a1abdj
Member
Most homes in those days didn't have safes. Of course I was in one of the Vanderbuilt homes that had a vault in the kitchen for the silverware. Want to guess what it was in front of?
100 years ago, security products were built to be overkill. Banks bragged about their vaults, and even included photos of them on postcards. Other commercial businesses did the same.
The "let's keep it a total secret" is a valid security method, but it is new. Why is it new? Because if banks sent out post cards showing their security, somebody would come along and break into the vault. Just like safes, most modern day vault doors (and safes), are not as secure (as far as overkill) than they used to be.
100 year old fire safe with 2 cubic foot interior space. Weight 1,000 pounds. Constructed of 1/4" iron, and 5" of concrete fill.
Modern fire safe with 2 cubic foot interior space. Weight 350 pounds. Constructed of 14 guage steel, and 2" of gypsum.
Please tell me which safe you would rather use?
Please provide me with the information regarding the guys opening the safes, and the safe which they opened. In the 1980's a top of the line jeweler's safe would have had a few inches of solid alloy. I've never heard of a sledge hammer capable of going through that. (based on 1980's bischoff catalog).
Modern day burglary rated safes are tested against all common hand tools, power tools, cutting torches, and pressure applying devices. If given the choice between a sledge and a gas operated concrete saw, I'd take the saw. It would still take more than 45 minutes.
100 years ago there were no power tools, cutting torches, or other modern burglary tools, yet I've seen safes that have 6 inches of laminated or magnese steel. Have you ever drilled through 6 inches of steel with one of those hand crank drills? Glycerin was the best chance back then, and even it had a hard time on steel safes.
Most of the photos of old burglaries that you see involve fire rated safes. Safes which were never really designed for the storage of valuables. Theives took advantage of valuables being stored in an improper safe 100 years ago, the same as they do today.
So why isn't that done today?
I know what banks use, because I sell it to them.
Most modern day bank vaults are not what they used to be. Many of the modular units that we install are out of sight.
Some banks will spend big money on 100 year old vault doors, and they are always visable by the public. Modern day alarms make burlgary difficult, but why hide the new vault, but display one that's 100 years old?
Yes...it is quite old. But hiding safes is much more common today than it has been in the past.
I haven't looked at these sources, but seriously doubt I have to. I work with this stuff everyday, and am quite familiar with how and why it works.
Regardless, never in the history of safes, has something that has 1/10" steel (modern day gun safes) been considered secure.
Old safes were built with real craftmanship and overbuilt for their use. Modern day safes are built in the cheapest and fastest fashion that still allows them to achieve a rating.
