Why 3 Doors/Compartments?

[bighammer]

I was browsing a shop with an assortment of items, and spotted this safe. Upper 2 doors open, but lower locked and no combo. It's sort of an interesting piece, and maybe I'm sort of turning into a collector, since I can't seem to get it out of my mind. I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't look at it carefully, but any info or ideas of its purpose would be helpful.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U..._151217539.jpg

[Chubby]

3 compartments is because you don't always want everybody to have access to everything.

[bighammer]

I was wondering if it might have been for a particular type of business, etc. I didn't see any markings about what manufacturer.

I'm sort of wanting to go back when I have more time to get a better look at its condition. The car jack under the corner of it makes me wonder....

[Huw Eastwood]

My guess is that the bottom unit will be a heavier and higher grade than the top two, allowing for lower value 'float' or stock in the two top units and the main bulk takings in the bottom. Likely to be different staff access to top two doors but only manager or owner has access to bottom. Are there any sort of deposit apertures inside either of the two top units to post stuff into the bottom safe?

Assuming the crane hinge on the bottom door isn't just for show the door is likely to be thicker and perhaps stepped in construction, although looking at the supporting carriages they don't look to be very heavy duty.

[wylk]

For future reference in case the image disappears from Google --

[00247]

Nice safe! I'd be on it faster than stink, despite the jack suggesting a wheel problem. That would give a guy a huge bargaining chip.

[bighammer]

Nice safe! I'd be on it faster than stink, despite the jack suggesting a wheel problem. That would give a guy a huge bargaining chip.

Any guess what something like that is worth, or what I should pay for it? Wheels appear to be intact, just not a level floor. I'm guessing the jack is trying to keep it from rockin' & rollin' with the Victrola right next to it.

[kwoswalt99]

It looks like a heavy duty icebox.

[bighammer]

It looks like a heavy duty icebox.

It does, but with a combination dial. It's still sort of cool looking. Sort of a different looking safe with the exterior hardware & links. It seems to be more of a decorative thing, since they don't lock. (I don't think) It's a more typical locking bolt inside the door edge that takes care of that.

[Doug MacQueen]

Throughout U.S. history going all the way back to the hobnail safes of the early 1800's, fire safes are generally on wheels, except for little portable ones. On straight burglary chests, you do see wheels on them in the latter 1800's and early 1900's, but these chests generally do weigh over a ton and greater. Having been on my share of safe moves, for the most part having wheels only helps on smooth hard floors. Once you are beyond that point, they don't help much. Here the bolt down weight on burglary safes is under 750 lbs. I don't hear of safes being stolen as much as when I started out in the 70's, and it does seem to have been even more popular before that, but then again so was safecracking. One example I remember reading about was a large heavy fire safe on wheels being pulled through the wall of a building. However it was on the second floor so the wheels didn't help when it hit the ground and was pulled down the road on its back. Apparently it was not too difficult to follow the scrape marks on that one. Another example, much more recent and not far from me was where a 4,000 lbs. modern jewelers safe (no wheels) was stolen from the store. I do have an alibi.