Vintage Garages - Clearing out a Horders Time Capsule

[OldeTimeEtc]

Wasn't sure where to post this....if the admin wants to move it please do.

Some that know me as a watch and clockmaker also know I do a lot of "picking" to make a living which I quite enjoy the hunt and exploring old barns and attics looking for treasure..so to speak.
Recently I have acquired buying out an estate of an old Watchmaker/Jeweler. From what I understand he passed away many many years ago and his wife whom just died recently just closed up the garage and shed after his passing and left it like that.....sealed like a time capsule. Based on what I've uncovered so far he seems to also have dabbled into other things like lapidary, woodworking blacksmithing and casting too, which is evident from the vintage machines, tools, sacks and boxes full of rock hound finds. I also found many polished stones and cut slabs.....no diamonds, rubies or emeralds unfortunately. I'm assuming some things were sold long ago since a lot is lacking of what should be there commonly in a shop like this. So late in the game as I have boxed up quite a bit I'm still digging and thought it might be interesting to show the current progress of what Ive found so far and some of the interesting items Ive uncovered in this old...once rat infested.....shed.
One great find that's going into my shop is this mint unused 1953 Atlas "Grinder-Hone" Mod 2400. Except for the dust there's not a scratch one it. I downloaded the original owners manual and the hone tool rest is the only thing missing but I may still find it.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Two More interesting finds....a blacksmith vise with foot made by Columbian and what I'm sure is an ca 1880 Water Hand pump made by Dempster Mill Mfg Co. which looks like it came out of Kansas.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Heres another cool item...a turn of the century Mosley Cannonball Safe....I understand this beast weighs 2000-3000 Lbs. People will be coming later this week to move it......should be interesting. I'll post more pics as I progress so stay tuned

 

[twertsy]

That is some cool stuff so far! I'll be following as you dig out!

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[Maui]

Ok I'll bite - what in the world is a cannonball safe supposed to be for?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Looks interesting, Please keep posting pictures as you dig stuff out.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

OldTimeEtc,

Subscribed!

FWIW, I think you're in the perfect spot for this thread. Twertsy and I picked a similar time capsule in a similar situation in Southeastern PA last year. In this case the sellers were the deceased owner's twin daughters, in their 70's, desperately selling as much stuff as they could before a county knocked the building down (this was a machine shop) as condemned.

Link to the thread here if you're interested.

BTW, clever username for your stated profession and your picking niche!

 

[jakemac]

Ok I'll bite - what in the world is a cannonball safe supposed to be for?

Jewelers and money lenders like them because they're so damned heavy and awkward to steal. No one is going to walk off with it, so if they want to crack it open, they have to take the time to do it onsite. Assuming you can get it open without bringing the building down on top of yourself.

Short of a walk-in vault, they're one of the best designed low to medium volume safes ever built. IMO

Just to get it out, the OP'er is going to need a rigging crew.

 

[jywilli69]

I hope you ended up with the safe. It does have a cool factor. If restored, it could be worth between $4k+.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Ok I'll bite - what in the world is a cannonball safe supposed to be for?

Just what the its name implys.... its a "SAFE". The name "Cannonball" of course was coined by the way its look and shape. These safes were considered high security safes in their days and still is today. According to my research these were made of Manganese Steel and were impervious to torches and nitroglycerine which were favorite tools for burglars. I posted a couple pics of the door from another one I found online to show how the door looks when open and since its night I'm not going to drive over 10 miles away to take any pics right now of the one I found......I will post pics of it later.. If you will note it actually screws into the safe before locking by use of a very long lever to turn it. A Time lock was also installed. Just look at the thickness of the door and those huge threads.

View of the open door on another safe to show the "screw door" and pic of a restored one with the door level installed.

I have since posted pics of the Safes screw door and turning lever.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Found these pics of the York Safe & Lock Company factory and one of their safes.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

.........and an interesting article from the local newspaper ca 1924:

“This Ely-Norris Compound Door Safe was attacked by burglars on the night of May 12th 1921 in the vault of Augusta State Bank, Augusta, Wisconsin. The burglars used the oxyacetylene torch, and nitroglycerine in unrestricted quantities, and at no time during the attack were they interrupted. The safe preserved intact $65,000 cash and securities.
‘THE STRONGEST SAFE IN THE WORLD.’
Manufactured exclusively by YORK SAFE & LOCK CO., YORK, PENNA.”

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

I hope you ended up with the safe. It does have a cool factor. If restored, it could be worth between $4k+.

A fully restored safe like this goes for about 1/2 your estimate although I'm sure one would pay perhaps that much depending on how bad he wants one since these are rather scarce, desirable and very expensive to have one moved. Only reason I didn't end up with it and instead sold it is I simply didn't have any place to put it in my small home or garage.....one has to overcome their want sometimes and be practical. At least it went to a good home and the new owner intends to fully restore it...I hope. I'll be taking pictures of them moving it this week.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Somewhere in the many boxes I packed is the rest of the jewelers lathe that goes with this head stock with a dividing head Made by Webster Whitcomb

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Tonight I'm going thru old cigar boxes and one of many old small crystal metal cabinets while relaxing and watching tv...god I love searching old cigar boxes....the old watchmakers "boneyard"...my finds so far but getting tired and will be going to bed soon. Pocket watches, Wristwatches and old watch movements.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Spent the day yesterday cleaning more out and discovering new items.....heres a view of the garage and shed so you can see what I have gotten myself into.

 

[Fishingfoolemjak]

Very cool. Subscribed!

