The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[RTM]

Looks to be a home or shop made carpenters suitcase style box. Pretty cool design not the best materials

This style seems to inspire copying. While there were commercial offerings, every one I see seems different, which tells me 5 guys bought, and then 10 made their own copies. I especially like those with drawers in the top. I think I have two now.

C. E. Jennings & Co. : Price List No. 13 : C. E. Jennings & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

188 p., illus., 27.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[GhostintheMachineShop]

This style seems to inspire copying. While there were commercial offerings, every one I see seems different, which tells me 5 guys bought, and then 10 made their own copies. I especially like those with drawers in the top. I think I have two now.

C. E. Jennings & Co. : Price List No. 13 : C. E. Jennings & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

188 p., illus., 27.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thanks! Love those old ads. I think this one should go with your other 2, come get it!

 

[GhostintheMachineShop]

Really just need this thing gone, hate to trash it. If someone in the StL area wants it, PM me. Free of charge. The calipers and dividers are worth the ante.

 

[RTM]

Today I hit the flea market and 2 garage sales. I found a pagoda styled toolbox. For $5 I couldn't pass it up. I can't find any makers id on it and a Google image search didn't turn up any thing. On the under side of the lid there is a trap door that opens into the lid area. It appears to be made of galvanized metal and there is no rust anywhere. I wonder if it could be handmade?

Aren't these called coffin top boxes? Found this one on ebay with that name.

I suspect the trap door may have been added post it leaving the factory.

I had a recollection of these being described as Tractor boxes, but that draws nothing in google.

 

[Outlawmws]

I had a recollection of these being described as Tractor boxes,

A similar but not quite as elaborate box was from Butler, and from Southern /stove works, QUALITY TIN~TOP METAL PRODUCTS Richmond Virginia - we were unsuspecting a likely tractor box.

I like the styling of that one better. Love the rolled edges! Tray or tray rails inside?

 

[RTM]

I like the styling of that one better. Love the rolled edges! Tray or tray rails inside?

Not a single pic of the inside of the box, to show what I really cared about.

 

[lrhredjb]

Aren't these called coffin top boxes? Found this one on ebay with that name.

I suspect the trap door may have been added post it leaving the factory.

I had a recollection of these being described as Tractor boxes, but that draws nothing in google.

I checked out the one on Ebay. Looks very similar and it also appears to be galvanized metal. I think the trap door attic thing on mine was an add on. I can't help but think these were made by tin knockers out of gutter parts. Oddly the ebay box only has one side handle. Whats up with that?

 

[RTM]

. Oddly the ebay box only has one side handle. Whats up with that?

Between the side and top you had two? Needed one to slide it out of its storage niche on the tractor, so you had to be careful which way you put it in?

You were obviously looking much closer than I, solely focused on the lid.

 

[INSP380]

Been after this guy for years… 1960 TC-65 Cornwell. I have the top chest to go with it. This one came with a bonus, a 1970 Kennedy 260… Couldn’t be happier.

Steve

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice!

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice on both boxes!

 

[Hakeem]

I bought this beautiful specimen of a cantilever toolbox recently from @rust in the eye and have been working on configuring my setup for it.



I do property maintenance for rental properties, mostly SFHs and some 2- and 3-flats, so it’s not a whole lot of mechanical stuff. Also, while I mostly leave this in my van, I would like the ability to carry and move it if needed, so I’m reluctant to load it up to full capacity. With that said, here’s what I’ve been rolling with as of late:



I’m missing my noncontact electrical tester, an SAE set of Allen wrenches, my small adjustable wrench. Those need to be replaced. I like to have an inexpensive wood chisel, 1/2”-3/4” or so, plus fine grit sandpaper for quick honing, but looking here I must have forgotten it. Ive been keeping screws, anchors, and other small parts in a parachute bag. Also while I like to pack some spackle, sanding sponge, and a drywall knife or two, I think I’ll pack it separate — too damn messy.

