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Vintage H. Gerstner & Sons 7 Drawers Wood Machinist Chest Tool Box - $300 (Addison)
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Condition Used, vintage condition with expected wear from decades of use
Label missing (outline visible where it was originally affixed)
Lock non-functional, but latches intact and stamped “Gerstner Dayton O”
Felt lining shows age but remains intact
Structurally sound, drawers slide smoothly
Manufacturer: H. Gerstner & Sons, Dayton, Ohio
Model: 7-Drawer Leatherette Machinist Chest
Era: Circa 1935–1955 (based on construction and hardware)
Exterior: Black leatherette over hardwood
Interior: Green felt lining, galvanized drawer bottoms
Hardware: Two front latches, side latches, central lock (non-functional)
The Story of Evo Guida
This chest is more than a machinist’s toolbox — it’s a capsule of mid-century working-class life.
In the heart of Jersey City, where the clang of factories echoed across the Hudson, lived Evo Guida—a machinist whose life was etched into steel, paper, and memory. His toolbox, heavy with tools and heavier still with history, tells the story of a man who worked hard, prayed deeply, and carried humor through the grind of factory life.
Evo spent his career at Levolor Lorentzen Inc., the Hoboken blinds manufacturer whose machines demanded constant care.
Inside the chest were papers dated 1955, 1962, and 1976, including a purchase order and a newspaper clipping about the Lorentzen family feud — proof of his hand in the company’s daily rhythm and awareness of the politics above him.
A prayer card for Alice DeSanto reflects his Catholic devotion, while a deposit slip with his wife Margaret shows shared responsibility and partnership.
A note signed by Patrick J. Colucci in 1955 whispers of friendships forged in sweat and solidarity.
Even humor found its place: photocopies of risqué jokes tucked among the serious papers reveal a man who laughed with coworkers and carried levity in hard times.
Evo passed away in 2008, buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ. His toolbox, now in your hands, is not just a collection of drawers and latches — it’s a piece of Hoboken’s industrial soul.