Wooden GI Foot Locker

[3006FMJ]

I'm interested in building (from scratch) a replica of a wooden GI Foot Locker
of the type built and used during WWII (and possibly Korea.)

I posted to this group because veterans of WWII and Korea might have
some better insight into answering my question.

I have searched the web high and low and have given up on that approach.
My searches included commercial, army-surplus and government web sites.
But, I can not find exactly what I'm looking for.

Years ago I had what I believe to be a genuine foot locker from this era.
It was solid wood construction, OD painted with white SSN number and name
spraypainted on it. I wish I had kept it, but it was in bad condition anyways.
I recall the general construction of it terms of the joinery used, but I sure
would like to build one following any precise mil-spec that may exist.

Thanks in advance for any positive feedback.

-Steve

[NRAJOE]

I don't know about the specs but I was lucky enough to have one back in '76-'79 when I was in Germany...I was the only one in the company with one of them (paid for it off a guy going home)! Would take it out in the field with me....good luck bro.....

[Big Dog]

In the mid-fifties to early sixties, my father was in the USAF stationed at one point over seas in Morroco. He came home with a footlocker made of galvanised sheet steel - I remember him using it to store tools as late as the early eighties - he may still have it. I never knew if it was GI issue, or if he bought it somewhere. Have to ask him next time I visit. I could use that thing for gun stuff.

[3006FMJ]

If I end up building one of these from scratch (and memory) I'll be happy to share my
detailed specs with anyone who wants them.

[ShooMac]

You may want to try the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum at Fort Lee, VA. I know from personal experience that museum curators really enjoy helping out people who share their interests.

http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/

On a personal note: My grandfather's uncle was a U.S. Army doctor in Europe during WWI. After my grandmother passed away I learned that his footlocker was part of her estate. No one else expressed an interest in it. I requested it as part of my inheritance and was really excited at the prospect of getting something with so much familial historical significance. Unfortunately, it had not been taken care of in the 75+ years it had been in storage. It had rotted so much that it pretty much disintegrated when I touched it. Nothing was salvageable. It broke my heart.

[PAPA G]

Originally Posted by 3006FMJ

I'm interested in building (from scratch) a replica of a wooden GI Foot Locker
of the type built and used during WWII (and possibly Korea.)

I posted to this group because veterans of WWII and Korea might have
some better insight into answering my question.

I have searched the web high and low and have given up on that approach.
My searches included commercial, army-surplus and government web sites.
But, I can not find exactly what I'm looking for.

Years ago I had what I believe to be a genuine foot locker from this era.
It was solid wood construction, OD painted with white SSN number and name
spraypainted on it. I wish I had kept it, but it was in bad condition anyways.
I recall the general construction of it terms of the joinery used, but I sure
would like to build one following any precise mil-spec that may exist.

Thanks in advance for any positive feedback.

-Steve

try posting this at CSP's guntalk forum. lots of vets there and maybe of some help.

www.jouster.com

[Gyrene]

That is what we used in Boot Camp and every place I was assigned, in 1950 and from 1955 to 1959. I thought that was still an issue item in the USMC.

If I remember correctly the corners were all glued dovetail joints, but I can't remember what was used for hinges (probably a heavy duty piano hinge; as they stood up well to the Drill Instructors' efforts), and it had what appeared to me to be a standard Lock Hasp, available from most hardware stores. The lid was a boxed in top with about a 3 inch wall that fit squarely on top of the lower part of the box. The insert was supported by a 1/2 inch wide/thick strip that was screwed and glued to the two sides and the rear. Also if my memory doesn't fail me all of the wood was plywood (a very good quality plywood).

Sorry about the dimensions, as I can only guess. I believe it was 16 inches high, 24 inches front to back and 36 inches wide. I am pretty sure about the 24" x 36", but the 16 inches may have been 18 inches.

I would love to have about 10 of them right now, for storage!

`

[jerry]

http://www.hardscrabblefarm.com/ww2/footlockers.htm

hope this feller go 'er done. Sorry took so long to find this.

[Delores]

I have three of these wooden footlockers in various sizes for sale.

[mr mom]

ive got 1 in my reloading room !!!!! but i think its from the 50's?????

[NRAJOE]

I tried to find one at the local Army Surplus couple months ago...said they won't carry them anymore...the shipping costs killed them...

[Seabeescotty]

I built one, when I was on Guam, to send all my stuff back. The guys loading those 141's were pretty hard on things, and I had some breakables, so I used half inch plywood. It made it back in one piece, but the years have not been kind to it. It got wet a couple times, and started delaminating, so it's on it's last legs, with an old saddle inside.

[Silent Shooter]

502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment - 101st Airborne Division

[rondog]

If you don't find what you're looking for, you might also go to g503.com, and ask around there. Those guys specialize in WWII everything. I wouldn't be surprised if there was somebody there making and selling them.

[mwatson]

good find jerry, it amazes me everytime how the puzzle comes together.
Best to all.
Mike