Vault Construction Details

[VaultDoors]

Rivet-Grip steel reinforcing was used in the Pittsburgh Federal Reserve per the Rivet-Grip System of Bank Vault Reinforcement handbook published in 1924. Pics of Rivet-Grip reinforcing steel used in the Pittsburgh Federal Reserve are shown in previous post.

[bagman]

Add a 400 amp three-phase electrical grid inside the forms before pouring concrete.

[VaultDoors]

I recently acquired the pressure system hand-wheel from the Indiana National Bank vault in Indianapolis at the corner of PA St. and VA Ave:

• 20-1/2" wide
• 20#
• 6 spokes, 5-3/4" long and tapered from 1"- 2"
• 9" hub
• 1" arbor
• 1-3/8" thick

I could not find any markings on the hand-wheel it but the accompanying plaque says it was given to a friend of the bank upon being dismantled. The spoke caps are different than the ones in the pics so I am guessing the rubber handles were replaced at some point and the caps as well.

Here are some vault pics and Mosler's construction specifications from 1934. The General section on page 6 is where it gets interesting, prior to that is just standard contract language.

Pro Tip - Attachments on this forum are limited to 2MB each so if you have larger files they can be posted and publically linked for free (up to 15GB) on Google Drive.

[Huw Eastwood]

I recently acquired the pressure system hand-wheel from the Indiana National Bank vault in Indianapolis

That's a pretty good prize, what are you going to do with it?

[VaultDoors]

I am not quite sure but I am open for suggestions... I also picked up a crane hinge finial/cap from the Wilkinsburg, PA bank vault door:

• 7" diameter
• 2.5" tall
• 5#
• 5/8" diameter x 2" screw

and a Joseph L. Hall medallion:


3" diameter
1/4" thick

I have no immediate plans for these items or my 3 and 4 movement time locks other than display.

[wylk]

... I also picked up a crane hinge finial/cap from the Wilkinsburg, PA bank vault door

I have a couple of questions about the Wilkinsburg vault, if you don't mind.

1 - It sounds like the vault and door were demolished. What was the actual fate?

2 - I was never certain but my best guess was that this was at 901 Wood Street (currently a Citizens Bank branch). Was this its address or was it somewhere else?

[Gary Stephenson]

Looks like a John Tann anchor reliance door.

[Huw Eastwood]

Looks like a John Tann anchor reliance door.

Had no idea Tann's carried on the Anchor Reliance as late as that, I always think of the old stuff with brass fittings and makers plates. I can see the hinges look like tann's, but what's that welded box overlapping the door edge? Looks like it came off a shipping container!

[safeman]

Had no idea Tann's carried on the Anchor Reliance as late as that, I always think of the old stuff with brass fittings and makers plates. I can see the hinges look like tann's, but what's that welded box overlapping the door edge? Looks like it came off a shipping container!

Tann right enough - late Billericay - known as a Tann No.1 and later the 600ABP.
The attached without the clenching mechanism fairing and opposite hand.

[VaultDoors]

I wish I had answers...I bought it on eBay and it only had the bank name. I trust the Seller's description was accurate but you never know. It may have been from an estate sale where item authenticity is often unverified.