Question from Paris

[Paris by night]

Hi guys, i often come on this forum not for the "picking" but for details of antique american safes, my favorites ones. i have a lot of english and french antiques safes and only 2 american safes on wheels. now achieve the restauration of the second and do not have details on the manufacturer or build year. i posted on euro forum and sent this request to safe's specialist in US without reply.
measurement are :
25 3/4 650mm high
16.5 420mm wide
17.5 440mm depth
combination marked 1 to 100
58028 engrave on the handle.

i will be happy with exact detail consequently apply the matching decal on the front door.

merci beaucoup.
[image]

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[MartinHewitt]

Because of the handle and wheels I think it is a Baum safe. Can you show a photo of the lock and bolt work?

[bitbuster]

Appears to be a Baum.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

J. Baum....

The hinges match and the handle is a dead give away. Baum has a very distinct handle shape and the flat on the front is not seen on many other safes.

[femurat]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm impressed by the quality of your restoration job. Chapeau!

That said, the safe in the original picture had no handle. So the one we see in the other pictures may not be the original one.

I also like the two wedges you put around the wheels to prevent the safe from rolling around.

Cheers

[Dyonzi]

The restoration looks very nicely done

[Paris by night]

Awesome, thanks guys for reply, the fastest ever ! happy if it will be a Baum. the handle is the original one, no question, i removed all the parts and they are matching parts inside stamped with the same number.
so just waiting confirmation on manufacturer and idea on the period product.

merci beaucoup

[image][/image]

[MartinHewitt]

That is definitely a Baum.

[MartinHewitt]

I have a question. Can you in the locked state lift the heavy end of the lock's lever far enough up to retract the bolt work?

[Squelchtone]

I have a question. Can you in the locked state lift the heavy end of the lock's lever far enough up to retract the bolt work?

I do not think so, because the bottom of the nose would hit the insulation material under it. see how the lever is angled? when the lever is in locked position and pointing against the bolt work like this ] [ the left side of the lever would already be bottomed out and turning the handle woulndt go far, maybe a mm or two, but not enough to clear the right side of the lever above the bolt work.

Squelchtone

[MartinHewitt]

Apparently in the early Baums this was possible and I don't know what an early Baum is.

[Paris by night]

Thanks for confirmation, No way Martin. I take some measure on my safes during restauration to be able to open without severe destroy in the case or locks fail and for this one this is impossible. Even with endoscope hard to be on the right angle. Very confined mechanism so a brutal attack will block the system.
Just hope this kind of combination are reliable !

[GWiens2001]

Beautifully done. It takes an artist to do a restoration as great as that.

Gordon

[MartinHewitt]

Stephane, where do you get all these US safes in France? Do you get them from abroad? Or were they exported to France already long time ago? A friend got a tiny US safe here in Germany. That was brought after WWII by an US soldier to Germany. He bought it then from the widow.

[Paris by night]

Martin, i bought a small Victor (the smaller made by victor in fact) by chance on a local advertisement. the second Victor and this Baum by a friend from Canada. My friend made his move from Canada to France last year so very lucky because stay room in the container. unfortunately as you know they are pretty rare here and i probably never have again an opportunity to buy antique US safe. with the english Milners safes they are the coolest in my opinion.