I would love to find one at a reasonable price. They are quality I every way.
Larry
Larry
Gerstner Tool/Memory Box
- Thread starter Ole Joe Clark
- Start date
Frank46
US Veteran
Bought my 7 drawer Kennedy from sears shortly after I got out of the navy.
Think I paid about 50 bucks for it back then. as it stands right now you cannot pick it up.
Micrometers, ground and unground tool bits.all sorts of hand measuring tools.
Has not moved from its present location in close to 20 years. I got the shock of my life
when I looked in a catalog and found out what the cost now. I keep it in my den because of the heat and
humidity in the garage. Gerstners were always like fine furniture I wanted one badly
bit the money just wasn't there. Thanks for sharing your Gerstener. Frank
Think I paid about 50 bucks for it back then. as it stands right now you cannot pick it up.
Micrometers, ground and unground tool bits.all sorts of hand measuring tools.
Has not moved from its present location in close to 20 years. I got the shock of my life
when I looked in a catalog and found out what the cost now. I keep it in my den because of the heat and
humidity in the garage. Gerstners were always like fine furniture I wanted one badly
bit the money just wasn't there. Thanks for sharing your Gerstener. Frank
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Thanks for giving me a great early start to this day Leon. What a beautiful old box in fantastic condition! It was killing me to know what was in those drawers until I scrolled down and found out. Some well loved pocket knives, a few arrowheads, a flechette and S&W screwdriver, busted watchband. You sent me on a mission to see if I still had my copy of Machineries Handbook, but I think I gave it away in the great purge of '16. Thanks again for taking us all on a trip down your memory lane! Your secrets are safe with us.
I have the same model tool box as the OP. My mother bought it for Dad in the early 50's. It is in great shape but not quite as nice as Leon's. The machinist book is # 8. I keep some machinist tools and small guns and parts in it now. I have seen two for sale in the $1500 range several years ago.They were not in the condition that mine or the OP's are.
Walt
Walt
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OP
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
The book has resided in the box like it is for over 50 years and it works for me. Besides the spine is better suited to handle the weight. It's a 17th edition.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
OP
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
The Machinery's Handbook has been published since 1914 by Industrial Press. The latest is the 30th, mine is the 17th edition, published in 1964. It covers numerous metal working subjects, from heat treating to threading, (which I used a lot) to drilling, milling, turning and almost any machining method that was used up until the time it was published. Lots of changes during the last 50 years in manufacturing.
Hope this helps.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Got one! 1950s vintage. Can't wait for it to get here and start spiffing it up.
bamabiker
Member
We'll need pictures of that one also.
To the OP, beautiful.
To the OP, beautiful.
That's a treasure, Kenna! I don't think it's a Gerstner, but what a wonderful heirloom to have.
A guy on the Gerstner Forum posted an interesting video of his great grandfather's toolbox: YouTube Various memorabilia within, as well as his great grandfather's tools.
I'm sure someone on that forum could identify your grandfather's box for you.
A guy on the Gerstner Forum posted an interesting video of his great grandfather's toolbox: YouTube Various memorabilia within, as well as his great grandfather's tools.
I'm sure someone on that forum could identify your grandfather's box for you.
When GM brought on a new apprentice, they got a Gerstner tool box, but switched over to Kennedy metal boxes before I got into the program. On the one hand, the Kennedy was larger and came with an upper and lower, and being metal, was more durable, but it sure didn't look anywhere near as nice as the old wood boxes Gerstner made.
After retiring, my Kennedy became my gun room tool box.
After retiring, my Kennedy became my gun room tool box.
Well, it took me five years —more accurately, I took a five-year break while the project was in process— but I have completed my Gerstner machinist's chest spiff up:
It was pretty grimy when I got it — or, had a "very nice patina" for you purists:
In the above pic I've polished the drawer pulls on the left and center, and removed other hardware.
A major issue (for me) was that the veneer on the front panel had warped in two places:
I fixed that by slitting the veneer with the grain, injecting glue beneath the veneer, placing a damp dishcloth on top, ironing the veneer, and then placing weight on the panel while waiting for it to dry.
