Hall's Patented 1906 safe and its combination

[Cepasaccus]

When you put the wheel pack back in, can you see the wheels where the fence is moving into the wheel pack? If so, dial in one direction until the wheel moves which is furthest away from the front of the door. Then stop when the gate of this wheel is at the fence. Note the number on the dial. This is your first number. Switch direction and turn the dial until the second wheel moves and stop again when the gate is at the fence. Note number, switch direction, third wheel, stop, number, switch direction, stop, number.

If there is no possibility to have a look, you can dial the number which you were given, then remove the wheel pack. Is it a complete mess? Are three wheels aligned, but one not? Do this for both directions.

[orpington]

I will have photographs in a few days I will post, but once the removable 3 wheel pack is in place, I cannot see where the fence and gate is. I assume the gate are the notches in the wheels and the fence is that which can enter the gate, allowing the safe to unlock?

[Cepasaccus]

Your assumptions are correct.

[orpington]

Here are some photographs: 4 discs, my apologies, some are dark.

[Cepasaccus]

I guess the slot you can see in the cover is there to poke something inside to determine the combination.

In this case:
Ideally this something is as wide as the slot long is. Push this something slightly in and turn the dial until it slides in further due to the gate being there. The dial won't turn then further. Note the number. Reverse direction and turn until the something slides again in. Note number. Reverse gain, turn to stop, note number. The fourth number you can directly see when the wheel pack is removed. Turn until the gate there is at the fence and note the fourth number.

[orpington]

I guess the slot you can see in the cover is there to poke something inside to determine the combination.

In this case:
Ideally this something is as wide as the slot long is. Push this something slightly in and turn the dial until it slides in further due to the gate being there. The dial won't turn then further. Note the number. Reverse direction and turn until the something slides again in. Note number. Reverse gain, turn to stop, note number. The fourth number you can directly see when the wheel pack is removed. Turn until the gate there is at the fence and note the fourth number.

That's what I thought too, except the location of this slot is significantly further out than the diameter of the wheels. So I don't think this will work.

[Cepasaccus]

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.

[Doug MacQueen]

One idea would be to get a good fitting key. Remove the wheelpack and take it to a full service locksmith shop. You could call first to verify they carry a wide selection of safe deposit type of keys. The thickness of the key is not so critical, however the width is, and should be a snug but slip fit into the slot. The length required should be at minimum 1/2" longer than the wheelpack. Ideally more like 2" long. Have the end cut flat across, with a little taper cut on each end corner to facilitate the key fitting the wheels. Hold the bow of the key away from the center knob as you push through to the last wheel.

[orpington]

I wasn't thinking clearly...

If the knife only goes 3 wheels deep, the fourth number can be determined by removing the wheel pack and rotating until it aligns with the fence and observing it with the wheel pack removed.

So, I swear I got the 4 number combination to work at least once.

But, I cannot consistently get it to work. In fact it rarely works. I think I am dialing it exactly the same way every time, and confirmed using the knife the first 3 numbers of the combination.

Any thoughts???

[orpington]

I have no idea what I was doing wrong, but, for some reason, what I perceived to be the third number in the combination was 4 higher than it actually was.

I now tried the "new" combination and it has now successfully worked 3 times in a row. Now getting too dark in the garage. Will try it another 10 or 15 times tomorrow, and if it works all times successfully, I will then actually lock the safe.

Thanks to you all. Really, I appreciate it. Saved me having to lug a heavy safe door many miles to pay someone $75 what I was able to do on my own...with your assistance!