Interesting US safelock

**Tom Gordon** · 03-09-10 08:17 AM

This is off an old US safe-anyone any ideas which make?

**Tom Gordon** · 03-09-10 08:22 AM

external piccie

**Tom Gordon** · 04-09-10 06:30 PM

With a key mechanism like this, someone must know?!

**Brian Morland** · 05-09-10 12:19 AM

Well Tom it looks like a Bramah, 7 sliders to the bit, but is it a genuine one or a copy. The key is not original, does it have cuts in it? The body certainly looks American (cast iron). Perhaps the cylinders were sold to the lock/safemaker. How do you know the safe is American? Is it the wheels...

**Tom Gordon** · 05-09-10 01:05 PM

I guessed that it was american from the design, the wheels and the clue that the owner is in America

**Brian Morland** · 05-09-10 07:10 PM

It seems that several lockmakers in the US made Bramah style locks, including Eagle, Russell & Irwin and Linus Yale Jr, whose patent was taken out after his death by the administrator of his estate – US patent 95,865 dated October 12, 1869. Will keep digging… Unless someone else gets there first!

**Doug MacQueen** · 07-09-10 09:32 PM

The safe is a Jos. L. Hall fire safe of Cincinatti, Ohio. There is a similar safe here in Cleveland also sporting that keylock on the inner door although in this case the keylock has been drilled down the keyhole. Hall usually used their own locks so it is unknown who the made that keylock. I believe they were also used on very early Diebold Bahmann safes too. Doug

**Tom Gordon** · 07-09-10 09:46 PM

Many thanks Doug

**matty** · 08-01-11 03:05 AM

Hi,
Thanks for posting that! It seemed so crazy when Doug said it had already been posted.

I have been learning a little about safe history thus far! When I first got this thing, I figured, post a pic and find out what year make and model it is, simple? It's all the name sharing that went on during that time that had me confused...

Another man I spoke with, asked me if it might be a reproduction, so I'll try to post some more pics.

The only markings I can see are the four center punch marks, and the numeral 2 on the back side of the key flap?

Really appreciate if anyone can say if it's a repo, original Brahma, or a copy?

(pics of safe are over on "antique safes and vaults" on this forum, "please help I.D. this safe")

Thanks so much,
Matt.