SANo 15 Transit Chests - Research and Restoration - the story so far..

[ArtioZen]

Happy New Year! Here is a quick update on projects keeping me off the streets..

A couple of separate inquiries came in to restore parts to salvaged transit chests - this totaled to about 8 chests all needing the partition / cradles and associated components - battens, chord, screws etc.

I have been tracking down the best sources of hardware and components and trying to buy wholesale where I can. My distant goal is to be able to turn out new but authentic chest assemblies. With most of these in hand I started buying equipment for woodworking and studying the original chests within my control and circulation for manufacturing techniques and other tell-tale signs.

I also researched the various sizes and sources of hardwood lumber - quite a varied BOM for such simple parts as the partition / cradle task. Over the Fall and Winter I have made up 12 or so sets as a first run, developing jigs to mark and make more and testing the pieces in the original chests. This has resulted in about 6 pages of design and build notes so far - and still growing!

I am making these components to sell - so I can offer them to forum members - they can also be found on outlets run by myself in the US and brother in the UK.

I am interested to know what internal and chest carcass components that would help those other projects along around the world. I was thinking of finishing the interior fittings groups first (Scout Scope, Scope Tin and Rifle But). Then move onto making new ends and lids - the latter having end caps and inletted and rivetted hasps. Then finally long sides and bases - at which point I would expect to be able to put together complete chests.

Feedback, chastising and other ideas welcome to keep me off the streets
Good Health to all!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Warren]

I made a number of them and they are a lot of work.
Also, sourcing slotted screws is also a problem nowadays and I was lucky with the wood as at our wood club we buy it by the lift and that can and does get expensive.
The jointing is a hoot if you do dovetails and finger joints and you are still able to buy the original hardware and clean it up and use it.
A chap in the UK sells repro hardware.

[skiprat]

fresh from the laser cutters.....

[Roger Payne]

Looks to me like you two ought to talk to each other.......

[Gil Boyd]

Shame there's a pond between you and this darn pandemic .......and of course the HMRC to contend with!!
Well done to all, nice to see they are as close as can be!
Real shame they didn't have laser cutters in WW2

[ArtioZen]

Nice work Skiprat! My brother is the metal cutter of the two of us right now - about 80 miles south of you. Will ping your PM and see what we can do.

[MrBaxter]

I have the hinges and turnbuckles all made up and shipping from the UK already. Could have saved you the CAD time setting up a laser cut run.
The trade rates we offer are OK.

We have thousands of correct to era vintage British screws on the shelf. I bought out a lot from an old stockist a while back.

Turnbuckles are getting tricky.

[Alan de Enfield]

Turnbuckles are getting tricky.

Not cheap but readily available - they became a standard part used on a land Rover, they are the Land Rover series I, series IIA & series III "Seat Box Lid Hasp". Going from memory the Land Rover part number is 334525.

Edit - yes it is.
Available here at GBP £10 inc tax.

Land Rover Direct original parts

334525 | Turn Buckle - Land Rover Part 334525

Another Land Rover parts supplier who has them in stock

Turnbuckle (FF012487) for Land Rover Series IIA/III

[Flying10uk]

We have thousands of correct to era vintage British screws on the shelf. I bought out a lot from an old stockist a while back.

It's worth buying the old fashioned slotted wood screws when you see them if the price is right. When a local ironmongers was having a "closing down sale" 10 to 15 years ago no-one seemed to want the slotted wood screws and so I was able to purchase virtually the entire remaining stock of old fashioned wood screws at a very good price.

When a "vintage type item" that should really have "slotted type" wood screws fitted has been fitted with "Pozi/Philips" head wood screws, it is remarkable how quickly some people point out the fact, often in a very irritating manner.

[Warren]

I make the Canadian "universal style..."
If anyone needs a few of those for the Canadian No.15 or Bren chest let me know.