The Venerable Cannonball Safe

Kanewpadle · #1 02-02-2019, 12:26 AM

These were made from the mid 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Still one of the most secure safes ever made.

Kanewpadle · #2 02-02-2019, 12:37 AM

Here’s another.
Cannon Ball Safe - 1872 Jessie James Style - Triple Time Lock -

Ivan the Butcher · #3 02-02-2019, 02:22 AM

How many N-frames can you get in there?

Ivan

CH4 · #4 02-02-2019, 02:44 AM

Not much of anything would fit inside. I used to work as a safe and fault tech during the day and played cop at night - paramedic on the weekends. One of the coolest safes ever is the cannonball, which was made by many companies, e.g., Diebold, Mosler, Manganese Steel, etc. Never got called to open one (wouldn’t even have bothered showing up), but serviced several. The coolest safe extant. Also, IIRC, the manganese alloy actually got harder the more you pounded on it, without getting britttle. The Amador County Courthouse in California, had one at the entrance. Smiled every time I walked passed it.

Onomea · #5 02-02-2019, 07:00 AM

Looks like one helluva secure door, but, is there any space to store stuff inside?

chief38 · #6 02-02-2019, 10:20 AM

It has always amazed me that something that precise, ultra high quality and so perfectly manufactured could be done 150 years ago without electricity, the use of modern machinery, and with relatively uneducated workers. BRAVO to them!!! I REALLY appreciate that kind of workmanship!

NOTE (added): Please read my post below this one (response).

raljr1 · #7 02-02-2019, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief38

It has always amazed me that something that precise, ultra high quality and so perfectly manufactured could be done 150 years ago without electricity, the use of modern machinery, and with relatively uneducated workers. BRAVO to them!!! I REALLY appreciate that kind of workmanship!

Chief, gotta call you out on the use of "uneducated" to describe these workers. They may not have gone to college, or maybe not even high school, but they spent years learning their trades and very often were highly intelligent. Having worked with manufacturing folks my whole life, I have come to appreciate that our success come from the sweat of their brow. And yes, in those days, without the benefit of modern machinery and technology.

Robert

Boudiepitbull · #8 02-02-2019, 12:31 PM

It has wheels but I don't think it's portable...

CH4 · #9 02-02-2019, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boudiepitbull

It has wheels but I don't think it's portable...

Wouldn’t matter much if it were portable, you’re not going to get it open wherever it ends up.

Bakebfr480 · #10 02-02-2019, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan the Butcher

How many N-frames can you get in there?

Ivan

Not many that's for sure!

gregintenn · #11 02-02-2019, 05:48 PM

Something else I now want that I didn't know existed before viewing this forum!

That's cool!

okiegtrider · #12 02-02-2019, 05:54 PM

There is one of those old safes in the courthouse in the town where I live. At least there was one not so long ago. I'll get by there and grab a photo if it is still there. It is gray colored like the one shown in the link posted earlier.

chief38 · #13 02-02-2019, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raljr1

Chief, gotta call you out on the use of "uneducated" to describe these workers. They may not have gone to college, or maybe not even high school, but they spent years learning their trades and very often were highly intelligent. Having worked with manufacturing folks my whole life, I have come to appreciate that our success come from the sweat of their brow. And yes, in those days, without the benefit of modern machinery and technology.

Robert

I respectfully respond with my clarification to what I stated in my post above about being uneducated..........

For the most part, they were uneducated (in the formal sense of the word). That said, YES, I absolutely agree they were extremely well versed in their trade! In no way am I accusing them of being stupid or ignorant people - in fact I believe many or most of them had way more common sense and training in their trades than many of the current College graduates today.

I know many people who never went to college, barely graduated from HS and are multi-millionaires. My best friend is living proof! While he barely graduated from HS and never attended college, he is one of the smartest and successful men I have ever met - bar none! He has more common sense than any Doctor, Lawyer, or Phd. I've ever known. So while he is super smart with tons of common sense and has an uncanny ability to run a successful business over the last 40 years, that does not make him an "educated man" in the eyes of popular belief (which by the way is rubbish and I agree with you there)!

To me, "formal education" and the ability to use what you have learned are two separate things. I know many "educated people" who are in actuality complete morons! I also know a few "uneducated people" who have more common sense in their toe than many college grad do in their entire body!

So that is what I meant by "uneducated" and in NO WAY meant it to be taken as in insult, berating or looking down upon. Most of the most successful and wealthiest people I know (personally) are owners of small business, electricians, plumbers, and masons and have more common sense than some of my Phd. and Dr. friends do.

That is what I meant in my post above and felt compelled to clarify that.

doublesharp · #14 02-02-2019, 07:07 PM

I hauled this safe out of the basement in 5 gallon buckets. Piece o cake.

CH4 · #15 02-02-2019, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doublesharp

I hauled this safe out of the basement in 5 gallon buckets. Piece o cake.

You won’t be doing that with a Cannonball

lawandorder · #16 02-03-2019, 07:27 AM

The technology of the Cannonball safe came to be because of an epidemic of Bank Burglaries at the time. The old square safes were pretty easy to open for the safe pros.