UG
Ulrich Gall
255 discoveries
Historic Hermann Safe Co. Vault Door
What you're seeing here isn't just an ordinary door, but a custom-built vault door from the Hermann Safe Company of San Francisco. Found in what was once a grand estate, this heavy, reinforced entry suggests that the room beyond was designed for serious security.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as San Francisco grew into a bustling financial and industrial hub, companies like Hermann Safe Co. specialized in crafting these formidable vaults for banks, businesses, and wealthy individuals. They were a practical necessity for safeguarding valuables, important documents, or even a personal wine collection from theft or fire.
It's unusual to walk through such a historical and robust safe door in a modern context, but it serves as a tangible link to a past era when personal security meant massive steel and complex locking mechanisms, rather than digital passwords and alarms. This particular safe door features thick metal plating, numerous bolts that extend into the door frame, and intricate reinforcing bars, all designed to deter any would-be intruders. The craftsmanship is apparent, showcasing both the engineering prowess and the aesthetic sensibilities of the time.
Hermann Safe Co. Vault Door
The massive steel door, with its intricate locking mechanism, is a vault door manufactured by "The Hermann Safe Co. San Francisco." This company, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was a significant producer of safes and vault doors for banks, businesses, and wealthy individuals throughout California and beyond. These doors were a symbol of security and status, often featuring complex designs and considerable weight, making them highly effective against burglaries of the era. Seeing such a robust vault door in what now functions as outdoor seating suggests it was repurpose for a new use, or the building previously served a different function, perhaps as a bank or a private estate with extensive security measures for valuables.
Vault Door by The Hermann Safe Co.
This is a vault door, manufactured by **The Hermann Safe Co. of San Francisco**, repurposed as the entrance to a room in what is now the **Dining Room Terrace, Paul Creek Bridge**.
The Hermann Safe Company was a prominent safe maker established in San Francisco in 1891, active into the mid-20th century. Their safes and vault doors, known for quality, are still found today, often in historic buildings and banks across California.
Using a heavy vault door in a private residence, especially for something like a walk-in pantry, wine cellar, or storage closet, highlights the initial high-value, possibly custom, nature of the estate.