1930s Snap-On Grey Enamel

[purevl]

Hello all,
Recently I acquired a 1935-1940 (i.e. before the wrinkle finish and drawer slides) K-21 Mechanikit. Normally I don't go in for rustoleum restorations since as long as my tools are clean and functional I don't mind if they show their age. However, given the rustiness of the box, especially on the bottom, I think a re-paint might be in order before the sheet metal is too seriously compromised. I can't afford to have professional paint mixed to match so I'm soliciting the forum for suggestions for an off-the-shelf colour that would be a good match for the original. The paint on my own box is rough enough that matching to it probably wouldn't be a very close approximation of the original grey. After using the search function pretty extensively I've only turned up mention of it in a couple of places. This thread discusses the colour but doesn't offer a suggestion for matching it:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39418

On my monitor the picture in post #7 seems most true to life, taking into account the usage of a flash for the photo, what's left of my paint looks like a sort of half and half ratio of olive drab and a darker shade of machinery gray. There seems to be some variation in the examples I've seen, with mine leaning towards the dark green end of the spectrum, but who knows what 70+ years of oxidation will do to a paint colour.

In addition, if anyone has some macro photos of mostly intact examples of the two decals that would have been on the box I'd appreciate it. If I do re-paint I may as well recreate the stickers.

Thanks!

 

[lilredex]

Have a look at this thread (Paula's #3 post) might be helpful in arriving at your own mix.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/south-bend-lathes/paint-help-128122/

 

[purevl]

Bump.

Thanks for the reply, lilredex. I think getting a brush to the interior of the box might be tricky but then getting a good coat in there from a spray can would likely be just as hard.

Can anyone help with sticker photos?

 

[snapmom]

The wrinkle finish is usually a blue/green. And the smaller boxes are sort of a grey. I have never found a match for these. The one sort of close is rustoleum camouflage.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you have a section of paint remaining, take a good rubbing compound, then some polishing compound and see where it leads you. I'd think especially on the interior, or the drawer bottoms or backs, should not show much fading from the sun. (I know the interior of my 1954 craftsman roller was an almost exact match for Rustolium hammered gray for instance...)

 

[83glt]

Were you ever successful finding a match?