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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    Country: Wales

    Default Bank Vault Postcards

    Not collected these myself but have seen many over the years and having trawled this one up a while back it got me thinking of the others I'd seen around.

    Many have a charm that seems to overcome any artistic license or technical inaccuracies while perfectly capturing the splendour and nostalgia of the era.

    I'll start things off with this one

    Click image for larger version. 

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    So, feel free to post any of these old cards here...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
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    266
    Country: Germany

    Default

    A Lovely Lady!

    Never seen a safe/vault postcard.

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

    Default

    Compare this one with the first. It looks like the same artwork was used for the two different banks with some changes.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #4
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    Dec 2009
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    Country: United States

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    Here's a real old one, Banco Nacional de Cuba:

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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Bournemouth, UK
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    470
    Country: UK

    Default

    and one from Lips...

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  6. #6
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    Dec 2009
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    Country: United States

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    One from Houston, circa 1911, Union National Bank. Now the Hotel Icon.

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  7. #7
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    Aug 2013
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    Country: Wales

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    Great stuff keep them coming, the variety of doors, tones and colours is always amazing on these.

    The Lips card has to be the most vivid colours I think I've seen on one to date.

    The proud stance of the Cuban Bank guard is typical of most which makes the Union National Bank card all the more strange as that guy looks pretty awkward!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Country: United States

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    Speaking of awkward, this Hibernia Bank card looks very posed, especially the guard(?) in the center:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This Dime Savings Bank card looks like it was colorized from a black-and-white photo, as was the Hibernia (and shows a nice Strauss-designed door):

    Click image for larger version. 

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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Country: United States

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    A pair of postcards for the same vault, the first one is circa 1918:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Notice the foreground vault has a drop-floor section in front, while the background vault does not.

    After a name change, a newer postcard circa 1924:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    There is now some sort of box attached next to the gate and "islands" have been installed to increase the number of available boxes.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    Country: Wales

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    It's amazing the artistic license with these, also the foreground vault has 5 clear steps to the doorplate whereas the background one has 4.
    It's a handsome door overall though, the proportions and boltwork are certainly visually appealing.

    Also noticed the fixing flange of the top hinge carriage is bevelled to clear the top pressure bar stanchion.

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