Off topic Machinist Wooden Tool Box.

Not sure if this is the proper place to ask about my Dad's & Great Uncle's Wooden Machinist Tool Box ?
Trying to find information on year made and what its worth and should I refurnish the inside & sand down & restain & seal the outside ?
Thanks for any help y'all can give me.

1Nimrod

 

Dad was a machinist and left one very similar. I have no idea what vintage they are, but dad's was from the 50s at least, as that's when he acquired it. So probably older.

If you want to restore it to new for yourself, cool, but in general I think the patina is what people want on items like that. You may be taking value away? Like refinishing an old guitar. Perhaps not though, I dunno. To my knowledge these aren't 'in demand' or anything, so value may be moot.

Very cool item though!

 

I just sold my 3 piece Kennedy steel machinist tool box for $1100.00...
I think I made money on it...

 

That is a Gerstener box. Quite collectable in that condition. There are knockoffs around going real cheap.

I have both of my dad's metal Kennedy boxes from his Grumman days.

 

My Great Uncle Don Mearing bought it new I believe after returning from WWII Europe, but not for certain what year exactly. I think I'll keep the patina outside and just replace the green felt liners on the bottom of all the drawers.
I'm the 3rd generation to own the Wooden Machinist Tool Box, Dad used it for almost 30 year's at Brundage Co in Kalamazoo, MI and my Great Uncle Don Mearing used it when working at Brown Company a Paper Mill in Portage, MI. Uncle Don retired from Brown Company and was presented a gold watch for working there for 50 year's.

1Nimrod

 

My Dad was the Foreman of the Press Room & had a Dark Red Kennedy Roll-away 4 drawers with a fold-up big door on the bottom he used for his heavy press tools, great old USA made Heavy-Duty Tool Boxes back in the day, still great to own now.
Yes that name you mentioned above is stamped in black ink on the inside, if you pull out the bottom drawer you can see the Companies name and logo.

1Nimrod

 

Leave the original finish as it is.

 

Very nice Machinist Tool Box that your Dad left you Moriarity, lots of drawers and nice finish, that Company used all Oak I was just reading about all the different models and different sizes and the spacer add-ons to the bottom if more drawers were needed and the Company is still making these Wooden Machinist Tool Boxes today, they even refurbish the old vintage one's if someone needs them repaired and if you lose your keys they can provide you with replacement keys, what a great American Company, not many Companies these day's even offer a warranty let alone replacement part's and offer other help for folks that own these Vintage Machinist Tool Boxes.
Made in USA ...

1Nimrod

 

Don't change a thing except the felts you mentioned, Every scratch, nick and chip is like
a photo record of something that happened one day along its journey. I leave certain "character" marks alone when I re-do Gas pumps.
Cars, bikes, and other things from a former era of build quality
since unsurpassed, are markers of a sort... One old hand said " We're only the custodians of these things that will endure long after we're gone"

 

There is a chance that has a serial number on it.
Look them up and they may be able to give a build date.

 

I'm with several previous comments on just cleaning and using wooden furniture polish (Old English works well), that is a neat artifact to pass down.

 

My only Son Jesse will be the next caretaker in the future, most likely not to many year's from now unfortunately...

1Nimrod

 

Found behind the bottom drawer more like on the inside bottom of the box it's stamped with Black Ink like stencil the Company name and logo, I haven't found any date yet. Anyone know exactly what part of the Wooden Machinist Tool Box has the build date?
Thanks for any help. I will try and get a picture of the Company Name & logo.

1Nimrod

 

Thank you Moriarity that is full of many cool Tool Boxes...

1Nimrod

 

If you get hold of Gerstner they can tell you when it was made. I suspect it was in the 1940s because before that the mirror bracket was plated. They can also restore them to new condition.

 

First, do no harm. That's for doctors, but applies to any old thing, too.
If the original mfgr restores them with paperwork, that would be about the only trusted way to refinish one, and even then it could affect value.
Careful cleaning and preservation is the right way to go. By cleaning, I mean remove dirt, not polish the brass, not recover the felt and leather handle.

