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safes

When you want to protect your valuables and belongings, whether they be important documents, photos, jewelry, or guns you would in all probability use lockboxes or safes. These are devices that are secure and can protect what you need to be protected from, theft, damage, and intrusion. Safes have not always been reliable. These devices and mechanisms have been around for thousands of years on their journey to the present. Flat Rate Locksmith brings you this article for your reading pleasure, and this article will give you the history of safes in the form of a quick summary. Do you need assistance from professionals with the safe that you have? Then Flat Rate Locksmith Atlanta is the one to schedule an appointment with one of our certified locksmiths. If it is an emergency, we can arrange for a dispatch urgently.

The First Safe

This, the first safe, has a history that goes back more than 3000 years, to the 13th century B.C. It was discovered in present-day Egypt, in the tomb of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. This safe was made of wood and had a lock system that was very similar to the pin tumbler locks that are still in use today. Movable pins dropped into holes that then enabled the locking of the safe. Wood was not as secure as would be required and could be easily broken into, but even so, as a design and idea that is over 3000 years old, this safe is impressive.

The Roman Age

As the molding of metals got developed, it made for locks and safes that were more reliable, but these were still easy to force open or have their locks picked. Lock systems that used fixed lugs, fake lock holes, hidden locks, multiple locks, and various techniques were used for greatly enhanced security.

Fire Protection

Prior to the early years of the 1800s, safes were protected against thieves and burglars but were still not safe in fires. Jesse Delano, in the year 1825, started the manufacture of coated wooden chests and iron chests, which received a coat of lime, clay, plumbago, potash lye, mica, and alum. Thomas Milner went further in 1827 and made safes that had a coating of iron and tin, and also used the same to line their insides.

A patent for a ‘double’ fireproof chest was granted to C.J. Gayler in the 1830s. This safe had two chests, one inside the other, with a space that had air or some material that did not conduct heat. When the great fire took place in New York in 1835 his model of safes, the “salamander” double fire-proof, kept its contents safe, while all other safes suffered.

Competition continued to heat up and through the mid-1800s there were multiple patents applied for, and many lawsuits filed. In addition to compartmentalization, use was made of various insulating materials. During this time, the Wilder Salamander Safe Co. was considered the industry’s leader.

Vaults and Safes in Modern Times

Walls of modern vaults have a thickness that is not quite incredible and are made from steel, and often have concrete encasing and locking mechanisms that are extremely complicated. These safes and vaults can even survive a nuclear blast. Two examples of this are Hiroshima which had the Mosler safe, while a safe was used above ground during Nevada nuclear tests.

Call On Professionals

Call Flat Rate Atlanta Locksmith if you need help to access your safe or set it up. Our locksmiths are certified and have the experience and tools that allow them to deal with a large range of safes and various styles of safes. We are always ready to take a call from you.

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