The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
I took a little run down-valley as it was a beautiful day for a drive and likely to be the last for a couple of weeks. I hit the local honey-holes and brought back this haul:
The rolling tool cabinet is a Lyon, probably no big deal, but it'll be replacing the flimsy stand I currently use for my drill press. I need to order a couple of locking casters for it as none of the four on it lock.
Of course, it was being used at the "Second-hand Antique" shop to store about a ton of stuff and took two of us ten minutes to dig it out.
The toolbox is, of course, a Kennedy Hip-roof mechanic's box:
This box was so hidden I'm amazed I saw it! Under a bench, behind a bunch of other stuff. I've probably over-looked it a dozen times in the last year.
It's in much better shape than any of the other "vintage" toolboxes I've hauled home recently. I look forward to cleaning it up some. I think this will be my new "road box" for on-road repairs on my "Second hand Antique" vehicles.
The rolling tool cabinet is a Lyon, probably no big deal, but it'll be replacing the flimsy stand I currently use for my drill press. I need to order a couple of locking casters for it as none of the four on it lock.
Of course, it was being used at the "Second-hand Antique" shop to store about a ton of stuff and took two of us ten minutes to dig it out.
The toolbox is, of course, a Kennedy Hip-roof mechanic's box:
This box was so hidden I'm amazed I saw it! Under a bench, behind a bunch of other stuff. I've probably over-looked it a dozen times in the last year.
It's in much better shape than any of the other "vintage" toolboxes I've hauled home recently. I look forward to cleaning it up some. I think this will be my new "road box" for on-road repairs on my "Second hand Antique" vehicles.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Great finds Timm! Lyon made good stuff "back in the day" That should be a good one for the DP!
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The Lyon has been assimilated:
Still needs a few odds and ends, like moving my clamp hanger bar to the side, just under the drawers, but that can wait 'til tomorrow. Then I'll organize everything into those sweet drawers and the bottom shelf.
The drawers got treadmill belt liners:
Thanks to Outlaw, I fished that belt out of the dumpster at the last minute!
I have a set of locking casters coming. They couldn't be an easy-to-find size (7/16" shaft), but I found 'em.
Still needs a few odds and ends, like moving my clamp hanger bar to the side, just under the drawers, but that can wait 'til tomorrow. Then I'll organize everything into those sweet drawers and the bottom shelf.
The drawers got treadmill belt liners:
Thanks to Outlaw, I fished that belt out of the dumpster at the last minute!
I have a set of locking casters coming. They couldn't be an easy-to-find size (7/16" shaft), but I found 'em.
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The Lyon has been assimilated:
Still needs a few odds and ends, like moving my clamp hanger bar to the side, just under the drawers, but that can wait 'til tomorrow. Then I'll organize everything into those sweet drawers and the bottom shelf.
The drawers got treadmill belt liners:
Thanks to Outlaw, I fished that belt out of the dumpster at the last minute!
I have a set of locking casters coming. They couldn't be an easy-to-find size (7/16" shaft), but I found 'em.
Hippie, Got a couple of the Lyons cabinets my self. With the drawers and door, it makes a GREAT place to keep all the piece/parts handy for all DP's.Old Radar
Well-known member
^^^ Great looking shop!
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I love that shop! It's about the perfect blend of clutter and organization! I'm drooling over your DPs and grinders.
I probably over-paid for my Lyon--$50. But the folks who run the store have done me enough good turns over the last couple of years that I didn't mind. I just cut liners for the bottom shelf so I can start filling that up. I like the cabinet on the bottom of yours, but I think the open shelf will be handier for my purpose. I like to keep a bunch of scrap wood at the drill press station for cauls and spacers, so that's where those will go.
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bmwrd0
Well-known member
X2! I especially love that grinder stand. I am looking for something along those lines for my Walker Turner 1/2hp Driver.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Great shop!Is it me, or does the big DP look like it was the model for the alien, in "Alien"?
Beerhippie
Well-known member
And mine looks like the alien from Area 51 conspiracy theories.
Is it me, or does the big DP look like it was the model for the alien, in "Alien"?
Good boxes. Not Snap-on or super heavy duty by any means. Not very common over here, either.
Like a lot of mid level but still quality boxes, they feel better with tools vs empty.
Check out this old Snap-on box a member posted in another thread. The one with the chrome strips on the draerr pulls
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Vintage Duplex/Yorktown Tool Box/Chest
New member, first post. A couple of weeks ago, I helped a buddy work on his 1970 Ford tractor. While doing so, the building we were next to was being cleaned out by my friend's brother's employees. The items being removed were slated for either the junkyard or recycling. While standing...
