Restoration of a No 15 Mk 1 transit chest.

[Garandy]

I brought home a new project last weekend, a neglected No 15 Mk 1 transit chest. After consulting with Brian Dick, he confirmed that it is British and that it needs a coat of Deep Bronze Green paint and some new handles. On the up side, other than one missing handle, it is complete.

I'm sure I can find a shop locally to make me the leather handles with little trouble.

One thing I've not been able to find yet is a US supplier for paint in the correct color (or would that be colour?), especially since I do not have a sample. Anyone in the US have a source?

Does anyone make stencils for these in the proper font and size?

Lastly, what to do about the damage? The front is cracked, the bottom has a chunk missing and the lid has a small chunk missing as well.

What would have been done in the service? Knock it apart and fix the damage, or just paint over it since the chest is still functional?

Thanks

Information

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[chosenman]

Garandy, Dan Houghton in the UK could supply you authentically reproduced veg tan leather handles. They look like those on the chest would have when they were new.

[tr63]

Let us know if you find a supplier for the paint.

[Peter Laidler]

I could tell you what we would do to fix your chest but the photos are too small to make head or tail of what's wrong with it!!!!!

[Garandy]

I could tell you what we would do to fix your chest but the photos are too small to make head or tail of what's wrong with it!!!!!

See if these help, they are not compressed like the originals.

If not, I'll take some fresh pictures in the morning.

[Peter Laidler]

Can't see properly but what I can see is markings under the thick layers of paint. So get some acetone and start wiping away layer after layer and make note of what comes through.

For splits in the lid, just carefully drill through the top width wise with a long drill, a couple of times along the split. With me so far? Then get a wood dowel that fits the hole. Spread the split and use a good wood glue, aero spec is best and get he glue into the split. Now insert dowels across and knock firmly into place. Now clamp tightly together with wood cramps. Do the same to the rest of it. Do the same to the split joints too. Photograph your handiwork and show us when it's finished.

The paint we used to paint them - and the other chests - was/is bog standard vehicle PAINT, brushing, air drying Deep Bronze Green. I know others say we didn't but there you go........

[snipershot1944]

Garandy. Email me at snipershot1944@yahoo.com. I have a solution to your stencil issue.

David

[Garandy]

Ruler is 12" long for scale.

David, email sent.

Peter, here are more pics. The boards software appears to have flipped them around on me. I don't have any Acetone handy, but here are the markings as best as I can make them out:

Top:
MEDLOC A
SOUTHBOUND

Front:
1320 RIFLES NO 4/T/
B14/AO/M?? MEDLOC A
SOUTHBOUND

Rear:
???????????? (too much over painting to read) 2ND RUB
50ES

[Peter Laidler]

Just that word MEDLOC followed by 'A southbound' means that you MUST take steps to have that writing preserved. Sooner rather than later. You're sitting on history.

[Garandy]

Peter, that sounds interesting. Can you expound on "MEDLOC"? A quick bit of looking turned this up: Medloc | Operations & Codenames of WWII but details are a little thin.

How do I preserve the stenciling in question? Did this just turn from a restoration project into a conservation project?

Thanks