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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
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    5
    Country: Australia

    Default Tann Defiance age??

    G day,
    I am brand new to this forum and I love it, I cannot believe the amount of combined knowledge on this forum it is great. I am a locksmith in rural Australia and although we don't do a lot of safes in our day to day work, the exposure I do get i love. We recently had a customer bring in a nice Tann Defiance safe and he wants it painted and serviced and sold on his behalf, fortunately all of the badges are still in good condition and no rust (if anyone is interested in buying the safe send me a PM). The serial number is 8448 and I was hoping to get a more accurate age. From the searches I have done Tann Defiance was manufactured about 1900 to 1907 so a more accurate age and any info you guys have would be great even how much the safe would be worth in Mother England, the hinges a really nice and it has some nice scroll work on the door I will post pics when its done.
    Thanks Nick D

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Tann Definace was made over a very wide timespan - the problem occurs in that there were two Tann makers

    Robert Tann (cheaper, low grade - short lived company compared with below)

    Edward & then John Tann (better quality - very long lived company)

    Picture of the plate / plaques in the first instance will help ..

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    5
    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Sorry about the lack of pics :oops: I have just finished cleaning the plates so here they are :roll: . Will post more as it is done
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Escutcheon small.jpg   small plate.jpg  

  4. #4
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    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Thats Robert Tann. No dating info exists as far as I am aware.

    You will only be able to get a general date based on body style.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    hi
    i have some john tann dates , s/n 8271 to 9495 - build date 03/11/1879 to 20/05/1881 .
    i dont know if r tann safes have different s/n and dates ?
    Bill Jnr

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Quote Originally Posted by william gregson
    hi
    i dont know if r tann safes have different s/n and dates ?
    Bill Jnr
    Different company - so the JT numbers do not suit them .....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    5
    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Sorry about the lack of pictures, but here are a few that I took with my mobile before we had it sand blasted. I know they are poor quality pictures but it is all i have so far. Will post more as it I am done
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 12032009(002).jpg   12032009(003).jpg  

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    If all the corners are sharp (ie not bent) then it's pre 1890 ..

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    5
    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    Thanks for the reply's the info is great, the construction of the safe is Hand riveted, external steel thickness is about 4 mm thick and the corners are sharp and it looks like it could be solid timber has been used as the insulating material. I have also just found another serial number on the edge of the locking bolt, it is 900929.

    Thanks Nick D

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Country: Australia

    Default Re: Tann Defiance age??

    I found a note regarding Robert Tann in some old John Tann literature which stated :

    Robert Tann started making safes in 1837 and the company ceased in 1922 ..

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