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Metal Cabinets vintage or homemade and no name toolboxes. got any to show please do

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Private Lugnutz

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Also, here's a FB Marketplace listing I just found. Unfortunately many are rusted through the top due to being outside for too long.

Listed as "Military maintenance storage cabinets" in Bristow, Virginia. Seller is asking $30 each, with discounts if you buy more.
Oh. My. Effing. God. I have never seen so many together. Including the ones stacked on their sides, I count at least twenty (20), maybe a couple more. Several variants (types and classes) of "CABINET, metal, spare parts and tools, wooden bench top" there. 41-C-13. 41-C-13-25. 41-C-15. 41-C-18. All late war, immediate postwar, 1950's.

1780143169413.png

Are you interested? I don't want to snipe you if you are. But I am ready to text a friend in that area if you're not. Some of them are very rough, some of them are indeed "rusted" through at the top, but most of them just have badly deteriorating butcher block tops. Those are easy to replace.

This is what the 41-C-15 variant (there are a few like this shown) should look like...
 

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ArmyVW_GuyInTX

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Oh. My. Effing. God. I have never seen so many together. Including the ones stacked on their sides, I count at least twenty (20), maybe a couple more. Several variants (types and classes) of "CABINET, metal, spare parts and tools, wooden bench top" there. 41-C-13. 41-C-13-25. 41-C-15. 41-C-18. All late war, immediate postwar, 1950's.

1780143169413.png

Are you interested? I don't want to snipe you if you are. But I am ready to text a friend in that area if you're not. Some of them are very rough, some of them are indeed "rusted" through at the top, but most of them just have badly deteriorating butcher block tops. Those are easy to replace.

This is what the 41-C-15 variant (there are a few like this shown) should look like...
My ex jarhead brother lives no to far away from Barstow (20mins).

I have a pair of those cabinets in storage - never been outside.
 

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Tapeguns

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Oh. My. Effing. God. I have never seen so many together. Including the ones stacked on their sides, I count at least twenty (20), maybe a couple more. Several variants (types and classes) of "CABINET, metal, spare parts and tools, wooden bench top" there. 41-C-13. 41-C-13-25. 41-C-15. 41-C-18. All late war, immediate postwar, 1950's.

1780143169413.png

Are you interested? I don't want to snipe you if you are. But I am ready to text a friend in that area if you're not. Some of them are very rough, some of them are indeed "rusted" through at the top, but most of them just have badly deteriorating butcher block tops. Those are easy to replace.

This is what the 41-C-15 variant (there are a few like this shown) should look like...
I am not interested. Too large of a project for me to chew on. Have at it!
 

ecotec

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I have always wanted one or two of the 41-C-15 cabinets.

It would take hours to Tetris one into my garage, so it would have to be in near mint condition and cheap for me to make that kind of effort…

I wonder how well they would work as bench top drill press stands. They would have lots of storage for everything that you would use with the drill press.
 

PghJKB

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I have always wanted one or two of the 41-C-15 cabinets.

It would take hours to Tetris one into my garage, so it would have to be in near mint condition and cheap for me to make that kind of effort…

I wonder how well they would work as bench top drill press stands. They would have lots of storage for everything that you would use with the drill press.
One of mine was used as a drill press stand by the PO. He used a steel plate that was clamped to the top to preserve the butcher block top.

To me, it looked like it served him well...

JKB
 
OP
D

drivesitfar

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Those military stands are great as drill press or I use one of mine with rollers as a grinder stand. Your call on whether to put rollers under your drill press but an older smaller one might not be so top heavy.
 

Mr. Wonderful

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I have always wanted one or two of the 41-C-15 cabinets.

It would take hours to Tetris one into my garage, so it would have to be in near mint condition and cheap for me to make that kind of effort…

I wonder how well they would work as bench top drill press stands. They would have lots of storage for everything that you would use with the drill press.
1780508315204.jpeg
You can always put it inside the house if you dont want to make room in the garage lol!
 

Mr. Wonderful

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It’s two pieces of 3/4 ply with castors. I wrapped the edges in some 1x4 cvg fir. I honestly intended it for the garage. Once the lower trim was on I switched directions. I’m still on the fence about the wrap on the drawer pulls though.
 

Private Lugnutz

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Have at it!
I sent it to a friend in Virginia and also posted it on our cabinets thread on G503.com. An acquaintance there drove a couple hours and bought three of the Type 1 Class A Spare Parts jobbies. Based on the tags, it looks like they were all 1960s and late 70s.
 

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Tapeguns

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I sent it to a friend in Virginia and also posted it on our cabinets thread on G503.com. An acquaintance there drove a couple hours and bought three of the Type 1 Class A Spare Parts jobbies. Based on the tags, it looks like they were all 1960s and late 70s.
Awesome!!
 

Smokeshow69

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I sent it to a friend in Virginia and also posted it on our cabinets thread on G503.com. An acquaintance there drove a couple hours and bought three of the Type 1 Class A Spare Parts jobbies. Based on the tags, it looks like they were all 1960s and late 70s.
Thank goodness someone grabbed these who appreciates them! I was getting all hot and lathered up just looking at the photos and was hoping some of them were saved!
 

mikeinri

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These two basket case cabinets are available at work (heading to a dumpster). Now that they're empty, they don't seem very heavy. Some of the slides are sticking.

Not really sure that they're worth saving (obviously, I'd need to combine the best components into just one cabinet).

Screenshot_20260616_212034_Photos.jpg20260109_153716.jpg

Do these look worthy of salvage?

"Workplace" is still in business in NH, they seem to make an assortment of workstations, etc. Not sure if they actually built these, or were resellers. I'll look for more ID tags on the back, and maybe contact them for info.


