The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
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Old Radar
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your father, CARNAC.
I've got a Crown version of your roller and matching 2-drawer top from 1958, posted up-thread here.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I was feeling the need to "polish a turd" this week so I took this old toolbox--the first I ever owned:
and made it into this:
I realized that not only didn't I need to carry damned near every tool I own with me at all times, but it was becoming physically difficult. So I put together a smaller toolbox of just the tools I might need to keep a Toyota Corolla alive on the road and made the old box into a new box for the brewery's jockey-box tools and tap handles. Our current one is busting at the seams.
Still a turd, but a turd with fresh paint!
and made it into this:
I realized that not only didn't I need to carry damned near every tool I own with me at all times, but it was becoming physically difficult. So I put together a smaller toolbox of just the tools I might need to keep a Toyota Corolla alive on the road and made the old box into a new box for the brewery's jockey-box tools and tap handles. Our current one is busting at the seams.
Still a turd, but a turd with fresh paint!
If that is what it takes to keep a corolla on the road, how heavy would a ferrari* set be. And where could it fit.I was feeling the need to "polish a turd" this week so I took this old toolbox--the first I ever owned:
and made it into this:
I realized that not only didn't I need to carry damned near every tool I own with me at all times, but it was becoming physically difficult. So I put together a smaller toolbox of just the tools I might need to keep a Toyota Corolla alive on the road and made the old box into a new box for the brewery's jockey-box tools and tap handles. Our current one is busting at the seams.
Still a turd, but a turd with fresh paint!
Is that why tool cabinets have wheels?
*insert favorite classic bleed you dry wheeled conveyance. Feel free to expound. Land rover, british leyland, fiat, yugo....
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Nah, that was the old, "just take everything" box that lived in my Vanagon. I finally decided that I didn't need SAE wrenches with me on the road in an all-metric rig, and probably didn't need specialist bicycle and motorcycle tools!
This is the constantly-evolving Toyota road box:
The Toy is 31 years old.
This is the constantly-evolving Toyota road box:
The Toy is 31 years old.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Removing the old rust, grease, oil, gasket maker and paint from the old toolbox required breaking out the big e-tank!
That's getting the last bit of the end that was against the bottom of the barrel.
That's getting the last bit of the end that was against the bottom of the barrel.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The Toyota road box has had a lot added and removed since the photo above:
I removed the feeler gauge set--my rig is pointless--and ratcheting screwdrivers--the Sunex set covers those, and better--since then.
I removed the feeler gauge set--my rig is pointless--and ratcheting screwdrivers--the Sunex set covers those, and better--since then.
outofbounds
Well-known member
Only metric? How would you be able to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress driving an old flat bed Ford?Nah, that was the old, "just take everything" box that lived in my Vanagon. I finally decided that I didn't need SAE wrenches with me on the road in an all-metric rig, and probably didn't need specialist bicycle and motorcycle tools!
This is the constantly-evolving Toyota road box:
The Toy is 31 years old.
Tynee
Well-known member
You'd have to turn the fasteners with your bare hands, but that's ok because she'd be far more impressed that way...Only metric? How would you be able to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress driving an old flat bed Ford?
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Around here, the rule with "damsels in distress" is DO NOT APPROACH! Especially if you're a scruffy-looking old long-hair-hippie-freak. Those damsels are armed and very nervous.Only metric? How would you be able to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress driving an old flat bed Ford?
Last edited:
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Is he going through winslow Az?Only metric? How would you be able to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress driving an old flat bed Ford?
Oldtuleguy
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four.cycle
Well-known member
1924 Hardware Buyers Catalog Economy Union ad pp 153
I shared this one earlier but it's been a work in progress and I just finished organizing things a bit more so here is a before and after. It was a jumbled mess and missing the badge and handle so I had no clue what brand it was until I happened to find the badge while cleaning this box out. I ended up just attaching the badge with some JB weld since the studs had broken off and I figure this box will never be perfect. The handle I randomly found in another box I acquired and fits the busted knuckle patina of this box. I was even able to track down a replacement key for this box from a seller on eBay.
