I found a Gerstner Machinist tool box full of tools. Chest tour time capsule!

This is an attempt at a tour of a Gerstner 42 apprentice tool chest. It belong to Mr English who bought it in 1975, his son or grandson inherited it, he worked making parts for the Air Force in Maryland.

[@luthiermatt]

I have the same model but from the early 1960's. I don't think it ever saw any use in a real shop but I'm happy that it's in pristine condition. Yours is the real deal. Some serious mojo going on with that one.

[@robertnegri6807]

Gerstener'd has a website with how to complete restoration on various areas of the box. Keys for the lock probably can be bought. On the side of the lock is a number, with number there still maybe keys for that lock at Gerstner. Along with 99% of the hardware used on the boxes. Replacement felt is also available from Gerstner. Use only water to remove the felt. Enjoy restoring it. I finally will start on my Gerstner machinist chest next week.

[@stevemoore6647]

I get really excited about old tools, I trained as an engineer in the 1980's and eventually became a toolroom specialist, and still have my 0-1 0-2 Mic's. Can not believe that the family didn't want to keep it, such a shame.

[@makelikeatree1696]

The real pity is that the old dude who used those tools for years died and didnt have anyone interested in taking them on. He made a good living for his family, and his kids went to college and scarcely know how to use a screwdriver. So his tool box sat in a corner of the garage until his widow died, and the whole lot got sold for pennies along with the 1970s furniture and pots and pans. The same thing is going to happen someday to all my woodworking tools. It happens.

[@kevingaughan3170]

Wow! That’s really nice. It’s like Christmas morning! Seriously, some nice calibers and tools too!

[@JOATology]

That is an amazing find. All those tools were made to last and be very precise. I hope you get tons of use out of all that.

[@johnmccrane1660]

he got more excited about a imported flashlight than a Starette indicator.

[@bobjames6284]

That center drawer is for a Machinery's Handbook. I hope no one ever does a video digging through my tool chest. There's stuff in there I don't recognize anymore.

[@k9six185]

The felt in the drawers is glued in with hide glue...a half cup of hot water and let it sit for about a minute and the felt come out east

[@danohstoolbox]

Very cool box loads of goodies in it

[@IsaiahSchmitmeyer]

I've restore a gerstner from the early 40s and it looked really good when I got it but now it looks better yes they are really nice

[@stevehale7309]

The box at the 3:37 part of the video that you said was a clamp is the box for the dial indicator that was ion the magnetic base, just the dial and attached post. The little scale at the 24:45 minute mark is called a FISHTAIL, it is for grinding a "V" shape threading tool and for setting the tool on the part to be threaded. The "INSIDE" Micrometer is in the STARRETT box is a DEPTH MIC, used to get exact measurements of a hole, step offset or other DEPTH measurements usually on a flat shoulder or surface. The small DIAL indicator is usally called a LAST WORD, used for fine or finish indicating of a part on a lathe or mill. $:46 mark was the bar with the insert mounted on the end is probably a boring bar for either a lathe with a indexing tool post or could be for a boring head on a mill. Your lathe is a nice one for a starter, the Quick Change is for adjusting the feed rate on the carriage and crossfeed and for setting the proper thread per inch when threading, please check KZbin videos for help on that, it can be very helpful when fabricating custom parts.

[@coolmoodee]

Nice machinist toolbox.... all the same stuff I used .

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

GD&T general dimensioning and tolerancing. The little indicator is a "Last Word" by Starrett. The triangle thingy is part of the square combo set with the 12" rule. It's used to find and scribe cylindrical centers among other things

[@noeljmccarthy1692]

The brass tags( tally’s ) are used to give to main stores to get a special tool out for use and so stores know who has that tool

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Those are pin vises

[@k9six185]

There is a number on the main latch and if you get a hold of Gerstner they can get you another key

[@davemartin1534]

Yep, if they are still are in business should b able to get a key . I know Kennedy tool chest have a 4 digit number on the lock all u have to do is contact Kennedy give them the # code and they will sell you a key that fits that lock. And vice a versa... keys have # code stamped on them and you send them that number n buy a lock set ... really handy if u have multiple tool boxes so u don't have search thru different keys and only have to carry only 1 key for all of your tool chests. I had 3 different chest and 17 years in a machine shop and i did just that changed 2 lock sets n only 1 key.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Last one is a thread cutter point gauge

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

I wouldnt touch that box except to put a mirror on. They still make Gerstner boxes and could possibly get you a key

[@CHEEZNIP12]

Nice Box. Good vid!!

[@scottvacexrractorguy]

Something of interest possibly, the center drawer the first one you opened with sheet metal bottom, is made to fit a "MACHINERY HANDBOOK" often called Machinists Handbook or Bible. They are basically the very size and fit perfectly. Or as in your case it can be used for anything that fits. 😁

[@garyguerin5806]

Is that little low angle plane on the shelf a Stanley 60 1/2?? Somehow lost mine years ago. When I started working as a carpenters helper in 1972 my boss always had his in his nail bag when trimming!

