The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[INSP380]

Just grabbed a 1960 Cornwell SK-24….. need to start a clean up…Preserving not restoring…

Steve

 

[Beerhippie]

I wouldn’t use something that strong to start out with!

Huh? Ever use mineral spirits?

I start with dish soap. Doubt the brand matters, duckies or no. Then the mineral spirits. Chalky, oxidized paint restores pretty nicely with that combo.

Here's a 1939 Coleman lantern I restored recently:

Before:



After:





I apply a coat of Mother's California Synthetic wax after cleaning.

I learned the mineral spirit trick from a guy who professionally restores antique Steinway (and the like) pianos and fine furniture.

 

[INSP380]

I like the product Totally Awesome. Citrus based cleaner from the dollar store. Full strength and off comes the crud…

Steve

 

[CGarage]

I like the product Totally Awesome. Citrus based cleaner from the dollar store. Full strength and off comes the crud…

Steve

It’s a degreaser.

The point is, too many people begin using full strength cleaning products and this is very harmful to the paint.

Dawn dish soap diluted is a good and safe starting place, as is Murphy’s oil soap.

 

[Mintgrun]

I bought this Simonsen Tool Caddy today. These are the photos from the ad on FB Marketplace. I'll post more as I clean it up. I'll be skipping the dish soap and going straight for the rubbing compound on this one. (I will be using a some soap on the cat pee).


Contents not included, which was fine with me. I have several small Simonsen boxes but this is the first roller.


I have no idea where I'll park it or what will go in it, but I bought it anyway. I offered a little over half their six-day-old asking price and they accepted. I don't normally haggle, but simply said, "before you sell it for less than $**.** please keep my offer in mind." It was one of her dad's boxes, but she had more than enough and was keeping the shiny Craftsman boxes. This one's more my style.

 

[njride]

I bought this Simonsen Tool Caddy today. These are the photos from the ad on FB Marketplace. I'll post more as I clean it up. I'll be skipping the dish soap and going straight for the rubbing compound on this one. (I will be using a some soap on the cat pee).


Contents not included, which was fine with me. I have several small Simonsen boxes but this is the first roller.


I have no idea where I'll park it or what will go in it, but I bought it anyway. I offered a little over half their six-day-old asking price and they accepted. I don't normally haggle, but simply said, "before you sell it for less than $**.** please keep my offer in mind." It was one of her dad's boxes, but she had more than enough and was keeping the shiny Craftsman boxes. This one's more my style.

That would be the perfect little box for me to keep covered out on the side of the house by the driveway where I'm always working on the cars. Give it a permanent home on the old ac unit concrete pad. Love the layout of that, like a mini snap on side cabinet.

 

[JustVicingIt]

Can't wait to see it cleaned up!

 

[Outlawmws]

I bought this Simonsen Tool Caddy today.

If I'm not mistaken that has 2 cart wheels in the back, and you tilt it like a hand truck to move it, correct?

 

[Smokeshow69]

I bought this Simonsen Tool Caddy today. These are the photos from the ad on FB Marketplace. I'll post more as I clean it up. I'll be skipping the dish soap and going straight for the rubbing compound on this one. (I will be using a some soap on the cat pee).


Contents not included, which was fine with me. I have several small Simonsen boxes but this is the first roller.


I have no idea where I'll park it or what will go in it, but I bought it anyway. I offered a little over half their six-day-old asking price and they accepted. I don't normally haggle, but simply said, "before you sell it for less than $**.** please keep my offer in mind." It was one of her dad's boxes, but she had more than enough and was keeping the shiny Craftsman boxes. This one's more my style.

Heck yeah! I have been seeing that one but resisted taking the plunge. I’m glad someone is weaker than I . Seriously cool box however!

 

[Mintgrun]

That would be the perfect little box for me to keep covered out on the side of the house by the driveway where I'm always working on the cars. Give it a permanent home on the old ac unit concrete pad. Love the layout of that, like a mini snap on side cabinet.