I like the rough patina of this box and the greasy and well used tools it contains. Sort of a catch all for many different brands of USA made vintage sockets and wrenches, although I do have a nice set of SK/SK Lectrolite offset box end wrenches in this box.
I like the rough patina of this box and the greasy and well used tools it contains. Sort of a catch all for many different brands of USA made vintage sockets and wrenches, although I do have a nice set of SK/SK Lectrolite offset box end wrenches in this box.
Grab it. That's what made it slow down.Only metric? How would you be able to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress driving an old flat bed Ford?
Tynee
Well-known member
outofbounds
Well-known member
IT sounded sexier than a 1978 Chevette.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Most things are more **** than a chevette
Oldtuleguy
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The bar is set pretty low in Winslow
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ I've driven through Winslow.
As I recall, the bar was laying on the ground on the side of the highway.
(When I got to Grants, New Mexico, the exhaust system on my Citation was on the ground on the side of the highway too.)
As I recall, the bar was laying on the ground on the side of the highway.
(When I got to Grants, New Mexico, the exhaust system on my Citation was on the ground on the side of the highway too.)
Beerhippie
Well-known member
The last time I drove through beautiful downtown Winslow, the Eagles were still singing "Take it easy" on the radio.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ I was driving a 1980 Chevrolet Citation that still had 7 active factory recalls on it. (PO never bothered to take it to a dealer.)
Would have been November 1984. Tore the entire exhaust system off the vehicle when I backed into an object that was just below bumper height, but just high enough to contact the outlet end of the rear resonator. Fortunately it happened right across the street from a muffler shop, and right across the street from a motel I slept in for about four hours before I continued on to beautiful downtown Garland, Texas.
Would have been November 1984. Tore the entire exhaust system off the vehicle when I backed into an object that was just below bumper height, but just high enough to contact the outlet end of the rear resonator. Fortunately it happened right across the street from a muffler shop, and right across the street from a motel I slept in for about four hours before I continued on to beautiful downtown Garland, Texas.
d42jeep
Well-known member
These live in my Toyota’s toolboxes.
-Don
-Don
bugnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Picked up a KR-56 today, with the KTA-3 tote tray, for $50. Not sure whether I will refurbish or restore.
I plan on doing the project with my 16 yo son and will probably gift him the box.
I'm looking for guidance regarding the rivets. The logo plate is riveted to the top. I have no problem removing them, but I don't know what type of rivets (or tools) I would need to replace the steel rivets.
Thanks,
Moe
I plan on doing the project with my 16 yo son and will probably gift him the box.
I'm looking for guidance regarding the rivets. The logo plate is riveted to the top. I have no problem removing them, but I don't know what type of rivets (or tools) I would need to replace the steel rivets.
Thanks,
Moe
Provincial
Well-known member
I picked up this toolbox Friday. It is the same size as a Kennedy 520 and has the brown wrinkle finish. The drawer pulls have the diamond shape molded in that Kennedy used. There are no labels or identification anywhere.
The design has no place for a front panel, and the drawers extend flush with the front of the frame. The slides seem identical to Kennedy slides, with the flat spring retainer. There are two flip-over latches, and a hasp in the center. The loop of the hasp is missing, as is the top handle and its attaching brackets. There is a lock bar linked to the lid to hold the drawers shut when the lid is down.
Someone pop rivetted dividers in the drawers, and there is evidence of glue that held padding in the drawers. The lid is a little beat up, and has extra holes. Fabric handles have been added to each side.
The paint has oxidized, but is intact. There if felt marker on one drawer front, and I'll see if I can get that off. On the lid there is writing, probably with a paint pen. "Valley Monuments" and "R. T. Smith" which links it to "Tombstone" Smith, who made the gravestones in my small town when I was growing up. He closed the business and retired in the early 1970's. I'd like to buff off the oxidation and clear coat it to shine it up a little, and protect the historic writing. I'll probably use it for tool bits and such for my metalworking machinery.
