The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Shelbylex]

I saw this advertised for sale. I haven't seen one like this previously. Does anyone have some info on such a piece?

If the price is not stratospheric and its not too far (says me who just tried to buy a box from IN), GO FOR IT!!!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Husky, Sparta, new britain, possibly penncraft, pretty much any new bitain brand came in that box.

 

[Tynee]

I saw this advertised for sale. I haven't seen one like this previously. Does anyone have some info on such a piece?

That would make a great tool stand, wouldn't it? Sander/grinder/drill press/etc...

 

[jywilli69]

That would make a great tool stand, wouldn't it? Sander/grinder/drill press/etc...

If it was near me, I would ****** it up in a heartbeat.

 

[ecotec]

I saw this advertised for sale. I haven't seen one like this previously. Does anyone have some info on such a piece?

What did they want for it, and did you buy it?

 

[La2vegas]

It is still advertised for sale on Craigslist. The guy wants a hefty 200 dollars for it. I don't have a link for it but I believe that it's in Craigslist Flagstaff Arizona.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Not too far I may investigate

 

[Shelbylex]

Any luck getting it?

 

[La2vegas]

Here is the link.

Craftsman Tool Rollaway 2 Drawer Vintage 1947-54 - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

Located in Paulden, Az 86334. Antique fine working condition with medium patina w/out cancer. Drawers are solid but do show some minor bending from normal use. All 4 original wheels are intact...

prescott.craigslist.org

 

[four.cycle]

^ Right up the highway, OTG... better go grab it!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I set up a meeting this weekend, I'll see how it goes.

 

[Mintgrun]

Interesting drawer locking design. It looks like you slide that C shaped piece into the slots in the drawers and then put a padlock in the hole behind it.



Do you suppose that tab poking through the bottom of the drawer is a stop of some sort?



I like how the box doesn't have sides and the drawers don't have glides. That's a fun one.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Interesting drawer locking design. It looks like you slide that C shaped piece into the slots in the drawers and then put a padlock in the hole behind it.



Do you suppose that tab poking through the bottom of the drawer is a stop of some sort?



I like how the box doesn't have sides and the drawers don't have glides. That's a fun one.

It’s an early design and I believe it’s not as sturdy as you might imagine according to what I have heard from others who have them. Still a rare bird regardless

 

[username2]

Paulden? North of Chino Valley and south of Ashfork. But $200? Man....

Haven't been there for years. I expect that it's full of humanity like the rest of the area now.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Picked up this box at a estate sale, no markings I could find.

That’s an old box. Hole at for bolting to the car

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

That’s an old box. Hole at for bolting to the car

Holes in the bottom are for fastening to the running boards of the old fords. A lot were repurposed for the old tractor

 

[Ohio Andy]

I inherited a Union Utility Chest. It was painted so some things are difficult to read... unless I remove the paint. I was thinking about doing exactly that. But.... The chest is not in great space and the key / latch was damaged and drilled off the box. I am trying to decide if I can make the connections more robust so it can easily handle the heavy things I have in it. Lets start with the box itself. I tried to identify the box but I am not having an easy time of it mostly because I cannot find this box in a catalog. I think it is before catalog 20, which I think is around 1950, but, I could be wrong.

I think this was painted green. I think that the top plate should not be painted. Notice that there was a key lock on the front that was drilled out because the mechanism was damaged and could not open. There are two rivets holding that top in place. With the weight I am not sure I trust those two rivets to hold things without letting go. Also, with the weight, I trust the two front latches even less than the top two rivets.


This is the front. I really do not trust the two latches to not slip. I would like to find a third latch for the front.


Although there is some rust, that stuff on the top is not rust. Oil and dirt and it should wash off.


This box was full of files so it is pretty heavy. I sorted the files and rasps and wrapped them in paper so they would not grind against each other. i sorted them by shape. The Shinto Rasp is mine. If you look carefully, right in the middle and on the right side are some interesting metal handles that can be used to hold files. it took me a while to even figure out that was their purpose. I am used to storing these files in this form and then I know where to look for them when I want to use them.



This is the "keyed" latch that would not open, probably because the key portion has been knocked off. OK, I assume it is for a key.



The top I believe says something similar to the following (it is difficult to read).

Union Utility Chest
Union Chest Coporation
Le Roy NY

I do not see writing on that "key" latch and most samples I have seen have a keyed latch.

Also, I know which Grandfather used this because it is green; he painted many things green.

I don't care about a key. My first concern is making this sufficiently robust that I can just pick it up without worrying about the weight. I do not even know where I would look to find some kind of replacement latch that I could just bolt into place.

