Vintage tool chest check this out!!

[ekegelmann]

Check this out ladies and gentlemen. This is available at an auction this week and im curious at what price many of you would be willing to go up to. I have a hard time deciding these things and info from experts always helps guide me in the right direction. Thanks!!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Gerstner?

Looks like quarter sawn oak in places but the photo is small.

 

[Richard Cranium]

it is so very nice, but I have no ideal how much it is worth. My guess is that it will go for way more then I would pay for it...Good luck

 

[ekegelmann]

its currently at $30. I find it not only a great tool box, but a great piece of furniture. How much would you pay

 

[larry_g]

With out some better idea of condition it's hard to tell. If in good used condition I would go to $100. If like new then 2x that. Broken parts then maybe $35.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[woody 73]

The price varies by the condition of course the better it is the higher the price. Now the great thing (well good and bad) is that even if you are missing drawers or hardware or even if the wood work needs replacement or fixing you can send them in and the company will fix it 100% like brand new; But alas it comes at a very steep price! We are only talking about the Gerstner company)

As far as price the sky is the limit they go for very dear prices keep in mind if you buy them new be prepared to spend hundreds up to thousands in price and that is why they hold their value.

check out their web-site for prices and fixing old boxes:

http://gerstnerusa.com/

 

[2oolhound]

That one looks quite small. I've wanted one of the big ones for a while now but not willing to pay the ebay prices on used ones. Gersner is making a line in china for the last 5 years or so. Sears sells damaged ones for $199 (big size) fairly often last time I checked. Grizzly also has a cheap knock off line of similar boxes.

I wouldn't get to bent on buying THAT PARTICULAR ONE as they come up fairly often. Like anything else, if you're patient deals come along.

 

[ekegelmann]

if it stays under 60, im going to buy it. Is it missing the drawer cover that folds up from the bottom?

 

[Fueler]

I am a machinist first and foremost. Even in my early days I never understood the fascination with the Gerstner and Kennedy wood boxes.
Nice, certainly but they will never begin to hold my machinist small tools, even in the beginning.
Shoot, these days a 44" roll box barely suffices.

However, I do think if I trip over the right one the wife will go nuts over it. Fits right in with some of her antique things.

 

[ekegelmann]

i just like the looks of this, let me find more pics

 

[ekegelmann]

here are a few more photos.

 

[zkling]

I am a machinist first and foremost. Even in my early days I never understood the fascination with the Gerstner and Kennedy wood boxes.
Nice, certainly but they will never begin to hold my machinist small tools, even in the beginning.
Shoot, these days a 44" roll box barely suffices.

However, I do think if I trip over the right one the wife will go nuts over it. Fits right in with some of her antique things.

I really think they are a carry over from the days when machinists were expected to move from machine to machine with their tools, or even take them home at night. Portability was essential. Just as the need for mechanics tools grew over the years so did the need for machinist tools and thus larger, more stationary boxes became prevalent. For some reason though, the kennedy top boxes have always stuck. Unless it is on a bench one can get much more storage in a full size top box and not deal with those tiny drawer pulls. Not to mention the lack of drawer stops on most of the wooden boxes.

Today it is becoming more and more common for a machinist to be assigned to a desk/bench with a drawer unit or lista cabinet on the side, especially in the higher end shops.

 

[nine4gmc]

That box is kind of rough condition and looks home made. The front cover looks like it is in the cubby below the drawers. That said I'd probably go $40 or so on it for giggles.

 

[Packard V8]

I really think they are a carry over from the days when machinists were expected to move from machine to machine with their tools, or even take them home at night. Portability was essential.

Yes; for true. A friend's father spent thirty years at US Steel as a millwright. He worked out of one of the early leatherette-covered Kennedys and in it was a single 0-1" micrometer. The rest were calipers and scales.

jack vines

 

[Outlawmws]

Supply and demand for sure. Here I'd go as high as $100 for that one unless there is serious damage, and probably be outbid. A nice one in like new condition will go for as much as $500 in these parts... (Too many people with more $$$ than brains...) deals here are few and far between, and usually dumb luck finds...

Good box for a current production machinist? No, but very desirable none the less...


It may be of a size of a K 520 (20" wide, 9" deep....) It may be smaller.

I like it also... Not a Gerstner IMO, and Nine may be right on the front cover:

A little light on the subject:

Good Luck bidding and let us know what happens!

 

[tombell572]

Its a nice machinist's box-small size but great for small tools. If you can grab it for under $100 you will have done well. If it's missing any hardware, this site: http://www.machinistchest.com/site2/ should have it. There were many companies other than Gerstner that made wood machinist's boxes, Union being one that comes to mind but Gerstner is about the only one left building them in the US although the do now sell a cheap "offshore" line.

Tom B.