Notice that the upper drawers have a recess in them to look like divided drawers. I wonder if there was a similar model with separate drawers there.
Does anyone know if this is a Kennedy? I've been fooled before! I haven't found anything like it from Kennedy online.
The design has no place for a front panel, and the drawers extend flush with the front of the frame. The slides seem identical to Kennedy slides, with the flat spring retainer. There are two flip-over latches, and a hasp in the center. The loop of the hasp is missing, as is the top handle and its attaching brackets. There is a lock bar linked to the lid to hold the drawers shut when the lid is down.
Someone pop rivetted dividers in the drawers, and there is evidence of glue that held padding in the drawers. The lid is a little beat up, and has extra holes. Fabric handles have been added to each side.
The paint has oxidized, but is intact. There if felt marker on one drawer front, and I'll see if I can get that off. On the lid there is writing, probably with a paint pen. "Valley Monuments" and "R. T. Smith" which links it to "Tombstone" Smith, who made the gravestones in my small town when I was growing up. He closed the business and retired in the early 1970's. I'd like to buff off the oxidation and clear coat it to shine it up a little, and protect the historic writing. I'll probably use it for tool bits and such for my metalworking machinery.
Notice that the upper drawers have a recess in them to look like divided drawers. I wonder if there was a similar model with separate drawers there.
Does anyone know if this is a Kennedy? I've been fooled before! I haven't found anything like it from Kennedy online.
I inherited a Utility Chest from Union Steel Chest Corporation. It was mostly full of rusty metal files. This has been painted and the front lock was broken and removed.
That was previously painted at least to a similar color of the original I believe. The latches work poorly (at best) and there is a lot of weight. it is an easy place for me to store all of the Files, which I have sorted, cataloged, cleaned, removed rust, and I even counted the teeth per inch. I now know how many, what type, and where they are stored.
There are some miscellaneous things in the top.
I previously sorted the files and I dropped in a Shinto Rasp as an easy place to store this.
This was the "lock" for the chest. I don't think that I can salvage that. I expected there to be writing on this.
It is pretty dirty. You can see the original color was closer to an Olive Green by looking where the was.
There is a stamping in the tray. It says "PAT APPLD FOR". So Patent Applied For.
So I cleaned things up a bit and removed some of the rust.
More to come!
That was previously painted at least to a similar color of the original I believe. The latches work poorly (at best) and there is a lot of weight. it is an easy place for me to store all of the Files, which I have sorted, cataloged, cleaned, removed rust, and I even counted the teeth per inch. I now know how many, what type, and where they are stored.
There are some miscellaneous things in the top.
I previously sorted the files and I dropped in a Shinto Rasp as an easy place to store this.
This was the "lock" for the chest. I don't think that I can salvage that. I expected there to be writing on this.
It is pretty dirty. You can see the original color was closer to an Olive Green by looking where the was.
There is a stamping in the tray. It says "PAT APPLD FOR". So Patent Applied For.
So I cleaned things up a bit and removed some of the rust.
More to come!
I cleaned up the the top handle just a bit. I intended to replace the top handle with something that had four holes but I did not like what I ordered (when it arrived), more suitable for side handles than for this.
I applied a bit of primer.
I decided to use three latches because there is so much in the files. It holds well. I still might eventually just replaced the top handle if it proves to be insufficient for the weight. But it is not moved much. Originally I was going to use bolts rather than rivets because I had never used Rivets before.... and then I realized that I can easily fix a door that was causing me problems for years by using a few blind pop rivets. And it worked great on fixing that door.
I purchased the Doyle 13" Heavy Duty Professional Hand Riveter for $25. This thing works really well. No idea if it will hold up to heavy use or not, but I am amazed.
