Cant open very old york huge safe

[trot]

Hello everyone I come to you in the need of help, I have a very old YORK Safe that came with my house, the house was build in the late 1800's by a wealthy attorney and for a while it was the largest house in town, the house came with many safes all of which have been opened throughout the years apart from this one. The previous owner told me that the safe was opened only once VERY long time ago. He did give me a set of little notes with combinations, but I cannot for the life of me open it up, could someone shed some light onto how to open this safe up, it would be greatly appreciated I could use detailed baby step by step instructions since I am very very bad with all types of locks I am including a picture of the safe and the little notes . I am really excited to see whats inside the safe hopefully lost/stolen national treasures

[Yankee]

Hi Trot,

The following is how to dial a safe combo...baby steps.

We will start with the four number combo you have.

You will be using the mark at the top of the dial ring as the indication point, this is at the 12 o'clock position.

Turn the dial to the right (clockwise) until the number 10 has passed the mark on the dial ring four times. As it approaches the mark for the fifth time slow down and come to a stop at 10.

Now turn the dial left (counter clockwise) watching the number 35. Each time the number 35 passes the top mark, that is considered a full turn. You will note that the first turn is very short due to the numbers 10 and 35 being so close. You should pass the number 35 three times, stopping the fourth time that 35 comes to the mark.

Turn the dial right watching the number 50 as it comes to the mark. Pass the mark two times, stopping at 50 the third time it comes to the mark.

Now turn the dial left watching the number 75 as it comes to the mark. Pass the mark one time, stopping at 75 the second time it comes to the mark.

Finally, turn the dial to the right slowly, as it approaches the 0 mark you may feel what is known as drop in, keep turning until the dial comes to a stop. You shouldn't be able to turn to the right anymore. If however, the dial makes it a full turn without stopping, you don't have the correct numbers, or a dialing error has happened.

Now how to dial a three number combo.

Turn the dial to the left, using the number 20 as a reference. Stop the fourth time 2 is at the top indication point.

Now turn the dial right, watching the number 95 now. Stop the third time 95 is at the mark.

Turn the dial to the left, watching the number 60 now. Stop the second time 60 is at the mark.

Turn the dial to the right slowly now, as you approach the 0 mark you may feel the drop in. Keep turning until the dial comes to a stop and you can't turn it anymore. If these are the correct numbers your lock is now open. You can turn the safe handle and see the great things you have just set free.

Best of luck to you.

If you have any questions at all, just ask... I'm sure one of us on here will have the answer.

[Yankee]

Sorry Trot....

I goofed, on the second dialing sequence that should have been a 20, instead of a 2.

[trot]

Thank you will try now!

[trot]

UPDATE: No dice, tried both of the combos neither of them seemed to work. I tried them several times, I even let two other people try it. Im guessing the numbers left for this safe arent for this safe at all!! Now what are my options of opening it up without damaging the safe, is it possible? I would think it would be easy since its over 100 years old.

[Yankee]

Hi Trot,
Well you gave it a great try. As for your options, you should hire a qualified safe/vault tech. to open it for you. I wouldn't say that it would be easy to open, even as you say it's 100 years old. You are asking that no damage be done to the safe, that my friend, just limited you to a very few of us in the industry. The talent needed to open the safe by feel is rare, and those that truly can do it, charge appropriately. From my point of view, you do not have a rare safe on your hands. If you find a good safe / vault tech. with a fiber optic scope, they should be able to open it with just one little 3/8" hole near the dial. That hole could then be patched and you would have a fine working safe. You can look up a safe tech on the SAVTA web site.

Best of luck

[wylk]

It looks like the one visible wheel is set at 50. One common factory combination is simply 50, and this is sometimes used when a lock is being taken out of service. In the case of a 4-wheel lock, turn right several turns and stop at 50; then turn left until the dial stops at which point the lock should be unlocked. Details of the dialing sequence might be different for older locks.

Certainly the combination can be changed but let's concentrate on getting it working first!

[Doug MacQueen]

Hey, I hear where you are coming from as manipulation has always been my first choice too. But ever since a collector had me X-ray a safe because I failed to manipulate it and he didn't want it drilled, I get touchy with anti-drill people. Don't get me wrong, X-raying was an interesting experience but it generally isn't feasible in the day to day work. Another example of the NO drill attitude was found in Tombstone AZ. There is a big Corliss cannonball sitting outside the Courthouse there with no dials on it. I told them I would drill the thing open, for free as I was researching the Corliss safes on a cross country trip. They said if I wanted to open it, I would have to supply the dial and manipulate the lock (S&G No. 2-1/2 Automatic 4 wheel manipulation resistant), because the safe was an historical artifact and it couldn't be damaged. A big cast iron ball sitting outside with no dials, no paint and few would even recognize it as even being a safe and they didn't want it damaged. Idiots.

[beckville]

A good friend of mine recently purchased an old bank built in 1908. There is a York co. Vault door that is open but locked. We've taken the back off the combination dial and it seems like all for numbers are the set the same. By looking at these pictures can anyone tell us what the numbers are actually Set at and how to unlock it. Maybe even tell me if we can reset the lock with our own numbers thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope there is someone out there who can help instead of telling us to contact a professional. Thanks

[wylk]

Finally, turn the dial to the right slowly, as it approaches the 0 mark you may feel what is known as drop in, keep turning until the dial comes to a stop. You shouldn't be able to turn to the right anymore.

I beg to differ on this last operation. It is correct for contemporary combination locks, but older ones (e.g. friction fence a.k.a. roller fence Yale), you turn to the right to allow the fence drop into the gate, but after you get to zero, you turn around and dial left until it stops. Try that and let us know.