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
I think you meant this specific post?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-yorktown-tool-box-chest.529552/post-10576472
Provincial
Well-known member
I saw, but didn't buy a Yorktown box that was filled with Snap-On tools. The owner had been a race car mechanic, and all the contents were high end. The box was very much like a Snap-On, but sort of an upscale version.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I gave my newest acquisition--a Kennedy Signature 1017 hip roof--a good bath, followed by a wipe-down with mineral spirits,
a very light coat of BLO, brushed some dilute phos acid on the rustiest bits, a little 30 wt oil on everything that moves, beat out some dents and now it's ready to be filled and used again:
Question is: Old ASE tools or electrical/electronics? Those all currently live in horrible boxes.
Interesting, looking on the 'net, that the hip-roof Kennedys don't get the love that the drawer-front ones do. Kennedy doesn't even make them anymore. To me, they've always been the hand-carry boxes of my dreams.
a very light coat of BLO, brushed some dilute phos acid on the rustiest bits, a little 30 wt oil on everything that moves, beat out some dents and now it's ready to be filled and used again:
Question is: Old ASE tools or electrical/electronics? Those all currently live in horrible boxes.
Interesting, looking on the 'net, that the hip-roof Kennedys don't get the love that the drawer-front ones do. Kennedy doesn't even make them anymore. To me, they've always been the hand-carry boxes of my dreams.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
Keep it filled with light items. They are fairly heavy empty. Here is a similar but slightly larger kind of rusty one that I talked my neighbor into buying a few years ago. 
I 
-Don
I -Don
RTM
Well-known member
Go for something light.
Those Kennedy hip roof boxes always seem to be a plumber’s favorite, and they weight a fricking ton. Saw one on a little trolley, was maneuverable.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Keep it filled with light items. They are fairly heavy empty. Here is a similar but slightly larger kind of rusty one that I talked my neighbor into buying a few years ago.
-Don
You call that "rusty"?
I wonder what the suffix # signifies?
As for the weight, yeah. An old construction boss--and good friend, the guy who left his friends tools in his will--had two giant-size hip-roofs filled with things like chisels and drill bits. I had to lug those around too many job sites and, yes, they weighed a ton!
I'm thinking the electronic and electrical bits will be prefect for this one. Hopefully, I have another on the way for the SAE tools.
Yup. Anyone ever seen one like that before?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
As everyone has already said, Keep it light as it's already heavy! I have one filled with sockets. I'm not sure I can move it anymore...
I'd guess the tray config?
These were also pitched as fishing boxes and I think came with plastic trays?Yep. Electronics, Fishing gear, these are typically not as heavy.
For the SAE one, I'd be thinking either a trolley, as mentioned, or for in rig use, consider whee it will be positioned so you don't have to kill yourself moving it - We ain't none of us getting younger!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I picked up this Homak 902 with 2 drawers from a Facebook Marketplace ad, he said it weighed 20 pounds so I figured it must have some good steel in it for a carry box of 21" long. From the 60's/70,s ? Surprisingly no grease/oil in this box just some wear, must have held wood worker tools. Made for easier clean and prep. Here it is after a bit of rust removal and paint. It needs something like stripes/embelms/ something on it, any ideas ? Got some SK tools to go in it. The drawer slides aren't the best but it was just $15.
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Today was a good day for tool boxes.
As I'm still in the process of organizing my shop, I needed more boxes, so took a run down to my local honey-holes.
I knew the Utica was where I bought it, and the price was ridiculous--ridiculously low!
The only brand mark on it that I can find.
The Craftsman is just that. Not a great score, but it will get my Dremel tools organized and out of three blow-mold boxes.
The Kennedy is interesting, and in very good shape--and also a steal. It's a brown Signature on the outside, but a green Kennedykits on the inside:
Note no suffix on the model #. I think this one will hold all my small electrical/electronic components and spares. My other Kennedy 1017 houses my soldering tools and supplies.
All three boxes are liberally spattered with paint--mostly white, but the Kennedy has one end completely covered in silver with over-spray on the rest of it.
As I'm still in the process of organizing my shop, I needed more boxes, so took a run down to my local honey-holes.
I knew the Utica was where I bought it, and the price was ridiculous--ridiculously low!
The only brand mark on it that I can find.