 

[pendragon1998]

I like the grain pattern. It would look great with a light clean and wax, a few replacement pulls, and new felt. The ladies like these as jewelry/cosmetics chests, which is driving part of the demand.

 

[Outlawmws]

EK,

Are you going to be able to inspect in person?

look at the other pic I posted, and this one, and ask yourself:

is that a saw cut? Or a score mark?

The latter would be bad enough, the former really bad...

 

[ekegelmann]

for sure, I cannot inspect beforehand. Its an online deal nearby that doesnt allow inside traffic before purchase. Ive really score before and struck out badly. So Im willing to take it to the 60-75 range and then bow out. Im a risk taker, but to a point.

 

[Outlawmws]

Can you ask questions or is there a contact number? I was able to talk to a guy (representing the sellers) on a potential auction once and dodged a bullet...

 

[justanengineer]

Its an apprentice box thats not a Gerstner, in that condition I'd go ~$50 if theres no breaks/separations.

 

[Rick_Br]

I'm wondering if that is a real Gerstner? I just got done refurbing one of those. Mine was also a 7 drawer but it had a front lock hasp as well as the two latches. It also had a latch on each side. I also don't see the pins in the top of the chest that lock the front panel when the lid is closed. Mine didn't have the corner guards on the top of the chest. The mirror is round versus the diamond shape I have typically seen. I am not a Gerstner expert - just noting differences from what I have seen.

While the hardware/felt is available - it isn't cheap. Mine was in pretty good shape - only needed a new handle and felt and the split rivets. Handles are in the $50 range and felt is $13 a yard - if you use gerstners' its twice that.

Rick

 

[ekegelmann]

I'm thinking it's not a Gerstner. Starting to back away a bit.

 

[stihlntime]

In this area due to the piece being quartersawn oak the piece would bring 125.00 to 160.00. The box would be a great little gun parts/smith box.

 

[Kevin54]

EK,

Are you going to be able to inspect in person?

look at the other pic I posted, and this one, and ask yourself:

is that a saw cut? Or a score mark?

The latter would be bad enough, the former really bad...

Outlaw......if you lok at the other pic that you blowed up larger, on the right side of the box it appears to be a seam in the wood in the front, but it doesn't appear to show on the side of the box.

I don't believe it's a Gerstner. A used Gerstner in that shape would bring $100 around here, but with that possibly being some other brand, it would probably fetch around $50 tops.

And I'm with others about the front cover.....I would say that is it stored under the bottom drawer.

 

[zkling]

The thing looks like a real piece of work (project). I'm pretty sure the front cover is missing and the bottom most piece is a thin "drawer" someone made. There is no lock recess for the lock and the way they put the pull knobs on it, would not interact with the mechanism. Additionally I believe the aspect ratio is incorrect, the box is too tall and too shallow to have a full enclosed front cover like that. Seen it before.

 

[beatcad]

it is NOT a Gerstner. doesnt look like a union either.
maybe a starr or a sipco
either way id love to pay close to $30 for it and wouldnt go much higher than $60.

for its shape i wouldnt consider goin near $100...unless maybe(just maybe) it was full of cool old tools

 

[leg17]

..... I'm pretty sure the front cover is missing and the bottom most piece is a thin "drawer" someone made......

Folks used to make a shallow drawer to store small tool bits. Keeps them all laid out side by side.

Wonder if the OP has pulled it out to see just what it is?

 

[Tarnished]

ekegelmann: I don't believe that is a Gerstner. I have Gerstner, Star, and Scherr chest's, and the one you picture looks like a Star to me. Shape of the round mirror is the give away. May have the Star name on the hardware, but I don't see it in your picture. Gerstner never had the corner protectors nor the strap's at the corner. The rabbit in the frount says that at one time it should have had a cover, but may have been lost or replaced with the shallow drawer you see. Cover would not have had the pulls on it.
I just rebuilt a Star, and it was in far worse condition than the one you picture. Complete rebuild and hardware cleanup, with new felt. Paid $50 for it, and put about another $50 in rebuild. Most restoration parts are available, but $$$ Can easily go for $100 up around here.
Good luck with your bid.


This one will go for jewelry chest to niece.

 

[RedVise]

ekegelmann:
Gerstner never had the corner protectors nor the strap's at the corner.
Cover would not have had the pulls on it.

Corner straps had me questioning the Gerstner brand.
I did not catch the front cover pulls not allowing the cover to fit.

Brian

 

[nine4gmc]

I saw the pulls on the front cover looking thing but I also see what looks like holes next to them that suggest it is the front cover and someone put the pulls on it to use as a drawer. The holes next to the pulls would be from the door lock pins that stick down into the front cover when the lid is closed. I still think that is the front cover below the drawers but I believe the owner may have put pulls on it.

I was thinking home made because I never saw one with the straps or split/cut(?) where the side top piece meets the side bottom piece that Outlaw pointed out. Now that I see Tarnished box, I think he may be right.

