The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Private Lugnutz]

The bassick caster Co. Is out of bridgeport, Connecticut since 1876!

Yup, I found that info about bassick. They are still in business making casters.

This isn't meant to help with your research, but tangentially, just as a factoid you may find interesting, the Bassick Company was a division of Stewart-Warner from the 20's on and they made all kinds of castings during the war, including many of the various ammo racks and trays inside tanks and self-propelled arty vehicles. But the name is probably best known in G503 jeep circles. They made the spring-loaded bracket that held the oil can in place against the fire wall under the hood in the engine compartment.

 

[bmwrd0]

"self-propelled arty vehicles"

What, did they make a special car for Salvador Dali and Picasso? The front end melting while the back had three eyes and a ****?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Arty i suspect is short for artillery

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What, did they make a special car for Salvador Dali and Picasso? The front end melting while the back had three eyes and a ****?

Haha. I would probably use "artsy" for a car like that. (Now having a Banana Splits flashback.)

Arty i suspect is short for artillery

Indeed. "Sparty" is short for Self-propelled artillery, but then I really would've lost you, and someone would be wondering if I was talking about the ATV the Michigan State mascot runs around on.

 

[Smokeshow69]

This isn't meant to help with your research, but tangentially, just as a factoid you may find interesting, the Bassick Company was a division of Stewart-Warner from the 20's on and they made all kinds of castings during the war, including many of the various ammo racks and trays inside tanks and self-propelled arty vehicles. But the name is probably best known in G503 jeep circles. They made the spring-loaded bracket that held the oil can in place against the fire wall under the hood in the engine compartment.

Hmm, very interesting. I haven’t done too much research yet but every little bit helps.

 

[rustyedge1]

If you look behind the Craftsman logo from inside the drawer, it is probably stamped in there. Age range is 48-57, roughly.

This is all I see behind logo plate inside drawer....

 

[Outlawmws]

This is all I see behind logo plate

AMD usually - but not always - stamped a date code back there.

 

[RTM]

"self-propelled arty vehicles"

I thought it was always a tricycle.

And I think it's spelled with an E, not Y

 

[Beerhippie]

I thought it was always a tricycle.

And I think it's spelled with an E, not Y

These are "self-propelled arty vehicles":
https://www.portlandtribune.com/lif...cle_4275b990-5ddc-11ef-b0f9-7f525a442fe2.html

 

[1982fxr]

AMD usually - but not always - stamped a date code back there.

When I had a couple of those, was told date codes didn't start until like 1952 or something.

 

[WagonHo!]

Ah just a regular vintage box you say.

 

[rocksnstumps]

So no guesses on who made this box?

Probably could guess with a 50% chance that was sold by Sears.

Thanks in advance for any info

 

[Cruzan80]

Not Sears, drawer pulls are wrong for that. They didn't have a double-hinged door with solid pulls at any time.

My WAG would be MBC. I know Kennedy did the double hinged door, maybe if the drawer trim was stripped off?

 

[rocksnstumps]

Thanks. Can cross Sears off the list anyway. A bit more info to add the lock keys are from All-Lock Co, Inc Selma, Ala. But cannot find any number stamping on box. But can't claim I'm using a magnifying glass either

Thx again and hopefully others can add more

 

[Lesserstore]

So no guesses on who made this box?

Probably could guess with a 50% chance that was sold by Sears.

Thanks in advance for any info

Looks kinda like an MBC box to me.
Date/info stamp will be on the front left corner of the frame. (Above caster)

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks. Can cross Sears off the list anyway. A bit more info to add the lock keys are from All-Lock Co, Inc Selma, Ala. But cannot find any number stamping on box. But can't claim I'm using a magnifying glass either

Thx again and hopefully others can add more

It’s not craftsman but it could possibly be Waterloo, who made craftsman? Is there a date stamp on the lower front rail?

 

[rocksnstumps]

Well rolled the box out by the door for better light and spent some "quality time" on the floor trying to search for any info stamped into the box inside and out....nada. Also got out the micrometer and looks to be 20 ga materials. Guess whom ever made it wasn't a big player that always stamped stuff but it will get used still the same.

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

Picked this up for $50 at a local flea market yesterday. Not exactly a “tool” box but I figure this is the best place to put it.

Some of the drawers are a bit crusty:

 

[Smokeshow69]

Picked this up for $50 at a local flea market yesterday. Not exactly a “tool” box but I figure this is the best place to put it.

Some of the drawers are a bit crusty:

Oh heck yeah! That looks super cool.

 

[subroc]

Picked this up for $50 at a local flea market yesterday. Not exactly a “tool” box but I figure this is the best place to put it.

Some of the drawers are a bit crusty:

Looks good. I have no clue as to the value of such a box but there is one listed in my local CL for $200. Based on that seems like you got a pretty good deal.

 

[Cruzan80]

Anyone have ideas on the maker? Looks to have started life all red, then someone painted it. Drawers are friction slide, but fairly beefy. Last one is laying down in my truck, only paid $25 for it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thats on looks more like parts bins than tools to me?

 

[Cruzan80]

It is 13.5" wide, and 16" deep so almost the same as a regular toolbox. Hard to see in the pics I posted, but it does have the rounded-over "lip" to hang on the side of the box. Top looks just like you would expect if a roller, just smaller.

