A 120-Year Reflection on Craft, Care, and Connection

By: Gerstner     12/16/25

A history of heirloom gifting dating back to 1906, the year Gerstner was founded, when sending a gift was never an afterthought.

Gift giving required planning. Intention. Trust. And most of all, care. At the turn of the 20th century, America was a nation in motion. Railroads stitched cities together. Families were separated by work, opportunity, and migration. And when someone sent a gift across distance, it was rarely something disposable. It was chosen to endure. One hundred and twenty years later, the way we send gifts has changed dramatically, but the meaning behind heirloom gifts has not.

1906: When Every Gift Was Built to Last

In 1906, hand-crafted gifts were the standard, not the exception. A wooden chest, a watch, a set of tools, or a sewing kit was often commissioned or purchased with the understanding that it would last decades, perhaps a lifetime. These items traveled by train, wagon, or ship, packed carefully in wooden crates, straw, or cloth.

The container mattered nearly as much as the contents. A well-made box protected the gift during its journey and served as permanent storage once it arrived. Sending an heirloom was not about speed, it was about stewardship.

When Gerstner began crafting wooden chests in Dayton, Ohio, they were built with this reality in mind. These were not single-use packages. They were meant to travel, to be used daily, and to be passed on.

Distance Made Gifts More Meaningful

In the early 1900s, distance amplified sentiment. A gift sent across state lines or oceans represented effort and sacrifice. It carried the weight of time spent choosing it, saving for it, and ensuring it arrived safely. Many heirloom gifts were sent to mark milestones including graduations, apprenticeships, marriages, or departures for military service.

During wartime, families mailed durable, familiar objects to loved ones overseas. A chest or case was not just a gift. It was a reminder of home and a promise of continuity. These objects were built to survive rough handling because they had to.

Mid-Century: Craft Meets Convenience

As the history of heirloom gifting into the 20th century progressed, mail-order catalogs and expanded postal services made it easier to send gifts across the country. Craftsmanship remained valued, but convenience began to influence buying decisions.

Still, heirloom gifts held a special place. A wooden chest ordered from a catalog was expected to arrive intact, perform reliably, and last a lifetime. Even as mass production increased, the expectation for heirloom items remained unchanged as they were investments, not indulgences. Packaging evolved, but permanence was still prized. A gift that arrived damaged or poorly made reflected poorly on the giver.

The Late 20th Century: Speed Over Substance

By the late 1900s, the history of gift-gifting culture began to shift. Faster shipping, cheaper materials, and disposable packaging became common. Gifts were increasingly selected for immediacy rather than longevity. Presentation became temporary. Boxes were thrown away. Plastic replaced wood. Convenience replaced craftsmanship.

Yet even during this shift, heirloom gifts never disappeared. They became intentional choices. A way to stand apart. A way to say, “This means something.”

Today: A Return to Meaningful Gifting

In today’s digital, on-demand world, sending heirloom gifts has never been easier and meaningful gifting has never mattered more. Many people are rediscovering the value of hand-crafted objects. They are choosing fewer gifts, but better ones. Gifts that don’t require replacement. Gifts that tell a story.

An heirloom chest sent today may travel faster than it did in 1906, but its purpose is the same.

To protect what matters.
To organize a life’s tools, treasures, or craft.
To become part of someone’s daily routine.
To be kept, not discarded.

What Hasn’t Changed in 120 Years

Since 1906, the world has transformed. But the principles behind heirloom gifting remain unchanged.

Care still matters.
Craftsmanship still matters.
Longevity still matters.

A hand-crafted gift is a statement of values. It says the recipient is worth the time, skill, and intention required to make something well.

At Gerstner, we have spent 120 years building pieces meant to travel from one generation to the next. Pieces designed to protect not just objects, but stories. Because the most meaningful gifts were never meant to be temporary. They were meant to last.

“My Great-Grandfather started Gerstner 120-years ago. He designed and crafted heirloom chests designed to protect the tools, collections, and stories that matter most. Today, I continue that legacy of handcrafted wooden chests and share what it means to give a gift that lasts a lifetime.” – John Campbell, President H. Gerstner & Sons