I’ve moved around a lot recently and my cartridges are currently packed away, and I’ve been thinking wistfully of them as I’ve only recently gotten back into collecting as the rigors of, you, know, life, took me a way for a bit. In the NE so last fall made Paul Callow’s old show and then made an overnight with my father to the Ohio show for the first time (couldn’t manage Vic’s in June). My cartridges are usually displayed in a shadowbox I built with my father out of old cherry – here is the only (very poor) snap I have of it. You can probably tell my collecting interests as a function of quantity. Most of the good stuff is in the shadowbox. I’ve seen old spool cabinets at antique markets but I don’t have the volume necessary. I also love old machinist and tool & diemaker’s toolboxes and chests, especially from H. Gerstner & Sons (who is still around to this day making beautiful display chests) and I’ve often thought of getting a Gerstner for my collection when it grows larger. How are yours on display? Post pics!
That is an amazing display set up. Beautiful carpentry!
Jason
Very nice display! I love the wood, it is beautifully done. I would caution on the glass covering though, it traps acids that excrete from the wood and causes corrosion of the lead bullets and tarnishing of the brass. I see most of your lead bullets have pretty thick coating of white corrosion. Leaving the display open to air is better, it just collects dust…
Here are some pictures of the displays I built. I like to see the cartridge names and dates of development and information about the cartridge designer so made plaques that have the info.
Joel
My display not big it is
just to show how firearms and aummnition has evolved
My favorite for displaying is double metal bookshelf with locking sliding glass doors made by tennsco. I wish it was 4x.
You can also search for barrister cabinets like this
This one is only 200, but doesn’t have anything covering the front
I prefer drawers, ought to be metal but here the shotshells are in wood but open to the air. One side of the room.
Stand up or shelf displays .I’m not too keen on as the need for dusting & chance of knocking over the one next to the one I’m looking at.
Definitely flat filing cabinets for bulk storage!
Pete, don’t be a problem. If you have pieces that get dirty, when I go I will bring them to Argentina. I clean them here.
Everything is for you friend! 
So they would disappear, like magic, be cleaned & be transported to Argentine, is that what your saying,?
Everyone should have such good and kind friends as you.
Seriously they should.
Pete, see how lucky you are?
You have even two such friends now! (smiley)
Can’t imagine what I must have done to be this lucky!
i better go buy some lottery tickets.
You just must be a good person!
And keeping this in mind: once you have won think of your two good friends!
Call it karma if you want.
You know, you may be right about the corrosion. Most of my specimens are quite old and some of them were pretty heavily oxidized (the 42 F&W was basically white) but I do think they’ve gotten worse. My last house was not well climate controlled and I wondered if it was humidity. The wood is all lacquered with many coats, but the lacquer could exude something. Any consensus on what (if anything) to help reduce corrosion on exposed lead bullets? I can take the doors off but I worry about the cat. I could put in an exhaust fan, too. Or if it is humidity, silica gel.
I believe coating exposed lead bullets with sani-wax is the way to go.
I can’t help but wonder if the floor joists in Pete’s paradise are at there limit when I am walking around in there. I suppose that wouldn’t be the worst way to meet your maker.
On a concrete slab, 2x4’s laid 4" side down under the 3/4" plywood, so only a 21/2" fall. So not to far to fall. I was thinking ahead when we built, but should have made it bigger, you know that collector law that says an empty space needs filled…
$$$$…
I don’t, too big and too boring. Back in 1986-1988, I had it on wood steps on glass shelves. Way beyond public consumption by now.
For sure, But some cartriges cost more than $$$