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Here's one very old beautiful machine which I think I'm going to keep in my shop.
An Old W, W. Oliver 2" Metal Shear Mod 743. I'm sure this machine is pre-1900s. This will be one of my future restoration projects. Besides being very heavy cast iron, don't you just love the manufacturers badge? It screams great pride in their products.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Found many Vintage mostly Craftsman bench top machines buried under lots of boxes and garage storage. I can see more but that will take a little time to get to. Also while moving along the wall removing more stuff I uncovered what looks like an early drill press with part of the head removed and looks to be made of solid brass.....hope I can find the rest of the parts. I also uncovered a Columbian Vice. Well calling it a night.....stay tuned

 

[bmwrd0]

This is great, lots of cool stuff!

 

[twertsy]

Looks like heaven to me!

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

Like pealing back an onion.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Another find/keeper...a Vintage Clev-Dent oak traveling dentist tool box with a few machinists tools in it. Needs a little repair.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

I'm finding boxes full of old vintage door hardware and skeleton key type locks.....anyone out there restoring an old house or garage?

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Finding lots of clocks scattered about. Mostly vintage alarm clocks

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

A Jewelers Steam Cleaning Machine made by Pritikin. I'll post more info and a price once I have a chance to test this to see if it works

 

[tombell572]

A wonderful find, OldTime. We are restoring my wife's family home in Portland, OR and I paid a good amount for two mortise locksets similar to what you have found--timing is everything.

A while back Rick Dale on American Restorations restored a cannonball safe similar to yours. A beautiful and unique tribute to American manufacturing.

Tom B.

 

[Farmall 1066]

The Dempster pump you found was made in Beatrice Nebraska.
Factory is still there. Giant place unchanged much in the last 50 years.
Last owner pretty well ran it into the ground, but still a handful of employees.
It's on borrowed time, and sad to see it dying.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Briefly went to the shed today as it started to get dark and decided to pull out a huge pile of extension cables, old rope and steel cable piled onto everything in the back corner of the shed. Took me some time to pull and untangle everything and haul it out of the shed and in doing so I happen to pull too hard trying to remove some cables coiled around everything that it finally let loose and I fell back on a pile of junk...not hurt but took me a few mins to untangle myself and stand up again. ......here's what I found under all this ****....
another very old rolling mill...looks to be late 1800s. Couldn't see a name plate but it looks to be another one made by Buffalo like the other one I found. Also a nice old Silver Burnisher with a well made heavy metal tumbler made by Kraeft, several tanks for gas welding and an old grinder with motor. I also took a friend with me so he could pick thru the things that I didn't want but also didn't want going to a land fill...he got several shovels, picks, axes hammers and like new wooden replacement handles for them all...there seemed to be alot of them laying around. He also found a few old wrenches and a large metal utility storage box...he was welcome to them. I kept a few smaller hammer handles for myself. It was already dark so with flashlights in hand we loaded up his truck with his treasures and called it a night.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Nov 16, 2017....Moving Day!! Today the owners came to move the safe. I found it most interesting, enlightening and educational how easy it was to move such a huge heavy object. These guys of course had done this before but they moved this safe quick, smoothly and fast. They were also kind enough to help load up my very heavy Buffalo rolling mill and run it to storage for me...a win win for me!

 

[Packard V8]

I found it most interesting, enlightening and educational how easy it was to move such a huge heavy object.

Stuffs only hard when you don't know how. Both those pieces were cake. Now that you know it can be done, you'll be hauling home some heavy arn.

jack vines

 

[don long]

You have hit the motherload buddy I really like the looks of the old roller mill
Great finds. Thanks for sharing them with us

Don

 

[jakemac]

I missed that the safe was sitting on a pallet. Makes it much easier to move.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

You have hit the motherload buddy I really like the looks of the old roller mill Great finds. Thanks for sharing them with us Don

Don.....which one? I took three out of the shed and a 4th is disassembled so its for parts. One was even buried under a pile of rubble and I'm still finding things. Three were manual and the big one is power driven. Two of them I'm sure were made in the late 1800's. You know any jewelers wanting good production machines send them my way.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

Stuffs only hard when you don't know how. Both those pieces were cake. Now that you know it can be done, you'll be hauling home some heavy arn. jack vines

They still had to remove it from the pallet and seeing this particular safe didn't come with wheels and sat flat on the ground I'm sure they had a time doing that. I happen to drive by the owners business today and could see it thru his store window already attracting attention. Once he starts restoring it I might have a hand in helping him with that.

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

BTW...are there any roofers living nearby? There are around 8 huge big heavy boxes of roofing nails laying around the shed and garage...some are broke open and nails are laying around everywhere....FREE for the taking....just get ahold of me.

 

[thehorse13]

That safe is a work of art. I've still got my feelers out for one from that era. Sooner or later, like you, I will hit pay dirt.

Great stuff so far!

 

[drivesitfar]

OldTime: i'm watching as you dig out some more gems too so as you have time to keep posting up pictures and telling us what you know or ask questions.

thanks for sharing and yes it's a good place to put this and you are getting a lot of them members that might know what some of this stuff is if you don't.

ANY VISES??

cheers

 

[OldeTimeEtc]

OldTime: ANY VISES??

So far I've dug out just 4...one drill press or mill vice...no name
one bench Vise with clamp...good for a watchmaker or hobbyist, a Columbian
No 604...4" jaws and a Columbian Blacksmith Vice with foot.

 

[Plombob]

Having cleaned out 4 homes, I don't envy you. No one realizes how much work it is until they've done it. Good luck! I hope you find many more cool things.