unique c. 1920's interior bank vault bronze mosler door plaque or medallion salvaged from a chicago bank building undergoing renovations. the plaque contains deeply incised lettering with original baked black enameled inlay. a large decorative polished brass locknut fastens the bronze plaque against a black enameled cast iron base. the unit was attached to the interior side of the vault door. measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter. the mosler safe company was a manufacturer of security equipment, most notably safes and bank vaults, beginning in 1867 and ending with its bankruptcy in 2001. founded in cincinnati by gustave mosler as the mosler-bahmann safe company, it outgrew its original factory and relocated to hamilton in 1891, where it remained until its bankruptcy. its safes and vaults were renowned for their strength and precision manufacture: several mosler vaults installed in hiroshima's mitsui bank building prior to wwii survived the nuclear attack, and the company subsequently produced doors for missile silos and even the vault now used to display and store the united states constitution and declaration of independence. one example, installed at the atomic energy commission's oak ridge national laboratory, weighed approximately 138 tons including the frame. despite the weight ("the largest and heaviest hinged shielding doors in the world"), each 58-ton blade could be opened and closed manually by one person. mosler was controlled by its founding family until 1967, when they sold it to american standard companies. after 134 years in business, mosler declared chapter 11 bankruptcy in august 2001, citing continuing debt problems, and ceased operations shortly thereafter.