old still bank

**femurat** · 16-01-17, 09:24 AM

Interesting. Now I'm curious to see pictures of yours...

Cheers :)

**chubbbramah** · 18-01-17, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by femurat

Interesting. Now I'm curious to see pictures of yours...

Cheers :)

I really ought to press on with photographing and listing mine — my executors won't have any idea what they are. I did start in the 1970's, and still have those file cards but didn't know much about items then.
Sadly in my new house they are crammed into a cabinet ¼ the size they had in my old house, now I can't even see them all to count them. 'Fraid I don't have as much energy these days, and it will be quite a job to haul them out and photograph; and will they ever squeeze back in again?
Don't get excited, there is little of great interest in my accumulation.
However, meantime have a look at a page from Martins Bank archive
http://www.martinsbank.co.uk/Children's%20Savings.htm
I have several specimens of the top four type. There are minor variations, with a warded lock having 2 springbolts. I don't know how many differs there were but every one of mine differs. Some old bank might still have a key to their old Home Safes, but I've only once been lucky there.
These, and the OP's style, can be found around Europe with many variations.
This is a good antique dealer who handles locks, safes, moneyboxes ...
http://www.belowstairs.co.uk/acatalog/
used to be a subscriber when I edited the Newsletter.

Several of my book-style homesafes have makers and patents on them, which I can look for on the Internet.

**chubbbramah** · 18-01-17, 07:50 PM

Incidentally, I have a British one somewhat similar to the OP's, only part of the bottom is the door, it's heavier, and has a double shutter inside which closes the coin slot if the safe is inverted. It's 3lever key does not fit any other I have

**femurat** · 19-01-17, 11:17 AM

Unfortunately I know what you mean when you say it will be quite a job to dig them out to take pictures. Don't worry.

Thanks a lot for the very interesting links.

Cheers :)

**chubbbramah** · 31-01-17, 05:47 PM

There are two forms of oval-shaped Home Safe boxes. They were issued by banks, building societies and a few utilities. However, most utilities simply used pre-payment meters — and their padlocks are another story.With the exception of the Post Office, Lewis’s Bank, (not to be confused with the John Lewis shops), and a small number of others, most have a case with a warded lock on the top.
The more complex construction has a warded lock in the outer case, which slides over a base which carries several open tubes. The outer case has a plurality of slots for different coins. This form of oval-shaped Home Safe box is stamped on the base with the Patent Number 168 828 and is dated June 11, 1921. This patent was granted to The Automatic Recording Safe Co. Ltd of London and B’ham, England —but based in Chicago. The oval safe has separate compartments with coin slots for PENNY OR HALF CROWN, SHILLING, SIX PENCE (2x slots), THREE PENCE, there is also a closed slot on the side stamped INSERT NOTES THROUGH BASE with a round hole in the base to post the notes through. Earlier versions had a side slot for notes. The top has an enamelled oval plaque riveted in place around the lock, it reads e.g. : LLOYDS BANK LIMITED with the account/safe number, e.g. NO. 34874 engraved.
These locks are warded, and there are a few patterns. It is not clear whether the variations are intentional, or result merely from several makers being used to make the great number of boxes supplied. One variation is that there are keys of different thicknesses. It is possible to make a skeleton key which will probably open all or most of these boxes. Firstly, it is necessary to have a blank thin enough to enter the thinnest trunnion. Then a slit from the tip is needed. Once the key enters the trunnion, 2 T-shaped steps are needed to operate the lock.
The other, simpler, type of oval Home Safe boxes have a door on the bottom with a lock which in many is a 3-lever lock, but in others a smaller warded lock similar to that used in most book Home Safes. Earlier versions were of heavier, stronger construction. Some have a balanced shutter mechanism to prevent extraction of coins through the coin slot if the box is inverted. The interior is a single, uncompartmentalised container. Many have a folding handle on top, earlier ones cast or stamped, later ones of wire.
Close inspection of the door on the bottom might reveal the ends of some rivets which show the small size of the lock. These locks can generally be opened by the L-shaped skeleton included in the common set of 5 or 6 skeleton keys intended for warded padlocks. This also works on most of the bank-issued book-style Home Safes.

**chubbbramah** · 31-01-17, 08:41 PM

don't know what happened to the formatting above - looked alright when I posted it.

Pictures show oval safes with bottom door and both the lever lock and simpler warded lock.
Also, the type with a case that comes away from the base, and has several tubular compartments attached to the base. The lock is a warded lock attached to the inside of the top of the case.
Sorry, I can't arrange them as I intended.