My refurbished Union wooden toolbox

O

oldgascar

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About 15-20 years ago I purchased a few machinist tools from a man. They belonged to his late father. When I went to pick them up, I was surprised to find out the box they were in was wooden. At first I thought the box was a Gerstner but later found out it was a Union box. (serial # 177) This box sat in my basement untouched until about a month ago. It was falling apart, all the glue dried out an it was generally in poor shape. It was missing a drawer and the front drawer cover. Due to its poor condition, it was by no means a museum quailty piece , but I thought with a little patience , a bit of glue and polyurethene and TLC I would have a nice box for my workshop.
I reworked it and now I have a nice box. It still doesn't have the front door to cover the drawers, but I don't really need that since it will stay in my shop. I still need to make one drawer (unless someone has an extra they don't need :)) ) Maybe not a professional job , but I am happy with the finished project. Now I just need a few more toys to help fill it up. Here are some pictures of the finished box.

Bob

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You don't see many of those. Very nice restoration. It will last you for years. ------ "Billy G"
 
Very nice. Collecting machinist chests is what started me on the hobby. I've sold most but I still have 10-12, some home-made and some like yours - Union, National, Gerstner etc. What did you use to clean the wood with? Most of mine are nearly black with grime.

Joe
 
Joe, it was black and the wood and the glue was alldried out, i sanded all the wood with a fine grit sandpaper. I stained it golden oak and gave it a satin polyurethane. When I picked up the box to start working on it, the sides just about fell off of it. I re-glued the whole thing and made the corner wood gussets for the top drawer. I wish I could find a drawer to fit it ( small one ) . But if not, I will make a new one.

Bob
 
oldgascar said:
Joe, it was black and the wood and the glue was alldried out, i sanded all the wood with a fine grit sandpaper. I stained it golden oak and gave it a satin polyurethane. When I picked up the box to start working on it, the sides just about fell off of it. I re-glued the whole thing and made the corner wood gussets for the top drawer. I wish I could find a drawer to fit it ( small one ) . But if not, I will make a new one.

Bob
Click to expand...
Glue failure seems to be common where I'm at - high heat and low humidity. I don't have any spare drawers or I'd help you out there.
 
Nice job, it takes a lot of patience to put something back together. Not like starting fresh. If only you knew all of the history of where that box had been in its' lifetime, if only it could talk. Reproducing the missing drawer will be easy, having one to copy.
 
Hello Bob,

After reading your post I noticed the mirror in the top lid & opened up my box. It to is a Union in the same configuration as yours. The only difference I can see is that mine has nickel plated hardware. If you tell me where you found the serial number I would like to see what number mine is. You sure did a nice job restoring it.
 
I took the cheap way out with my hardware. Mine was all badly rusted. So I cleaned it up and painted it with some black satin lacquer.
I also used brass wood screws where I could and brass 6-32 x 3/4 screws and brass nuts & washers to hold on the hinges, lock etc. ( instead of the original rivets used to hold on the hardware)

The serial number on mine is on the bottom panel next to the slot that the front cover door would sit in. It is in a black ink . Also, as I replaced the felt, I saw that the serial number was written in pencil on every panel. I presume that was so the panels for a given box stayed together. I think my box was made in the 1940's. I saw one listed on the net that sold for almost $1,000 and it was a serial number in the high 400's. If you cant find your serial nmber, let me know & I will photograph mine.

I found green adhesive backed felt to replace the original felt.

Bob
Craftsman1946 said:
Hello Bob,

After reading your post I noticed the mirror in the top lid & opened up my box. It to is a Union in the same configuration as yours. The only difference I can see is that mine has nickel plated hardware. If you tell me where you found the serial number I would like to see what number mine is. You sure did a nice job restoring it.
Click to expand...
 
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