Panzer Aktiengesellschaft

Panzer Aktiengesellschaft is the name of an important early German manufacturer of safes and safe systems (with compartments for customers) from Berlin.

For safes, welded " compound " panels with a total thickness of 4–10 mm were developed, made of a layer of high-carbon steel (resistant to sawing and drilling, possibly nickel-alloyed ) and, behind it, tough elastic iron that cushions heavy blows without breaking. This composite plate construction made of steel by Krupp was used in thicknesses of up to 400 and 600 mm in warship construction. Keys with slidable cotter pins , timers - three to be on the safe side - that only allow the safe to be opened at a certain time or that open it automatically, were the state of the art in 1909. The elaborate locking mechanism may be made visible by glazing the inside of the door. Vault walls were filled with asbestos or cement to withstand attack by flame cutting , arcing, and thermite .

Vaults were arranged in the basement or on the ground floor in the middle of the bank building, hardened rails or twisted metal sheets were cast in a close grid in the concrete ceiling.

The name Panzerknacker is probably derived from the name of the company . Possible attack methods include wedging, prying open with a crowbar , ramming , blasting and the aforementioned machining and thermal processes.

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• Velhagen & Klasings monthly booklets XIII. Volume II 1908/1909, Berlin