Restoration of a Diebold Banker's safe style "E"

[Huntlocks]

Looking good. Do you know how much it weighs? It looks v heavy.

I admire your neat workshop!

[Huw Eastwood]

Great update- it's coming along beautifully. Clear to see a lot of work is going into it. If the paint was too far gone then you obviously had little choice and made the right decision. It will be interesting to see how close the artists can match the appearance of the original artwork-looking forward to seeing that. Keep the updates coming!

BTW, Love the boltwork, could happily sit with a beer and stare at that for ages.

[Jerzy]

The weight of this thing is nearly 3000lbs. Before I could do any work on it I had to buy some special "roll a lifts" to be able to maneuver it around the workshop. Then transportation requires special equipment too.

[Doug MacQueen]

Jerzy, since you are going all out on that Diebold, you might consider changing the finials to this style. Most of the chests have the simple finials like yours, but a few I've seen have these unusual but much nicer ones. They may have been made for only a short time, I don't for sure. They surely dress up the safe big time. I have a sample one if you are interested. Doug

[Jerzy]

I am indeed interested, but I have already committed to re plating the originals. Do you replicate these, or do you have access to some originals?

[Jerzy]

Lettering and shadowing to go, but progress so far. Very talented artist.

[Jerzy]

Nearly finished. Just the top vault door hinges need work. Thought some of you would like these pictures. When cleaning and reassembling all the moving parts, I was constantly amazed by the level of detail and craftsmanship even in areas that would never be seen. Certainly beats modern mass production.
I have not yet re-nickle plated the shinny parts, but may do in the future.

[Timothy]

Nice job after doing all that work. Just wish I has money to buy some old safe but don't have any place to put these safe. Now it look like that safe going to cost more money of what you pay before that..Timothy..

[Jerzy]

I hope that the value of the safe has gone up to equal the effort put in. This was a labor of love however. Now the safe sits as a piece of artwork, although still useful, in a prominent part of my living room.

[bighammer]

Beautiful work! I have to ask, what kinds of things did you have to do for moving and parking a 3000 pound safe in a living room? I would think that kind of weight could ruin flooring materials, or cause some settling or sagging in framing.