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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    10
    Country: United States

    Default Locked Antique Safe

    I am trying to unlock a rusted antique safe. Ideally I'd like to crack it by manipulation. But if I have to drill it, I certainly will. I used a high-quality penetrating oil to get the dial to spin freely and the handle to move slightly. But, the dial stops hard on 55 and 71. Wondering what the mechanism looks like inside and what might be jammed. Thank you for the help!

    Possible type: Baum or Syracuse

    Height to floor: 30 3/4"
    Width: 19 11/16"
    Depth: 20 1/8"

    Imprinted on Dial: 3 5760
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Safe_AndrewF_Pic2.jpg  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Hartford CT
    Posts
    191
    Country: United States

    Default Warth-Baum

    Warth-Baum. The dial grip is a dead give away.

    If your familiar with the OB style of combination locks, your's has what I refer to as a Baum OB comb lock.

    The dial jam you refer to could mean that the lock is in the open position.



    DH

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    10
    Country: United States

    Default Baum OB Lock

    Thank you for this helpful information, David.

    Do you or any else have a picture of the Baum OB Lock mechanism? If so, it would be very helpful to understand what is going on behind the locked door.

    When I turn the dial CW, it stops at 71. Then I turn the dial CCW (passing 54 once and 71 once), and it stops on 54.

    During the spinning of the dial, I hear a click as if it may be picking up another tumbler.

    I have tried to turn the handle at every point on the dial (especially 71 and 54), but nothing gives.

    Thank you for any additional information.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Hartford CT
    Posts
    191
    Country: United States

    Default Baum OB comb lock.

    With the additional dialing information you supplied it does not sound as if the lock is open.

    DH
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails inner copy.jpg  

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    10
    Country: United States

    Default Gravity Fence

    Thank you for the cool picture of the mechanism!

    It looks like the safe in the picture is smaller than my safe. I will assume the mechanism itself is the same size, and go from there.

    It looks like a gravity fence, which probably means 100+ years of rust and therefore stuck in place.

    My next step is to tilt the safe in various positions while hitting the dial and handle with penetrating oil. I hope I can get the penetrating oil into the safe around the fence!

    Maybe the fence is jamming one tumbler and that's why the dial is stuck on only those two numbers? (See thread above for details)

    Does anyone know how many tumblers there are and the sequence? Three number or four number combination?

    Thank you very much for any additional help.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Hartford CT
    Posts
    191
    Country: United States

    Default Baum Safe

    Does anyone know how many tumblers there are and the sequence? Three number or four number combination?

    3 wheels and a driver.

    4 times L to first #
    3 times R to second #
    2 times L to third #
    right to stop

    DH
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails # of wheels copy.jpg  

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio USA
    Posts
    1,433
    Country: United States

    Default

    I think you have pretty well established the lock isn't working and unless you are prepared to force the dial further, it is time to drill. There are a couple ways to go with one being to sever the lock bolt itself. The door will be open and all will become clear. IIRC a nickle rod can be used to weld the cast iron bolt.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Hartford CT
    Posts
    191
    Country: United States

    Default

    Andrew, what state is safe the located in? Maybe I can give you a referral.

    DH

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    10
    Country: United States

    Default Baum Safe - More

    Thank you for the offer, David. But I am actually enjoying the process of trying to crack it myself.

    I realize I may never do it, but I am going to give it 100% before I call a professional. I also realize that I may have to drill it at some point.

    Based on how the dial stops hard on 54 and 71, I wonder if the fence shifted a bit and is bumping into dials 2 and 3?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,755
    Country: Wales

    Default

    Andrew, you seem clearly determined but when you say you realise you might never do it, but will give it 100% before calling in a pro, suggests you don't seem very confident.

    Its worth considering that once you make the decision to get it open yourself and drill it, you might well have to see it through no matter how badly it goes.

    Many safe techs will probably be reluctant to take it on after the owner has failed at drilling the safe themselves, the hazards of which are then in addition to the initial fault of the seized/trapped wheels in the lock.

    From your point of view in case of worst case scenario and from the techs point of view there are few things worse than picking up the pieces on a safe with a serious fault, that is also peppered with random holes, jammed broken drill bits and bent bits of wire!

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