Wells Fargo Strong Box

[Rich]

I want to build as close to an exact replica of a Wells Fargo strong box as I can. Does anyone have any accurate information in terms of size, materials, etc. that would get me started in the right direction?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I know there is an old thread, but "search" couldn't find it.  Try varied search words.

meanwhile, check this out;

https://www.google.ca/search?q=image+strong+box&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CIrCUbucHrCyigKBrYG4Cg&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1059&bih=504

http://www.woodchests.com/Product.aspx?CategoryID=77188&ProductId=83990

[Texlee]

Here's the thread

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=38630.0

Tex

[Curley Cole]

here is a photo of the real deal from the Wells Fargo museum at Old Town San Diego




and here is a shot of one made by our late pard Tom Muley (RIP)

Muley made his own bvrackets himself, and gave this item to 4Trod just before he passed. He also gave the instructions on how he made it to 4T.  Don't know if he is able to share the info or not..

good luck
curley

[Forty Rod]

I have the box, but I don't have...and don't recall getting any...instructions with it.  Let me look around and see if I just put them away and forgot.

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I you could find the instructions that would be great.  I have a good table saw and my son-in-law is a metal worker by trade and togther we could make me one.

[Forty Rod]

I'll look for them.  I hope I do have them and can send a copy o you or find a way to post it on the wire.

[GunClick Rick]

Check this out,

[Forty Rod]

Compare that to the originals and the one Muley made me and you'll find a lot of differences.

No banding around the lid, smaller, weaker hinges, the hasp slot is horizontal rather than vertical, etc.

I'd like to have one of the new ones for a travel trunk, but a Wells fargo box it ain't.  It's a beautiful piece of furniture.

[GunClick Rick]

All those westerns where they shot the lock off the box and the whole time the driver has the key!
Driver: here;s the key
bandit: Shut up,now ya messed up the whole scene,now i have to ride in and point my gun and say THROW DOWN THAT KEY! Now throw down that strong box,now get down here and open this box with that key,hand me the money,put it in my saddle bags..Now get out of the way so i can ride off.

SEE! it just don't sound Banditoey~ KEYS? We doene need no stinking keys,we can choot it off.Pedro choot de locks!

[Major 2]

Compare that to the originals and the one Muley made me and you'll find a lot of differences.

No banding around the lid, smaller, weaker hinges, the hasp slot is horizontal rather than vertical, etc.

I'd like to have one of the new ones for a travel trunk, but a Wells fargo box it ain't.  It's a beautiful piece of furniture.

The good Col. Littleton does not mention his box is/was a $1000 +

Least it was in the catalog I had a couple years ago...I don't see it offered anymore.

[Forty Rod]

Probably only made the prototype and couldn't get orders for any more.

[Major 2]

I was gifted one of his # 7 pocket folders,  very nice knife which I carry daily.
I think it was about $80 ...

but he is HIGH end on his Fly Swatters  No. FS1 $52.50


Here's a flyswatter for the person who has everything. This is our original 31-hole model. Handmade American oak handle with leather lanyard and bridle leather paddle. 20 1/2" long. Brass engraving plaque. Substantial enough for the occasional wayward hornet or bumblebee. Available personalized with three initials.

Made in USA 

[Jack Wagon]

Here's a picture of a WF strong box from the Oroville - Quincy coach, opened with Black Bart's hatchet.  JW

[RattlesnakeJack]

I recall reading (when researching information and pictures for building a strongbox) that these express company strongboxes were intentionally designed so that, when full of gold coin, they could not be carried by one man .... two were needed to move them - a bit of built-in deterrent .....

This is the strongbox I built - the body is made with 1" (nominal) pine boards - the laminated together kind you can get at Home Depot and such places - completely sheathed in sheet steel, then reinforced on all corners with angle-iron, with some added steel strapping all attached with forged-head square-cut nails clinched over inside (which you can just make out on the inside of the lid in the last photo.)  







Had to go out to the Cowboy range today to pick up some tools I left there, and took these photos on my cell phone while I was there so I could post them in this thread.  It has been in use for ten years or more and is standing up well ..... although it is getting a bit scuffed and scraped.  (The carpet in the bottom is for when handguns get staged inside ....)

The nails and the iron handles were acquired from Lee Valley Tools -
- http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=40387&cat=3,41306,41324
- http://www.leevalley.com/en/hardware/page.aspx?p=40222&cat=3,41427

Great prop for all sorts of scenarios, especially with this type of old-timey padlock -


- http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Antique-Iron-Padlock-Reproduction/dp/B002DSDTB4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_9