York Safe & Lock safes thwarted burglars
A Facebook friend recently posted a photo of a “cannonball” safe made by York Safe and Lock. I went searching in the many York Safe and Lock photos at York County Heritage Trust and picked out the four photos shown here.
Eli-Norris Patented
Maynard Manganese Steel Safes
(probably an advertising photo)
15th Explosion at Night
The last photo shows just how burglar proof these manganese steel safes, exclusively manufactured by York Safe and Lock, were. The following description is typed on the back of the photo:
“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.”
This was probably one of the smallest safes manufactured by York Safe and Lock, but that didn’t make it any less impenetrable than the huge bank vaults they also made. The 1921 Augusta, Wisconsin burglars must have been so frustrated that they abandoned their tanks and tools. Perhaps it was enough to make them find an easier profession.
Click here for York Safe and Lock posts by fellow blogger Jim McClure.