They also had a $5 hand riveter Set for $5 that came with 100 different sized 1/8" rivets. Frankly I bought it for the rivets. I did give it a go and it seemed to work fine, but it requires significant hand strength on say a 3/16" rivet. My daughter was not able to use it. No problems with the $25 Riveter.
I bought other rivets so I have other sizes as well. So this is after a new coat of paint and using rivets to attach things.
I applied a bit of primer.
I decided to use three latches because there is so much in the files. It holds well. I still might eventually just replaced the top handle if it proves to be insufficient for the weight. But it is not moved much. Originally I was going to use bolts rather than rivets because I had never used Rivets before.... and then I realized that I can easily fix a door that was causing me problems for years by using a few blind pop rivets. And it worked great on fixing that door.
I purchased the Doyle 13" Heavy Duty Professional Hand Riveter for $25. This thing works really well. No idea if it will hold up to heavy use or not, but I am amazed.
They also had a $5 hand riveter Set for $5 that came with 100 different sized 1/8" rivets. Frankly I bought it for the rivets. I did give it a go and it seemed to work fine, but it requires significant hand strength on say a 3/16" rivet. My daughter was not able to use it. No problems with the $25 Riveter.
I bought other rivets so I have other sizes as well. So this is after a new coat of paint and using rivets to attach things.
Attachments
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
You are right its a very early heritage era craftsman. Basically the box design is from the long c era and sears put the new heritage era logo on them. This is late 40's design.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Looks like similar to a 4119 or 5319 from the 1960'sI inherited a Utility Chest from Union Steel Chest Corporation. It was mostly full of rusty metal files. This has been painted and the front lock was broken and removed.
That was previously painted at least to a similar color of the original I believe. The latches work poorly (at best) and there is a lot of weight. it is an easy place for me to store all of the Files, which I have sorted, cataloged, cleaned, removed rust, and I even counted the teeth per inch. I now know how many, what type, and where they are stored.
There are some miscellaneous things in the top.
I previously sorted the files and I dropped in a Shinto Rasp as an easy place to store this.
This was the "lock" for the chest. I don't think that I can salvage that. I expected there to be writing on this.
It is pretty dirty. You can see the original color was closer to an Olive Green by looking where the was.
There is a stamping in the tray. It says "PAT APPLD FOR". So Patent Applied For.
So I cleaned things up a bit and removed some of the rust.
More to come!
Thanks. I think I found it in the 1948 catalog. It looks like it could be the PC04382, which is shown on pg 8 and the back cover. The artist drew the box two different ways though. Pg 8 has the creases on the front but the back page doesn't. I won't know for sure until I measure the thing.
Moe
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Both of those boxes were offered at the same time in the late 40’s. The flat front box is the one you have. The creased front box is the newer version of that box. Sears often had multiple era logos or tools in the same catalog.Thanks. I think I found it in the 1948 catalog. It looks like it could be the PC04382, which is shown on pg 8 and the back cover. The artist drew the box two different ways though. Pg 8 has the creases on the front but the back page doesn't. I won't know for sure until I measure the thing.
Moe
Got around to removing the logo plate and lock from the late '40s Craftsman box. Fortunately the gray paint was latex and brake cleaner dissolved it easily. I can't find any pics on the web of a plate with red letters and black background. How common is this logo plate?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Pic looks dark blue to my eyes, and pretty common if blue.
I was wonder if it was dark blue too.
carrionrogue
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- Oct 1, 2024
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Snap on KRA637 top and KR657 bottom.
Bought second hand and refurbished but kept the paint original and cleaned all the grease and dirt off.
New drawer slides were warrantied on the tool truck and casters were ordered from Mcmaster.
Those old accuride slides held up well but some of the detents were gone.
Mid to late 90's
Bought second hand and refurbished but kept the paint original and cleaned all the grease and dirt off.
New drawer slides were warrantied on the tool truck and casters were ordered from Mcmaster.
Those old accuride slides held up well but some of the detents were gone.
Mid to late 90's