Update!
It’s a 1920s safe of a certain kind that necessitated a referral to a particular guy in town, which is why it took a while for me to sort it out. My guess is that asbestos is the issue, but they didn’t say.
But I’m going to be fitted in no later than Saturday. Perhaps Thurs or Fri.
Frustrating wait, I know! But this weekend it’s all going to be over.
