Pg 120 - National Cabinet Co.

NATIONAL CABINET CO., Dayton, OH.

About 1926 - 1954

This was a ‘Doing Business As’ company formed by H. Gerstner & Sons in 1921. Their main product at that time was radio cabinets. In about 1926 they started producing their ‘National’ line of lower cost machinist tool cases and chests to compete in that market.

In about 1926 they published ‘National Tool Chests’ brochures. A 2-leaf brochure was for answering mail-in inquiries and a 3-leaf was distributed to their dealers. The 2-leaf didn’t include the General Service Chest nor the Carpenters Chest. In about 1931 they reproduced these brochures with some minor design, verbiage and color changes. None of these brochures ever mentioned the name of the ‘National Cabinet Co.’. Therefore, they were known as National Tool Chests. These brochures are the only ones published that I know of.

The brochures illustrated chests with a full front panel which locked to the bottom of the lid. I can’t determine when they made the switch to the standard ¾ front panel shown below, but I’d guestimate about 1946.