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, Gerstner International, line, 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, Gerstner International, line, 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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