Picked up a not so common Gerstner model 044 Pattern Maker's Tool Box

[Technical Ted]

Grabbed another Craig's List deal in my area... well, an hour and a half's drive away. A very nice condition Gerstner Pattern Maker's box. It's a lesser common box that measures 31" long x 8-1/2" wide x 14" high. A long, thinner box. Came with a bunch of tools as well. Couldn't believe the price so I jumped on it. The guy selling it was a retired tool maker and a Polish immigrant. His son listed it for him. He was a really nice guy and I could have talked to him for hours, but with another 1-1/2 drive to get home I wanted to leave.

It's got the leatherett finish and I prefer wood, but you take what you can get for the price I paid...

Does anyone else on this list have one of these?

Thanks,
Ted

 

[Martin W]

Great find
Cheers
Martin

 

[benmychree]

How about some pics of the tools! That long chest is unusual, never noticed it in the catalogs, I have had Gerstner chests for over 50 years, nothing finer!!

 

[Technical Ted]

Sorry John, I should have taken pictures before I emptied the box out and cleaned... the tools have now immigrated into multiple other boxes and locations in my shop. Tool wise, it was no major find. I'm thinking that he had previously sold some of his finer items and just had "leftovers" left in his box. I did get a couple sets of nice trams I didn't have. But the lot was mostly common items that I already have multiples of. Except for these old timer indicators... Here's some pics of the indicators and trams. Notice on the new Ames indicator the resolution is 0.01" inch! I've never seen one of these before.

Ted

 

[benmychree]

I have had a few of those cheap indicators, none really worked, but I guess during WW-2 that was all that was available and expedient. I had an Ames set of indicators and accessories when I was an apprentice, but only one thou graduation, it's long gone to the happy hunting ground of indicators, having been dropped at least one too many times. The trams are nice, I have one just like them, and the Starrett pivot indicator also looks nice. Thanks for the pics!

 

[Technical Ted]

On the Ames indicator, note that it's 0.01" (10 thousandths per hash mark) not a tenth's indicator... I guess that's probably why it's still new in the box. I've been trying to think of how I could use it in my shop, but can't come up with anything... I can use my scale to get it closer than that!

Ted

 

[benmychree]

Yes, one would have to wonder about that ------

 

[mmcmdl]

Love the box and " wiggle stick " ! I have a small leatherette Gerstner but no where near in that ggod of shape . ( 1937 )