Willkommen!
Welcome to our website. We build hand-made Ordnance Crates, Gun Crates, Presentation Cases, Gun Racks, Company Desks and Tables, Road and Company Signs, Hand-carved Cigar Boxes, Lanyards and more, for the WWII reenacting and collecting communities. We craft them to the highest standard of HISTORICAL accuracy and workmanship, as well as the highest quality materials that can be found. “If we can’t find it, we make it”.
If you are interested in a product, please contact us for more information and shipping cost. We also enjoy custom projects. If you don’t see it send us a picture, plans, or a general description and we will research and build it for you. (We have no affliation with any political party, or racist idealogy, all images are for historical purposes only, geared for reenactors and collectors.)
Read below for updates of current projects and happenings. Thanks for the visit and we look forward to serve you.
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NEWS FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
We have been working steadily on field desk orders, and even have an extra apprentice in the shop to help us meet demand. Remember that we do this in our free time around day jobs and family and we would like to thank everyone for their patience and patronage. Updated FIELD DESK LIST below:
Current field desk run status as of 1/7/2011 is:
1.) CP (COMPLETED)
2.) DB (COMPLETED)
3.) RT (COMPLETED)
4.) AB (COMPLETED)
5.) CB (90% completed)
6.) GM (45% complete)
7.) JL (Not started yet)
8.) WG (Not started yet)
Here are some custom signs, and a cigar box that were recently completed. The airfield sign was 3.5 X 4.5 feet!
Here is a custom field desk, utilizing a new style of custom fabricated hinge, and hand-painted stenciling.
Some of our signs were featured in an article in the Boston Globe. (Photo on left from the Boston Globe)
Nord-Ost recently proudly presented Fallschirmjager Pioneer Albert Martz, a veteran of Anzio-Nettuno, with this custom carved cigar box.
Will was invited to help paint/detail a converted OT-10, made into a 251-C model. Thanks to our friends at:
Northeast Military Vehicles Services LLC
Check out their Website for photos etc. They even put together a youtube video of the restoration/conversion project, look for us in the "stenciling" part, haha. Video is located HERE
Above are a couple items that were just finished up during October 2011
Photo of our field desk fully stocked by a customer. For more detailed photos please check out the FIELD DESK page.
Authentic German Field Desk Finished!
There is alot of interest in our 100% correct German field desk, and I wanted to give a quick update. This is a collage photo of the first desk. We use higher grade stock for the field desks as well. We finally caught up on orders from GAP, and can now focus our attention to making several of these.
These desks take about a month and a half from start to finish, and require a 30% deposit prior to the start of construction. The final price is $350. Do not shy away because of the price. We have seen post-war Swedish and post-war GI style desks going for over $500. These are 100% accurate, and family-made in the USA!
Keep in mind that period-correct hardware cannot be purchased at a local store, we weld and fabricate it. The boards are bisquit joined, so it will never warp, and the entire desk is treated with stain so that it will withstand the elements.
Please email us for high-quality, detailed photos at: info@nordostcrates.com
Here are a few of the signs we have made during the month of May!
All hand-painted, NO STENCILS!
Any logo, font, size, or text. Prices range from $15-$75 depending on complexity. Every sign has a flat poly finish applied to it to protect it from the elements.
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New Item!
Feldfernsprecher-33 Transit Crate
The feldfernsprecher-33 transit crate is a great way to transport, and display your field phones. This item has now been added to our products page.
New Item!
1940's style brewery shipping crate
Based on the wooden shipping crates of the 40s, it holds 20 modern beer bottles. We can add the graphic of any brewery as well. Check out more details in the products page.
Future Projects coming in February/March:
- Several MG-34 transit crates
- Telephone transit crate to hold hold 4 field phones
- Reproduction D.R.K. Medical Locker
- Authentic German field desk based on these photos:
NEW ITEM!
Reproduction of the issued gravity Knife lanyard. Unlike the braided ones, these are the ones actually issued with the knife. (See original reference photo above)
Hand-carved cigar box that was completed for a veteran, who served with the Massachusetts National Guard.
Photos of our Flak 88 Crates in action at the Collings Foundation!
Correct Stenciling and weight label on the Nebelwerfer crate
Latest cigar box carving in progress!
These are some hand-painted signs that were made for the Collings Foundation event. Custom signs like these can be made to order, prices ranging between $20-$50, depending on the complexity of design.
***A WORD ABOUT DURABILITY:***
All boards on our crates are bisquit-joined, meaning that once glued, these crates will never warp, regardless of weather conditions. The non-gloss urethane applied, means no weather damage in rainy conditions. For the serious re-enactor, who leaves these crates outside at an event, does not have to worry about the items inside getting water-damaged during a rain event, nor do they need to worry about the crates warping.
Bisquit-joining during construction
Three Flak 88 Crates made for the Collings Foundation
Getting lots of items ready for GAP 2011.A field Desk is in the works, as well as a field phone crate!
Billy and Jaime at Collings Foundation 2010
***Nebelwerfer Crate Update:***
Here is what I fit into one of our Nebelwerfer Crates:
2 Jump Smocks, 2 pairs of Trousers, 2 Tunics, 1 Great Coat, 3 Service Shirts, and 1 Tie! True Story:
OLD NEWS
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Cool photo of our sign and ammo crates at the Reading PA. event. (photo courtesy of John Kunze, of http://luftwaffereenactors.com)
-Flak 88 Crate was finally completed and presented to the Collings Foundation! PLEASE visit the Flak 88 Crate page to see the many detailed comparison photos we took with an original right next to ours! We will now be offering these for sale.
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