Is this Kennedy tool box a good buy?

[willyd]

Have finally outgrown my old Montgomery Ward toolbox that was my grandpas, looking to replace it with one that's a bit bigger for the garage and stumbled upon this Kennedy that is local to me. I got him down to $250.

Is that a good price for this box or am I getting ripped off?

 

[seber]

A fair price. Kennedy boxes are well made. Just check the caster mounting surface. Most were very weak as they were made for machinists. But the red ones were for mechanics and the one I have is solid.

 

[isb cornbinder]

It is not a rip-off if you negotiated and made that offer. The toolbox needs a good cleaning and it should look fantastic.
Kennedy boxes always support higher pricing. I could sell that box in a few minutes, here. I would ask, $400 and take an offer of $350.
Kennedy are like SnapOn. They hold value and sell quickly.
I bought a Kennedy on my way to a doctor appointment, I posted it on Craigslist with my smart phone. The buyer met me in the parking lot at the doctor's and bought the Kennedy. I made $200 in 30 minutes.

 

[willyd]

A fair price. Kennedy boxes are well made. Just check the caster mounting surface. Most were very weak as they were made for machinists. But the red ones were for mechanics and the one I have is solid.

Good to know - I'll be using it for mechanic work so that's good to know.

I'll let ya know if I end up grabbing it.

 

[willyd]

It is not a rip-off if you negotiated and made that offer. The toolbox needs a good cleaning and it should look fantastic.
Kennedy boxes always support higher pricing. I could sell that box in a few minutes, here. I would ask, $400 and take an offer of $350.

That makes me feel better! What would you recommend to clean it? I know they have that crinkle paint on em.

 

[isb cornbinder]

That makes me feel better! What would you recommend to clean it? I know they have that crinkle paint on them.

I would recommend Simple Green mixed in warm water. Scrub with a brush and flush.

 

[CB350F]

Simple Green is Magic...Nice Box...Take Care...

 

[bb29510]

that not a mechanic box, too small, thats a machinist box, thats a $100 box, yes its well made but not deep enough for tools

 

[Wamsutta]

That makes me feel better! What would you recommend to clean it? I know they have that crinkle paint on em.

That Kennedy wrinkle cleans up real good with WD-40. Leaves a shiny finish too.

You can strengthen the caster surface by putting a piece of 1/4" steel plate between the casters and the bottom surface. You could even use aluminum plate.

 

[Wolley]

I think the red ones are smooth. 20 years ago I got a brown one. Then you could get the same box red or brown

 

[Wamsutta]

I think the red ones are smooth. 20 years ago I got a brown one. Then you could get the same box red or brown

They made a red wrinkle for a little while too.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Nice set but as mentioned the drawers are shallower than most mechanics boxes. The shallow drawers do work well for many types of tools.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

It really depends on your location. I'd pass on it personally, looks a bit rough.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Looks like it has been well used and has a few spots of rust starting. I think $250 is too rich in that condition.

 

[1982fxr]

The only difference between that red one and a brown one is the paint color. Period. They called them mechanics boxes as they were sold to large facilities that used different color boxes for different trades in the place.

That's the rarely seen 8 drawer bottom and a highly desirable top box too. I'd call that a great price if everything works good, but not necessarily ideal for modern auto mechanic tools.

 

[chevy.stroker]

You probably couldn't buy anything new and flimsy for that price. If you even just buy it, use it to store nuts and bolts for 5 years, and sell it for $200 you only spent $10/year.

 

[willyd]

The only difference between that red one and a brown one is the paint color. Period. They called them mechanics boxes as they were sold to large facilities that used different color boxes for different trades in the place.

That's the rarely seen 8 drawer bottom and a highly desirable top box too. I'd call that a great price if everything works good, but not necessarily ideal for modern auto mechanic tools.

I've been rocking an old Montgomery Ward for about 10 years that is even shallower, I'm excited to have some more space.

 

[Steve_P]

I personally wouldn't pay $250 for that since it has rust.

 

[Shelbylex]

So, did you get it?

 

[dr_clyde]

The only difference between that red one and a brown one is the paint color. Period. They called them mechanics boxes as they were sold to large facilities that used different color boxes for different trades in the place.

That's the rarely seen 8 drawer bottom and a highly desirable top box too. I'd call that a great price if everything works good, but not necessarily ideal for modern auto mechanic tools.

That's not true.

The mechanic's series has deeper drawers and different drawer configurations altogether. Particularly with the top boxes. The bottom boxes may have been the same save the paint color, but the top boxes are very different.

 

[willyd]

So, did you get it?

Not yet, I found an older snap on box that is $50 cheaper. Might be getting that one instead..

