Vintage Craftsman tool box.

[wmec627]

The other day I bought a tool box full of old tools from an gent cleaning out his attic.
Some machinist tools and some woodworking tools.The seller had no idea what they are but seemed glad I knew.
The interesting part is the tool box these tools were in.The logo is a faded but still identifiable Craftsman Tools.I never saw one like it and after posting it up onCraftsman tool box website I was recommended to post it up here.
Can anyone help fill in the history on this?
Thank you.

 

[RTM]

Not without pictures. As a newbie, you may not be able to post directly. If you can share a working link, that will help.

 

[wmec627]

Actually I tried posting some pictures of the tool box I bought but the pictures didn't upload.

 

[Rileysan]

Since I pointed you here from the FB collector's page, I'll post the same photos for you when I get home this evening - unless, of course, you're able to do so before then.

For the rest of you, you're going to want to see this box. It's one I've never seen from any manufacturer, let alone Craftsman. I suspect it's an unlisted item from the early to mid 1930s.

- Brian

 

[wmec627]

Rileysan,I emptied it out and took more pictures of it.If I can't get them up here on my own ill post them on thr FB collectors page and you can use those.

 

[Rileysan]

Rileysan,I emptied it out and took more pictures of it.If I can't get them up here on my own ill post them on thr FB collectors page and you can use those.

Sounds good! I won't have access to FB for a couple hours, but if you reply to the same thread you started on FB, I'll be able to find them easily.

Cheers!

 

[wmec627]

New photos are on FB

 

[Eric David Bru]

Which FB Group?

Link?

 

[wmec627]

Craftsman tool boxes

 

[Rileysan]

Here are the photos the OP posted to Facebook.

 

[wmec627]

Thank you Rileysan

 

[Rileysan]

*bump*

Does anyone have any thoughts about this box? Do any of you recognize this design; was it sold under another design?

Thanks!

 

[RTM]

I have the Craftsman catalog DVD at home, can poke at it tonight a bit. Can someone pin down that logo era a bit? I'm guessing prior to 1940, and pre Union made wood boxes.

 

[Rileysan]

I have the Craftsman catalog DVD at home, can poke at it tonight a bit. Can someone pin down that logo era a bit? I'm guessing prior to 1940, and pre Union made wood boxes.

I have the same Craftsman catalog DVD but welcome the help. Even though I looked at every catalog from 1932-45, one can get snow blindness while scrolling through so many catalogs.

That logo was used throughout the 1930s and towards the end of WWII. The biggest clue to the age of the box is the color (maroon?), which is the color used on many socket set boxes from circa 1932-36. I've never seen a Craftsman box with that configuration of drawers but it would be hard to fake that label, color, and patina, which makes me believe it's legit.

Brian

 

[Cruzan80]

Sometimes I find things in the seasonal Sears catalogs that never made it into the Craftsman ones... Just an idea.

Checked the 1930, and all say olive colored. Next one I have jumps to 39, so may bracket the time we need.

 

[Cruzan80]

The more I look at how that is arranged with the various bins, the more I am thinking it was set up for hardware. I saw references to a "bulk pack" (snipped the '39 version), and maybe they sold it with a case as a set at some point? Or an in-store version of the same?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does anyone have any thoughts about this box?

It's a really strange combination of features. It looks like a footlocker, for starters, in shape, style, that overhung lid, and the center hasp. It's shocking to see the drop front reveal what turns out to be more of a machinists' style box. Lastly, is it just me, the angle and trick of the light, or is it really thin gauge? Something about how big it is might contribute to that impression, but the edges of the drawers look like they would slice your wrist open. It just looks very abnormally thin gauge to me for the dimensions of a machinists' style box.

It's cool, obviously, and I'm not really even a Craftsman guy. But try to look at it without the logo and it's hard to escape the oddness and one-offness.

 

[wmec627]

It's a really strange combination of features. It looks like a footlocker, for starters, in shape, style, that overhung lid, and the center hasp. It's shocking to see the drop front reveal what turns out to be more of a machinists' style box. Lastly, is it just me, the angle and trick of the light, or is it really thin gauge? Something about how big it is might contribute to that impression, but the edges of the drawers look like they would slice your wrist open. It just looks very abnormally thin gauge to me for the dimensions of a machinists' style box.

