Antique Diebold Safes – What are they?

16-10-2021

By watching shows like “Antiques Roadshow,” you may have decided that investing in antique furniture is the way to make your fortune in the future. But many of these old pieces are too flimsy to use and take up a lot of space to store properly. This is one of the reasons why some collectors prefer to invest in vintage Diebold safes. They are not only valuable, they are functional.

About Diebold

Diebold is an Ohio-based American company that started in 1859 and still exists today with offices around the world. The company is named after an enterprising locksmith named Charles Diebold. His reputation was made from a tragic event: the great Chicago fire. Diebold safes survived the destruction. Although they now focus on ATMs, vaults, and security software, they still make models of safes. Some of your first safes still exist today.

What’s so special about these old safes?

When you hear about an antique safe, you don’t think it’s such a great deal. One safe is like another, right? Incorrect! Antique Diebold safes are not only valuable, they are also incredibly beautiful. Not only are they beautiful for an antique safe, they are handcrafted works of art.

When you take one of these masterpieces apart, you will see that each lock and hasp was not only handcrafted and signed, but also engraved with intricate flower, vine, and leaf designs. Some safes even had hand-painted flowers on the outside. After taking a good look at said safe, it will be difficult to find something more valuable than the safe to keep inside.

Some models, such as cannonball safes, are not as attractive but are still valuable. They get their name from the huge round shape that rests on a square base. Many vintage Diebold safes from the 1850s to 1870s still survive and some make it to the market, sometimes called “third-model safes” in antique listings on antique listings, especially if the safe has double doors.

I think I have one. Now what?

First of all, you need to make sure it is a Diebold. Do not trust the seller to know what type of safe you have or what brand it is. If they have heard that people are paying a lot of money for a Diebold time lock safe, they will advertise that their safes for sale are Diebold time lock safes, no matter what the safe actually is.

Hopefully, you will be able to check the safe for sale before depositing your money. You need to check the status, a brand name, to see if it still works and what the serial numbers are.

So play it safe with your safe. Get it appraised with an antique dealer. Take your time to find one. You can check with the International Society of Appraisers to find a professional in your area who will give you an honest assessment. Next, secure your safe.