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How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Forgot how to dial the combination on that old safe? Think you got the right numbers but the handle is stuck? What safe should you buy? Ask your safe questions here!
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You are posting this in This Old Safe, a public area of the forum.

Safe manipulation discussion is allowed, but safe drilling or other destructive entry is only allowed in the Advanced - Safes and Safe Locks area.

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How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Postby CapnKelly » 7 May 2020 2:19

I am trying to date my Gary Safe Co. floor safe. I have not seen another lid with the same tags as mine on line anywhere. The safe lid does NOT have a re-locker.
https://i.ibb.co/J35ZtGx/030.jpg
The (13) In the company address refers to District 13 Los Angeles. Underwriters Laboratories was not able to help me as the safe is "too old".
The writing transcription from the 2 tags on the lid are as follows:
Tag #1: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. INSPECTED TOOL RESISTING SAFE T-20 BURGLARY 43073
Tag #2: MFG. BY GARY SAFE CO. LOS ANGELES (13)
The safe body has the following markings:
3073 (stamped on the rim)
60 (cast into the steel container)
what appears to be the letter "K" within a diamond (cast into the steel container), this could be a letter "V" with an underscore instead of letter "K"?
Would love to get some expert opinion on this floor safe as I have read several posts re: Gary lids and Titan and Titan II lids.
CapnKelly
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 7 May 2020 1:53

Re: How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Postby bitbuster » 7 May 2020 9:29

The '13' in address means it is pre-1963 (Zip Codes).
"I dream of a world where, chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned". Ralph Waldo Emerson
bitbuster
 
Posts: 329
Joined: 6 Aug 2009 14:46
Location: NW Wis

Re: How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Postby Publius » 9 May 2020 12:24

Reinforcing that pre-1963 date based on the ZIP, I did find a sale record for a similar-looking Gary Safe Co. floor safe that had a "Manual of Burglary Insurance" label on the inside of the door dated Nov. 2, 1960.
Publius
 
Posts: 28
Joined: 5 May 2020 15:31
Location: Connecticut (USA)

Re: How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Postby CapnKelly » 10 May 2020 12:46

Some of the clues are that my safe has 2 square shaped tags on the lid, the first being the UL tag and possible serial number:
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. TOOL RESISTING SAFE T-20 BURGLARY 43073
MFG. BY GARY Safe CO. LOS ANGELES (13)
The 43073 has been stamped onto the UL tag, the safe housing lip itself has been stamped 3073 to match the lid stamp (missing the leading 4).
The other lids I have seen with Gary on them are more pentagon shaped and show:
GARY SAFE CO. LOS ANGELES (21) ##### <-LEFT RIGHT ->
GARY SAFE CO. LOS ANGELES CITY OF INDUSTRY ##### <-LEFT RIGHT ->
TITAN MFG. BY GARY SAFE CO. LOS ANGELES SERIAL ##### LEFT\ /RIGHT
TITAN II MFG. BY GARY SAFE CO. ##### <-LEFT RIGHT->
Where ##### is the possible serial number in all cases above
Another clue is that my safe does NOT have a re-locker mechanism so may pre-date the other safes?
I am currently having the spindle and drive cam professionally milled but I still have the original pieces as well.
Any further insights on dating this would be greatly appreciated.
CapnKelly
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 7 May 2020 1:53

Re: How old is my Gary in-floor safe?

Postby CapnKelly » 10 May 2020 13:06

https://i.imgur.com/REXnryr.jpg
Above picture is the safe housing
BTW - Los Angeles (13) and Los Angeles (21) refer to the districts. The addresses were:
(13) - 530 Stanford Ave
(21) - 1020 Crocker St
City of Industry - 306 9 Ave
CapnKelly
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 7 May 2020 1:53


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