Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: dimwittedmoose51 on October 07, 2012, 07:46:09 PM

Title: Gertsner wood Tool box?
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on October 07, 2012, 07:46:09 PM

At the World's Largest Garage Sale last Saturday, a guy showed me his virtually brand new Gertsner 515(smaller one) as we were packing up.  I didn't get his name, but he had marked it down to $50.  I asked him if I had something I could trade him out of for the box, but he pretty much has everything.  I was impressed with the workmanship on it and although it was a bit small for my needs, it still woulda been cool to have one for show.

Are the old ones pricey due to their collectible nature, or are the new ones destined to be investments as well?  This one had chrome corner covers that were a bit large and shiny for my tastes in classic wood boxes, but the metal rods the were drilled down into the thin wood panels for the drawer locking were really cool. 

More on the WLGS  in another post.

TIA


DM&FS

Title: Re: Gertsner wood Tool box?
Post by: mikeswrenches on October 07, 2012, 08:55:05 PM

Be careful with Gerstner boxes.  The old ones(the good ones) have galvanized tin bottoms on the drawers.  Unfortunately Gerstner, like a lot of companies, also has an imported box that looks good but is nowhere near the quality of the old ones.  Also, if you pull the bottom drawer all the way out, and then pull the front cover out so that you can see the bottom, it should say something like "Gerstner, Dayton, Ohio.  It looks like it's stamped in black ink and is quite large.  You won't miss it if it's there.

Most of the old ones are made of oak and look like a quality piece.  They also made some with a black leatherette  cover.  Mine is one of those and I don't like it as well as the oak boxes.

WoodCraft sells both the Chinese version and the American made ones.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Search2/Search.aspx?query=gerstner%20tool%20chest

Mike

Title: Re: Gertsner wood Tool box?
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on October 08, 2012, 05:53:20 AM

Thanks Mike


DM&FS

Title: Re: Gertsner wood Tool box?
Post by: clovis on October 08, 2012, 08:19:03 AM

Around here, I haven't seen a real Gerstner box for sale in ages. The last Gerstner that I saw at an auction was a cheap Chinese import.

I am told that one reason that clean examples of real Gerstner boxes sold for crazy money was because they make great jewelry boxes, and they were very, very popular with women.   

Title: Re: Gertsner wood Tool box?
Post by: Branson on October 08, 2012, 08:38:40 AM

For $50, I would have had it.  The Chinese knock offs at Wallmart are more that twice the price.