The Craftsman is just that. Not a great score, but it will get my Dremel tools organized and out of three blow-mold boxes.
The Kennedy is interesting, and in very good shape--and also a steal. It's a brown Signature on the outside, but a green Kennedykits on the inside:
Note no suffix on the model #. I think this one will hold all my small electrical/electronic components and spares. My other Kennedy 1017 houses my soldering tools and supplies.
All three boxes are liberally spattered with paint--mostly white, but the Kennedy has one end completely covered in silver with over-spray on the rest of it.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Today was a good day for tool boxes.
As I'm still in the process of organizing my shop, I needed more boxes, so took a run down to my local honey-holes.
I knew the Utica was where I bought it, and the price was ridiculous--ridiculously low!
The only brand mark on it that I can find.
The Craftsman is just that. Not a great score, but it will get my Dremel tools organized and out of three blow-mold boxes.
The Kennedy is interesting, and in very good shape--and also a steal. It's a brown Signature on the outside, but a green Kennedykits on the inside:
Note no suffix on the model #. I think this one will hold all my small electrical/electronic components and spares. My other Kennedy 1017 houses my soldering tools and supplies.
All three boxes are liberally spattered with paint--mostly white, but the Kennedy has one end completely covered in silver with over-spray on the rest of it.
The Craftsman box has been assimilated!
I'll never have to try to get this cord to fit in that GD'ed box ever again!
I'm cleaning the new-to-me Kennedy and Utica boxes right now.
It's interesting that I have three different brands of drawer-front boxes with steel slides, and all three use a different system to retain the drawers and slides. The Snap-On-ish box has the classic Snap-On retainers that require a tool to remove; Kennedy uses removable clips and this Utica (whoever made it) uses these captive clips:
Like the Kennedy (and unlike the Snap-On (or whatever it is)), these are very easy to remove. The rails are also so slick and smooth I don't think I'll bother lubing them.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The Craftsman box has been assimilated!
I'll never have to try to get this cord to fit in that GD'ed box ever again!
I'm cleaning the new-to-me Kennedy and Utica boxes right now.
It's interesting that I have three different brands of drawer-front boxes with steel slides, and all three use a different system to retain the drawers and slides. The Snap-On-ish box has the classic Snap-On retainers that require a tool to remove; Kennedy uses removable clips and this Utica (whoever made it) uses these captive clips:
Like the Kennedy (and unlike the Snap-On (or whatever it is)), these are very easy to remove. The rails are also so slick and smooth I don't think I'll bother lubing them.
I can make a fair guess as to one of the things a PO of the Utica box worked on:
I found that Easter-egg under the bottom drawer.
Anyone need a high-res scan of the manual for a Yamaha 125 Enduro AT2? Let me know.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
All cleaned up,
and ready to be stuffed!
I'm going to need a LOT of drawer liner material!
and ready to be stuffed!
I'm going to need a LOT of drawer liner material!
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The Utica has been assimilated:
The non-skid drawer liner seemed like a good idea, but it has to go. It sticks to the tools, but not the drawers.
Oh no! I just noticed that two of my 12" adjustable wrenches are mating! They're different brands! Miscegenation! What monsters will result?
The non-skid drawer liner seemed like a good idea, but it has to go. It sticks to the tools, but not the drawers.
Oh no! I just noticed that two of my 12" adjustable wrenches are mating! They're different brands! Miscegenation! What monsters will result?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Time to order cork sheet, or find another TM to gut!
LNKMK8
Well-known member
I picked up this nice Waterloo top chest and bottom cabinet at an estate sale on Friday. I think this is the first 16" deep top box of this style I have come across. They cleaned up pretty nicely. The bottom could a new slide on one of the drawers, but otherwise pretty nice condition.
1983 Model JL-500 Roller Cabinet
1984 Model JL-1265 Top Chest
1983 Model JL-500 Roller Cabinet
1984 Model JL-1265 Top Chest
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Another Kennedy! A 520 this time... my shop is starting to look like a vintage Kennedy collection--or where old, junky tool boxes/chests go to die.
Is that red and yellow keel over the decal, or did the decal smear?
Whoah! We got drawers!
I'll give it the same treatment as the others: A quick sponge-bath, a rub-down with mineral spirits and then a very light coat of BLO. I'm going to keep the worn felt (for now) as nothing seems to have taken up residence in this box.
I think this one will replace the Utica chest behind it in the first picture. It'll fill the space better and allow for a little more fine-grained organizing. The Utica can go on my welding cart for welding odds and ends.