[@scottvacexrractorguy]

The brass round pieces that are cut down one section of the length are for holding something round in Chuck and not mark it or scratch it and it the size of the part is too small to hold they can be used as "reducer" of sorts. I think Noel may have answered this one but wasn't sure. Not trying to be a know-it-all Noel! 😉

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

260 bucks is a steal!

[@johnhansen4794]

@9:40 - When I was a little boy, I found my dad's thread gauge. I asked him how anyone could use such a useless stack of saw blades. lol.

[@noeljmccarthy1692]

The brass bar is to hold the work piece in the lathe chuck and not mark it with the chuck teeth

[@scottvacexrractorguy]

The inserts you remarked as " very sharp" are most likely made of carbide. They would be used in the "boring bar".

[@Oldtimeytools]

High speed steel because they are magnetic. Thank you sir

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

...tool crib tags or tallies

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Precision square

[@zidwid]

I would really like to read though the note pads to see whats in there.

[@greekveteran2715]

You are lucky! I can't even find to buy a toolbox like that and it is my dream,to find one. If anyone knows where to look can I find a toolbox like this, it would be very helpful.Thanks in advance!

[@bobjames6284]

They still make exactly the same chest. Google "Gerstner" and I'm sure you'll find a dealer nearby.

[@jessewoody5772]

How does someone who is interested in buying old tools know so little about them? What do you do with them? Are you just a flipper?

[@Oldtimeytools]

Yes for 300% profit.

[@mikel5582]

If you look at his bench you'll see woodworking tools. And he said he's a hobby woodworker. I went to a garage sale once that had a ton of high quality machinist tools. The descendents holding the sale didn't care a whit about the tools and just wanted to get rid of them quickly. While rummaging through the garage I found a box of photographs and personal items. I figured the family would want those and alerted them. Their response was "how much will you offer for them? Sad. I have very limited knowledge of machinist tools but bought a lot of stuff so it didn't get tossed. The maker of this video clearly appreciates quality tools and that's why he bought them. Other than the Gerstner chest there's nothing in there worth his time to try to "flip". Sure, many of the tools have decent value but he'd have to spend a lot of time to find buyers. It's just not worth the effort if you're in it to make a profit.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Depth mics... ID mics

[@mrhignettshorses]

It’s a centre finder.

[@k9six185]

The Gerstner web site has a lot of videos on refurbishing old chests.....and of course you tube

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

I'm guessing the guy had a rollaway box under this

[@manuelmontiel5418]

That Chinese indicator is better than you'll ever be.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Leave as is!!!

[@danohstoolbox]

Grub screws

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

That's a pretty basic collection. An apprentice, maybe? Those in the top drawer are HSS self ground lathe cutting tools

[@t.d.mich.7064]

What a shame, guy without a clue stumbles on to tools he dosent know how to use.

[@carlkrebs1]

That background noise is annoying as hell .

[@ianspicer3885]

That is a tradesmans tool box , he obviously took care of them for years , they are now in the hands of an amateur who don't deserve them 👎👎👎👎

[@davemartin1534]

Easy 5k$ tool chest and I know the tool chest is over 50 years old as tools are maybe 50 years old or older them selves. This guy would b a fool to touch anything with a wire wheel on that chest leave it in the antique form. That key he kept looking for tell him to look on grandpa's key ring. This guy got the gold mine n the stupid kids got the shaft.

[@davemartin1534]

Yes I know theses kind of tools I worked full time in a machine shop 08- 1969 to 08-84 then off and on 2 years part-time after that as my former boss would call me up n ask me to come out n help him out. Only thing with the part time work I made alot better money but I had to wait anywhere from 90-180 days to get paid. It was oil field machine work n oil companies don't pay bills but every 3-6 months.

[@stevenconnor4221]

a box full of endmills, ffs lathe tools. Takes the oil-impregnated paper out lol you fool you shouldn't have that box or be allowed near it regardless of how sparse it is, sell it to an apprentice, And that I think it looked like a chesterman screw profile gauge is for setting the angles of your ground thread cutting tools, 55deg for old british imperial and 60 deg for American UNC /metric type threads. We were always told to rub lanolin oil then seal with beeswax, so dont go f'king about with paint strippers etc...

[@davidhale7551]

sorry couldn't watch the whole vid, as a fitter and turner I could not get over your ignorance of the content of the tool box.

[@ThomasShue]

You don’t deserve that box

[@Oldtimeytools]

I have 8 others mushahahaha

[@AnthonyJones-ph3fr]

Put all the tools back in the tool chest and find a machine shop or tool room and sale this to somebody thats in the trade ,so they can be appreciated and used and cared for the right way.At least they will know how to use them and know what they are ! This is pathetic !!!

[@Oldtimeytools]

I turned them all into a lamp and I threw the rest away

[@jodygroshon7969]

Your audio ability is nonexistent.