Otherwise, from left to right, starting at the top:



Flat pry bar
Dollar tree medium drawer organizer (these are fantastic for $1.25, highly recommended)
Magnetic wristband
Mini screwdrivers for hvac & other control panels
Stubby ratcheting screw driver
Needle nose vise grips
Impact extension
Right angle adapter
Magnetic stud finder
Pens, pencils, markets
Rubber mallet
Painters tool
Trim square
Demo flathead
Klein 11-in-1
Klein nutdriver, 1/4”-9/16”
1/4”, 5/16” nutdriver
Milwaukee 7-in-1 electrical pliers (pretty sweet, you can do a lot with these)
Icon duckbill pliers
Milwaukee scissors
Klein dikes
Channellock linemans, 420s, 430s
Adjustable wrench
8oz hammer, yeah it looks like fisher price but it works for my needs LOL
2x airbag shims
Hex shank drill bits
Impact bits
Tape measure
Torpedo level
Bit ratchet set —locking flexhead, from harbor freight, this one is pretty slick
Utility jnife
Torx, metric Allen key
Moisture meter
Impact driver
1/4” metric & Sae sockets
Superglue
Thread locker
Zip ties
Shims
Flashlight
Circuit tester

Still finalizing things, but that’s what I’ve been packing as of late. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive set but moreso a tool set that will let me handle MOST of what I might encounter without prior notice. Say, I come to fix a clogged toilet and the tenant reports an outlet that’s not working. Or say I notice a handrail with a stripped out screw and I don’t want to have to come back the next day. Keeping this in my van 24/7 is intended to limit those types of unnecessary return visits.

 

[GhostintheMachineShop]

Seems I buy toolboxes even when I say I'm not buying toolboxes...

Guy had a box for sale on FBMP. Described it as a RARE Kennedy box but it is made of wood... Long story short, I bought my 1st Gerstner by accident. Seems this gentleman's Father was a Tool and Die maker for IBM. He had also built one of or THE most detailed model train engine ever made, completely by hand. Thing is unbelievable in person.

 

[Outlawmws]

He had also built one of or THE most detailed model train engine ever made, completely by hand. Thing is unbelievable in person.

Its pretty unbelievable in pics!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That thing is pretty impressive. I was into model trains like 50 years ago and built some cool track layouts with towns and stations, but building your own engine is next level.

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked this Union box up today. Thinking about what to purpose it for. (it won't be junk parts...)





Top drawer has 12 bins the bottom drawer is open

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those are great for stashing stuff

 

[rtvinc]

'89 Kennedy roller Before and after:

 

[rtvinc]

sorry about the pix size...i cut them in half and their still too big!

 

[rtvinc]

The only thing i'm missing is the kennedy logo. I had to call kennedy to find out about getting one.
they replied with this:
The logo is part# 80957 and is $38.13 plus shipping and tax.
It is the "new" style logo as pictured on the website. It adheres with an adhesive back
so over $40 for a piece of stick on plastic...i think it might have to live with an identity crisis
or....maybe a snap on badge?

 

[Ducky]

sorry about the pix size...i cut them in half and their still too big!

That came out nice and the pics are never too big.

 

[zanyad]

The only thing i'm missing is the kennedy logo. I had to call kennedy to find out about getting one.
they replied with this:
The logo is part# 80957 and is $38.13 plus shipping and tax.
It is the "new" style logo as pictured on the website. It adheres with an adhesive back
so over $40 for a piece of stick on plastic...i think it might have to live with an identity crisis
or....maybe a snap on badge?

Try 3D printing one?

 

[rtvinc]

zanyad, good idea! thanks

 

[Shelbylex]

Nice box! How did you clean it?
Did you use a touch up as well or resprayed parts of it?

 

[Outlawmws]

Older Kennedy's had the name painted on in script...

