Daf57, of course the first problem is that the thing weighs about a ton and a half. And, there are really only a few companies in the world who are in the business of restoring them. Even though the price is substantial, when you work out the labor-costs “by the hour” it simply translates into “many hundreds of hours of exacting skilled work,” for which they charge a very fair price.
Fortunately, the new owner has the money, and then some, and he is strongly interested in historical preservation. It will be a true show-piece when finished … and he knows it.
The family foundation that originally owned the building is also very actively involved in the preservation and restoration of the many antique banking pieces that – I surmise – their family members collected. There was no “business reason” for lots of the stuff that’s in there … carefully protected. But, hey, every man has his passions, and now the rest of us get to benefit.
I actually don’t know how these things came to be known as “cannon ball” safes.