My dad gave me his old Neslien engineers toolbox when I was an apprentice Ford mechanic at Crimbles of Staines. I think it is at least 70 years old. It has been crying out for a little TLC for quite some time, and time is something I have an abundance of at the moment.
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How it looked with the drawer handles removed.
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| The leather handle has a flat metal spring inside. |
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| The grimey drawers. |
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The drawer handles needed a good polish.
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| A small box compared to my other tool box. |
I was surprised that after being abused for 70 years none of the joints needed re-glueing. Basically, the box was sound, I gave the wood a good sanding down, three coats of linseed oil and four coats of satin varnish.
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The bottom rusty chrome insert got a coat of silver Hammerite.
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| A saddler made me a flat leather sprung handle - like the original. |
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| New baize was fitted to the drawer bottoms to finish the job. |
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| This is the only vehicle in the garage - for now. |
