safecracker at large

Safe Makers' Names Callers often want pricing info, but when I ask about the maker's name on their safes they don't know. Many safes do have more than just the maker's name on the the front. It can get confusing. Here I've listed the names of some of the better known US-made safes: Some of the safe makers listed here have long since gone out of business, and some have had to resort to off-shoring some or all of their manufacturing to reduce or contain costs. But as far as I know, those named here at least started as US-based enterprises. As always, it's best to have a full frontal photo that you can text or email to whichever safe technician you call about a safe. The more photos and detail, the better. Also have a look at "Safe Signage," another blog entry here. The Names: Diebold Mosler York Hall's Herring-Hall-Marvin Victor Hamilton Aanon Adesco Armor Allied Allied-Gary Alpine Amsec Major Barnes Baum Blue Dot Blu...

This one is less boring for the public than the others. Hell, I don't know; maybe it's more boring. But  warning: it's pretty long. It's about a job I did a couple of years ago. It involved opening a safe that was in a downtown building that got destroyed by the devastating fires that raged as result of the 1906 earthquake that destroyed San Francisco. This story originally ran in the industry newsletter I publish. I've been hearing and reading earthquake history ever since I moved to this area, but never guessed I'd have even a small part in recovering any of the history on it. I got a call from a construction foreman. While remodeling a downtown San Francisco building, his workers had unearthed a large old safe under a basement floor. The safe had been buried since the 1906 earthquake that destroyed most of downtown San Francisco.   Though he wasn’t clear on how the main outer double door safe got opened, it was gone. All that remained wa...

Ken Dunckel Owner, Safecracker Safe and Vault Opening, SF Bay Area and Northern California 415-203-7298 kendunckel@aol.com   Here are a few things to consider if you're in the market for a safe. What follows here isn't a complete and comprehensive list of considerations. That will vary from buyer to buyer. Think of this as a starting point. You should get the best safe you can afford, and you should buy it from a company that services what they sell. (Hint: Try calling Costco, WalMart, Sam's Club, or Office Depot and ask to be connected to the Service Department.) Type of Protection: Think . . . What am I protecting? Documents, cash, valuables, or all three? What is the biggest concern? Fire, theft, or both? There are fire-rated safes, burglary-rated safes, and safes with dual ratings (fire and burglary). Your best bet is to get a safe that has a UL Rating for fire, burglary, or, better still, both. Any such safe will bear a UL label attest...