Hall's Patented 1906 safe and its combination

[00247]

I mean the slot near the knob.

Edit: Possibly it can be also used to find the number for the fourth wheel connected with the dial (aka drive cam). And because this slot is so near to the knob of the wheel pack you probably can verify the positions by fully opening the bolt work.

Cepasaccus is correct. Fashion a tool that just fits into that inner slot and as you dial and it slips into each gate, note the number on the dial. This is a hand change lock so that slot is there is know the numbers when the combination is changed. I like to make mine out of aluminum as it files easier and is durable.

[orpington]

Well, son of a gun!

I think I fixated on that outer notch, I never noticed the inner one y'all pointed out. And that would line up with the location of the fence, too.

It is dark where this safe is located, but I still shouldn't have missed that.

More later, after I fashion a tool.

[orpington]

Okay, to begin, turn right several times, greater than 4, to the first number of the combination, which, as verified, my "tool", which it turns out was the thin blade of a small pocket knife, identical, or nearly so, to the first number of the combination I was provided. Then left twice past the first number to the second number provided in the combination, which was identical to that which was provided. Then right, past this second number once, to where the pocket knife blade depresses, which was not the third number provided, but differs by 11, then left only to the last number, which seems to be one greater or one less than the number provided. This is the fourth disc as remaining in the door. Doing this, I actually got the fence to work at least once, entering all four gates. Not easily able to quite verify this number, as the knife blade is not quite long enough, but it seems repetition, and repetition, the first three numbers are verified as correct, with knife blade, but the fourth number is not always repeatable on future tries. It seems this should be able to be confirmed by rotating the handle as each number on dial is reached, but perhaps this messes things up as maybe it is designed not to confirm the fourth number in this fashion when it simply enters the fourth gate.

Of course, there could be human error here, but, like I said, the first three numbers are repeatable on multiple attempts and the fourth number worked when one higher and one lower than the number provided on two of at least 10 attempts.

Of course, I want this to work, as being locked out would be a bummer!

Incidentally, I was told to go right 4, left 3, right 2, left 1 then to number, and it seems it is really right 3 (or more), left 2, right 1, then to last number leftward.

Any ideas?

[Cepasaccus]

Your style of counting is different, that is why you have different numbers of turns.

"left 1" means "left to the first time the number is at the index" which is the same as "then to last number leftward". Also "left 3" means "left to the third time the number is at the index" which is the same as "Then left twice past the first number to the second number provided in the combination".