Antique Safe Project

[Hatedbysheeple]

Picked up the safes today and now they are sitting in my garage. I will dig into them and fully disassemble later, but right now they need sanding and paint, and a couple spots filled. The wood inside needs sanding and stained along with a few repair spots. The locks need to be replaced with some new S&G's. I need to find or make some new brass acorn thingys for the hinges. There are a couple of nicks and gouges in the body which I will repair with lead. There are small keyed doors and a drawer inside the safe, those I will replace with spring detents and knobs. In the second photo the top wood drawer sis behind a metal keyed door that is laying on the bottom.







I will update this thread as the project moves along, I will also try to keep a cost tally. So far $550, $300 for the safes, $250 for the movers.

[alismith]

Those are neat looking. Yeah, keep us up to date on your restoration of them. That will be interesting.

[Full Otto]

You going to keep the Litho work on the black one?

[Hatedbysheeple]

The bottom center of it is pitted and missing, one of the spots I am going to have to fill with lead. I have been able to find copies of it online though. I was thinking of trying to use water slide decal printer paper to print it on, then transfer followed by coats of clear gloss to protect it and the rest of the pin striping and gold leaf.

[Full Otto]

I heard a trick on Antiques Roadshow that guys use on old metal signs and toys
Turtle wax
It supposed to really clean and bring the colors out
I haven't tried it myself but they mentioned it didn't affect the value and works
FWIW
This should be fun to follow I love this kind of stuff

[davepool]

Those are cool, they're over 100 years old, correct? Wonder what valuables have been kept in them over the years
Can't wait to see the restoration

[Schuetzenman]

Very neat.

[1 Patriot-of-many]

They are cool! Who was the original owner/owners?

[Hatedbysheeple]

They are cool! Who was the original owner/owners?

No idea, one has Norfolk safe Co. on it but they may or may not be the manufacturer. I will start taking them apart later this week, hope to find the actual manufacture and maybe a date or model number. The smaller green safe has been repainted a lot so not sure I will get much from it.

Just googled Norfolk safe company, they are still in business dealing with GSA approved safes, might give them a call once I look for model number and date, and see if they can provide any more info.