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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Carlisle, England.
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    272
    Country: England

    Default Anybody know of this one?

    Hi folks, just wondering if anyone has heard of this maker before? Acquired from fleabay and seems a really bad casting. Am starting to wonder if it's a 'wrong un'! As you'll see from the pics the rear of the plaque is as rough as a badgers butt and there are three different styles of G's in the text. Also pay attention to the two R's in registered! Looks like they've been made by the badger mentioned earlier. I've tried a look on the gazetteer and there's no mention of a safe or maker or one titled THE LINGHAM. I may be wrong but I'll be happy if I am for once. Thanks for any help folks
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails image.jpg   image.jpg   image.jpg   image.jpg  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    1,754
    Country: Wales

    Default

    Hi warren, unfortunetely that does look to be another classic Indian special- all the usual hallmarks are there like you say. There's also Lingham Brothers, Lingham Bros, Bolts & Bars escutcheon variations as well.

    You've probably noticed when you look at any suspect plates -not just the copies supposedly of the safe makers but machinery, breweries, nautical, ships builders etc- the ones that they typically copy, they nearly always follow a similar pattern and have similar characteristics -they cast two or three versions of each with name variations, often with and without an address etc, and some in brass and others in iron. I've seen copies of maritime plates where almost every letter has something wrong with it- either misaligned, wrong font or actually a different size!

    Also sorry to say it, but that 'Guard' plate you posted recently, although not as rough as others, did tbh strike me as being another strong contender :-(

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Devon UK
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    3,117
    Country: UK

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Huw Eastwood View Post
    Hi warren, unfortunetely that does look to be another classic Indian special- all the usual hallmarks are there like you say. There's also Lingham Brothers, Lingham Bros, Bolts & Bars escutcheon variations as well.

    You've probably noticed when you look at any suspect plates -not just the copies supposedly of the safe makers but machinery, breweries, nautical, ships builders etc- the ones that they typically copy, they nearly always follow a similar pattern and have similar characteristics -they cast two or three versions of each with name variations, often with and without an address etc, and some in brass and others in iron. I've seen copies of maritime plates where almost every letter has something wrong with it- either misaligned, wrong font or actually a different size!

    Also sorry to say it, but that 'Guard' plate you posted recently, although not as rough as others, did tbh strike me as being another strong contender :-(

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ID:	17769There is never a guaranteed answer but I would think that your Lingham is genuine.
    These were not being made by Hobbs or Chubb and for economic reasons, they may well not have scrapped it for a small error especially when they were not the most perfectly designed plaque even when they had had a good day at the foundry- which makes it way more difficult when spotting errors in order to judge its authenticity. The copies I have seen have generally not been made up from scratch, but are a direct copy of a plaque that they have borrowed. Here is my plate and I think the background pattern is difficult for the Indians to successfully copy. The rear is not exactly as mine but still on average I think yours is genuien (until another few end up on ebay next week).
    I think the Guard safe was never a quality production anyway and came from an insignificant backstreet safe manufacturer, but there is never any guarantee.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Carlisle, England.
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    Default

    Hi and thanks for your input once again guys. I'm going to have to sit on the fence on this one. I'll keep an eye on eBay and see if any more of these plaques turn up. Along with my original observations I can agree with both opinions you guys have offered. I have only ever seen this one plaque turn up on eBay (in six years of looking!) which is a plus I suppose! Several of the observations I made in my original post are contradicted when I look at your plaque Tom and if I go with your opinion I don't feel robbed of my £30 so that's a positive. It's a real bummer that as collectors we have to doubt the authenticity of these sought after items. I have built up a collection of several hundred safe plaques, keys, handles and escutcheons. Among these I have one definite copy and even the thought that there could possibly be others annoys me. Thanks once again chaps for your expertise and valuable opinions....Respect.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Carlisle, England.
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    Default

    Just found this safe online and pretty much confirms the existence of the Lingham safe plaque so thought I would add to and refresh. All is well !
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  6. #6
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    Aug 2013
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    Good find Warren! But, what about the possibility that's it's a Lingham plaque that was fitted on one of the commonest, most generic and non-descript Black Country safes because it'd lost its original one...

    That style of safe could pass with any one of dozens of different names on it.
    Even Cartwight's and S. Withers' bottom of the range offerings looked pretty much the same, hinges, handles etc. You'll see those shield escutcheons plain, also marked Patent, Invoiable Lock etc.

    Only kidding though I'm sure Tom's comments above are correct and it is an example of one, albeit an obscure name from the very bottom end of the market.

  7. #7
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    Sep 2004
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    Devon UK
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    Country: UK

    Default

    I dont want to baffle you with technical terms but it has a bit on the top!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Gordon View Post
    I dont want to baffle you with technical terms but it has a bit on the top!
    Sorry, not very good at explaining myself regrettably. I meant this latest plaque is the same as the one on the red safe picture I posted last week and not the original plaque that started the debate. You’ll have to excuse me because I take a fair amount of medication for pain so I can quite easily confuse myself along with anyone else who listens to my ramblings 🙃

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