It might wind up living in my carport beside the shop, since the shop is getting FULL! It's bigger than I thought it'd be. 28" wide by 18" deep and 36" tall. The drawers and shelves are modular and slip into slots on the sides/back, so they can be moved around, or removed altogether.

Can't wait to see it cleaned up!

Same here! If it wasn't so late, I'd still be scrubbing on it. Lower your expectations though. It's missing a lot of paint.

If I'm not mistaken that has 2 cart wheels in the back, and you tilt it like a hand truck to move it, correct?

Yes, they're 10" diameter and 2-1/2" wide. I snapped a couple photos of the bottom before taking it out of the car. I noticed that there are springs on the axles pushing the wheels towards the outside. I wonder why they added that feature. I like how Simonsen rounds all the outside corners of their boxes. I've got to bang some dings out of some of the corners, but I think it's doable.

Heck yeah! I have been seeing that one but resisted taking the plunge. I’m glad someone is weaker than I . Seriously cool box however!

I was surprised I hadn't noticed it sooner, when I saw that it'd been listed for six days. I comb the marketplace regularly. Today I told my buddy all the reasons I shouldn't chase it and then made an offer after we hung up the phone. Weakness is right! It was so close to home I couldn't resist.

Hello, my name is Tom and I've got a tool box problem.

 

[JustVicingIt]

Yup, missing a lot of the paint but what’s there is that nice blue and will come through nicely once cleaned I bet.

 

[Mintgrun]

I like the two shades of blue too. Rubbing compound is making quick work of the light blue shelves on the door. There were just two screws at the top attaching the shelf frame and it drops into a slot at the bottom of the door. It's interesting how much of this box is put together with screws. That makes it quite serviceable.

The handle slips into two 'pipes' on the back of the box, with a detent pin holding it in and there are three height options. It's in the lowest hole now. There are also screws holding the backsplash on and I'll remove those to get all the stuff out from behind it. It's another project-box, but I'm excited about it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a very cool add, Tom! I remember seeing a few others on the thread years ago, including a blue and a gray, and @1982fxr posted a red one not too long ago. The combination of compactness and sturdiness is terrific.

I love how they appropriated a generic name and trademarked it. (Or was it the other way around?)

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you. It says Patents Pending under the Simonsen stamping. I've looked into a few of their patents on other small boxes I have, including a latch and shelf dividers. The latch is unique enough on this one I suspect that may be one that's pending. Does pending, without patented imply that this is pre-1956?

 

[CGarage]

You should disinfect it first.
Going straight to rubbing compound is a bad idea.

 

[Mintgrun]

Wash the cooties off? What would you recommend using? It's filthy, but the cat pee on the bottom of the door is the only really gross part. The rest is just 'shop dirt.' I'm not a germaphobe, but maybe I should be more concerned about such things.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does pending, without patented imply that this is pre-1956?

I don't know anything about the patent implied by that marking, Tom, but the TM action of the "Tool Caddy" name (reg. Dec 3, 1957; first use May 23, 1956) is completely separate from that. The USPTO handles both patents and TMs, but separate processes, forms, dates, etc. It stands to reason that if the patent is somehow critical or essential to the Tool Caddy that it would've been the same production era, but again, separate actions. That little circle R indicates the name is already a registered TM, so the box is after 1957.

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't know about a full disinfect unless its had rodents., but washing (especially the cat pee) and maybe clay bar if you are trying to save the paint. Car people have all the right "tools" needed.

 

[Mintgrun]

Yes, the pee is gross, but I don't see any tiny turds. It doesn't smell like mice either. I have clay bars, but this box is rougher than that. It really needs a respray, but I'm not going there (now). Rubbing compound will thin the paint some, but I'd be taking it all off to repaint it anyway. The paint on the top of the box is blistering a bit, so I may shave that with a razor before rubbing on it.

Cleaning up old tools and stuff is a rather filthy hobby.

