Safe Talk, with Altashot.
It was a cute little JJ in fairly good condition. I knew from the serial number on the handle, which started with 88 that it was manufactured, according to the book, between 1936 and 1941 so, S and G comb with a roller bolt. We discussed price and agreed that I would deduct $50.00 from the invoice to keep the safe. Done deal. That cute little JJ was now mine!
I sat there and spun the dial. It was very firm, like, having to make a fist to turn it. It's a small safe, about 350 lbs. I knew it wouldn't be too hard to flip on it's back and up again, so I laid it on it's back and sprayed lube between the dial and it's ring while working the dial to help the lube penetrate. It got a bit looser but was still too rough to manipulate so I put more lube and used the toilet plunger trick on it and it got good enough to give it a try.
Flipped up right, especially important here because the fence lever is not spring loaded, only gravity driven, I started my normal routine...I could feel 4 contact points but I knew only the middle two mattered. The thing is that these points kept shifting by almost 3 numbers left or right...I deduced that the spline key was loose, the drive cam was no longer "one" with the dial...So...I made a peep hole in it...
http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Altashot/slideshow/JJ%20Taylor
I'll post the repair and refurbish later... When I get to it...Because right now, I'm trying to finish another one...
Oh! I almost forgot!...The loot!...4 pennies.
M.