It's cool, obviously, and I'm not really even a Craftsman guy. But try to look at it without the logo and it's hard to escape the oddness and one-offness.

The box measures 24 inches wide,11 7/8ths deep by 13 3/8ths high.
The steel is no different gauge than any other box or bins I have.
Hope this helps.

 

[Mintgrun]

The pulls on this old Snap-on box are quite similar and it doesn't have drawer glides either. The top section is also very deep, like the Craftsman box. The photos above all show the drawers open, so I cannot see what they ride on. Do the supports resemble the ones on this box?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's smaller than I thought. I guess it's just me getting a flimsy impression.

 

[wmec627]

The pulls on this old Snap-on box are quite similar and it doesn't have drawer glides either. The top section is also very deep, like the Craftsman box. The photos above all show the drawers open, so I cannot see what they ride on. Do the supports resemble the ones on this box?

The drawers ride on full shelves.

 

[Mintgrun]

Ah. Nevermind that comparison. Handle shape is about the only similarity I can see. It's a mysteree.

 

[Tapeguns]

Wow. That thing is old. Never seen one like it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The more I look at how that is arranged with the various bins, the more I am thinking it was set up for hardware.

I didn't see this comment before I posted. Interesting. The odd arrangement (not just the weird shape and configuration of the drawers, but the main compartment under the lid, all very atypical for machinists' chests) definitely contributes to me seeing 'light duty'.

The photos above all show the drawers open,

I would actually like to see it with the drop front down and the drawers closed. I'm still very curious about the frame/structure.

 

[wmec627]

Drawers closed and drop front down

 

[wmec627]

My concern at this point is not it's precise identity, it looks as if I will not get much deeper than has already been learned,but how best to clean up and restore it.
The exterior paint is all but gone and there is rust on the bottom edges.The interior paint has survived better,however there are blobs of hardened goo stuck to it along with paint splatter.
Does anyone know of the correct color that Craftsman used from that era?
Also the emblem on the front panel is pretty rough,I am unsure as to how or what to do about it.Any recommendations?
I plan on putting it to use as a machinist tool box,a pampered one to be certain,not a display piece.

 

[Rileysan]

My concern at this point is not it's precise identity, it looks as if I will not get much deeper than has already been learned,but how best to clean up and restore it.
The exterior paint is all but gone and there is rust on the bottom edges.The interior paint has survived better,however there are blobs of hardened goo stuck to it along with paint splatter.
Does anyone know of the correct color that Craftsman used from that era?
Also the emblem on the front panel is pretty rough,I am unsure as to how or what to do about it.Any recommendations?
I plan on putting it to use as a machinist tool box,a pampered one to be certain,not a display piece.

If you're thinking about restoring it, I would vote against it. It is, I believe, a unique Craftsman tool box (as in, the only one known to the rabid tool collecting community), and keeping it as original as possible will preserve any potential value. And unless you have a legitimate concern about the rust possible causing permanent damage, I recommend cleaning and oiling it (wiping it down with WD-40 works great!), except for the front cover. For that, I would wipe it down with a damp cloth, being careful to avoid the Craftsman label, and spray it with a low-gloss clear coat to preserve the label.

After that, use it to your heart's content!

Just my 2 cents ...

Brian

 

[Mintgrun]

Same here, except I'd skip the clear coat.

Just my one cent ...

Tom

 

[RTM]

I have the Craftsman catalog DVD at home, can poke at it tonight a bit. Can someone pin down that logo era a bit? I'm guessing prior to 1940, and pre Union made wood boxes.

I have the same Craftsman catalog DVD but welcome the help. Even though I looked at every catalog from 1932-45, one can get snow blindness while scrolling through so many catalogs.

That logo was used throughout the 1930s and towards the end of WWII. The biggest clue to the age of the box is the color (maroon?), which is the color used on many socket set boxes from circa 1932-36. I've never seen a Craftsman box with that configuration of drawers but it would be hard to fake that label, color, and patina, which makes me believe it's legit.

I just searched 1930 - 1951, and I'm past snow blind. Tearing, back strain, I'm going to bed. Nothing useful on this front, but I did find my small midget set I think. More on that later.