I will probably start by cleaning, maybe stripping and repainting (probably just clean it and remove rust). Then add a draw latch where the previous locking mechanism was located. I might replace the handle with something more robust.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A little craftsman box

 

[d42jeep]

I posted this abused thing in the Craftsman toolbox thread.
-Don

 

[Ohio Andy]

I posted this abused thing in the Craftsman toolbox thread.
-Don

This just made my day. Did not know something like this existed. It is so appropriate for the tube period. And I love that you were able to date it

 

[RTM]

My first concern is making this sufficiently robust that I can just pick it up without worrying about the weight. I do not even know where I would look to find some kind of replacement latch that I could just bolt into place.

The folks at Penn Elcom sell some draw latches, but I don’t know about finding some that will match your bolt pattern. Try other categories too. There is a small selection on Amazon as well.

Drawer Latches | Penn Elcom

Discover secure closure Drawer Latches from Penn Elcom. Explore reliable solutions for your equipment. Buy drawer latches today with Penn Elcom!

www.penn-elcom.com

 

[Ohio Andy]

The folks at Penn Elcom sell some draw latches, but I don’t know about finding some that will match your bolt pattern. Try other categories too. There is a small selection on Amazon as well.

Drawer Latches | Penn Elcom

Discover secure closure Drawer Latches from Penn Elcom. Explore reliable solutions for your equipment. Buy drawer latches today with Penn Elcom!

www.penn-elcom.com

Thanks for the link. At this point I am not worried about matching the pattern. Their catches look great.

Haven't decided if I'm going to repaint it or not I might and if I do they won't even be able to tell. But it's already in bad enough shape but I'm not going to spend too much worrying about it. I just want it to be solid and usable

 

[username2]

A little craftsman box

That is a super clever design, I'd buy one in a minute and then try to figure out what to use it for.

I wonder if there isn't a 'makers' universe out there that fabricates genius-looking hand boxes. It would make for a pretty interesting hobby and a good way to improve sheet metal skills.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Retrieved the old craftsman cart.

 

[Outlawmws]

Were you able to get the price down?

 

[CGarage]

Oldtuleguy, you were the right buyer for that.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

He looked like he needed the cash pretty bad so I just paid the 200$. Guy lives in middle of nowhere. Also saw a cool jeep junkyard.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Oldtuleguy, you were the right buyer for that.

The seller seemed to think so. He liked my plan to just clean it up and preserve it. Threw in an old Dunlap box. Has a tag riveted to it, sp3955.

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice, I have that same Dunlap box.

 

[Shelbylex]

OTG, CONGRATULATIONS on the Craftsman roller!!! This is a really rare one.

 

[CARNAC]

Ideas on what type of toolbox would normally go on top of this? I think this base tool chest is from the 1950’s. My father just passed last week and I got this, along with an overwhelming amount of tools.

 

[bmwrd0]

Anything from a two drawer to a ten drawer. But look through this catalog, and it will get you started!

Craftsman Mechanics' Tools : Latest 1952 Models : Sears, Roebuck and Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

52 p., illus., 22.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Oldtuleguy]

So sorry to hear of your dad passing. That little roller typically fit a 2 or 3 drawer chest.

 

[CARNAC]

Anything from a two drawer to a ten drawer. But look through this catalog, and it will get you started!

Craftsman Mechanics' Tools : Latest 1952 Models : Sears, Roebuck and Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

52 p., illus., 22.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Outstanding. I’ll have to see if there is a smaller box like those. There is a red one identical to the 10 drawer but a gray one could be hiding somewhere in the piles of tools, parts, and other stuff. Thanks for your help.

 

[RTM]

Oops, wrong thread. See it in the GS 2024 thread

 

[Cruzan80]

Outstanding. I’ll have to see if there is a smaller box like those. There is a red one identical to the 10 drawer but a gray one could be hiding somewhere in the piles of tools, parts, and other stuff. Thanks for your help.

The issue could come up about relative widths. The old boxes are about 1" less width than current boxes (started with the grey/red era). So you would need to build a filler piece or the top will sit on the rim of the lower.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I saw this advertised for sale. I haven't seen one like this previously. Does anyone have some info on such a piece?

Only appeared in the 49 tool catalog if I recall correctly. Was available as a stand alone item or part of a tool set that had an interesting mix of New Britain (out with the old) and MDF (in with the new) tools. Cool find.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Also saw a cool jeep junkyard.

Was that on the Crafty roller guy's property in Paulden? Or on the way to his place?

The jeep is a Willys M38A1. 1952 to 1960's. The "beep" (to the left of it) looks like a 3/4-ton Dodge WC. Not sure about the truck on the right. Could be an emergency repair truck.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

On way to paulden near Mayer.

 

[BUYRETURNS]

This Is one I not sure of it's age