For whatever reason, the little clear plastic tackle boxes weren't quite right for my gear-nerdiness.

So I stumbled on these UMCO P-9's and P-8's on eBay. Aluminum mini tackle boxes. You can get them for $10-$20. They're vintage - 50's or 60's or 70's I think. I bought six. About the size of a paperback book - two sided.

My plan is, wash the boxes, polish out the scratches, hit them with the Mother's aluminum polish, chuck the (usually trashed) plastic liners, put in foam liner's, and then get some mahogany or whatever fancy wood veneer to make dividers.

So far, I got the boxes cleaned up, and some foam and aluminum cut for the middle of the box. I'll post more pics when I get closer to done with the wood dividers.

Curious if anyone's ever done this kind of vintage tackle box rehab kind of thing, or has any interesting ideas? Cork?

Picture of a P-9, as delivered...






Picture of a P-9, with a new aluminum flashing floor/base I cut with tin snips, after I made a paper template. Making the paper template is tricky - takes maybe 3-4 tries.






Picture of the thin foam liner that goes both on the aluminum flashing floor/base, and also the roof of the box.

I've got a few of them and still use them. I come across them from time to time at auctions with vintage lures, etc.

I like your idea.