CGarage
Well-known member
Not a fan of hide glue, especially the aroma. I think there are modern adhesives that surpass hide glue that have superior working properties.
The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
RTM
Well-known member
But most are not easily reversible like hide glue, a factor many people consider when restoring vintage and antique stuff.
Orangina
Well-known member
Hello everyone,
HAZET 2500 WA (this is from 1965-1966, previous versions since 1950 as e.g 500 WA).
25xx product numbers are for Volkswagen tools. WA stands for de:"Werkzeugausrüstung"/en:"tool equipment".
The original set contained 45 tools for Volkswagen. This is just the beginning for this set:
regards,
HAZET 2500 WA (this is from 1965-1966, previous versions since 1950 as e.g 500 WA).
25xx product numbers are for Volkswagen tools. WA stands for de:"Werkzeugausrüstung"/en:"tool equipment".
The original set contained 45 tools for Volkswagen. This is just the beginning for this set:
regards,
Tynee
Well-known member
That's pretty.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Your stuff is always just so nice, such a pleasure to see. Thanks for sharing the pictures.Hello everyone,
HAZET 2500 WA (this is from 1965-1966, previous versions since 1950 as e.g 500 WA).
25xx product numbers are for Volkswagen tools. WA stands for de:"Werkzeugausrüstung"/en:"tool equipment".
The original set contained 45 tools for Volkswagen. This is just the beginning for this set:
regards,
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Yeah, that color is just nice to look at
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Did a test run on the tray door with Rubio Arabica color. I think it turned out nicely and matches the original finish pretty well so I'll be doing the whole piece in that.
Most of the metal bits are all cleaned up and first coat of Angelus leather filler is applied to the handle. Need to do one or two more to fill the gaps then I'll sand and paint it up in a brown to go along with it's original color.
Most of the metal bits are all cleaned up and first coat of Angelus leather filler is applied to the handle. Need to do one or two more to fill the gaps then I'll sand and paint it up in a brown to go along with it's original color.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Well, it's amazing what new things one can learn on the GJ!
I never knew 'Leather Filler' existed before, so had to look it up.. Looks useful, and easily available in UK too.
Of course I also clicked on the history of Angelus, which is a good story well worth reading in itself:
I never knew 'Leather Filler' existed before, so had to look it up.. Looks useful, and easily available in UK too.
Of course I also clicked on the history of Angelus, which is a good story well worth reading in itself:
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Yeah it’s not always perfect but I find it works well when needed
Iirc 29" wide was just their standard size back then. Never thought of it as weird.Here is an interesting Kennedy box that I got a couple of weeks ago. It's a model 294 that is 29" wide. Leave it to Kennedy to make a weird size.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any before pics. When I acquired it, the box was racked so badly that the drawers could not be opened. The lock was missing, the wheels were almost seized, the bottom right corner was damaged, the left rear area of the top was caved in, the top two drawers were bent, and there was a mouse nest in the top drawer.
The good news is that the front cover survived intact and it still has most of the original gray paint. It has a light hammertone texture.
I did a quick cleaning on the outside of the box with dawn and then proceeded to do some body work. The porta power pushed the box back into square pretty quickly. I then removed the drawers and straightened them with hand seamers, and hammer and dolly. Next, I turned my attention to repairing the body of the box. After working the damage to the top and bottom corner, I had to get the porta power out again because my hammer and dolly work threw the box out of square again. I disassembled the wheels and lubed 'em up - good as new. After that, I gave the box a good cleaning with nothing stronger than dawn. I applied a little wax to the paint and here it is.
At some point it switched to 27.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Reassembly and finish started.
Need to do the top, but had a to reglue some bits of the veneer on it. Then just waiting on the parts I ordered from Gerstner directly.
Need to do the top, but had a to reglue some bits of the veneer on it. Then just waiting on the parts I ordered from Gerstner directly.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
^Lookin' GREAT!
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Thanks! Using the tinted Rubio definitely helped as a lot of the water staining damage just wasn't coming out with oxalic acid treatment and sanding. I also think going darker than the original finish works well with the cleaned up hardware which I didn't re-nickel, so darker wear to the metal pairs well with the darker color.
Beautiful!Reassembly and finish started.
Need to do the top, but had a to reglue some bits of the veneer on it. Then just waiting on the parts I ordered from Gerstner directly.