I made some other minor wood fixes here and there as well. (Initially I was disappointed that the front panel and lid were veneer, but I later learned that the use of plywood beneath veneer was a sturdier solution to prevent the warping and cracks that can happen to larger pieces of solid wood over time.)
I did not replace the felt lining as someone else had earlier and it was in pretty good shape. (Other than where I have torn holes in it removing and reinstalling hardware. Some of these are covered by the patches displayed in the lid top above.) I may get around to new felt lining some day.
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
The chest, a model 52 Journeyman, above, dates from between 1946 and 1955, per Gerstner. I thought at one point that I had narrowed its DOB to 1952, but learned that there are errors in Gerstner dating info found on the internet.
Gerstner is a family owned business, established in 1906, and operating out of the same building in Dayton, Ohio, since 1908. They continue to use many of the same tools they've always used. They sell replacement hardware and felt for restorations. In addition, they have a less expensive line, Gerstner International, made overseas. (Currently in China, is my understanding.)
A similar to mine, US made model nowadays costs over $2000, as would a full, factory restoration by Gerstner. (They will also fix and replace parts of their chests.) In 1906, Gerstner's original tool chest cost $6. But...
In 1906, per Gerstner, $6 was a week's wages, and a working week was 60 hours. So, they like to say, their pricing remains consistent as their current chests cost about a 40 hour week's wages, plus 20 hours of overtime.
I like the Gerstner chests, and I like the company. They take great pride in their product, their company's history, and in their Gerstner chest fan base.
It was pretty grimy when I got it — or, had a "very nice patina" for you purists:
In the above pic I've polished the drawer pulls on the left and center, and removed other hardware.
A major issue (for me) was that the veneer on the front panel had warped in two places:
I fixed that by slitting the veneer with the grain, injecting glue beneath the veneer, placing a damp dishcloth on top, ironing the veneer, and then placing weight on the panel while waiting for it to dry.
I made some other minor wood fixes here and there as well. (Initially I was disappointed that the front panel and lid were veneer, but I later learned that the use of plywood beneath veneer was a sturdier solution to prevent the warping and cracks that can happen to larger pieces of solid wood over time.)
I did not replace the felt lining as someone else had earlier and it was in pretty good shape. (Other than where I have torn holes in it removing and reinstalling hardware. Some of these are covered by the patches displayed in the lid top above.) I may get around to new felt lining some day.
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
The chest, a model 52 Journeyman, above, dates from between 1946 and 1955, per Gerstner. I thought at one point that I had narrowed its DOB to 1952, but learned that there are errors in Gerstner dating info found on the internet.
Gerstner is a family owned business, established in 1906, and operating out of the same building in Dayton, Ohio, since 1908. They continue to use many of the same tools they've always used. They sell replacement hardware and felt for restorations. In addition, they have a less expensive line, Gerstner International, made overseas. (Currently in China, is my understanding.)
A similar to mine, US made model nowadays costs over $2000, as would a full, factory restoration by Gerstner. (They will also fix and replace parts of their chests.) In 1906, Gerstner's original tool chest cost $6. But...
In 1906, per Gerstner, $6 was a week's wages, and a working week was 60 hours. So, they like to say, their pricing remains consistent as their current chests cost about a 40 hour week's wages, plus 20 hours of overtime.
I like the Gerstner chests, and I like the company. They take great pride in their product, their company's history, and in their Gerstner chest fan base.
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Jerry in SC
Member
Wonderful to see these old Gerstner's. I ordered one about ten years ago at the Blade show, they offered free shipping and a 50% discount at the time. Mine is the 1805 chest, it's a near copy of Orville Wright's Model 41A chest. I keep knives and a few gunsmith tools in mine, a few odds and ends.
Carbon knives and tools never rust in mine. It was $350, now it's $1595.00.
Carbon knives and tools never rust in mine. It was $350, now it's $1595.00.
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Fantastic job on that repair!
My Grandpa used to love to go to the annual EAA airshow. One time he came home to tell me he had bought me a tool box. What he meant was he thought I needed such a thing and that he fully expected to be paid back - every penny. His way of saying that. 
