IRON SAFE TOO GOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 13

IRON SAFE TOO GOOD

FIRE FAILS TO DESTROY A CLAIM SUBSTANTIATED TO take an old adage, “The A proof of the pudding is in the eating.” And this was exemplified in quite another manner on Saturday last when an iron safe was subjected to a most severe test to prove the claim of the manufacturers that it was fireproof. The majority of manufacturers will say their safes are fire-re-sisting, but few will give a guarantee that they are fire-proof—-quite a different thing altogether. However, Messrs. Samuel Withers, Ltd., of Birmingham, give a guarantee with their products that they are fire-proof. The Reliance Printery, Ltd., of Auckland, who are sole agents for these safes, which are made expressly for them, were desirous of putting to the test the worth of the guarantee. A novel and highly effective means of proving that claim was decided upon, this being prompted mainly because of the large sales of safes being made throughout New Zealand, and the desire to give the best to its customers. The safes are constructed to suit colonial conditions, and the only thing wanting was the fire test.

A vacant plot of ground belonging to the firm in Great North Road, Morningside, was chosen for the demonstration on Saturday, September 3, 1927. A huge packing case was the resting place of the bright green safe, and around the case was piled wood, shavings and paper, over which was poured a gallon of benzine.

Once alight the wood turned furiously and within five minutes the terrific heat had changed the paint on the safe to a dull biack. Ten minutes of what was now a p aging furnace was sufficient to have made the safe white hot, the outer surface curling slightly with the heat.

Twenty minutes of this and it was not possible to approach within ten feet of the fire, the safe having settled in a blazing inferno.

As in accordance with arrangements made, two members of the Mount Albert Fire Brigade came on the scene and quickly extinguished the flames after they had been blazing for twenty-five minutes.

The safe was cooled, and an official of the Reliance Printery, Ltd., opened it with the original Two remarkable features were the opening of the safe without any recourse to force, and the fact that throughout the time the safe had been in the inferno the keyhole guard had been open. When examined, the interior of the safe was untouched by either smoke or fire. Several ledgers and documents being used by the firm, which had been placed in their respective positions for the test were also in perfect condition, and Save more the appearance of hav,n 9 been taken off the office desk p ather than having just come through a raging furnace. Members of the Press and strangers were present and testified to the wonderful result of the test *nd the absolute thoroughness with which it was carried out. In the ordinary case of fire no safe, or very few, would have been subjected to a concentrated heat as was the case in this demonstrat'on. The guarantee given by the was certainly upheld, and the “Zealandia Safe” will hold anything from documents to jewels through any fire and give up its contents unscathed.

The safe in question has but to e repainted and will be as new, and as good, as when the Reliance rintery, Ltd., imported it. 8