I love machinist’s chests
I don't have a lot of expertise on possible WWII era tools. I know that some of you are experts. Can anyone identify the maker of my new box that I believe is close to WWII era? I have dug through the Garage Journal threads (this one and WW2 Toolsets- MVMTS and GMTS Tool Photos) and looked at G503.com (details at bottom of this post) and am still unsure. The set of features on this box don’t seem to fully match up with any common manufacturer details.
SIZE:
- 21” long
- 7.5” tall (at highest point)
- 9” wide (at widest part=across hinges) or, 8.5” wide measured at the box section (external). (See photos.)
- (Out of curiosity, when people talk about the height, and particularly the width, of the cross section of circa WWII era boxes, where are they measuring to?)
HINGE ELEMENTS:
- Has 22 hinge elements/segments per side.
- The segments at each end are 1/2 width – (see photos).
EXTERNAL CORNERS
- Has the ornate French leaf corner reinforcements.
HANDLE MOUNTING
- No rivets.
- No embossing of lid in the locations of the metal straps. (See photo of lid underside.)
TRAY
- Has a round tray handle that is flattened near the ends. Flattening transition is perpendicular to the handle (it does not have a triangular transition shape like some other boxes). In other words, the transition from round to flat is straight rather than pointed – (see photos).
- Has a single oiler hole.
- Has two dividers.
TRAY SUPPORTS
- The tray supports are four tabs punched 90 degrees inward from the short end walls and then bent with a second 90 degree bend – (see photos).
(There is a box that Phil (pjones) posted on G503 (back in 2012). It is the only similar box that I can find: GMTK Toolboxes (at G503.com) (If the link does not work, it is on pages 3 and 4 of the GMTK Toolboxes thread.))
edited: to correct spelling/grammar only.
SIZE:
- 21” long
- 7.5” tall (at highest point)
- 9” wide (at widest part=across hinges) or, 8.5” wide measured at the box section (external). (See photos.)
- (Out of curiosity, when people talk about the height, and particularly the width, of the cross section of circa WWII era boxes, where are they measuring to?)
HINGE ELEMENTS:
- Has 22 hinge elements/segments per side.
- The segments at each end are 1/2 width – (see photos).
EXTERNAL CORNERS
- Has the ornate French leaf corner reinforcements.
HANDLE MOUNTING
- No rivets.
- No embossing of lid in the locations of the metal straps. (See photo of lid underside.)
TRAY
- Has a round tray handle that is flattened near the ends. Flattening transition is perpendicular to the handle (it does not have a triangular transition shape like some other boxes). In other words, the transition from round to flat is straight rather than pointed – (see photos).
- Has a single oiler hole.
- Has two dividers.
TRAY SUPPORTS
- The tray supports are four tabs punched 90 degrees inward from the short end walls and then bent with a second 90 degree bend – (see photos).
(There is a box that Phil (pjones) posted on G503 (back in 2012). It is the only similar box that I can find: GMTK Toolboxes (at G503.com) (If the link does not work, it is on pages 3 and 4 of the GMTK Toolboxes thread.))
edited: to correct spelling/grammar only.
Attachments
Last edited:
d42jeep
Well-known member
The tray supports look unique to your box. Dimensionally it seems to be the size of a GMTK box. The tray appears the same as my many McAleer trays. The hinge elements seem different from a McAleer as well. I really have no idea who made it. Many of us posting on the G503 thread didn’t show the tray supports as often as we should have.
-Don
-Don
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Mostly done. Added rubber feet which lets it sit better and avoid water damage like it sustained before. Handle repaired and freshly painted.
Waiting on Gerstner to ship the parts. New split rivets, blue felt, and badging. Kind of weird how long it’s taken them to ship them out, but customer service isn’t what it used to be.
Waiting on Gerstner to ship the parts. New split rivets, blue felt, and badging. Kind of weird how long it’s taken them to ship them out, but customer service isn’t what it used to be.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Good on your for going through that thread and doing your own research and good conclusion. It's very close, and, if I recall, we never did ID Phil's, for the same reason you already arrived at yourself - the features don't collectively match any known mfgr (Union, Hamilton, McAleer, or Waterloo). I emailed Phil to ask for a photo of his tray supports.
Patrickm82
Well-known member
Hell of a job @JustVicingIt! Nice work I can’t wait to see it with the blue felt!
ALLFAST
Well-known member
Your chest is coming along nicely…you’re doing great work and the hardware is beautiful. Did you consider using Howard’s Restore a finish on the wood or did it warrant more serious therapy?
I don’t remember much of the original condition…I can’t wait to see the final result!
