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Craig · 08-12-2002, 05:55 PM

In my 78 Excella 500, i have a steel box with two key holes located under the galley sink. Unfortunately, I only have one of the keys!! The key says Theodore Bargman on it. At first I thought it was a safe, but an online search of Theodore Bargman made me realize they manufacture electrical components for RV's.

Does anyone know if this is orginal equipment on the Airstream? It doesn't appear to be. But more importantly, what's in the box and how can I get it open???

Thanks in advance for any help.

davidz71 · 08-12-2002, 08:24 PM

This may sound strange and I might be wrong but, my '77 Excella 500 brochure mentions the option of a safe. I thought this strange but who knows.

TheBigRedTruck · 08-12-2002, 11:32 PM

It might be a old security system!!!!!!!!!!

Craig · 08-13-2002, 06:30 AM

I just called Theodore Bargman - they were zero help. Said they had no idea what it could be.

Craig - in your 77 is there anything on the floor under the sink? Where in your Excella manual is there info. about the safe? I didn't see that in mine.

davidz71 · 08-13-2002, 08:02 AM

Craig,
Under my sink the previous owner built a lazy susan for pots and pans. Below this is the furnace. There is no mention of a safe in my owners manual, service manual or dealer's service manual; however, I bought an original copy of the Airstream brochure for '77 that lists a safe for jewelry as an option.

Ira Iburg · 08-13-2002, 12:30 PM

I also have one of those boxes in my 78 Excella, we did not buy the trailer new and we have no key. It is really hid and had to be factory installed. We know there is a few thousand dollars in the box from the original owner, and looks like we may have to use dynamite to get in it. We owned the trailer several months before finding the box.

Craig · 08-13-2002, 01:18 PM

Glad to hear at least someone else has one too! Is it under the sink, all the way to the right next to the water line on yours? Have you figured out what it is? I really want to get in there and figure it out - I'm hoping it will solve some of the mysteries of my Excella.

ALANSD · 08-13-2002, 01:41 PM

If it is of any help- Bargman also made the locks for Airstream.
I would consider drilling out the lock tumbler to open the box!
I get 10%

TheBigRedTruck · 08-14-2002, 01:41 AM

1oz. of C4 and BOOOOM its opend!!!!!!!!

Janssvt · 08-29-2004, 09:58 PM

The steel box IS a safe. It came with all 78 and 79 Excella 500's and it was also in earlier years. They were hidden in different spots throughout the trailers. Ours was located at the bottom of the closet behind the carpet. It has two flat keys one larger than the other and the only way to open the safe was to have both keys in the slots, turned and the drawer would slide out. I know of one safe being placed in the corner table on he floor in the living area. We had an 1979 Excella 500 (we bought brand new in 79) until 2 months ago when we wrecked it in Michigan. I still have the keys for the box. They probably will not fit yours but then again they might. If you email me I will send them to you. I have a few sets of thm. One of the things we salvaged in the 79 was th safe and we still have it. We also have the owners manual and the service maual for it. I have listed it in the classieds. My email address is Janssvt@aol.com. WBCCI 26931

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

In my 78 Excella 500, i have a steel box with two key holes located under the galley sink. Unfortunately, I only have one of the keys!! The key says Theodore Bargman on it. At first I thought it was a safe, but an online search of Theodore Bargman made me realize they manufacture electrical components for RV's.

Does anyone know if this is orginal equipment on the Airstream? It doesn't appear to be. But more importantly, what's in the box and how can I get it open???

Thanks in advance for any help.

85MH325 · 08-30-2004, 05:20 AM

NOW we know where the treasure Al Capone allegedly hid really is!

What a great thing to find in your trailer! That's REALLY cool! I know that the safe was an option on '80s motorhomes, but I didn't know that you could get them in the trailers as well.

I should think that any competent locksmith should be able to figure out how to get it open without damaging it. It sounds like it uses a lock system similar to the standard bank safety deposit boxes. It shouldn't be too hard to get keys cut for it.

Please let us know what you figure out.

Roger

SafeHarbor · 07-09-2005, 11:48 AM

Hi, folks,

I know that this is an older thread, but darned if I can find a SAFE in my '79 Excella...

It's not under the sink, under the carpet in the closet, under the beds, under the gaucho... Or anywhere it even LOOKS like it might have been installed. I'm running out of places to look!

Maybe they hid it TOO well?

Thanks,

Lamar

Ira Iburg · 07-09-2005, 05:15 PM

I have sold our 78 Excella 500 and the safe was at floor level under the cabinet just aft of the refrigerator, was necessary to lay down on the floor and look back under the cabinent to see the safe

SafeHarbor · 07-09-2005, 05:29 PM

Hi, Ira,

You successfully got me to lay down on the floor and look in the cabinet aft of the fridge. Alas, nothing but the wheel well is in there.

Thanks,

Lamar

DPeakMD · 07-09-2005, 09:50 PM

Lamar-

It's really located where the kickplate is under the cabinet door--and in our trailer is covered with carpet. I don't think there's anything visible inside the cabinet, but I'd have to look at it again to be sure. It's in front of the wheel well by about a foot or so IIRC.

-Dallas

SafeHarbor · 07-10-2005, 05:56 AM

Hi, Dallas,

Thanks. I see some screw holes inside the cabinet under the microwave compartment where a false floor might have been. No safe for me, it seems.

Lamar

Janssvt · 10-26-2005, 10:58 AM

Did you try pulling on the carpet on the little rise in the floor below the closets? Usually it was hidden there and you had to pull the carpet down. It's mounted to the floor so it will be somewhere at floor level behind something. We totaled our 79 last year and we took the safe out of it, too bad there is no place to "hide" it in the new one. Jan

SafeHarbor · 10-26-2005, 07:35 PM

Hi, Jan,

Thanks. My trailer has the triple hall closet. The forward two doors go to the water pump and plumbing underneath. The third door has floor plywood under the carpet. The doors underneath the microwave just aft of the fridge have parquet under them.

I've had an entertaining time looking for this thing, but if there's a safe in this trailer, I have no idea where it is.

Then again, I'm pretty confident that I don't have any floor rot!

Thanks again,

Lamar

Janssvt · 01-16-2006, 08:18 PM

Keep trying on the forum, someone still has to have one in their trailer. They were not that scarce.

Kinder · 01-20-2006, 11:48 AM

Yes, there is a safety deposit box in my trailer, with two locks. Of course, a previous owner had to break a key off inside it. I brought it to a locksmith and he said it was all but impossible to open. It was attached to the floor under the galley sink by two 1/2 screws, and I had simply assumed it was part of the heating ducts for the past few months... maybe I'll try one more locksmith, but I thought this guy would get it, after all he had a giant white, waxed handlebar moustache!

oh yeah, it was in my 1979 Excella 500, now is rolling around in the trunk of my car--just popped it out of the floor with a screwdriver--how secure was that?!