At Tullson’s Safe Restorations, we specialize in breathing new life into America’s most iconic industrial treasures — and this one was truly special.
A client recently entrusted us with a 1887 Fairbanks Morse & Co. Model #7 Coffee Grinder — one of the largest and most impressive cast-iron mills ever produced by the legendary Chicago manufacturer. Standing tall with its vibrant original red paint, and robust double-wheel design, this Gilded Age masterpiece was built for high-volume grinding in general stores and frontier grocers across the expanding Midwest and West.
From the ashes of the 1871 Great Fire, Chicago had become the nation’s commercial powerhouse, and Fairbanks Morse & Co. helped fuel that growth with durable, American-made equipment that powered retail commerce before packaged goods took over. Restoring this was a rewarding challenge that showcases the same meticulous craftsmanship and attention to historical detail we bring to every antique safe and vault project.
Today, this 137-year-old grinder stands tall once again, a vivid symbol of industrial optimism and American ingenuity.
We love taking on unique restoration projects that go beyond safes and vaults. If you own a piece of American industrial history that deserves expert care, we’d be honored to help preserve it for the next generation.