I say this since you asked about value. If you never plan on selling, you can paint it Pink and line it with carbon fiber.

 

Only thing I would use is Murphy's oil soap, leave the felt or just lay new over the old no glue. I could never afford one. I have several Kennedys including two roll arounds full of stuff. Does it smell like camphor? It should. You had to get camphor blocks at the drug store to keep anything from rusting.

 

My Grt. Uncle Don and my Dad both used it in the Press Room & Maintenance Dept. Dad had used fine Oil to keep his precision tools from rusting and the Oil that was all over the big cold rolled sheet metal rolls is the smell that I remember from working with my Dad at Torin HVAC in Kalamazoo MI, Torin HVAC bought out Brundage Co back in the late 1970's, I worked in the Press Room, Large Housing Spot Welder & Spray Painter with many great people back then, I'm very Thankful I finally received this Wooden Machinist Tool Box from my oldest sister a few years back.
When I open up this Old Wooden Machinist Tool Box the smell takes me back to when I worked at Torin HVAC with my Dad, many great memories.
Thank Y'all for your suggestion and help its much appreciated...

Dustin Sirrine
(1Nimrod)

 

Moth balls will also keep your tools from rusting. Easier to get these days. Only problem with either is that your toolbox then smells like your grandma’s closet. I have a much newer Gerstner that looks similar but doesn’t have the leather wrapped top handle. Like others have said, just clean it up and lay new felt on the drawer bottoms. It looks great just as it is

 

https://gerstnerusa.com/

There’s a link for a tool box identifier at the top of the page....might help

 

Thank you 51 for that link.

Dustin
(1Nimrod)

 

Picture of the bottom inside after the bottom drawers are taken out.
Has 453 P in pencil in with the stenciled Company name.

Dustin
(1Nimrod)

 

The Kennedy set I just sold....

 

My dad was a hammer man at Grumman. He did a lot of forming by hand, also drop-hammer work. His tool boxes are full of little aids he made for himself. I should take some pictures of them.

His brother worked there too. I'm not sure where, possibly Plant 2 as well. My brother was given his Kennedy rollaway and top boxes by our aunt.

In comparison to my dad's stuff, Uncle Don's tools were well organized. He was probably in assembly. Lots of things related to transfer-drilling. Terry drills too.

 

I would leave it in current state if you expect to sell box.
You can purchase similar boxes brand new..

 

I wouldn't sand it at all. I'd buff it off with some finer steel wool and give it a wipe of boiled linseed oil once every couple of years.
IIRC, Gerstner still sells felt and hardware for them.

 

Thank y'all again for your help and suggestions.
I was in contact with Scott Campbell of Gerstener & Sons the last two day's. Scott informed me my Family Gerstener Tool Box is "Model# 042 Apprentice Chest" made around the time my Grt. Uncle Don Mearing came back home from Europe after WWII, Scott said it was made in 1940 to 1950, so the story my Dad told me year's ago is accurate.
The #453 P is a in-house control# used on my Machinist Chest part's only, all the drawers and individually part's has #453 P written in pencil on them, as the Chest moved around on the assembly floor the #453 P made sure all the hand fitted part's stayed together with the Chest during each stage of assembly until the Chest was completed.
The Cost to have my Machinist Tool Box refurbished by Gerstener & Sons would be $2250, to buy a NEW Gerstener & Sons Apprentice Chest is about the same cost $$$$.
Gerstener & Sons do offer Kits you can buy that have part's like wood, corner supports, locks, felt and so on $$...
I will use Gerstener & Sons special wood cleaner & preservative on my family's Gerstener & Sons Model 042 Apprentice Chest, then keep it safe until I pass it onto my Son Jesse in future.
Thanks again everyone for your help.

Dustin
(1Nimrod)

 

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