Thank you for the TM vs Patent clarification, Lugz. I'll have to do some research later on, to see what I can learn about the patents.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thank you for the TM vs Patent clarification, Lugz. I'll have to do some research later on, to see what I can learn about the patents.

There is also the design patent segment to consider, so actually three areas to review.

I'd be inclined to expect the patent to be for the design.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll have to do some research later on, to see what I can learn about the patents.

A quickie Google Books search in that general timeframe revealed a clasp/lock (2751241 / granted to Simonsen on Jan 19, 1956), which would've been before the TM was granted, and suited for carry boxes, not this caddy, so probably not it, and a tray support bracket (2995409 / granted to Simonsen on Aug 8, 1961), also depicted on carry boxes, but maybe related somehow?

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you for digging that up. It's interesting seeing how this box is put together. A phillips bit can have it in pieces in a matter of minutes. I just took the doors off and they're hung with tabs in slits, so the door just sits there as you remove the last screw and the screws are not put in shear.

Simonsen built smart boxes. I expect to learn a bit from this one.

You should disinfect it first.
Going straight to rubbing compound is a bad idea.

I agree. Clean first, then scrub. Thank you for the input.
I was overeager.
Tom

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thank you for digging that up. It's interesting seeing how this box is put together. A phillips bit can have it in pieces in a matter of minutes. I just took the doors off and they're hung with tabs in slits, so the door just sits there as you remove the last screw and the screws are not put in shear.

Simonsen built smart boxes. I expect to learn a bit from this one.



I agree. Clean first, then scrub. Thank you for the input.
I was overeager.
Tom

Process for you to clean that tool caddy-

1) gunk engine degreaser
2) dawn dish soap in hot water
3) clay bar/ instant Detailer for lubricant
4) compound/ polish- I love meguires ultimate compound
5) wax and enjoy

 

[y'sguy]

Nice box, Have fun with and show us how it turns out.
I would consider block sanding it with 600 and a drop of dawn dish soap before you compound it.

 

[1982fxr]

How are the drawers? On mine they were finicky and not very heavy duty slides. I think mine was newer though, maybe.

 

[JustVicingIt]

The Kennedy set I got is all cleaned and lined and repainted the cantilevered boxes bottom. Primed with a rust inhibitor after grinding the rust off. Found a fairly okay match from Rust-Oleum with a textured brown paint that works well, especially for the bottom. Overall happy with the Kennedy set and glad to be in the Kennedy club with them.

 

[CGarage]

The brown on red is giving 70s Hugh Hefner ******* mansion vibes….you really love those tools don’tcha

 

[Outlawmws]

Found a fairly okay match from Rust-Oleum with a textured brown paint

That does look fairly close! Wel done! Can you post exactly what you used?

 

[MR.X]

Well, I know enough to know I'd really like to run into one that wasn't a shambles of its former self or mint-y and priced like a used car!

Yes, hence, my keen eye comment. There's definitely a similarity. TE-87-A is the number for the Tool Equipment set that went in it, by the way, not the chest. I don't know that the chest ever had a separate number. There are a few similar looking chests in slightly different configurations in my copy of the SNL J-19.

Those are very handsome, and dead ringers, I would say. Maybe the one in the staged photo of the NA O-47 stayed in service since WWI. I am not familiar with T-11. I am familiar with a TE-11. A different Signal Corps set for constructing shacks, towers and poles. Also came in a wooden chest, but it was squatter than the chest for the TE-87-A. So many sets, so many chests!

Those are to die for!

Here’s a BC-77? WW2 version of the chest I guess. Found in a shed on a tall workbench with **** in front of it that I had to lift it over, all lower back and arms extended straight out….Dude said “it’s kind of heavy” and I was foolishly like “I got it” …guy kind of did the cross arm, cocked hip, lean back with that look over the top of his glasses half skeptical anticipatory smirk…..barely saved my honor. Effin heavy.

 

[JustVicingIt]

That does look fairly close! Wel done! Can you post exactly what you used?

Absolutely.

If this doesn't go to the color I got, it's the Autumn Brown one.