 

[rtvinc]

Nice box! How did you clean it?
Did you use a touch up as well or resprayed parts of it?

i went over everything with wd40 and medium coarse steel wool to get all the nasty dried oil and grease off then
some mineral spirits to get the wd40 off. then used wire wheels and all sort of stuff to do what i could on the rust.
most of the old finish looked actually pretty good but some parts HAD to be painted so if it was going to match it ALL had to be repainted.
"DUCKY" another member suggested a color "glidden max flex dark granite" which looked closer to original as anything else i tried.
its a rattle can spray paint available at home depot and elsewhere. the paint went on really well with no dripping or running and dries pretty quickly, if you look closely there are some spots where it looks like some runs but they are not, just some drips from lubing the friction slides.

 

[rtvinc]

Older Kennedy's had the name painted on in script...

this one is not that old.. '89. it had a plastic logo with 2 posts on the back that inserted into the holes in the top left rail

 

[Provincial]

I recently picked up a "rescue" Kennedy 520 machinist box. It is beat up and will only be a user, but it is solid and everything fits up well and the drawers slide smoothly. Cosmetically, there is surface rust and a rattle-can blue spray over the original paint. The felt needs to be replaced on at least two drawers, so all new felt is planned.

This box originally had hammered green paint. Here is a look at the side of a drawer where there is a good finish and no fading.


I'm having trouble deciding the age of this box. Note in the above photo that the drawer pulls are steel knobs, and they are attached like hollow rivets. This is a "round top" lid with the center locking hasp and two others. Based on that pattern, the drawer handles should be the rectangular plastic ones. A further indication of later production is the top handle.

It is aluminum and attached like the later ones, with the rivet holes perpendicular to the handle centerline, instead of on the centerline like the loop ones. Kennedy used leather-covered handles pretty late, and well after they introduced the plastic drawer pulls. I suppose that the handle could have originally been covered with leather, which would make it a sort of transition element.

The front panel has the remains of a sticker, which could have been a logo. The top and bottom of the sticker are parallel, and the ends are tapered, with the bottom shorter than the top. Kind of like the Craftsman "Crowntop" logo, but that one has a curved top line.



The knob for the front panel was missing, and I put a screw in there for the time being. Because the front panel was distorted, and had no handle to pull on, the seller couldn't open the box, and because of that he threw it in with a truck wheel I bought. Once I got the panel off, I discovered that both the top corners had failed spot welds, and by clamping them and plug welding the corner with my TIG, the panel fits and latches properly.

 

[RTM]

picked up a "rescue" Kennedy 520 machinist box. It

Are you sure it’s a Kennedy, and not just laid out like a Kennedy?

None of the catalogs showed pull knobs, they had ovals, hoops, then the rectangles.

The only green I’ve seen is the bighorn series, which has a different drawer configuration, mostly, from the 500 series.

I can’t say I’ve ever seen a label on a Kennedy front panel.

This one has Kennedy similarities like the lid reinforcements, but the completely wrong pulls. It is green tho, don’t recall texture.



Just tossing out ideas. Can pull out a bighorn in the morning to see if it is textured or hammered.

 

[Provincial]

My plan is to clean up the box somewhat, replace the felts, paint the exterior and the front panel, and use it for storage. It is too beat up to restore, but too solid to part out. I am leery of trying to use hammered paint. I see too many reports of problems trying to use it. I doubt that a similar green is available, anyway.

The front panel is dented, there is a small rust out in the bottom panel in the right rear corner, and there is damage to the bottom lip of the case under the drawers.

I wonder it the round drawer pulls were used for a contract production linked with the green paint. That could explain the top handle, too. I think aluminum would not have been used before the end of WWII, and scrapping all those warplanes flooded the market with aluminum into the early 1950's. My gut tells me this box was made between 1948 and 1955, but I don't have anything to back that up.





I'm wondering if anyone wants to help track the changes in Kennedy machinist chests? For the 520, it begins with "square top" lids with a locking Excelsior hasp on the front and hasps on each side panel. The side hasps moved to the front after that. Then the "round top" lid appeared, with the latches unchanged. The last major change I know about was dropping the Excelsior hasp and using the cylinder lock mounted in its place.

The drawer pulls also changed. I know that loop handles were early, then knobs, and lastly plastic pulls (but with two types of mounting) were introduced and stayed standard for decades. And different top handles.

Drawer slides changed too, with the retaining clips eliminated in later production?

 

[Provincial]

Are you sure it’s a Kennedy, and not just laid out like a Kennedy?

None of the catalogs showed pull knobs, they had ovals, hoops, then the rectangles.

The only green I’ve seen is the bighorn series, which has a different drawer configuration, mostly, from the 500 series.

I can’t say I’ve ever seen a label on a Kennedy front panel.

This one has Kennedy similarities like the lid reinforcements, but the completely wrong pulls. It is green tho, don’t recall texture.



Just tossing out ideas. Can pull out a bighorn in the morning to see if it is textured or hammered.

This one has the Kennedy spring-loaded pins to latch the front panel, the three dimples inside the front panel, and the proper slides/clips for a Kennedy. The only differences I see are the paint, drawer pulls, and the top handle. Even the recess in the front panel for the pull is the same as the one for the plastic handle, wider than it is tall.

 

[RTM]

I'm wondering if anyone wants to help track the changes in Kennedy machinist chests?

Like this?

 

[Mintgrun]

This box originally had hammered green paint. Here is a look at the side of a drawer where there is a good finish and no fading.

Perhaps that box was made by Waterloo. Here's one on CL for comparison.

VINTAGE WATERLOO MACHINIST TOOL BOX - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

Vintage Waterloo machinist tool box Excellent condition and very uncommon in this color Drawers operate smoothly No keys but lock can be easily changed at any locksmith Excellent addition to any...

cleveland.craigslist.org

The front panel doesn't have the three divots and the clasps are slightly different, but otherwise, it looks like a good match. Especially the paint. As often as the front panels go missing, yours could have a Kennedy panel in a Waterloo box.



This one is missing the panel, but the clasps look more like yours.



Tom

 

[Provincial]

Like this?

Exactly!

I think Tom has nailed this box, with the exception of the dimples inside the front cover. My front cover has matching hammered green paint, inside and out. I wasn't thinking of Waterloo because of the two dimples by the center lock, which was obviously a later development. Now to determine when this one was made. It must have been after the patents ran out for the clips in the slides.

 

[d42jeep]

The replacement Kennedy front cover seems likely as well. I have a couple of Kennedy boxes in green although mine are 620s.
-Don

 

[RTM]

I have a couple of Kennedy boxes in green although mine are 620s.

Bighorn series

 

[RTM]

I think Tom has nailed this box, with the exception of the dimples inside the front cover.

I'm only expecting the Waterloo dimples when there is a lock cylinder installed, not on a hasp lock.

 

[Provincial]

I'm only expecting the Waterloo dimples when there is a lock cylinder installed, not on a hasp lock.

Dimples (3) on the inside of the front cover plate, not the box itself.

 

[RTM]

Hey all, here is a Craftsman v Kennedy v Waterloo thread that pins down some details about subtle differences between them. Good thread to read thru, but this post is near the center of the information.

Craftsman Crown 8-drawer Machinist chest

I picked this up the Saturday before Xmas along with a couple of other vintage Craftsman toolboxes. It's got the wrinkle brown paint like a Kennedy. Approximate measurements are 26-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 13-1/2". It's in really great condition IMO. Needs cleaning up but absolutely no rust that I've...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Shelbylex]

i went over everything with wd40 and medium coarse steel wool to get all the nasty dried oil and grease off then
some mineral spirits to get the wd40 off. then used wire wheels and all sort of stuff to do what i could on the rust.
most of the old finish looked actually pretty good but some parts HAD to be painted so if it was going to match it ALL had to be repainted.
"DUCKY" another member suggested a color "glidden max flex dark granite" which looked closer to original as anything else i tried.
its a rattle can spray paint available at home depot and elsewhere. the paint went on really well with no dripping or running and dries pretty quickly, if you look closely there are some spots where it looks like some runs but they are not, just some drips from lubing the friction slides.

Great job on saving the box, rtvinc!