Gerstner had sold it to him at a nice discount from their display so they didn't have to take it home. If memory serves that amounted to $232, or maybe $282? I don't recall. It didn't matter much because for me, at that time, the price seemed astronomical.
I eventually got him repaid, and Dad contributed a Machinery's Handbook. (He usually replaced his copy every couple of years, whenever he could catch them on sale.) I do not care much for oak, but it was very nice - too nice to take out into our shop. As a result, my Gerstner has lived a sheltered life.
I still have both items and would never part with either. Even though no longer employed I still have need to use the book every now and then, and I'll never look at the Gerstner without remembering Grandpa (and Grandma).
I hope I haven't seriously derailed this thread but wanted to contribute my own recollections. The restoration work looks nicely done and is a worthy project. As our absent friend Leon would say if he were here to do it, "Have a blessed day," everyone.
Gerstner had sold it to him at a nice discount from their display so they didn't have to take it home. If memory serves that amounted to $232, or maybe $282? I don't recall. It didn't matter much because for me, at that time, the price seemed astronomical.
I eventually got him repaid, and Dad contributed a Machinery's Handbook. (He usually replaced his copy every couple of years, whenever he could catch them on sale.) I do not care much for oak, but it was very nice - too nice to take out into our shop. As a result, my Gerstner has lived a sheltered life.I still have both items and would never part with either. Even though no longer employed I still have need to use the book every now and then, and I'll never look at the Gerstner without remembering Grandpa (and Grandma).
I hope I haven't seriously derailed this thread but wanted to contribute my own recollections. The restoration work looks nicely done and is a worthy project. As our absent friend Leon would say if he were here to do it, "Have a blessed day," everyone.
Jerry in SC
Member
@M29since14
A Gerstner brings back those memories, something very special about them. They're a look back to a time when men earned their living with their hands.
A Gerstner brings back those memories, something very special about them. They're a look back to a time when men earned their living with their hands.
There was an episode of a PBS program called A Craftsman's Legacy with Host Eric Gorges from 2017.
On this episode, he visited the H. Gerstner & Sons factory and they went through the process of building their tool boxes.
Fantastic episode.
I want one, but have a few S&W must-haves and big-wants before I will pull the trigger on one (so to speak).
On this episode, he visited the H. Gerstner & Sons factory and they went through the process of building their tool boxes.
Fantastic episode.
I want one, but have a few S&W must-haves and big-wants before I will pull the trigger on one (so to speak).
I remember that. It's what gave me the BUG, They are costly but worth every cent. The one I have is located in my home/office.
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Leon, PLEASE "bore us" and give us the tour! lol. I have always loved real Gerstner tool boxes and have looked at them on and off for decades but never bought one. I even once got plans to build one myself and was going to but I never seemed to have the time. My new workshop (as of 3 1/2 years ago) is in one of the bays of our 3 car garage and I am just maxed out as far as room is concerned. I have pretty much stopped purchasing new tools and boxes because of a lack of room. I refer to my workshop as a well organized jig-saw puzzle, meaning everything must me neatly put away in its place so it will physically fit in.I am humbled that someone asked to see photos of my Gerstner tool box. I use it now to store a few tools and lots of memories in.
Purchased new in Birmingham, Alabama in the spring of 1965, for $65.00.
I have lots more photos, but don't want to bore you.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
My old workshop was 3 times as big and I had it filled also, but had to drastically downsize when we moved. That said, I still enjoy my daily projects in the workshop. I spent many hours in there and air conditioned it before we even moved in - because I knew I'd be in there a lot.
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I am happy to say and a bit surprised that Gerstner Tool Box Co. has continued to survive and flourish in this day and age when the majority of people buy their tools and boxes on sale at Harbor Freight, Lowes and Home Depot. Add to the fact that the Professional Machinist as we knew it has all by vanished from our Country. Most machining is now done on CNC, and not even in this Country any longer. Lot's of hobbyists my want one but can not afford the $1,500 - $8,000 they sell for. So while I am tickled pink they are still in business I sometimes wonder who exactly is buying their boxes. I hope there are more people than I think that are!!
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