Vintage 1956 GERSTNER Mahogany M-52 machinists tool box For Sale

Vintage 1956 GERSTNERMahogany M-52 machinists tool box

Signed by the original owner !

It was a moment of some pride when a machinist received his first

GERSTNER tool box, and many folks signed the inside of the box

when put into service, and also to identify the box.

I have had numerous Gerstner boxes,

and this is the 3rd of 4th box I have found signed.

Fairly nice vintageGERSTNER model 52 tool box in desirable Mahogany.

The tag on the front saws O-52.

The Gerstner Company sold so few mahogany boxes

that they did not make a separate tag for mahogany,

which should have said M-52.

Gerstner tool cases andchests have been offered for more than 100 years,

and have usually beenconsidered the standard of the industry.

Many machinists knew they had“arrived” when they could justify the

purchase of a Gerstner box, which movedthem to an elite group of professionals.

In the 1940’s, many men(and they were essentially all men) became machinists

to help with the wareffort. This continued though into the aerospace years,

and the “moonefforts.”

The Gerstner Companyoffered their line of machinist’s tool boxes in Mahogany

for a very shortperiod – essentially the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Mahogany was quite desirable,but was still a small percentage

of the full production – which was largelyOak. Thus Mahogany boxes

are scarce both because of the short productionyears,

and because few folks bought the boxes in mahogany.

At the time, the M-52box would have been the “top of the line”

equipment from the country’s mostrespected manufacturer.

This particular box – probablymade in 1957’s, and in red Mahogany,

could have served a machinist inthe aircraft industry. NEW GERSTNER

green felt of the original color hasbeen professionally installed,

and compliments the box well. Other thanthe felt and the knobs,

the box looks completely original, including wood and finish.

The drawer pulls are attractive hand-made aluminum.

All drawers areoriginal to the box and work properly.

If this box were new,it would probably cost

$1,500 from Gerstner, so my price is reasonable.

Inside markings:V458, signed by original owner on 7/25/56

SIZE: 26 ½” wide,16” tall, 9 ½” deep

The last photo(s) show the slight blemish

in the \"door\" that remains after my repair.

NO KEY !