Yale Combination Safe Lock 1800s

[KenBass3]

I have rescued this beauty from being trashed, took my buddy and I an amazing feat to move it. Weighs at least 900-1000+ lbs.
The Dial Photo shows 4 dates of patents for the Yale and Towne Safe Combination Lock. The distance from the center of handle to center of dial is 4-1/2”. I don’t have the combination and it is locked unfortunately. I am going to have a stethoscope in a couple days.

Would love any information on the type of lock Yale and Towne would have used in that specific time era / patent dates ranging from 1882 to 1884. to determine what model lock it is. I am thinking the combination will be Counterclockwise Left 4th time to # the clockwise 3rd time on #, CL 2nd time. and then clockwise until i stop at a number? or is this a keep turning until pressure? Not sure exactly, let’s see what you guys can do

[MartinHewitt]

Good catch! I think the most likely is a Yale OB(B) with a gravity fence, which has 3 or 4 wheels and works from the user's perspective like a normal modern lock with 4L-3R-2L-R to stop or 5R-4L-3R-2L-R to stop. Also not unlikely is the Yale HE with 3 wheels. This has a fence, that is pushed up by the bolt work. So the dial will not stop unless the handle is turned. The lock suggests a preferred final left turn, so the reverse of the OB(B), but I doubt the direction is that significant. The sequence would be 4R-3L-2R-1L stopping at the number of the drive cam gate and then turning the handle, or 4R-3L-2R, then turning the handle and holding a light torque with a final L to stop at which the handle is free to turn.

[KenBass3]

Thanks! Would anyone have images or patent blueprints for combo safe locks such as the HE and OB ?

[MartinHewitt]

This is a Yale HE: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155905697752

[MartinHewitt]

And this is the OB(B): https://patents.google.com/patent/US533 ... q=US533753

[KenBass3]

The handle is facing downward. Would applying pressure to the right or left be better? And is applying pressure to the combo dial outward or inward helpful? I feel like pressure outward may be better but not sure

[MartinHewitt]

I think on the OB(B) you have to turn the handle clockwise to open the safe, but don't put any tension on it for manipulation as it will grab and hold the gravity lever.

On the HE the handle opening direction is ccw. You will have to apply tension there to feel anything during the manipulation. The dial will tell you if you have the correct direction.

If it is better to push or pull the dial or if it is even helpful depends usually on the specific lock in front of you and you will have to find it out yourself.

[jimdoc]

This is a Yale HE: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155905697752

I guess I should talk at my friends at the scrap yard to save me the doors off any old safes they get.

I should have done that already, but seeing those prices made me realize they would be worth hanging onto.

[KenBass3]

So i got stethoscope yesterday and some time. Started to tinker. I am finding with like 3-6 numbers where the cam driver grabs onto the flywheels and picks them up on my initial left turning x4. I believe i’m picking up 3. and 2 and close to each other.

Feel wise i feel a tightness when i get to a certain number. almost a noise of something dropping or idk. then afterwards it starts to feel very loose. not sure if this is the cam picking wheels up or if it’s the opening on the wheels. If not the opening is the distance or locations of the opening for lock related to the cam picking up the flywheels? also i tried applied a bungee cord on handle going counter clockwise. also tried other direction. and with out. Feel like i’m almost there, next up going to learn graphing to isolate 2 numbers

Also the first number it gets tight on. would that be the last number for the code. or first? or has no correlation to its place?

[KenBass3]

also started to research drilling. as i’m realizing that due to the age and no one has touched it for over 20 years. it may not operate fully. i know the piece that goes into the wheels or discs is supposed to be on the bottom. so figured id tap in (at least a week away minimum want to try cracking for awhile. if exhausting all options there, then i have more tools than necessary and experience with tools.
I assume location is right where metal
bezel around the dial meeting the front safe wall on bottom or left. or in between

[MartinHewitt]

Drilling is nothing we discuss here.

[KenBass3]

Got it OPEN!!! Ended up being the OB style locke but with 4 wheels and cam. also not sure if it’s how it’s set up or if it’s because it needs some lube and TLC…. essentially the correct method involved turning 5 full rotations to first number to pick all 4 wheels. and then the cam or driver is at approx. 0-2. typically at 0 which could be changed by a piece that is inside of can wheel and has teeth to move placement if desired, and note they all have a tiny amount of play. So in order to open, regardless of what way i start CW or CCW turn full 5 rotations to number 49-51. and then the opposite direction to 0. at which point jiggle handle (handle needed to be turned clockwise to open. First time i did it i did CW as final turn and it stopped at 0. Sometimes it doesn’t hard stop at 0 and needs handle jiggled first. Also pretty sure applying pressure to handle while manipulating didn’t help much given i had tension in the wrong direction lol.

Regardless, i want to clean up the mechanisms and make this is better functioning safe that when o started. I can clean and lube wheels but once I do, do i change around the location of wheels to change combo? I don’t like how it’s so easy to open. And want to return it to requiring the full 4 numbers and sequences, where right now they all pretty much auto align once turning dial 5 times in either direction. then i jsut reverse until cam driver lines up and viola. it’s open.

[KenBass3]

[image][/image]

[Kaesekopf]

Congratulations! Nice to see you got it open