Vintage Safe - Combo Wrong from the Factory?

[sign216]

Picked up a vintage in-floor safe head, brand - Major. Came along w the matching in-floor body element that it fits into. The body was never installed, so this safe may have never been used. Reportedly safe was not working; the combo would not unlock and retract the bolts, even thought it came w a photocopy of the orig. factory combo sheet, w serial no. that matches the safe.

Opened up the back, tried it out, and found that the 2nd number in the sequence, was off by one digit. The sheet said "12" but it was actually 11. With 11, the safe opened fine.

Is this unusual? Is it possible that it's been messed with earlier in it's history?

Joe

[image] /image]

[image] [url=https://flic.kr/p/2n5DgUT][url=https://flic.kr/p/2n5DgUT][/image]

[Raymond]

I would doubt that it has been messed with. The factory worker who set the combo probably burped or blinked and needed a coffee break. Looks like you got a GREAT deal.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

Could have been just an error in setting the combination or recording the number... Miss Takes happen.. Those are Lagard wheels and they have been known to jump a number in the early days.

[sign216]

Yes, perhaps it was an error at the factory.

Sammy, any more info on wheels jumping a number? That could have negative consequences.

[BlueLock]

Beautiful Major door. I have always liked the machined finished on these. Hopefully, the white specs in the photo are dust and not pits.

Since that wheelpack is set with a key and manually setting the new combo using the dial, it could be set with a non-exact number. Was it actually like "11-and-a-bit"? I can see someone not being super careful and over/under-turning the dial just enough when setting the combo and be off a partial number. Perhaps yours was set by someone on a Monday or a Friday

[sign216]

Bluelock,
The correct no. was a solid 11, not 11 1/2, as opposed to the factory 12. I got it along with the in-ground safe body, unused but w storage wear. It could be this combo of lid+body was never used, because the lid wasn't reliable w the factory combo.

Although the in-ground safe body looks pretty good, this lid does show it's age. The white flecks in the photo are stains on the metal. Not pits, but they won't buff out easily.

Joe

[BlueLock]

Thanks Joe,

Weird that it would be off a full digit. It is a friction wheel, but still. I doubt it is a Major concern if you decide to use it, though. Bonus to have the tube. I would expect that most of the old tubes are surrounded by concrete.

Bummer about the little pits. The swirls will vanish rather easily if you try to sand/polish out the pits. Mine is polished up nice and shiny, but the swirls are pretty much gone for good.