Past Models of Sentry Safes and
Sargent Greenleaf Safes

Early models of Sentry Safes were first manufactured in 1930 by John Brush, founder of Sentry. The company was a pioneer of the early model stamped steel safe. In the early years, the company only made one type. In the first year of production, only 200 of that particular model were made. Today, they make 200 different models per year. Sentry is a 3rd generation family-owned company, with family members still taking an active part in company operations today.

In 1857, James Sargent founded a high security lock company, producing Sargent Greenleaf old safes locks. The Sargent & Greenleaf name was later changed to S&G, and is presently a subsidiary of Stanley Security Solutions. Mr. Sargent was a brilliant inventor, and during the remaining half of the 19th century, he invented several items that are still familiar today. Some of the Sargent Greenleaf old safes include; the Micrometer (the original lock pick device for combination locks), the magnetic bank lock, the automatic bank lock, and the time lock. S&G was the first to produce jail locks. Sargent Greenleaf old safes locks were first manufactured in 1910.

During the 1930’s and 1940’s, past models of Sentry Safes began to gain some recognition with sales to Vassar College and Eastman Kodak. Past models of Sentry safes were simply small document safes that were sized so they could be picked up and carried away. Early Sentry models beginning in 1955, were the first manufactured UL classified fire resistant safes for personal document storage. At this time, both Sargent and Sentry were located in Rochester, New York, and Sargent’s locks began being used on Sentry’s safes.

In addition to Sargent Greenleaf old safes locks, during the same era, S&G began producing other security devices such as reversible panic exit devices, hardware for bathroom stalls, changeable safe deposit keys, and the Timbination lock. By the 1970’s they had moved to include door alarms, alarm systems, light systems, high security electronic locks, digital access controls, and security access control.

Sargent Greenleaf old safes have come a long way to get to where they are today. Sargent is the premier manufacturer of high security locking systems that are used by government, business, individuals, as well as military DOD applications.

Most Sentry models are compact personal safes and portable fire chests for personal use. They do offer a fire replacement guarantee on contents with the current products they sell. In 2007, Sentry was also the first company to launch fire resistant data and document security that allows USB connection to computers.

The Sargent and the Sentry companies are both standards by which other security systems manufacturers are judged. Leaders in their respective field, they have been trusted to provide personal and government fire and security products for over 80 years. Sargent and Sentry are also internationally recognized as two of foremost leaders in their fields worldwide. Although Sentry is famous for the manufacture of safes; according to experts in the field, discontinued past models of Sentry Safes are not collector’s items, regardless of age, and have no value as antiques to collectors.