Is that red and yellow keel over the decal, or did the decal smear?
Whoah! We got drawers!
I'll give it the same treatment as the others: A quick sponge-bath, a rub-down with mineral spirits and then a very light coat of BLO. I'm going to keep the worn felt (for now) as nothing seems to have taken up residence in this box.
I think this one will replace the Utica chest behind it in the first picture. It'll fill the space better and allow for a little more fine-grained organizing. The Utica can go on my welding cart for welding odds and ends.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Kennedy's can breed if you don't watch it! At least they have here!
24 all told:
13 top
4 intermediate
3 rollers
4 Carry/Cantilever
24 all told:
13 top
4 intermediate
3 rollers
4 Carry/Cantilever
paulm12
Well-known member
I picked up this MBC Century stack recently, mostly for the tools that were inside. C57 and C29, both 1968. I removed all of the drawers and started cleaning the shells. The insides are in pretty good shape, the bottom 2 chest drawers need some work, though all of the drawers slide fairly well. Next up is cleaning the drawers.
Not sure if I will keep or sell.
Not sure if I will keep or sell.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Really, Watson, it's rather an open and shut case....
Now, I could spend a week or more stripping, sourcing paint, buying paint and re-painting it, or...
just stuff it full of tools and use it!
I gave it a good shower with hot brewery water--180F or so--as it seemed to suffer from some marine corrosion (it came from the west side of the state). I gave it a good scrubbing with a soft brush, a wipe-down with very dilute phos acid to further help arrest the rust problem, let dry, then a goodly wiping with some 50/50 mineral spirits and BLO. It's good for a few more years of use.
Now, I could spend a week or more stripping, sourcing paint, buying paint and re-painting it, or...
just stuff it full of tools and use it!
I gave it a good shower with hot brewery water--180F or so--as it seemed to suffer from some marine corrosion (it came from the west side of the state). I gave it a good scrubbing with a soft brush, a wipe-down with very dilute phos acid to further help arrest the rust problem, let dry, then a goodly wiping with some 50/50 mineral spirits and BLO. It's good for a few more years of use.
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
#4 for me.
Now to clean and organize the TIG welding cart....
There's a nice Miller TIG rig in there somewhere... the curse of the flat, horizontal space....
The little Utica should help with some of that mess.
@Beerhippie May I ask what you are paying for the hip roof Kennedys?
I have a red, bluepoint brand, hip roof box I bought about 25 years ago.
It was my travel box when I did auto glass for a shop when they needed extra help.
It’s in real decent shape and I haven’t used it since I moved 9 years ago.
Thinking about selling it.
I have a red, bluepoint brand, hip roof box I bought about 25 years ago.
It was my travel box when I did auto glass for a shop when they needed extra help.
It’s in real decent shape and I haven’t used it since I moved 9 years ago.
Thinking about selling it.
FJ 432
Well-known member
I used to own this pair from 1967
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Somewhere between $10 and $20 would be my guess. I got both as part of bundles with some other good stuff tossed in, so hard to say. As I think I mentioned above, the hip-roof Kennedys don't get the respect that the chests do. Maybe because they weigh about as much empty as some tool boxes do full.
Keep in mind, the Kennedy hip-roofs I'm buying are NOT in "real decent shape". They're beaters. Not rotted through or anything, but not show-quality by any means.
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
The old Utica found a new home and a new purpose:
Man, that was a mess! I filled a thirty-gallon trashbag and found things I hadn't seen in years! Like that nice, nearly-new gas regulator. I've been swapping regs between the MIG and TIG rigs. No more of that ****.
Man, that was a mess! I filled a thirty-gallon trashbag and found things I hadn't seen in years! Like that nice, nearly-new gas regulator. I've been swapping regs between the MIG and TIG rigs. No more of that ****.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Nice Timm! Did you have you add a spacer for the bottom drawer to clear?
I like how you have the spud wrench in there handy. For a welding fab cart, that makes good sense!
I stuck on in my Samurai so it's handy to align the trailer receiver hitch, and more importantly for my trailer with the receiver removable tongue. that one can be a pain. I plan on setting up a receiver mounted winch, and there again it will help
I like how you have the spud wrench in there handy. For a welding fab cart, that makes good sense!
I stuck on in my Samurai so it's handy to align the trailer receiver hitch, and more importantly for my trailer with the receiver removable tongue. that one can be a pain. I plan on setting up a receiver mounted winch, and there again it will help