No dividers like I would expect from a parts bin. Think it is similar to a Snap-On locker regarding "styling" (don't think it is actually SO).

Edit: The silver marks on the inside of the door are just where paint wore away, no hooks or anything on the inside. Thing is probably at least 60-70#, probably more (empty).

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

Looks good. I have no clue as to the value of such a box but there is one listed in my local CL for $200. Based on that seems like you got a pretty good deal.

Yeah I thought I’d maybe overpaid a bit but the ones on eBay and Etsy are around $100-300 so I guess I did okay!
Not sure what I’ll use it for yet but it was way too cool to leave behind. Kinda surprised I can’t find any others like this on the forum here actually.
I’d like to clean up the rust a bit but I sure don’t want to damage the patina on the drawer fronts..

 

[Cruzan80]

Try something like Windex or a damp rag on the front. Mine tend to clean up really easy. Bottom of drawers are a bit harder. Don't think I have a yellow, but a few orange have passed thru (Dorman maybe?)

 

[CGarage]

Try something like Windex or a damp rag on the front. Mine tend to clean up really easy. Bottom of drawers are a bit harder. Don't think I have a yellow, but a few orange have passed thru (Dorman maybe?)

Not windex. Dawn soap in a spray bottle diluted 1:10 with water and adjust from there if you need more cleaning power.

 

[Cruzan80]

So turns out the door is not original, just screwed in (badly). Looks to be 18-20ga steel, regular friction slides with clips. Anyone know who used that style of drawer pull so I can try and search catalogs?

 

[682bear]

Ebay find...

A Kennedy TC-20...






Along with my TC-16 to compare the sizes...



-Bear

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow! both are pretty cool!

 

[FJ 432]

Anyone have ideas on the maker? Looks to have started life all red, then someone painted it. Drawers are friction slide, but fairly beefy. Last one is laying down in my truck, only paid $25 for it.

What is throwing me off is how the drawers are narrower than the actual width of the cabinet. These false sides where the the slides are welded to are nothing that I've seen from your regular tool box manufacturer. Just shooting from the hip I would look at companies like Lyon, Equipto or any other companies that outfit work vans or trucks. I think a bar was used in the top and bottom to keep the drawers from opening going around corners.

Either way I can of worse ways to drop $25.00. Nice grab.

 

[Cruzan80]

Agreed. I took the drawers out last night, so can easily get a pic of the inside supports. The cutout at the top/bottom would also make sense for a locking bar, like for travel.

Did Lyon, Equipto, etc do friction slides though? Any manufacturer names of work-van equipment?

 

[bmwrd0]

Adrian Steel did van and truck tool boxes on a professional level.

 

[alinc100]

Todays hall, old Craftsman bottom roll around and unmarked machinist box ( very heavy ) Anyone know if a key could be made with the lock number. I didn't know that if the bottom door is shut that locks the drawers. Would love a key. The lock is in the locked position and won't close completely. Any ideas on dating ??

Based upon the drawer pulls I'm going to say 54-58 this is the 58 catalog

 

[682bear]

Kennedy... I pulled this out of a scrap metal barrel...



-Bear

I had previously posted a picture of this box.... here are two more pictures...





I have tried to find some information about this box with no luck... it seems to be an odd ball. I've also never seen Kennedy use a logo that resembles the font on this box. I finally found a listing on ebay for a three page advertisement that included a listing for a similarly designed box...



...however, the description doesn't match. The box that I have measures 19 x 8 x 7 inches...

So... I sent these pictures to Kennedy Mfg in Van Wert, OH. This was their response...



So now we know... I thought someone here may find this interesting.

-Bear

 

[Cruzan80]

Pics of the inside. Anything that looks "white" is just dust and lighting. It does have two U shaped sides, like to hang off a toolbox. The other weird thing is the shelf/divider that extends to the front of the box. Maybe whoever made it also made a 5 drawer only, as well as a 7?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Based upon the drawer pulls I'm going to say 54-58 this is the 58 catalog

That’s probably a fairly safe guess. In ‘59 they went to the crown top logo and in ‘61 went to the more modern style red and gray style tool box.

 

[steel 35]

This old box was on the running board of my 35 ford for a few year's.
Full of ford part's.

 

[outofbounds]

Turned up this (what I believe to be) a WW2 GMTK box in pretty darned good shape. I reckon all the lead in the paint held the finish together. I was told by the seller that his grandfather served in the war in the Navy. Was full of a random assortment of Cad-plated & linseed oil coated sockets by Snap-On, Bonney, & Craftsman respectively. The box appears as unmarked for any known maker. Union, perhaps? As I think they used paper labels in those times rather than any embossed markings.

 

[outofbounds]

Turned up this (what I believe to be) a WW2 GMTK box in pretty darned good shape.

Inside tray is best part and I can't get the pic to load!!

 

[CGarage]

Turned up this (what I believe to be) a WW2 GMTK box in pretty darned good shape. I reckon all the lead in the paint held the finish together. I was told by the seller that his grandfather served in the war in the Navy. Was full of a random assortment of Cad-plated & linseed oil coated sockets by Snap-On, Bonney, & Craftsman respectively. The box appears as unmarked for any known maker. Union, perhaps? As I think they used paper labels in those times rather than any embossed markings.

Looks like some of the Proto boxes copied this design. Beautiful!!!