Hewitt Safe and Lock Services Ltd

11/02/2026

I opened this gnarly old Churchill Olympic recently, broken key.
Once opened, it was in a poor state internally, bits missing and generally unfit for purpose.
Made keys and back in action temporarily, while Steve Gibson @ Hydan Safes knocked up this replacement 👌 💪
Happy customer, now with a fully secure, new door, turned around in less than a week.

18/01/2026

29/09/2025

Here is a little repair job i did on a 17th century box and made 2 keys to it. Someone had forced it open in the past, the lock held and so the fixings gave in. New nails forged, period keys i had filled and recut and straightened out the twisted metal.
Cleaver mechanism and the earliest example of a lock with scalping out of the key like a Kromer i have ever seen.

06/07/2025

Its been another Cracking weekend here @ The Vault! Some brilliant minds, getting our heads around challenges in the industry while having a great social. First to arrive on Thursday just left as last men standing Sunday..
Great local food, the Smoker been fired all weekend, family assistance with breakfasts and cakes.
Tools been made and old ideas that have been on the shelf a while revisited.
Thank you all who attended or assisted 🙌💪

29/05/2025

A recent swollen Tann Selfie 😁
Had a run of big seized doors but geared up for the most stubborn around.
This had to be jacked open once the boltwork driven back. Unused for 20 years + moisture doesn't mix and this was beyond fixing, open only and she'll be scrapped

06/05/2025

12/04/2025

Another Much Hoole Pump Track Refurb Done 💪

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F45EormU6/

09/03/2025

40ish year old dial com lock on a bank grade safe, high use environment. Lock wouldn't open on the know combination.
It didn't take much to dial open, misdialing due to lack of service.
A good clean up and thorough inspection of the wheels mechanisms and she's working beautifully, back in service 👌
I heard someone critical of the old ways in the industry 🤔 I think the old ways need respect, if only the future followed suit.

07/03/2025

Dropped the van off in Brighouse this morning for fit out, walking to Hebden Bridge via the canal with Logan , made it to Sowerby Bridge already. Nice to get out and slow the busy mind 👌
Wifey meeting us for lunch 😋

Was nice to see Avocet Hardware HQ, didn't know they were in Brighouse!

01/03/2025

Broke out this beauty recently, the big old Tann Bankers are becoming rare beasts due to the loss of our highstreet banks, that and the enormous weight making them too costly for resale.
Safe locked out on both 10 lever locks, key retaining so once one lock picked, a key was made to it before picking the 2nd.
Definitely a safe that makes you get your s**t together before you start!
One thing these Tanns suffer from though is moisture and lack of use.
Bodies and doors can swell, this one had done exactly that on the body so even after picking the locks, the job of opening the safe wasn't over.
Unfortunately this old safe will be scrapped but the pick i made will go on to open many more until they are all gone.
The old locks demand respect, their replacements Unfortunately less so.