Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:14 amAre there any decent, reasonably priced comprehensive books for reference/identification of vintage and antique safe locks?
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Safe locks reference books?
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:14 amRe: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 1:16 amNot that I know of. I got my info from a lot of old catalogs (dating back to 1908) the HPC Safe & Vault guide and other modern books that are usually quite expensive if not trade restricted.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:29 amYou dont mention which country you are from so advice can change however check out the Dave Mcomie books, very good.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 9:35 amPulford's High Security Mechanical Locks is great. It is mostly not about safe locks, but there are still quite a lot of them in there and not only the standard locks.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:02 amThank you for the suggestions. It's a start in the right direction. BTW, I'm in the U.S.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:34 amMartinHewitt wrote:Pulford's High Security Mechanical Locks is great. It is mostly not about safe locks, but there are still quite a lot of them in there and not only the standard locks.
Unfortunately that is not at all like what he wants. That is more modern while OP wants older US made safe locks.
While not exactly what you are looking for, this is an AMAZING book for anyone that is into safe and time locks. Tons of full color photographs. https://www.amazon.com/American-Genius-Nineteenth-Century-Locks/dp/1593720165
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 3:51 pmThat's a nice looking book. I'll have to pick up a copy to drool over. Does it label the locks with their factory model numbers, and have photos of the insides?
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 3:59 pmIt has lots of time locks, many combination locks and a few key locks inside. The locks are shown without cover, but there are no real descriptions how they work. For me this book is more or less like a picture book with nicely engraved locks. Nice to have a look, but Pulford is on the long term much more interesting. But if you want to collect 19th century safe locks the Genius book is worth buying.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:30 pmAs Riy mentioned, old catalogs can be useful.
And a +1 on Dave McOmie for sure. That man has collected and documented a truly staggering amount of info on safes and safe locks. More than I'll probably see in three of my lifetimes. Unbelievable really. I won't even try to start naming all the books he's put together, all of which are available for purchase on searchable jump drives too. Naturally, you need to be a legit locksmith or safetech though. And they come with a price tag... rightfully so. Singles can range from $100-200. While a good portion, or even ALL of his work on one jump drive will run between $1,000-3,000.
Like you, I'm really just a passionate hobbyist at the moment and find it difficult to justify hundreds... but if, down the line, you get serious enough and decide to drop a couple hundred on a single... absolutely start with "McOmie Files". That one is strictly on locks. An A-Z list. Though far from including every lock, there's plenty to chew on and will help you identify a good majority of what you'll run into. After that, I'd say "Mostly Modern Safes" and also "Antique Safes". Given when each of these were originally published though, you might say 'modern' = antique... and the 'antique' = ancient.
p.s. Eric, that book you linked to... tempting.
Hmmm, maybe a Christmas present to myself.
Wonder(?) ratio of time locks vs. safe locks in it?
And a +1 on Dave McOmie for sure. That man has collected and documented a truly staggering amount of info on safes and safe locks. More than I'll probably see in three of my lifetimes. Unbelievable really. I won't even try to start naming all the books he's put together, all of which are available for purchase on searchable jump drives too. Naturally, you need to be a legit locksmith or safetech though. And they come with a price tag... rightfully so. Singles can range from $100-200. While a good portion, or even ALL of his work on one jump drive will run between $1,000-3,000.
Like you, I'm really just a passionate hobbyist at the moment and find it difficult to justify hundreds... but if, down the line, you get serious enough and decide to drop a couple hundred on a single... absolutely start with "McOmie Files". That one is strictly on locks. An A-Z list. Though far from including every lock, there's plenty to chew on and will help you identify a good majority of what you'll run into. After that, I'd say "Mostly Modern Safes" and also "Antique Safes". Given when each of these were originally published though, you might say 'modern' = antique... and the 'antique' = ancient.
p.s. Eric, that book you linked to... tempting.
Hmmm, maybe a Christmas present to myself.
Wonder(?) ratio of time locks vs. safe locks in it?
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:30 amOldfast wrote:As Riy mentioned, old catalogs can be useful.
And a +1 on Dave McOmie for sure. That man has collected and documented a truly staggering amount of info on safes and safe locks. More than I'll probably see in three of my lifetimes. Unbelievable really. I won't even try to start naming all the books he's put together, all of which are available for purchase on searchable jump drives too. Naturally, you need to be a legit locksmith or safetech though. And they come with a price tag... rightfully so. Singles can range from $100-200. While a good portion, or even ALL of his work on one jump drive will run between $1,000-3,000.
Like you, I'm really just a passionate hobbyist at the moment and find it difficult to justify hundreds... but if, down the line, you get serious enough and decide to drop a couple hundred on a single... absolutely start with "McOmie Files". That one is strictly on locks. An A-Z list. Though far from including every lock, there's plenty to chew on and will help you identify a good majority of what you'll run into. After that, I'd say "Mostly Modern Safes" and also "Antique Safes". Given when each of these were originally published though, you might say 'modern' = antique... and the 'antique' = ancient.
p.s. Eric, that book you linked to... tempting.
Hmmm, maybe a Christmas present to myself.
Wonder(?) ratio of time locks vs. safe locks in it?
Well shit, I thought you had it or I would have sent my copy down with all the catalogs I sent you. I haven't counted but I think there are more time locks than safe locks. It is mostly very early stuff in the mid to late 1800s into the very early 1900s. Pure lock porn, all full color photos and what not. No breakdowns etc, just a history of early safe and time locks in America.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 5:52 pmsome that spring to mind are the hpc safe and vault manual and diary of a safeman by the national locksmith, if it is older/antique locks you are interested in.
Re: Safe locks reference books?
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 10:18 pmThank you.