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Museum visitor cracks code to unlock secrets of mystery safe Museum visitor cracks code to unlock secrets of mystery safe
(32 minutes later)
When Stephen Mills spotted a dusty old safe in a museum in Canada he thought he’d try to crack the code, just “like you see in the movies”. But when he began turning the dial, he wasn’t expecting a Hollywood ending.When Stephen Mills spotted a dusty old safe in a museum in Canada he thought he’d try to crack the code, just “like you see in the movies”. But when he began turning the dial, he wasn’t expecting a Hollywood ending.
For years, anyone who visited the Vermillion Heritage Museum in Alberta would have passed by a large, black metal box. Staff knew it had come from the long-gone Brunswick Hotel and was eventually donated to the museum in the 1990s. But its code and contents remained a mystery for decades – until Mills unexpectedly cracked the combination. For years, anyone who visited the Vermillion Heritage Museum in Alberta would have passed by a large, black metal box. Staff knew it had come from the long-gone Brunswick hotel and was eventually donated to the museum in the 1990s. But its code and contents remained a mystery for decades – until Mills unexpectedly cracked the combination.
Mills, a resident of Fort McMurray, also in Alberta, was visiting the museum with his family last month over a holiday weekend. As they wandered the exhibits with the museum guide, Tom Kibblewhite, they spotted the safe. Mills, a resident of Fort McMurray, also in Alberta, was visiting the museum with his family last month over a holiday weekend. As they wandered around the exhibits with the museum guide, Tom Kibblewhite, they spotted the safe.
Kibblewhite told the family what he tells all other guests: the 900kg (2,000lb) black box with a silver dial had remained closed for generations.Kibblewhite told the family what he tells all other guests: the 900kg (2,000lb) black box with a silver dial had remained closed for generations.
For years, the safe has confounded volunteers at the museum. The manufacturer was unable to provide advice on how to open its thick door. A locksmith suggested to the museum that years of inactivity might have slowed down the finicky gears, rendering it inoperable.For years, the safe has confounded volunteers at the museum. The manufacturer was unable to provide advice on how to open its thick door. A locksmith suggested to the museum that years of inactivity might have slowed down the finicky gears, rendering it inoperable.
But Mills, who told CTV News, he’s a “mechanical[ly] minded person”, asked if he could give it a try. “[Kibblewhite] was going on about the story of the safe and we were asking ‘What’s in it?’ and he said ‘well, nobody knows,’” said Mills. But Mills, who told CTV News, he was a “mechanical[ly] minded person”, asked if he could give it a try. “[Kibblewhite] was going on about the story of the safe and we were asking ‘What’s in it?’ and he said ‘well, nobody knows,’” said Mills.
After pressing his ear against the cool metal, he began spinning the dial. With numbers ranging from zero to 60, he turned clockwise three times to 20, counter-clockwise two times to 40, and then clockwise one time to 60.After pressing his ear against the cool metal, he began spinning the dial. With numbers ranging from zero to 60, he turned clockwise three times to 20, counter-clockwise two times to 40, and then clockwise one time to 60.
He was astonished to hear a click.He was astonished to hear a click.
“They were pretty much just out of my head,” he said. “I took a guess and got lucky.”“They were pretty much just out of my head,” he said. “I took a guess and got lucky.”
Shocked and amused volunteers quickly gathered to see what treasure had remained hidden for more than three decades. What awaited them was a waiter’s order book and a pay slip, both dated to the late 1970s.Shocked and amused volunteers quickly gathered to see what treasure had remained hidden for more than three decades. What awaited them was a waiter’s order book and a pay slip, both dated to the late 1970s.
Despite Mills’s success, staff aren’t taking any more chances. They’ve placed sticky tape over the pins, ensuring the door won’t close again. Despite Mills’s success, staff are taking no more chances. They’ve placed sticky tape over the pins, ensuring the door won’t close again.
Mills told CBC News: “I have a little bit of luck but hopefully I didn’t use it all up on this one.”Mills told CBC News: “I have a little bit of luck but hopefully I didn’t use it all up on this one.”
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