The monstrous safe inside the Allegheny County controller's office that had remained locked for 35 years finally has been opened. But excitement was tempered when nothing of value was found inside.

The 100-year-old Hibbard-Rodman-Ely Inc. safe, with an 8-inch-thick manganese-steel alloy door, contained only stationery, old assessment records, unused ledgers, minutes from employee association meetings, office supplies and pencils, both black and red ones.

After the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article June 1 about the long-locked safe, Diebold Inc. of North Canton, Ohio, offered to open it for free.

Diebold employee Mike Sullivan along with a hired contractor, who was not identified, spent about 45 minutes Monday evening preparing, drilling, then maneuvering the combination dial before opening the safe.

The general contents of the safe were visible as the two worked to open a locked compartment inside, but none of the contents was examined. The safe then was shut and sealed with duct tape.

Controller Mark P. Flaherty made the official opening during a news media gathering at 8:45 a.m. yesterday.

"It's sort of a fun thing, and it's been a mystery for about 35 years. It's time we solved it," Mr. Flaherty said before swinging open the heavy door, as 30 people applauded and strained to see what was inside.

But it contained only items one might find inside an old storage closet.

Mr. Flaherty said he'll also seek advice from the state Records Bureau on what contents his office must retain. The remaining items of interest will be offered to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.

The 10-ton safe could be sold on eBay or to anyone interested in removing it free of charge from the second-floor office. If no one wants it, it could be sold as scrap metal, Mr. Flaherty said.

The cannonball safe, designed to secure money and thwart explosions, apparently was placed in the controller's office in the early 1900s when it was part of the treasurer's office, which handled cash.

An employee apparently locked the safe in the early 1970s, then lost the combination. Various controllers made unsuccessful attempts to open it in recent decades.

Washington County safecracker Roy Watters, who offered to open it 20 years ago for $3,900, raised the issue recently because he plans to move to Florida. But claiming Mr. Watters' price was too high, Mr. Flaherty accepted Diebold's offer to open it for free.

"We felt it was a great way to help out the county," Diebold spokeswoman Rebecca Smith said.