restoring foot locker, (color)

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cpuknight
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restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by cpuknight » Tue Feb 18, 2020 3:32 pm

Hello,

My father was in the USAF from 45-65 and I have his old foot locker. It has been painted over years ago and I am looking to restore it to its original color. Wondering what the best match would be for this? Do I just match the interior color?

Also thinking of stenciling his name and rank on the outside and would like to know if there is a specific way this should be done?

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Kevin


chibobber
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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by chibobber » Tue Feb 18, 2020 6:36 pm

Kevin,
Google is your friend.Google images of foot lockers.Paint can be sourced from Rapco,Walmart,etc. Stencil style and placement can be garnered from the images you find.
Good luck!

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by cpuknight » Wed Feb 19, 2020 12:12 am

Thanks Chibobber!! :D

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Rustman » Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:55 am

So let's talk about his foot locker for a moment.

Is it the plywood type from 1945 or the later composite type with a center handle? These will have a small oval tag centered above the hasp. 1947-49 usually. Then again during Korea they were made of simple plywood. Though there are some subtle differences from the WW2 ones. Is it OD on the inside or is it USAF Insignia Blue? I have USAF marked examples in both the traditional OD and in blue.

Matt
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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Fernmelder » Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:16 am

Just a moment there. I happen to have in my possession a Korean vintage footlocker once owned by a Lt. Smith. It is bone stock original, all metal, and totally unpainted.

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Rustman » Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:46 pm

I have an aluminum one as well. But I did not know the era. Does yours have a tag or do you know the service history of the person it's named to?

Matt
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1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by cpuknight » Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:48 am

Sorry this took so long to reply, but hope all are doing good during these times. To Mr. Rustman, the inside it OD green and believe it is wooden. It did have a handle in the front, centered but it is missing. It also must have had the oval tag on top, but that is missing as well. Wonder if they make replicas that one could put on?

For now planning to try and match interior color and paint the exterior and research stencils to put my fathers name and information on it.

Thanks for any advice.

Kevin

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Rustman » Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:31 pm

Kevin,

We are doing ok in our home, thank you.

You might look at one of the vehicle suppliers for the Korean War-Vietnam semi-gloss olive drab. I assume your foot locker had the center metal handle? Pre-WW2 ones were a center leather handle. Every tag I've seen has been 47,48 or 49 dated and was stamped aluminum. I'll check my collection and ask a buddy who has a whole lot of foot lockers also, see if either of us have one that's beyond repair that could contribute a handle and/or tag to yours. I'll make another reply in a bit with some pictures to make sure we are talking about the same thing.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Fernmelder » Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:46 pm

Rustman,
No tags on the aluminum foot locker. FWIW the handles (long gone) were leather ! Stencils only on all 6 sides. They even managed to spell his first name incorrectly. Go figure. The only history I can provide is that the owner was my father - in the engineer corps. A few photos brought back from the era show them blasting ChiCom observation posts and T34s on the roadside. Sorry for the tardy response.

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Rustman » Thu Nov 05, 2020 3:54 pm

Fernmelder wrote:
Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:46 pm
Rustman,
No tags on the aluminum foot locker. FWIW the handles (long gone) were leather ! Stencils only on all 6 sides. They even managed to spell his first name incorrectly. Go figure. The only history I can provide is that the owner was my father - in the engineer corps. A few photos brought back from the era show them blasting ChiCom observation posts and T34s on the roadside. Sorry for the tardy response.
Fernmelder,

Thank you for that. The fact that it was your father's is of more value then anything else. I appreciate your information. Seems much like mine, long on leather handles and no tags.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by cpuknight » Tue Dec 15, 2020 3:30 am

Matt

Great to hear you and the family are doing good Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

I am sure I remember the handle in front being metal from when I was little. If you come up with any thing that would be amazing. I loved your response to "Fernmelder". The value is that it was my fathers and I have such pride in him and his service.

Thanks for all the advice and response.

Stay Safe All

Kevin

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Dec 15, 2020 4:13 am

24087 OD was a common color from 50's on. The GI's did not own the lockers supplied thru their unit, but could purchase them thru Quartermaster Clothing.You can't go wrong with SG OD. I have NOS crated 1944 Dated Field Desk manufactured by the same manufacturer as the lockers, it appears to be same shade as 24087.
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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Fernmelder » Thu Dec 17, 2020 3:44 pm

You bet'cha. SG OD was so prevalent after the war that even the post office used it. What else could explain the OD paint on the corner mailbox and PO trucks back in the day ?

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by 42rocker » Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:25 pm

Nice history info. Thanks for sharing. Need to go look at my Father's footlockers and review someday.

Stay Safe

Later 42rocker
Owner of "The Swiss Miss"

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Re: restoring foot locker, (color)

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Dec 18, 2020 4:14 am

Post war Army barracks thru the 70's were full of SGOD WWII era foot lockers.
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