Now THAT is one coolass photograph! [emoji106]
That is one BEAUTIFUL ride and a great backdrop to boot!
That’s one beautiful ride!
Awesome! Do they still actually make them there?
Thanks, fellas! My meetings in Dayton ended early, so I swung by while they were still open and toured their "museum" displays and the showroom.
MikeW: yes, they do still make their tool chests there! They have been in that building since 1916 and still family-owned. The clerk/tour guide, Emily, told me that Mr Gerstner named his company "Gerstner and Sons" because he thought it would make it sound more established. Ha--he went on to have four daughters! The business is still in the family after all these years.
Here's the main entrance. Just inside....
...is their display of vintage and anniversary year tool chests.
The show room has all of their current production on display, in cherry, oak, hickory and walnut. They have three lines--the high and middle-level tools boxes are made right there in the building. Their lowest end is actually made overseas to their specifications. When I asked Emily how sales were nowadays, she said that the imported base line had actually stimulated overall sales in recent years. Apparently, when folks got even a "basic" Gerstner box, they often stepped up to the higher-end USA-made chests.
Check out their in-house display tables. I guess you shouldn't expect the builders of fine tools chests to have simply utilitarian tables, huh?!
This walnut stack was my favorite. The price tag on the top box was marked down to $1500!
I picked up some more affordable souvenirs.
I talked up the Garage Journal website and this thread and tried to charm my way into a full factory tour. Alas, OSHA rules do not allow non-employees on the floor. Now, maybe if I had actually bought a full stack....