 

[1982fxr]

That's not true.

The mechanic's series has deeper drawers and different drawer configurations altogether. Particularly with the top boxes. The bottom boxes may have been the same save the paint color, but the top boxes are very different.

I've had a lot of Kennedys. Every red one I ever had, I could look up the exact same box in brown. I think the only difference was an R in the part number or something.

Also had original old literature that showed same boxes in either color. If you're saying there were a few top boxes offered in red only years ago, I could believe that.

For 99% of what anybody is going to come across on these old Kennedys, they are the same exact box, in my experience.

 

[1982fxr]

I think the red ones are smooth. 20 years ago I got a brown one. Then you could get the same box red or brown

At some point they started offering gloss red too like you mention. Don't see many of those in the wild.

 

[disston]

Probably more than 50 years old. A little bit of rust where the paint has been chipped. It's used and the guy that used it got a lot of service from it. So will you.

I bet the guy selling this box is the guy that has owned it for these many years. If so he is selling you part of his life. He wants to see it go to a good home and for you to like this box as much as he has for many years.

 

[dr_clyde]

I've had a lot of Kennedys. Every red one I ever had, I could look up the exact same box in brown. I think the only difference was an R in the part number or something.

Also had original old literature that showed same boxes in either color. If you're saying there were a few top boxes offered in red only years ago, I could believe that.

For 99% of what anybody is going to come across on these old Kennedys, they are the same exact box, in my experience.

It's probably more accurate to say the machinist's line was distinct from the rest of their offerings. They only made the machinist boxes in brown, and they were very specific to machinist type work.

They offered the mechanic's line in wrinkle brown as well, but the mechanic's line was distinct from the machinist line. AFAIK, only the mechanics boxes were available in red.

The mechanic's series had bigger drawer pulls, deeper drawers to accommodate bigger tools and on some boxes ball bearing slides. They were very different than the typical and common machinist box.

Nowadays they make the distinction with the "signature series" as the box for the machinist and the "k series" as their generic general purpose box.

 

[oldmachinenut]

That Kennedy wrinkle cleans up real good with WD-40. Leaves a shiny finish too.

You can strengthen the caster surface by putting a piece of 1/4" steel plate between the casters and the bottom surface. You could even use aluminum plate.

I did the steel plate on my Kennedy roller when I got it.

 

[senlow]

I'm usually more of a Snap-on guy, but I would much prefer the Kennedy. It's well worth $50 more.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

It's probably more accurate to say the machinist's line was distinct from the rest of their offerings. They only made the machinist boxes in brown, and they were very specific to machinist type work.

They offered the mechanic's line in wrinkle brown as well, but the mechanic's line was distinct from the machinist line. AFAIK, only the mechanics boxes were available in red.

The mechanic's series had bigger drawer pulls, deeper drawers to accommodate bigger tools and on some boxes ball bearing slides. They were very different than the typical and common machinist box.

Nowadays they make the distinction with the "signature series" as the box for the machinist and the "k series" as their generic general purpose box.

You’re not wrong. The mechanic line was available in brown, red, a really cool green for a hot second, and now blue with the Cornwell takeover. That would probably explain why the other poster believes they’re all the same since it was very possible to run into the same box in different colors. The machinist boxes have always been brown. You’d know the difference because the machinist boxes had the felt lining and the brown plastic pulls while the mechanic chests had less drawers and aluminum pulls.

OP, $250 for the whole stack is pretty nice. Can you live with the really short drawers on the roller? I have the same one and those drawers are a pain to fill out since they are only like 1 3/4” tall.

 

[1982fxr]

Ok after looking at more old literature I see where I was applying the term machinist box inaccurately. Can't believe I never noticed how they used the term mechanic's box before.

Also, I've seen a couple of yellow ones that I believe were factory paint. Bigger boxes from that industrial line they used to make. I think they called them maintenance boxes.

 

[dr_clyde]

Ok after looking at more old literature I see where I was applying the term machinist box inaccurately. Can't believe I never noticed how they used the term mechanic's box before.

Also, I've seen a couple of yellow ones that I believe were factory paint. Bigger boxes from that industrial line they used to make. I think they called them maintenance boxes.

Yeah, the Maintenance Pro series of boxes is pretty cool. I believe they had one with a set of larger inflatable tires in the middle of the box so you could pivot the box on it's center axis and maneuver the box in tight spaces.

 

[willyd]

Update on this, I ended up grabbing the snap on box as I liked the lower box setup better and it seems to be in better shape overall. If anyone wants this box it's located in Tucson, AZ and I can put ya in touch with the seller.