This is an extremely rare and very sought-after alarmed money box that is called Trust Me Box by the American Secret Service Co., 222 Market St., Newark, NJ.
What's interesting is there are two drawers on the inside. Both are velvet-lined. One of them has the exact same label as the one you see on the underside of the lid but it shows the company name as the Greenville Co., 290 Broadway, New York, NY. instead. This drawer with the label also shows that it is box #715 and key #D.5.
The box measures 12-3/16" x 6" x 5" and weighs 6 lbs. oz. It is completely made of steel with a brass handle and a wood grain style deep red and black paint job. It is in excellent condition and has a keyed lock on top which works great. The key is original to the box.
The label on the underside of the lid tells you how to operate the alarmed box. You're supposed to set it on a flat surface, close the lid, and turn the brass knob to the left. This sets the combination causing the bell to ring the instant "Trust Me" is disturbed.
There is also a ball bearing on the bottom of the box that when the box is lifted off the table, the alarm will go off. There are 2 different alarms: one is a large 4"-diameter nickel-plated bell that you turn to wind up and the other you will have to read about on the label. Both alarms work.
On the left side of the box behind the bell there is a large steel plate that reads Patented Applied 22 1919. What is odd is that the patent stamp is upside down and the original mounting screw goes right through it. Since everything looks factory and does not look to be tampered with at all, there is a really good chance this could be a prototype or salesman's sample.
I have talked to a few people who collect safes and they said they have only seen a few of these and they are very rare. I have done many hours of research trying to find another one and I could not. Some of the "old timers" that I talked to are the only ones I know who have actually seen others.
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Rare Trust Me Alarmed Safe / Money Box – American Secret Service Co. 1919
$349.99
Brand
American Secret Service Co.
Type
Alarmed Money Box / Safe
Lock Mechanism
Key
Lock Type
Key
Color
Brown
Features
Alarm
condition
Used