York Safe & Lock faltered after founder's death
This is the view of the wide stretch of the Susquehanna River from Highpoint, part of York Safe & Lock owner Forry Laucks' country estate. Easy access to the river from both the York and Lancaster county sides made the river between Wrightsville and Columbia a crossroads - and a part of many key phases of this region's past. That's the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in the foreground and the Wright's Ferry Bridge up river. Background posts: When the bridge over the Codorus moved and New Freedom station houses alien safe.
My York Sunday News column "The Susquehanna River runs near it" tells about the life and death of York Safe & Lock’s S. Forry Laucks.
What happened to York Safe & Lock after his death in 1942?...
Not long after Laucks death, York Safe company, holding scores of millions of dollars in Navy contracts, ran into trouble.
The Navy stepped in to operate parts of the company because so many defense contracts were at stake. Parts of the company became known as the Navy Ordnance Plant and later Blaw-Knox, a company the Navy brought in to manage the factories.
So, the government played a big role in the company both before and during World War II. Defense contracts rescued the company from the Depression. Banks naturally weren’t buying safes during the 1930s. And the Navy had to step in to make the company work after Laucks death.
York Safe & Lock closed some years after the end of the war.
Other York Safe & Lock links:
- A-bomb: 'We must guard its secret wisely'
- New Freedom station houses alien safe
- York Safe & Lock worker recalls chat with Hedy Lamarr
- Hedy Lamarr's visit to York long remembered.
- From Bofors to Bikes, Harley plant top hog.
- Forry Laucks, Lauxmont sparked debates.
Federico Calderon · September 7, 2006 03:17 PM
I have a old safe box. In Lima Peru is a two doors safe with another two doors inside in a big box in metric sistem is:
1.70 cm high, 1.40 x 0.80 x .80 cms.-
Probably is for latest 1890 to 1920.-
I want so sell this like an antique.-
Pls send me your value ideas
regards
federico calderon
James McClure · September 9, 2006 09:40 AM
Frederico,
York Safe & Lock safes are still in use all over the world, so the fact that you located one faraway from York is not surprising. Any other York Safe sightings out there?
sam Houston · September 13, 2006 01:31 PM
I have a york safe 19 5/8 wide X 20" deep and 33 1/4 " tall with steel wheels. Outside on front door plate has serial no. 15205. Inside door on a plate is Group 1 No. 104312.
This safe has been in my family for over 45 years that I know of and was passed down to me from my dear father in Jan. 2006.
I have compleatly re-stored it to its origional new appearence. It has that old smell inside that money probably never would be able to buy from me!
Can anyone give me any idea how young this safe is?
It has a four number combination..
Please call or write back any information on this sweet gem....
accesslaporte@sbcglobal.net
281-450-9007 cell
281-542-7200 store
Hope this note reaches a safe historian/ buff...
Thanks,
Sam Houston
La Porte, Texas
paul wisnyi · May 5, 2007 10:23 PM
i have a old york safe and lock company safe. it is in wonderful condition but is missing the two chrome plated finials that go on the bottom of the hinges. does anyone have two or know where i can get a pair.
thanks
paul
mrs. G · November 7, 2007 10:48 AM
I have TWO York safes in my possession. One with combination and the other I have what I thought was the combination but it does not work and the safe is locked. Any offer or interest let me know!!!!
dan Heskett · November 21, 2007 09:49 AM
you can look on the computer and get the company name and e-mail them with any informating you have and they can get the combination for you ....I have one and they could helpe me .. hope they can help you too .... mine has a 4 no# and it is over 60 years old ...