Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Vanished Makes: Cole Steel Equipment Company, Inc., New York

I have a well-made metal file card index in my shop that I use to keep pieces of rubber for various projects.



Cole Steel once boasted that it was world-famous for filing cabinets, office chairs, steel desks, blueprint cabinets, shelving units, storage cabinets and pronto files.  From what I've read, their products were of high quality.
1957
The Cole Steel Equipment Company was founded in 1933 in New York City.  The company prospered to such an extent that they were able to purchase, in 1949, the main plant of the former York Safe and Lock Company in York, Pennsylvania.  (This company dated back to 1882, becoming a premier maker of heavy safes and, during WWII, an important producer of the Bofors gun.  After its founder died in 1942, the company floundered and was bought up by the Levine brothers, who owned Diebold, the second biggest maker of safes and vaults in the US.  In this endeavour, they may have been helped by Elliot Ness, the former "Untouchable" who eventually became Diebold's Chairman of the Board.  For the full story, read Elliot Ness Cracks the York Safe & Lock Company)  The Cole Steel Equipment Company also offered a typewriter in the 1950's, a German ABC marketed as the Cole Portable. 


As the decades progressed, the company failed to modernize and profits declined.  The company was absorbed into Litton Industries in 1963 and eventually vanished.
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21 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2013 at 12:33 AM

    Interesting read, noticed they made verry strong cabinetry when they were in operation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 5, 2015 at 2:18 PM

    I still use the large desk and credenza shown in the Cole Steel Ad above. I think that it will last forever. What a blast from the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 3, 2023 at 3:54 PM

      I have the same desk and similar credenza. They’re cool as cool gets!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 19, 2015 at 2:28 PM

    I have a cole steel equipment co. file cabinet with a drawer that is closed using a combination lock. We have no idea what the combination is. It would be interesting to find out what is inside that drawer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MacadamiaRanchJune 1, 2016 at 7:39 PM

      I have one that belonged to my father. Unfortunately NO ONE in the family knows the combination. You have to call a locksmith that deals with safes which are hard to find.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJune 13, 2015 at 12:02 PM

    I have a small cole steel box that my Father used in the 1940"s to hold money from school events & concessions.
    Still works & I cherish it even though it is probably worthless. It was his & he used it because he was a school
    principal & coach. Very heavy

    ReplyDelete
  5. north dakota farmerJanuary 3, 2016 at 9:29 AM

    I have a 3 drawer cole steel filing cabinet with a side door which encloses a safe.I have the numbers for the combination and the key to open the side door. It was my fathers and when he passed in 2001 I obtained it. High quality and like new. They don't make them like this anymore- if they did- most couldn't afford it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2016 at 5:21 AM

    I purchased a Cole Steel filing cabinet with a built in combo lock. I accidentally closed it shut before I could take a look at resetting the lock. Long story short, lock was CRAP popped it open with a thin flat pry bar with almost no resistance. Locking bar was thin pot metal. Thought I was going to dent something up, but the cabinet itself only suffered a little paint loss ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2023 at 4:21 PM

      I have a cole steel cabniet with a combination lock. The door is open still . Could you direct me in resetting the lock . I'd appreciate it so much

      Delete
  7. AnonymousMarch 24, 2016 at 1:23 PM

    We have a 3 drawer Cole-Steel filing cabinet with a side door wich encloses a safe. We have the key to open drawers and side door but we need the lock for the safe. Can you supply us that kind of lock ???
    Micheline Laurin
    Cat-Man Industry Inc.
    mlaurin@entreprisecatman.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The DukeMarch 25, 2016 at 10:29 AM

      Oh, come on, Cat-man! We're bloggers, not suppliers. Read the posts!

      Delete
  8. UnknownAugust 29, 2016 at 3:33 PM

    I bought a Cole-Steel chair at an estate sale this weekend for $5. Very excited about reupholstering it. The seat springs feel like they're in pretty good shape. The frame has some rust but not too bad. Original upholstery has a tear and is pretty grubby.

    ReplyDelete
  9. jcsJune 30, 2017 at 9:44 PM

    We have a Cole-Steel cabinet with safe. We can't get the safe open with the combination that we have and it is suppose to be correct. Are these 3 or 4 numbers on the combination and which direction do you go?
    Thanks,

    ReplyDelete
  10. The DukeJuly 1, 2017 at 10:04 AM

    Sorry, no idea. You'd have to consult a locksmith.

    ReplyDelete
  11. raviJanuary 10, 2019 at 5:15 PM

    Hi we have a cabinet with combination locking system safe. ND we do not have the number to open. Will you please help us in opening the safe.

    ReplyDelete
  12. raviJanuary 10, 2019 at 5:16 PM

    We are situated in Minnesota dist.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mister GJanuary 12, 2019 at 10:49 PM

    Your best bet is going to your local locksmith, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownNovember 17, 2019 at 7:27 PM

    Theres some kind of 6 didget number printed on the safe that can b used to find combo

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownAugust 2, 2021 at 9:15 PM

    I have a 2 draw combo safe in mint condition for sale. $888 is the price. Pick up only .

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousNovember 21, 2023 at 11:04 AM

    1950s Cole fileing cabinet with safe locking Mechanism

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJune 29, 2024 at 3:22 AM

    If your number is 456789 then your combo is 45 then 68 then 97

    ReplyDelete