 

[eborcim]

It's a little rough, but $50 wouldn't hurt.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think Tarnished nailed it on the Star brand.

 

[Rick_Br]

ekegelmann: I don't believe that is a Gerstner. I have Gerstner, Star, and Scherr chest's, and the one you picture looks like a Star to me. Shape of the round mirror is the give away. May have the Star name on the hardware, but I don't see it in your picture. Gerstner never had the corner protectors nor the strap's at the corner. The rabbit in the frount says that at one time it should have had a cover, but may have been lost or replaced with the shallow drawer you see. Cover would not have had the pulls on it.
I just rebuilt a Star, and it was in far worse condition than the one you picture. Complete rebuild and hardware cleanup, with new felt. Paid $50 for it, and put about another $50 in rebuild. Most restoration parts are available, but $$$ Can easily go for $100 up around here.
Good luck with your bid.


This one will go for jewelry chest to niece.

I'm wondering if you could be more specific about the corner guards? Are you talking about the guards on the top and bottom? If so - I would disagree that Gerstner didn't use them. I have a Gerstner (inside stenciled) and it has 8 corner guards. I'm betting I'm not understanding what you are referring to

Rick

 

[Tarnished]

I'm wondering if you could be more specific about the corner guards? Are you talking about the guards on the top and bottom? If so - I would disagree that Gerstner didn't use them. I have a Gerstner (inside stenciled) and it has 8 corner guards. I'm betting I'm not understanding what you are referring to

Rick

Rick, You are absolutely correct. Gerstner's can/do have corner guards! What I should have said is that I do not believe Gerstner ever put the straps or bands at the corners. I think I read this somewhere on the Gerstner site during my restoration, that the straps just below the lid opening, were something they never needed on there box. I do know that these straps were on the Star that I rebuilt, and on the Scherr that I have. However, the Gerstners that I have (1 just above & left in the 4th pic) all have the corner guards, but no strap below the lid. Clear as mud yet?
I was also wondering about the holes in what appears to be the front cover. Doesn't really look like "pulls" upon closer look. But the holes don't look quite right for lid pins either. The missing lock latch is a wonderment also. Keep us posted on how you make out ekegelmann.

 

[Outlawmws]

Tarnished, did Star ever do kit boxes like Gerstner does? That might explain some anomalies...

 

[Tarnished]

Outlaw: I am unaware of a Star "kit". May have made them, but I haven't seen or heard anything on a kit. I think the kit from Gerstner, is a relative later addition (last 30 years??)offered after the prices for new became so high. JMHO
There 26" chest goes for over $1800 now, keeping the price of good used ones relative high. Same reason for there present Gerstner "International" line. Trying to make sales and keep price down. I understand from local Gerstner folks they are making changes to there International line due to overseas quality issues. Amazing old company still in the original building here in Dayton. Really great people to work with if you ever get the chance, and Scott Campbell is a world of info on old machinists chests of all types. There Forum is worth checking out for anyone needing information on an old chest.
The problem I found with my Star was when the door was in the stowed position under the bottom drawer, it wasn't possible to open that drawer without removing the door due to hitting the door lock. I imagine that this caused a lot of the doors to be stored separately from the chest, and were subsequently lost. Would be very hard to make a useful replacement drawer for this tight space, but could be done. Interested in seeing what secrets the OP's box might hold.

 

[ekegelmann]

Hi everyone, sorry for keeping you waiting. I ended up passing on it. 1- I couldnt go see it before bidding 2- it got to 150 and to take a chance on what could be a dud , thats too much for me...ugh

 

[Rick_Br]

Rick, You are absolutely correct. Gerstner's can/do have corner guards! What I should have said is that I do not believe Gerstner ever put the straps or bands at the corners. I think I read this somewhere on the Gerstner site during my restoration, that the straps just below the lid opening, were something they never needed on there box. I do know that these straps were on the Star that I rebuilt, and on the Scherr that I have. However, the Gerstners that I have (1 just above & left in the 4th pic) all have the corner guards, but no strap below the lid. Clear as mud yet?
I was also wondering about the holes in what appears to be the front cover. Doesn't really look like "pulls" upon closer look. But the holes don't look quite right for lid pins either. The missing lock latch is a wonderment also. Keep us posted on how you make out ekegelmann.

I got you now Tarnished - I agree about the straps. I'm not a Gerstner expert by any means but I'v looked at a lot of pictures and never saw those straps. Thanks for the clarification!

Rick

 

[Tarnished]

Hi everyone, sorry for keeping you waiting. I ended up passing on it. 1- I couldnt go see it before bidding 2- it got to 150 and to take a chance on what could be a dud , thats too much for me...ugh

Think you made a wise decision my friend. Keep checking, there around. After you look at a few, and you can soon see why the Gerstner earns top marks. jmho