Autumn Brown Textured Rust-Oleum

The texture isn't perfect, but it'd good enough to mask any dings or dents and like I said, the bottom of a box doesn't really matter much so no worries there for the larger coverage.

 

[JustVicingIt]

The brown on red is giving 70s Hugh Hefner ******* mansion vibes….you really love those tools don’tcha

Wouldn't be here if I didn't love tools,

 

[Provincial]

Here’s a BC-77? WW2 version of the chest I guess. Found in a shed on a tall workbench with **** in front of it that I had to lift it over, all lower back and arms extended straight out….Dude said “it’s kind of heavy” and I was like “I got it” …guy kind of did the cross arm, cocked hip, lean back with that look over the top of his glasses half skeptical anticipatory smirk…..barely saved my honor. Effin heavy.

Ah, to be young and strong!

 

[MR.X]

Ah, to be young and strong!

Shiiii......After I sold a huge slate and copper switch /panel board to Ed (Oregon Rock Crusher) in my basement I was looking at him like..."I hope you don't think I'm carrying that thing up the stairs!" ( He did it no problem)....That basement is full of stuff I took down there myself years ago that there is zero chance I could get out by myself now.

 

[bmwrd0]

I feel you on that Mr. X. I have to disassemble everything to get it out of my basement, and I only have a half set of stairs to go up!

Or, get Riley to come by and hoist everything.

 

[Mintgrun]

This box rolls up and down stairs pretty well. Empty, anyway.


I started off cleaning the bottom and worked my way up.



I removed the backsplash, shelves, drawers, door shelves and cleaned everything. There are a few screws in each shelf and they drop onto tabs stamped on the sides and back of the box. The sides of the drawer enclosure do the same on the top and bottom of the shelves.



The door-shelves' frame sits in the bottom of the door, with two screws at the top to retain it. Those shelves also sit on tabs. The little doors on top of the wheels must be for lubrication access.



When I took the last screw out of the door hinge it just sat there, hung by three tabs stamped into the hinge; so, the weight of the door is not putting the screws in shear.



I'm not planning on removing the metal pegboard. The latch mechanism inside seems to be working fine. There are cracks in the front corners of the lower shelf that I'm planning on TIG welding, with a backer piece underneath. Then, I can put it all back together.



(another as-was photo)



The bottoms of the drawers were filthy and I ended up using 0000 steel wool and naphtha to scrub them clean. Basically the same as Beerhippee's mineral spirits, only it evaporates faster. That green spray paint washed right off.




There was only one slightly bent glide to straighten.
( : The red tipped two-pounder was a recent find : )



I did some searching and found the patent from 1959.

US2893749A - Tool cabinet - Google Patents

Tom

 

[Outlawmws]

This box rolls up and down stairs pretty well. Empty, anyway.

Are you going to fill the duplex hole with socket and box? are there cord hooks on the back? Or I guess you coud loop it over the handle.

 

[Mintgrun]

It looks funny to me with only one plug. I've been looking for a brown one, or two, to see if they look better than white ones. There isn't a cord hook on the back, so I'll add one if I do put plugs in. I can mount one using a backsplash screw or two.

 

[Beerhippie]

That box is looking great, Mintgrun!

As for mineral spirits vs naptha, naptha is much more of a solvent. Mineral spirits remove chalky, oxidized paint, grease and oils, but don't strip anything.

 

[Mintgrun]

The naphtha is actually solvent for a parts cleaning tub I cleaned out but have never used. I've slowly been using the five gallon bucket that came with it. It doesn't dissolve the factory paint at all, but did seem to soften the spray paint. It was the steel wool that did most of the work. It probably would have worked just as well with mild soapy water, once the degreasing was done. I just did those two steps in one. It was stinky, but fun to see things come so clean.

I may do a tiny bit of wet sanding on top with 600 on a pad/block and then I'll feed it some Meguiars #7. I'm looking forward to that step!

 

[JustVicingIt]

That color is going to look nice when all is said and done. Glad it seems like you can keep it