Found old safe in my basement

[mrsbert]

I just LOVE a good mystery! I'm in for the ride.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

My husband is such a downer. I called him to see if he knew of any other lock smiths. He says that there is probably nothing in it and that we have gone to lots of auctions and safes bring practically nothing because people don't want to move them, etc. He thinks it would be a waste of money to pay a locksmith to come out only to find an empty safe and no one who wants to buy it................. Man did he rain on my parade.

Oh well, I am still going to keep calling a locksmith. If he is right, I will never hear the end of it, and if he isn't right, I am not sharing

 

[piratesmate]

What an awesome find!

If it *is* a gun safe, antique guns can be worth a fortune.

OP -
When the locksmith does get the safe open, I agree with getting him out of the room *before* the safe is opened. That might sound odd, but you don't necessariy want someone outside the immediate family to know exactly what's in that safe. You might want to contact a tax attorney to do some planning first...

agnes!

I hate to sound cynical, but I agree with agnes! - it would be best to have the locksmith leave before you actually open the door to the safe. In fact, I'd probably discuss this with him when hiring him. If he's reputable, he should be understanding...and maybe even tell you that leaving is SOP, you know?

 

[mickeyboat]

My husband is such a downer. I called him to see if he knew of any other lock smiths. He says that there is probably nothing in it and that we have gone to lots of auctions and safes bring practically nothing because people don't want to move them, etc. He thinks it would be a waste of money to pay a locksmith to come out only to find an empty safe and no one who wants to buy it................. Man did he rain on my parade.

Oh well, I am still going to keep calling a locksmith. If he is right, I will never hear the end of it, and if he isn't right, I am not sharing

Keeping my fingers crossed it's something good. make sure you videotape when you are opening it so it can be used on one of those "If Walls Could Talk" shows.

Denae

 

[CathrynRose]

My husband is such a downer. I called him to see if he knew of any other lock smiths. He says that there is probably nothing in it and that we have gone to lots of auctions and safes bring practically nothing because people don't want to move them, etc. He thinks it would be a waste of money to pay a locksmith to come out only to find an empty safe and no one who wants to buy it................. Man did he rain on my parade.

Oh well, I am still going to keep calling a locksmith. If he is right, I will never hear the end of it, and if he isn't right, I am not sharing

Thats it. First he 'forgets' about the potential fortune sitting in your basement, and now he says it's not worth anything?

Alright - go here: LegalZoom.com - file for divorce. Me and other DIS'ers will come by and help you through this trying time (and bust the safe open)

 

[CathrynRose]

Keeping my fingers crossed it's something good. make sure you videotape when you are opening it so it can be used on one of those "If Walls Could Talk" shows.

Denae

Of course she's video taping it! She is YouTubing it for us!!!

 

[c4a]

I have been going through all of my research & I have some ?'s that will sound VERY strange to you-I realize this but it has to do with dating/time period & the type of lock. (Non-tumblers that have not been taken care of will tend to sound like a broken rolling tumbler-but they are handled very differently.)
1.)On the door hinges, is there a little acorn or do they just look like old hinges? (Earlier pieces did not have the acorns.)
2.)May need a flashlight for this next question. When you look through the attempted drill-in, do you see metal? If so, is it dark grey (blackish) and kinda rough feeling looking? Shiny black? Or a dull flat grayish color? (Has to do with the type of metal plating that was used as a lock stabilizer).
3.)On the lock, itself-can you see numbers/number letter combo or a manufacturer (Yale is WWII era, for example)
4.) The wood outer casing is a give-away that it is prior to WWII. Is there anyway to see under the safe or behind it (lower corner (usually left), right above the molding to see if there is a very small set of numbers?

You have made my day.

 

[Iott Family]

Ok, im subbing on but i have to say that the last time I subbed on to a thread that held me in suspense the OP of that thread never did come back and tell me what her neighbors were up to! Please OP of this thread keep us posted to the end!

 

[olena]

My husband is such a downer. I called him to see if he knew of any other lock smiths. He says that there is probably nothing in it and that we have gone to lots of auctions and safes bring practically nothing because people don't want to move them, etc. He thinks it would be a waste of money to pay a locksmith to come out only to find an empty safe and no one who wants to buy it................. Man did he rain on my parade.

