Thread: Machinsts chest value

I cannot visualize how big fractions of an inch are but i have no problem at all when machining or measuring small ammounts. but i did learn on an imperial lathe.

1/2" is a router bit shaft. 3/8" is a medium size socket wrench or 10mm. 1/4 is 6mm or a small router bit shaft. 1/8" is a pop rivet. Nothing else matters. Decimal inches, as in metric, are the world of the machinist. Fractions of inches are crazy in increments smaller than 1/8" except when it comes to spanners where the 9/16" is popular. If you are not going to be wrenching on many old American gizmos that won't even be a blip in your life.

GQ

(taking a few minutes out tonight to work a little on my 1965 Dutch lathe. All fasteners Whitworth. Arrrgh!)

Originally Posted by welder

Here is the only photo I have and that description is all I have been given so far.

Hi Welder,
That looks like quality gear, as GQ said, Gerstner Machinists Chests are good money in the US.

Almost impossible to value without knowing the contents.. but from the outside, I'd say there is a good chance you will find a few diamonds in there..

A new Gerstner Machinist's chest in red oak, (that's just the box) will set you back $300 or so..

Regards
Ray

A friend gave me his Dad's old Gerstner back in 1982. Eventually I fixed it up and made new baize drawer inserts. Mrs GQ thinks it makes a fine jewellery box, so I had to go out and buy more metrology stuff than would fit. (Hence the dual metric/imperial for some stuff)

Speaking of imperial stuff...the postie delivered my $31.50 tap score today. I am gob smacked: almost every tap set (starter, medium and bottoming) from 0-80 to 3/4-10, Greenfield, in HSS, unused. There's over 200 taps in the three boxes, each wrapped in tissue paper and bubblewrap. Plus a Christmas card. I feel like a dirty thief. 80 characters of ebay feedback sometimes isn't enough to heap on sufficient praise and gratitude.

GQ

Originally Posted by Greg Q

A friend gave me his Dad's old Gerstner back in 1982. Eventually I fixed it up and made new baize drawer inserts. Mrs GQ thinks it makes a fine jewellery box, so I had to go out and buy more metrology stuff than would fit. (Hence the dual metric/imperial for some stuff)

Speaking of imperial stuff...the postie delivered my $31.50 tap score today. I am gob smacked: almost every tap set (starter, medium and bottoming) from 0-80 to 3/4-10, Greenfield, in HSS, unused. There's over 200 taps in the three boxes, each wrapped in tissue paper and bubblewrap. Plus a Christmas card. I feel like a dirty thief. 80 characters of ebay feedback sometimes isn't enough to heap on sufficient praise and gratitude.

GQ

Greg
Lets know if you have any duplicate tap sets excess to requirements, I may be interested in purchasing.
regards
Bruce

well it should be fun looking at it and meeting the 80 year old toolmaker who owns it. whos know what other goodies may lay in his shed.

[QUOTE=Greg Q;1428177
Speaking of imperial stuff...the postie delivered my $31.50 tap score today. I am gob smacked: almost every tap set (starter, medium and bottoming) from 0-80 to 3/4-10, Greenfield, in HSS, unused. There's over 200 taps in the three boxes, each wrapped in tissue paper and bubblewrap. Plus a Christmas card. I feel like a dirty thief. 80 characters of ebay feedback sometimes isn't enough to heap on sufficient praise and gratitude.

GQ[/QUOTE]
Why the .... did I tell you to look for Greenfield!

BT

Originally Posted by Greg Q

Fractions of inches are crazy in increments smaller than 1/8" except when it comes to spanners where the 9/16" is popular. If you are not going to be wrenching on many old American gizmos that won't even be a blip in your life.


(taking a few minutes out tonight to work a little on my 1965 Dutch lathe. All fasteners Whitworth. Arrrgh!)

My dad who was Tinsmith always worked in fractions......1/64. 3/64, 7/64th's etc

I do find it hard myself though...especially below poprivets


and what is wrong with whitworth...go to the hardware store get a 5/16 bolt, or was that 3/8 or was it both?....any way, they have whitworth heads....not AF or Metric

whitworth only becomes a problem if you dont have whitworth spanners

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Why the .... did I tell you to look for Greenfield!

BT

Bob
Please lets know if you see any other buys like this one.
Bruce

Originally Posted by Abratool

Bob
Please lets know if you see any other buys like this one.
Bruce

Bruce,

Greenfield (or GTD ) was only a suggestion I made To Gregory when he said he was in the pursuit of some threading tools. GQ being the peerless pursuer of Ebay bargains struck gold, yet again.

I have a few Greenfield tap holders. The quality is second to none.

BT

Bob
I have a set of taps & dies in BA thread Greenfield brand from 0BA to 10 BA & they have been handy for Model Eng Steam eng as well as other small work.
Great quality Greenfield.
Always on the lookout for threading taps in various thread forms.
I would like to strike a goldmine like GQs on E Bay.
regards
Bruce

well i bought it the box was too cool i am now broke but i think it was worth it. the box is apparently made from rosewood.

more photos



there is a sine bar in the cloth

That is quite a treasure trove .... a bargain I would say

What is the thing next to the V block .... a edge finder ?

Mike

You did good.