Welcome to our world exploring the Historical, Political and Technological aspects of Locks, Keys and Safes

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 26
  1. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Country: United States

    Default

    I expect the foreground vault was for safe deposit boxes, hence the more user-friendly entrance, while the background vault was for cash and securities and bank records, and thus more realistically sized. That is, I believe many safe deposit vaults were overbuilt just for show and to appear better than their competing banks. It could also be argued that safe deposit boxes are a more lucrative target and justify a thicker door.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,755
    Country: Wales

    Default

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpeg 
Views:	14 
Size:	159.0 KB 
ID:	19220 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpeg 
Views:	12 
Size:	148.5 KB 
ID:	19221

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Country: United States

    Default

    Two postcards of the same vault, open and closed. It looks like an automatic Hollar. Notice the topmost finial may have been cut short to clear the ceiling trim.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Indiana National Bank 1.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	639.7 KB 
ID:	19222 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Indiana National Bank 2.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	530.8 KB 
ID:	19223

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,755
    Country: Wales

    Default

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpeg 
Views:	13 
Size:	116.9 KB 
ID:	19224 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpeg 
Views:	13 
Size:	192.8 KB 
ID:	19225

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Country: United States

    Default

    Some early vaults look like giant cubes dropped onto the floor rather than being architecturally integrated:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Adrian MI 2.jpg 
Views:	9 
Size:	351.1 KB 
ID:	19229 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Oneonta NY 1908.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	75.5 KB 
ID:	19230

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default Small world

    I have a friend in Spokane, WA. So when I saw the photograph of the vault door in Spokane, I sent the image to him. I was amazed to get this reply:

    As a matter of fact, you are looking through the door to the boardroom of GenPrime Inc., a small biotech company founded by myself and three friends about 20 years ago.05:37
    It's really beautiful.
    The door, that is--

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Country: United States

    Default

    Off on a tangent! But a few postcards are included.

    When I first researched the Spokane postcard years ago, I concluded that Union Trust and Savings Bank had been in the Marble Bank Building:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Spokane 1907 with emergency.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	151.7 KB 
ID:	19239

    See http://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/621 for history of the Marble Bank Building including the point it was demolished in the 1950s and replaced with a new building that seems to pay homage to the Marble. This was all happening at West Riverside Avenue and North Wall Street. Here is what it looked like, and what it looks like today:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	4a46bfdcc576b045462e2c8900b5cd1d.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	476.1 KB 
ID:	19240 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	s-l1600.jpg 
Views:	6 
Size:	186.9 KB 
ID:	19241 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Umpqua Bank.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	190.7 KB 
ID:	19242

    So naturally I thought the door was long gone. But with Chubby's comments I note that GenPrime is at 502 West Riverside Avenue, two blocks east of The Marble. It's quite contemporary-looking:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	502 Riverside.jpg 
Views:	6 
Size:	200.2 KB 
ID:	19244

    Yet, looking around via Google Images, I spotted this image of GenPrime in the Numerica Building:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Genprime Numerica.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	108.7 KB 
ID:	19243

    How is this all possible? The meeting room seems clearly larger than the vault in the postcard. And why is it in a contemporary building?

    One choice is that this door was always here and belonged to an ancestral building. It might have been Union Trust or somebody else, but it sure looks like the old postcard except for the stainless steel cladding on the door frame.

    Another choice is that this door was saved in the 1950s and re-installed two blocks away as a very interesting decoration.

    Chubby, can your friend cast any light on the history of his door?

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Gilbert, AZ 85298
    Posts
    319
    Country: United States

    Default

    1. Dime Bank - Scranton, PA
    2. Fayette Bank and Trust - Connersville, IN
    3. First National Bank - Lebanon, PA
    4. First State Bank - Pittsburg, KS
    5. Holyoke National Bank - Holyoke, MA
    6. Home National Bank - Arkansas City, KS
    7. Onondaga County Savings Bank - Syracuse, NY
    8. Pontiac Commercial and Savings Bank - Pontiac, MI
    9. The Peoples National Bank - Lynchburg, VA
    10. The Peoples National Bank - Scranton, PA
    11. Wayne County and Home Savings Bank - Detroit, MI
    12. Wilkinsburg Bank1 - Wilkinsburg, PA
    13. Wilkinsburg Bank2 - Wilkinsburg, PA



    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Dime Bank -  Scranton, PA.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	28.8 KB 
ID:	19245 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Fayette Bank and Trust - Connersville, IN.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	361.3 KB 
ID:	19246 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	First National Bank - Lebanon, PA.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	496.4 KB 
ID:	19247 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	First State Bank - Pittsburg, KS.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	282.8 KB 
ID:	19248 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Holyoke National Bank - Holyoke, MA.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	138.2 KB 
ID:	19249 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Home National Bank - Arkansas City, KS.jpg 
Views:	12 
Size:	90.3 KB 
ID:	19250 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Onondaga County Savings Bank - Syracuse, NY.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	46.4 KB 
ID:	19251 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Pontiac Commercial and Savings Bank - Pontiac, MI.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	1.26 MB 
ID:	19252 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	The Peoples National Bank - Lynchburg, VA.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	626.8 KB 
ID:	19253 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	The Peoples National Bank - Scranton, PA.jpg 
Views:	11 
Size:	214.4 KB 
ID:	19254 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Wayne County and Home Savings Bank - Detroit, MI.jpg 
Views:	14 
Size:	239.4 KB 
ID:	19255 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Wilkinsburg Bank1 - Wilkinsburg, PA.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	274.4 KB 
ID:	19256 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Wilkinsburg Bank2 - Wilkinsburg, PA.jpg 
Views:	10 
Size:	25.7 KB 
ID:	19257

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Country: United States

    Default

    First National Bank, Fort Smith, Arkansas. In many postcards the printer seems to have chosen very small people in order to make the door look larger but in this case the man appears to be quite tall, perhaps too much. I'll assume that in many cases the people were added by drawing them over a photo and getting the scale just right wasn't a priority. In this case his left leg looks poorly drawn and the right hand seems big.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Fort Smith AR 1.jpg 
Views:	5 
Size:	523.2 KB 
ID:	19258

    Markle Banking and Trust Company, Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Notice the dual electrical cord going from the door into the vault. Usually we see electrical-power cords but this was probably for alarm circuits and is a departure from "periscope" contacts on the outside or the contacts being made part of some of the locking bolts.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Markle Hazelton PA 1.jpg 
Views:	5 
Size:	806.6 KB 
ID:	19259

    The State Trust Company, Plainfield, New Jersey. A Hibbard-Rodman-Ely door (or more likely a Manganese Steel door) but of quite different design than usual. The porthole windows have been expanded (truncated sectors) and a large worm gear is shown. I believe HRE/Manganese was based in Plainfield.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	plainfield 1.jpg 
Views:	6 
Size:	504.4 KB 
ID:	19260

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Gilbert, AZ 85298
    Posts
    319
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by VaultDoors View Post

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Wayne County and Home Savings Bank - Detroit, MI.jpg 
Views:	14 
Size:	239.4 KB 
ID:	19255
    Not sure why the artist added red dots to the boltwork on the Wayne County Bank vault door...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •