The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Oldtuleguy]

I may fix it up. It's pretty functional as is but definately could use a resto

 

[esben57]

Picked this up today, could tell it wasn't a Brit.
Similar to Beach design. Think the straps may be add ons. A couple of shelves missing by the look. Simonsen, govt or utilities contract???
.

 

[INSP380]

Picked up this KR-56 last summer, FBM find for $20. Incredible shape considering the age and use at the Ford Engine plant here in Cleveland. Somebody took care of this..

 

[INSP380]

Started buffing up the Cornwell, finish is coming back to acceptable…. Using as is, just looks right.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Any pics with cover off?

 

[JakeRedpower91]

I picked up this kennedy leather handle, wester auto, and craftsman boxes/chests from the neighbor. The snap on’s I got from my uncle, other green box I got from a junk pile. Price was right on all of them being free.

 

[Provincial]

That Kennedy is a very early one, because the lid has square corners.

 

[JakeRedpower91]

Here are pics of lids up, Kennedy still has green velvet used but still in it!

 

[INSP380]

Any pics with cover off?

Heres some… I have not touched the inside yet, drawer liners ate nice & intact.

Steve

 

[INSP380]

I’ve had my Grandfathers Cornwell SK-535 since 1976…. He retired and gave me ( a 7 year old) his chest & Snap-On, Bluepoint , Mac & Cornwell tools. They still reside in the same locations today.

Found the middle box years ago… later model.

 

[INSP380]

Here’s the Kennedy sitting atop the Cornwell chest, it was a freebie when I bought the Cornwell. It’s a No. 260, complete w/key. It needs a good cleaning yet, lot’s of grease. Slides are nice, should clean up nice.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have the mid 60's 278 Kennedy roller in both red and brown with those pulls, and the 70's 260 & 265 2 drawer mid with the extruded ful width pulls, on top oo the brown 278. Good boxes!

 

[INSP380]

That’s one thing I really like about this No.260, the pulls. I’m a Big guy with Big fingers, the pulls on my No.520 hurt at times…lol.

Steve

 

[fishwatcher]

I’ve posted this before.. but I’m still looking for a silver/grey Kennedy middle riser box with drawers that matches my top box. Any leads?

Thanks!

 

[Provincial]

I saw an older Kennedy 520 at an estate sale Thursday. It was in very good condition, and had a few random, but not valuable, machinist items in the drawers. They were asking $350.00 for it, so I passed.

The interesting thing about it was that the drawer handles were not plastic. They were very similar to the plastic ones, but were made of brass. The "face" surface was a concave. I checked the mounting method, thinking they would use blind screws, but they had the split rivets like the older plastic handles.

What years of production would this indicate?

 

[RTM]

I saw an older Kennedy 520 at an estate sale Thursday. It was in very good condition, and had a few random, but not valuable, machinist items in the drawers. They were asking $350.00 for it, so I passed.

The interesting thing about it was that the drawer handles were not plastic. They were very similar to the plastic ones, but were made of brass. The "face" surface was a concave. I checked the mounting method, thinking they would use blind screws, but they had the split rivets like the older plastic handles.

What years of production would this indicate?

Wish I knew, did they look like these?

FS: Kennedy Machinist Tool Chest parts (metal drawer pulls, dividers, slides)

FS: Kennedy Machinist Toolbox parts Recently I realized I had way to many Kennedy tool boxes (like the one shown in the first photo) not being used quirreled away at home and at work. So I sold all but one off. Then I found a pile of spare parts I would never need. So here they are. Shipping...

www.practicalmachinist.com

Guess I need to decipher this question next for my type study.

 

[d42jeep]

In 1924 solid brass drawer pulls are mentioned.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

The face of these pulls was concave, with the edges pretty sharp. By concave, think of the pull having a ball end mill run from end to end the long way. '

These were attached with the split rivet like the first generation of plastic pulls. They had the two nubs for alignment just like the plastic pulls.

I should have taken photos.

 

[RTM]

The face of these pulls was concave, with the edges pretty sharp. By concave, think of the pull having a ball end mill run from end to end the long way. '

These were attached with the split rivet like the first generation of plastic pulls. They had the two nubs for alignment just like the plastic pulls.

For a while back in the early part of the millenium, someone was selling homemade handles for Kennedy tool boxes, but I don't recall how they attached.

 

[rtvinc]

Kennedy help!... ive been working on a 273 roller that had a missing drawer. so i decided to try and make it all drawers instead of
just 3 with a bottom "bay". i managed to get an older 273 with drawers to fill up the space in the newer cabinet.
and THEN i run into this! some of the drawers have slides on the top edge and some have
them on the bottom! all the other (4) kennedy boxes i have all are on the bottom. anyone know
whats going on here? Thanks for any help/explanations

 

[rustyedge1]

Any ideas of dating this Craftsman tool box ?

 

[RTM]

some of the drawers have slides on the top edge and some have
them on the bottom! all the other (4) kennedy boxes i have all are on the bottom. anyone know
whats going on here?

Some of the drawers are installed wrong? keep you from accumulating **** in those drawers?

But in all seriousness, I have no idea, but could not resist.

 

[rtvinc]

Some of the drawers are installed wrong? keep you from accumulating **** in those drawers?

But in all seriousness, I have no idea, but could not resist.

that would work as far as the box goes..but it would just accumulate elsewhere!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

govt or utilities contract???

Govt, without any doubt, probably Air Force, and that "A/1C" before the name is probably the PO's rank, Airman 1st Class. Early 60s.

 

[1982fxr]

Not mine. Never seen one before. Kennedy? Never seen those exact drawer pull either.

 

[RTM]

Not mine. Never seen one before. Kennedy? Never seen those exact drawer pull either.

Just at a glance, looks like @Private Lugnutz and my ASCO, Art Steel Co, seen way up thread. Not sure about the slides, but that huge hasp on top. Wander about from here.

The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

This one is staying with me, for the time being at least.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Definitely an ASCO. Search the thread on "ASCO" and a few others will come up.

 

[David Jackson]

Just remember...you asked for it!

The only box I have that's less than twenty years old is a Craftsman rollaway from '94.


Snap Ons...made between '83-85...last one is '77









Old Craftsmans with Waterloo rollaway and no name sidebox




'78 Waterloo

Why do you post photobucket pics? Can't really see past the advertising.

 

[Mintgrun]

Why do you post photobucket pics? Can't really see past the advertising.

That post was made fifteen years ago!

Options were limited in 2009 and they did not have the watermark, originally.

 

[Beerhippie]

That post was made fifteen years ago!

Options were limited in 2009 and they did not have the watermark, originally.

Options were not all that limited back then--I've used Flickr since they started--and PB was always the bottom of the bucket. Post Image is a close second.

Many a good thread has been ruined by PB's "purge" a number of years back.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I loved Photofucket, and in those days, I was very glad to pay a very low yearly fee for the service. With the evolution of smartphones, small, massive portable hard drives, and server-like imagery management apps, and their business model and revenue collapsing, they tried to charge an exorbitant fee, put out an ultimatum, and lost. I had been a customer so long I was actually grandfathered in at my initial fee for 12 months after the purge, but when that deadline was up, I downloaded everything and skedaddled. I still occasionally post some of those photos, only when I have to, when there is a research question, and I no longer have the tool to re-photo.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Why do you post photobucket pics? Can't really see past the advertising.

That post was made fifteen years ago!

Options were limited in 2009 and they did not have the watermark, originally.

Boom! That was the way to do it back then.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Picked up this KR-56 last summer, FBM find for $20. Incredible shape considering the age and use at the Ford Engine plant here in Cleveland. Somebody took care of this..

That was outright theft!

 

[Outlawmws]

Yesterday's tool box find:





The tray was on the opposite side of the sale. I paid about what those old Coleman Silklite mantles are worth.

It came with a few bonuses:



I spent the afternoon sorting and cleaning up some of that haul.

Timm, How tall is the bottom of the box to the bottom of the tray? I may now have an Eagle oiler that fits this size box:

 

[Beerhippie]

Timm, How tall is the bottom of the bot to the bottom of the tray? I may now have an Eagle oiler that fits this size box:

Too tired/lazy to go find out right now. Working/driving in 100 degree heat all day takes it out of me. Not as tough as I used to be.

 

[Jay870]

Picked these two up off Craigslist.


Really happy with the condition on the RemLine even though it is missing the lock entirely and I think the hasp is a (poor) replacement. Mechanically everything is square and functions well. Cosmetically, there is some light surface rust on the bottom and inside the box which I cleaned up and wiped down with CorrosionX to put a stop to that. I lubed up the drawer slides while I had it apart and they are moving great. Otherwise I like the "patina" and will use it more or less as-is. I'd like to hear some ideas on cleaning up the drawer pulls. Right now the plan is to go at them with some fine steel wool and WD40 or similar.




The Powr Kraft is a lot rougher and I will need to do some amount of "refurb" before I use it. The box is bent at the front edge which jams the bottom drawer up, the top of the box is somehow slightly out of square so the lid doesn't close without some jimmying. Also, the corrosion on the lid definitely needs to be addressed. Once I can get the structure problems and corrosion cleaned up I'll strip this one down and repaint. Would appreciate any tips for this one.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Picked these two up off Craigslist.


Really happy with the condition on the RemLine even though it is missing the lock entirely and I think the hasp is a (poor) replacement. Mechanically everything is square and functions well. Cosmetically, there is some light surface rust on the bottom and inside the box which I cleaned up and wiped down with CorrosionX to put a stop to that. I lubed up the drawer slides while I had it apart and they are moving great. Otherwise I like the "patina" and will use it more or less as-is. I'd like to hear some ideas on cleaning up the drawer pulls. Right now the plan is to go at them with some fine steel wool and WD40 or similar.




The Powr Kraft is a lot rougher and I will need to do some amount of "refurb" before I use it. The box is bent at the front edge which jams the bottom drawer up, the top of the box is somehow slightly out of square so the lid doesn't close without some jimmying. Also, the corrosion on the lid definitely needs to be addressed. Once I can get the structure problems and corrosion cleaned up I'll strip this one down and repaint. Would appreciate any tips for this one.

Just use 0000 steel wool on the drawer pulls & you'll be good to go.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Just use 0000 steel wool on the drawer pulls & you'll be good to go.

I have had fantastic success with steel wool and wd40 !

 

[Outlawmws]

A lubricant helps reduce scratching. I use SOS pads sometimes. Very fine and soft.

 

[Provincial]

To straighten the lower edge:

The idea is to apply pressure opposite the force that bent the structure. In this case, that force was from the box being set down on something that was higher in the center than the edges.

Set the box on a sturdy bench or wood that you can get a big C-clamp under. Block the ends of the box up with wood or metal at least 1/4" thick. With the drawers removed, fill in the C-channel of the bottom edge with wood and/or metal strips that will fill in the open gap of the C-channel. The strips should be flexible enough to follow the curve, but transfer any pressure on the top edge so it isn't deformed when applying pressure. Use a wood block on top of the C-channel that is strong enough to spread out the pressure on the top surface and use a big C-clamp to pull the bottom down. You will have to take it a little below straight to allow for spring-back, so proceed slowly. Do not apply pressure in a small area. Spread it out.