Early Diebold History

[wylk]

According to the book The Name's Familiar II by Laura Lee (2001) and the Encyclopedia of Entrepeneurs, Diebold, Norris & Company formed in 1874 but was forced into bankruptcy in 1875 because a large vault job in San Francisco cost far more than expected. In 1876 the company reformed as Diebold Safe & Lock Company.

This morning I spotted a trade card on eBay that seems to be from that transition period. It shows a very fancy vault and explains the new company is the successor to the old company. If this is the vault that bankrupted them, I can see how that could happen!