Bought an old Diebold safe

[Squelchtone]

Sorry if this is in the wrong group. I just signed up so please forgive my ignorance!

I just picked up this safe today. It's missing some parts to make it lock. Where do I even start to come up with these parts? If I can't find them, I will machine new ones but would need some sort of photo to see what it's suppose to look like. Can anyone help?

Dimensions are 41-5/8" tall, 28-1/2" wide and 26" deep. Numbers on the handle are 16 and 73563.

Also can anyone help me determine the approximate age of this safe?

Photos here: https://imgur.com/a/MN0MzKZ

[Squelchtone]

moving this from This Old Lock to This Old Safe. I think I saw your post on the Facebook Safe Collectors page as well..


uploaded your photos to imgur album.. if we clicked the google docs link you posted, we give up our email address and privacy..

here is a photo of the lock for members here:


handle and dial:

[Squelchtone]

A photo or two of the entire front of the safe door in shut position and open position including corners and casters will help us get you a more accurate age, most antique safes are identified by their visual features, hinges, corners, wheels, distance from dial to handle, distance of handle to edge of door, etc.

Thank you
Squelchtone

[Squelchtone]

The part you need looks like this:

*not my lock or photos, found them on google image search







Hope this helps,
Squelchtone

[joshp14]

Holy crap thanks for the help with posting those photos! I have been looking all night and you found them in 2 sec That looks complex to machine....Perhaps I need to find parts.

Here are some more photos:

Front


Caster


Caster

[00247]

Squelchy beat me to it. I have a similar Diebold in the archives (fancy way to say in the back of the shed) that has the same lock.



If you can't find parts I would consider parting out this safe and sell the complete lock. The bolt is a complicated part to machine, with my skills anyway. PM me if you want to discuss options.

[joshp14]

Other caster photo

[Squelchtone]

I should have been clearer, sorry, the shape of the safe along with the curvy metal the castors are attached to can often help ID the brand and even narrow it down the the decade or safe model, in your case we know it's a thick wall Diebold cast iron fire safe. The actual castors are not that helpful. I should have been a lot clearer on that, you can probably edit/remove the photo on facebook, or the guys may have a good jab at you.

I don't know the age on it honestly, the lock mechanism says 1880-1900, but that's a rough guess. value wise.. in the safe market it's really what someone is willing to pay for it... anywhere from $100 to $500, perhaps up to $750 (if someone really really wanted it) in current condition, especially with the lock not being complete. If you restored it.. a couple grand to the right seller...

Squelchtone

[Kenneth_V]

That is a great looking old lock!!!

[L4R3L2]

That looks complex to machine....

Often with brass it's just easier to use a hack saw/jigsaw and files, than to machine the parts. The hard parts are still in the lock (the wheels).

[sign216]

That looks complex to machine....

Often with brass it's just easier to use a hack saw/jigsaw and files, than to machine the parts. The hard parts are still in the lock (the wheels).

I agree, I've made parts myself. But...if your time has value then it's not worth it. Has to be done as a hobby.

One option I've used is to find a hobby machinist. A guy with a few machines that does it for beer money.

Those friends are precious.

[joshp14]

I found the parts I need from a guy in Texas. I should have them within a few days!

[joshp14]

I also got a change key coming with the lock parts. One thing I am still curious about it how that change key works and what actually happens to those wheels when you change the combination. Does anyone have a video or diagram showing how it all works? All of this stuff is really fascinating to me. I checked on YouTube but can't find anything similar to my lock assembly that shows how the mechanics of how that change key operates.

[Kenneth_V]

Squelchy beat me to it. I have a similar Diebold in the archives (fancy way to say in the back of the shed) that has the same lock.



If you can't find parts I would consider parting out this safe and sell the complete lock. The bolt is a complicated part to machine, with my skills anyway. PM me if you want to discuss options.

00247
I might be interested in picking up the lock and dial for my collection if you are parting it out. PM sent as well

[L4R3L2]

I found the parts I need from a guy in Texas. I should have them within a few days!

That was fast! You sure lucked out on that one.