posted
Does any one out there have, or know where I can find, some refrence material on ornamentation for antique safes? I have been given the opportunity to restore 3 safes from the 1800's.
Any help would be great.
_________________________________________________ If ignorance is bliss, why aren't there more happy people?
-------------------- Tim N. Townsend Boise, ID Posts: 11 | From: Boise, ID | Registered: May 2001
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posted
I have done a few of these for a guy that use to salvage them and then re-sell. If the lettering in intact enough to see who made it and the year, there are catalogs and collector price sheets that may give you some clues. Scope the web for info.
BE CAREFUL when opening these things. Many were equipped with all sorts of NASTY booby traps to prevent "safe-crackers" from doing their work. Some have a vial of cyanide that breaks when the door is opened without the correct combination. This stuff will kill you or make you very sick. It is absorbed through any moist part of your body... like your eyes, lips and nose.
-------------------- Jeff Vrstal Main Street Signs 157 E. Main Street Evansville, WI 53536 1-608-882-0322 Posts: 670 | From: Evansville, Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2001
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"I took a few minutes from the "GOSSIP POOL" and looked these up......hope they help. Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Doing a quick search on google.com (web & images) turned up a few things. I would look for books on the subject at the library, or some antique stores. Good Luck.
-------------------- Joe Endicott NEXCOM (Navy Exchange Service Command) Signing Programs Specialist Virginia Beach, VA jeendicott@msn.com
"I want to be Stereotyped....I want to be Classified." Posts: 681 | From: Virginia Beach, VA USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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hey Tim..........No problem.....If ya can just hold that hoop a little lower, I'll jump right through it for ya........
Now what was the question......?
Oh Yeah.....Restoring Safe art...!! Restoring means to put back to original .....so ya gotta have the original artwork for those particular safes. Try to find the manufacturs name on it somewhere, and research from there...
Sure hope this helps...........Gotta get back to the ol Gossip Pool with Shep, now !!
...........cj
PS.............I see ya live in Boise......There's an "Original" Letterhead around town there someplace, so maybe ya could just run on over to his shop where I'm sure he'll drop whatever he's doin to help ya.............That's what letterheads are for ya know.......
[ October 03, 2002, 08:37 PM: Message edited by: CJ Allan ]
-------------------- CJ Allan CJs Engraving 982 English Dr. Hazel, KY 42049
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Hi Tim, I have a Hall's Safe Co. Safe to restore and have been searching for reference material also. But unfortunately Hall's Safe company has been out of business since 1938. Shep..the web page you posted has been the only one I found concerning Hall's Safe Company out of Cincinnati,Ohio and Louisville,Kentucky. I have pictures of this safe I have to restore in which you can see some of the details. I will post her elater. Find anything else Tim? Anybody? Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2629 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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One final thought Tim. I know you are eager to get your hands on the info you need, but you have to learn to show a little patience. Letterheads love to share with each other, but the warm fuzzies flow both ways. It took 5 hours to get your first reply, but you must realize that many of us work until 5 or 6 pm, if not later.
Have you taken the time to go thru the other posts and answer any questions you can? Letterheads continues to work only if it is a 2 way street.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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Tim, we've done several safe restorations. Every one of them had enough remaining to photograpg and make patterns from. If you need photos from other safes, I have some I could send to you. When I see a beautiful old safe, I like to take a shot to save for the day I might need it. Thank you for identifying the book that needs to be written.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6849 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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hey tim, they have these "things" on the the internet now called "search engines". also i have heard of these "things" called "public libraries"
both of these "things" are great for "research"
i will now go back to gossiping about what a crappy attitude you had on your second post! LOL
posted
Mark, In his second post he said "I thought this place was for LETTERHEADS"./......... [/B] [B]"I wonder what he was doing here????? he he he
Shep'
-------------------- Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep' -------- " Those who dance are thought to be mad by those who cannot hear the music " Posts: 1281 | From: Mt Airy NC | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Our old pal Rick Glawson of Esoteric Sign Supply in Wilmington, CA. sent in a couple cool photos to share. The first is a nice safe Rick stumbled upon in Brodie, CA.
This is a page from the Palms catalog. Esoteric offers a laser copy of this sheet.
The Esoteric Sign Supply Website is undergoing a renovation. Looks like the new site will include an online catalog, as well as all sorts of valuable information. You'll want to bookmark this page!
posted
Way kewl Steve Thanks to Rick for these "refrence" designs like this,along with fire engine scrolls that Timi Barrows comes up with. Should be located in some sort of clearing house For Sale to all us whom desire to purchase them. Hope this helps EVERYONE!
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