E. I. Petite French safe

[Raymond]

Does anyone have any info on a safe like this. Sorry, no pictures yet. The name is: E. I. Petite, a French safe. It has four dials marked with letters instead of numbers, plus a multi-lever key lock. It was made in the 1800's. I need to figure out what is going on inside in order to manipulate it open.

I know you have heard this before: "We always just used the key. My wife asked what these knobs are for and spun them." And, yeah, the safe is locked.

[Squelchtone]

is that the name of the reseller or previous owner as is ofter painted on the top of old American antique safes? like E.J. Smith of New York City, but the safe is a Mosler?

Here's what sounds like yours: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/44 ... -iron-safe

[MartinHewitt]

My guess is, that it is a direct entry fence lock like this one, but with separate dials: https://eu-browse.startpage.com/av/anon ... ee0e3c12b9
Unfortunately it is only possible to view photos with an account or a search engine. If you can understand French you might get a login at https://forum.serrurerie.info and ask there if you need to.

When it is working like that it is similar to the three/four wheel combination locks. So I would try to ... No, my lips are glued together!

[Raymond]

Yes, The one I am looking for info on is very similar. It was made before 1900. It has similar four combo dials and the key lock on the left. The name is on a raised, molded, brass plaque at the top similar to personalized owner labels. When I saw the safe it was in the back of a car where I could not even read the plaque. That is why I have no pictures. I took off the bottom lock to make a key because the lock was broken. I have completed it and can reinstall tomorrow when I call the owner. The springs on two of the three levers had come out of the lever. They had been worked on before but not very well. I made one new spring and put both back on. I then filed a brass key that works perfectly. The key they were using was a very bad approximation. It only worked because the two levers stayed up in place.

Now I will continue looking for how the combo wheels work so I can maybe manipulate it. Later.

[femurat]

I think the mechanism is like mine, except it has knobs instead of asterisk shaped holes.

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=63238

I've heard this combo lock can be manipulated with a stethoscope.

Cheers