Oh well, I am still going to keep calling a locksmith. If he is right, I will never hear the end of it, and if he isn't right, I am not sharing

BOOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[Stucas]

this is way too cool! Dfi and I went and looked at a super old house yesterday that was have been dying to check out. I was upset because the realtor said we couldn't get in the basement, but right when we were about to leave we noticed the outside basement doors were unlocked so we went down. Its funny because as we were going down Dfi was saying it would be cool if there was hidden treasures, lol. Well no treasures....but it was the creepiest thing I have ever seen. One brick room painted in about the 30's with a circus theme (ahh!) and it has the only light on in the house...WHICH HAD NO ELECTRICITY! Yeah we left after that. Who knows...maybe that basement holds a huge hidden safe too. (not that I was sticking around to find out!)


Good luck with everything and keep us posted!!!!!!


-Lauren

 

[Jenvenza]

This is sooo exciting!!!! I cannot wait to find out what is in there!!! Even if there is nothing, it is still such a cool find!! I love mysteries!!!

 

[agnes!]

I have been going through all of my research & I have some ?'s that will sound VERY strange to you-I realize this but it has to do with dating/time period & the type of lock. (Non-tumblers that have not been taken care of will tend to sound like a broken rolling tumbler-but they are handled very differently.)
1.)On the door hinges, is there a little acorn or do they just look like old hinges? (Earlier pieces did not have the acorns.)
2.)May need a flashlight for this next question. When you look through the attempted drill-in, do you see metal? If so, is it dark grey (blackish) and kinda rough feeling looking? Shiny black? Or a dull flat grayish color? (Has to do with the type of metal plating that was used as a lock stabilizer).
3.)On the lock, itself-can you see numbers/number letter combo or a manufacturer (Yale is WWII era, for example)
4.) The wood outer casing is a give-away that it is prior to WWII. Is there anyway to see under the safe or behind it (lower corner (usually left), right above the molding to see if there is a very small set of numbers?

You have made my day.

The OP could try to use a mirror to look in somewhat inaccessible areas of the safe. A digital camera could also be used to take pics underneath, etc. If you have any kind of remote control or delayed shutter, that could help too. If you can get underneath...some kind of periscope set-up might also work...

OP -

The proof that someone tried and apparently failed...interesting. Because, you know...it seems that if they had gotten into the safe, then the darn door would have been left.

You also might want to do some research on whomever lived in the house before you did. Were they jewelers? Did everyone around know them as hunters? Did locals say the family came into some money but no-one knew where it came from? Was there a burglary of an area business in the 1920s or 30s and a similar safe went missing?
I'm thinking you need to call up the local historical society and just say you're doing some research on the house....

An antique dealer might know of a reputable locksmith who could help you out.

agnes!

 

[Dalton5]

"The suspense is terrible, I hope it'll last" Willy Wonka

 

[legalsea]

I can help you get that safe open.

First, how much dynamite do you have?

 

[sunlver]

Me too. How very exciting

Count me in as being very curious

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I can't wait until you get that safe open

 

[AlleyKat]

I can help you get that safe open.

First, how much dynamite do you have?

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

The OP could try to use a mirror to look in somewhat inaccessible areas of the safe. A digital camera could also be used to take pics underneath, etc. If you have any kind of remote control or delayed shutter, that could help too. If you can get underneath...some kind of periscope set-up might also work...

OP -

The proof that someone tried and apparently failed...interesting. Because, you know...it seems that if they had gotten into the safe, then the darn door would have been left.

You also might want to do some research on whomever lived in the house before you did. Were they jewelers? Did everyone around know them as hunters? Did locals say the family came into some money but no-one knew where it came from? Was there a burglary of an area business in the 1920s or 30s and a similar safe went missing?
I'm thinking you need to call up the local historical society and just say you're doing some research on the house....

An antique dealer might know of a reputable locksmith who could help you out.

agnes!

I can help you get that safe open.

First, how much dynamite do you have?

That was my first thought as well. And I have to tell ya, the fact that c4a is getting so excited is making me excited as well. I can't wait to see....and frankly, Monday is a looooooong time to wait. Just sayin'

 

[dnoyes]

Am I the only one thinking you might not want to know what's in it? Hoffa anyone .......... just sayin

 

[SadieDog]

How exciting!