what might be in it, gold doubloons? cash? some worthless paperwork from the previous owner? nothing? I feel like Geraldo!

In any case, I'm an IT guy, so I was thinking of building a brute force cracker. That's the kind of geek project I'd actually enjoy. However, before entertaining that idea, I thought that I might see if there's a better way to do it. Also, I figure I should probably learn as much as I can about how this model might work, so that I'm not coding for a 4-number combination if it's 3, etc. Also, since there is no "lever' per se, does it require some sort of dial turn to retract the locking mechanism, etc.

There is a number stamped on the dial below the Mosler stamp, which is 9246-10 which according to the information I've found puts the manufacture date in late 1946. This actually predates the house that it's in by 19 years.

Any information you can provide would be most appreciated!

[MartinHewitt]

I really wondered why there are not many people appearing here to spend their social distancing with a nice solitary task. Now, you are the first!

The paper is really cute. If you want to build an autodialer you need to know how many wheels, where the lever drops in, which direction, that an autodialer puts a lot of stress on the lock and that it is usually not used on a 4-wheel lock because of that and the time it takes.

[GalloMachisimo]

Hey Martin. Thanks for the reply! I hadn't considered the wear and tear that sort amount of turning might have on a 74 year old safe. I was more thinking that sort sort of programmable robot cracker was something in my skill set whereas lock manipulation may be beyond my capacity. I had tonsil cancer in 2017/2018 (get your kids HPV vaccinated. soapbox out). So I now have neuropathy in my fingertips and tinnitus. So feeling and listening for subtleties of the wheel turn with numb fingers and constant ringing in my ears might be tricky! Though I'm open for other methods. I mean sure, I could always call a locksmith and who can hopefully figure it out/drill it, but where's the fun in that? I figure if I open it, it's going to be empty. If I leave it for the next owner, there will be a fortune in it. ROFL

[MartinHewitt]

You are lucky if you can find a dead spider in there.

In this safe there can be one of a lot of different models of locks. Some are more easy to manipulate and some less. The easier locks might be a possibility for you even with your neuropathy. You can check if you can feel something from this lock. But in this forum safe lock manipulation can't be discussed in the public part (rule 19B). So I can't help you here.

Regarding mechanism ... In these small safes the door is directly locked by the bolt of the lock or by an extension of it. So there is no separate handle required.

[bitbuster]

Yes, it can be one of several locks. My hunch is that it may be the B-101 mounted RH. If you don't want to manipulate, then get out your drill rig. Drill at xxxx and transfer to drop-in. Good luck.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

Looks it may be re-purposed as a wall safe. I remember those being cladded in concrete to make them heavier or used as inner compartment safes.

For its age it is in excellent condition!

[L4R3L2]

Remember! Unless you're in a vacuum, there's no such thing as an "empty" safe!

Yours looks similar to this circa 1950-51 Mosler burglary safe.


This is the B-103 lock, which is almost identical to the B-101. The wheel pack is mounted to the cover. They usually manipulate nicely.


Beware of drilling. Don't breathe the dust. Most of these were lined with asbestos for fire resistance. As an illustration, the plates lining this Mosler are asbestos.


I don't condone drilling a perfectly usable safe. If you drill it, be prepared to regret it, especially if there's nothing valuable inside. There's no shortage of locksmiths that like to play dentist. Safes don't like the dentist any more than you probably do.

[MartinHewitt]

Excellent analogy!