You
ALLFAST
Well-known member
She’s looking great JVI! The felt is going to be the icing on the cake. Great work.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Never considered Restore-a-finish as I wanted to get this thing back to bare wood and metal for a top-to-bottom resto. I'm not sure if I'll use it in the shop or inside the house and wanted it to be as clean as possible if I used it inside.
ALLFAST
Well-known member
It’s going to be a standout wherever it is
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Small Gerstner update. Two weeks on they still can't figure out how to ship my replacement bits out lol. They can't provide a replacement key or offer a re-chroming service even though they highlight that option in their 'top-tier' refurbishment program.
Overall I'd say they are a sub-par company who tout their love of their heritage but seemingly can't figure simple stuff out. And looking at the starting cost of $2500 for a full refurb on a box, they are smoking crack too.
Oh well. Maybe soon I can get back to the refurb
Overall I'd say they are a sub-par company who tout their love of their heritage but seemingly can't figure simple stuff out. And looking at the starting cost of $2500 for a full refurb on a box, they are smoking crack too.
Oh well. Maybe soon I can get back to the refurb
Saw this Gedore Adjutant #1580 on FBMP, about two hours from me.......unfortunately it appears sold. Kind of different, would have made the trip if I had seen it earlier. It measures 36 X 16 X 25 inches. Guessing it was made in the sixties??
Attachments
Patrickm82
Well-known member
Yes, I don't really need it, but I have a GRAY box that could easily sit right on it........was only $50 too!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Picked up my third one of these yesterday. I like that they are tank like in construction.
in the past we ID'd thee as either Butler or QUALITY TIN~TOP METAL PRODUCTS Richmond virginia, (aslo marked Southern /stove works)
No markings on this one
Tray present and accounted for. It cleaned up pretty nice, but these are as found pics
in the past we ID'd thee as either Butler or QUALITY TIN~TOP METAL PRODUCTS Richmond virginia, (aslo marked Southern /stove works)
No markings on this one
Tray present and accounted for. It cleaned up pretty nice, but these are as found pics
2001ZR2
Well-known member
Things I didn't need but a 1950s Carpenter box with cut out to carry a square for $7? Ok I'll do that and to put in it Disston saw with medallion and writing visible for $2? OK now a tool to live in it.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Oh, do you **** or what?
Things I didn't need but a 1950s Carpenter box with cut out to carry a square for $7? Ok I'll do that and to put in it Disston saw with medallion and writing visible for $2? OK now a tool to live in it.
d42jeep
Well-known member
That might be a couple dollars more than I paid for this one in 2023. I gifted it to my old buddy, a retired carpenter.
Things I didn't need but a 1950s Carpenter box with cut out to carry a square for $7? Ok I'll do that and to put in it Disston saw with medallion and writing visible for $2? OK now a tool to live in it.
-Don
2001ZR2
Well-known member
Did they actually come with a cut out for square? I know that what it's for but thought it was a common mod.
Looking on the internet...it appears they did.
Learned something today...not a wasted day afterall.
Edit removed an extra space in a word.
Looking on the internet...it appears they did.
Learned something today...not a wasted day afterall.
Edit removed an extra space in a word.
Last edited:
Outlawmws
Well-known member
They came with a cutout, or a knockout like metal electrical boxes have so you could easily add it.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Three weeks later supplies finally arrived. New brass Gerstner tag, and blue felt for relining the drawers etc.
Still need rivets which are on order. Then it'll be done and dusted. Only felted the tray to start. Will tackle the drawers soon but can't finish until the rivets are here because they need install before being covered in felt. That blue pops real nice though and glad I went with it over the traditional green.
Still need rivets which are on order. Then it'll be done and dusted. Only felted the tray to start. Will tackle the drawers soon but can't finish until the rivets are here because they need install before being covered in felt. That blue pops real nice though and glad I went with it over the traditional green.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Alright. This is as far as I can go until the rivets arrive.
Patrickm82
Well-known member
Man I love that blue felt @JustVicingIt . Very good choice.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Yeah it's very nice and so glad I went with it.
I can see an argument against it because it's darker so tools and stuff may not stand out well against it compared to the green and red offered up, but I'm not sure I'll be using this as a tool chest after this resto. May be too nice to let it get beat up like that lol.
RTM
Well-known member
It's nice and rich. I saw one with a great purple in it, holding high end watches was it's future life.
JustVicingIt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 179
Purple would've been great too
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I would love to have a nice dark oak pool table with purple felt. I saw one once and was in love with the look. Just no space/room for one. it takes a minimum of a 12X16 ft room to do it, and there better not be anything on the walls.. 16X 20 would be better.