Mike
 
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Outlawmws

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These two basket case cabinets are available at work (heading to a dumpster). Now that they're empty, they don't seem very heavy. Some of the slides are sticking.

Not really sure that they're worth saving (obviously, I'd need to combine the best components into just one cabinet).

Screenshot_20260616_212034_Photos.jpg20260109_153716.jpg

Do these look worthy of salvage?

"Workplace" is still in business in NH, they seem to make an assortment of workstations, etc. Not sure if they actually built these, or were resellers. I'll look for more ID tags on the back, and maybe contact them for info.


Mike
They look like the drawers at on rollers (often roller drawers of that type need a bit of weight to roll well)

So I'd vote make one good one - and with rollers those will take some weight.
 

Mintgrun

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Here's an interesting one from FB marketplace.

Cool box.

Here's a similar box posted in the Vintage Boxes thread with a brief discussion in the following posts.


1781788899647.png

Tom
 

mikeinri

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These two basket case cabinets are available at work (heading to a dumpster). Now that they're empty, they don't seem very heavy. Some of the slides are sticking.

Not really sure that they're worth saving (obviously, I'd need to combine the best components into just one cabinet).

Screenshot_20260616_212034_Photos.jpg20260109_153716.jpg

Do these look worthy of salvage?

"Workplace" is still in business in NH, they seem to make an assortment of workstations, etc. Not sure if they actually built these, or were resellers. I'll look for more ID tags on the back, and maybe contact them for info.


Mike

I hemmed and hawwed, but ultimately couldn't let them go to the landfill, especially since I had the trailer with me. They're actually heavier than I thought...

IMG_20260618_120126~2.jpg

Mike
 

twagler

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Ottawa, Canada
I've spotted this vintage metal cabinet for sale locally by online auction, and I really like the art deco drawer front styling. A reverse image search points to Hallowell as a possible manufacturer. Just curious if anyone knows what type of drawer slide would be likely for this era of cabinet design? I'm guessing that roller slides would be unlikely, and that primitive metal-on-metal slides would have been the norm? There are no other pictures available showing drawers open or even the sides of the cabinet. Size is 18" wide by 24" deep x 36" high.

Thanks, Tom
tool_chest_on_castors.jpg

tool_chest_on_castors top view.jpg
 

RTM

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Just curious if anyone knows what type of drawer slide would be likely for this era of cabinet design? I'm guessing that roller slides would be unlikely, and that primitive metal-on-metal slides would have been the norm? There are no other pictures available showing drawers open or even the sides of the cabinet.
Here is a Hallowell from the history books that looks like it has a leading edge roller.

 

Mintgrun

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My image search brought up a Lyon cabinet and it looks like it has roller bearing glides.

The site does not let you copy images.


(The cabinet you posted appears to have something written/stamped down the front right corner).

Tom
 

twagler

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(The cabinet you posted appears to have something written/stamped down the front right corner).

Tom
Good eye - I had missed that stamping completely. After zooming/inverting color, I'm pretty sure that the first part of the word is "Hall..." so I'm thinking this cabinet is indeed a Hallowell. Thanks everyone for your replies. If I manage to snag this cabinet I'll report back with some better pictures.nameplate zoomed & negative1.jpg
 

Private Lugnutz

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I'm thinking this cabinet is indeed a Hallowell.
I'm jealous! They (Standard Pressed Steel) made an awesome line of shop equipment, benches, cabinets, shelving units, etc, much of it interlocking. We have a thread for their cool hand tools (hollow handled multi-socket and bit drivers) down here on the Vintage Board)...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/interesting-vintage-hallowell-socket-set.340245/

...but there are several catalogs (40s, 50s, 60s) available on IA/ITCL. Here is an excerpt I just made from one...

1782556512861.png

...and HERE is a link to all of them.
 

twagler

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I'm jealous! They (Standard Pressed Steel) made an awesome line of shop equipment, benches, cabinets, shelving units, etc, much of it interlocking.
...but there are several catalogs (40s, 50s, 60s) available on IA/ITCL. Here is an excerpt I just made from one...
...and HERE is a link to all of them.
Thanks for the catalogs! I'm really excited to find out exactly what type of cabinet this is, and that it is proper shop-grade equipment with roller drawers. I'll definitely be bidding on this item now.

I've looked through all of the catalogs, and it looks like the auction-listed item that I'm interested in is a slight variant of the Hallowell Model 424 shop cart. The catalog snippet below shows a two-drawer Model 422, but the text states that a 4-drawer Model 424 is also available. Physically the auction listed cart is an exact match, with top bolt and row of holes in the legs, and hasps on the front of the drawer for padlock locking. The only difference is that the auction listed cart has an extra drawer on the very bottom - even better!
Hallowell 424 cart.jpg

And I also found a picture of the 4 drawer model (I think maybe even from this thread?) that matches as well.
PARTS CLEANER CABINET 1.jpeg
 

wmec627

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Here is an interesting Craftsman box I acquired a few months ago.
It caused quite a bit of interest when I first posted it trying to get some information on it.
So far it eludes identification but it's certainly a craftsman,the logo is a bit rough but it's still legible.
 

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Smokeshow69

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Here is an interesting Craftsman box I acquired a few months ago.
It caused quite a bit of interest when I first posted it trying to get some information on it.
So far it eludes identification but it's certainly a craftsman,the logo is a bit rough but it's still legible.
Ive never seen this type of craftsman box before. Very rare to say the least. Have you tried posting it on this thread yet?

 

twagler

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........ Thanks everyone for your replies. If I manage to snag this cabinet I'll report back with some better pictures.,,,,..
I'm happy to report that I did manage to snag the Hallowell cabinet that I had posted about above. As promised here are some more pictures. This was acquired from one of those online estate sale outfits - the bidding was fast and furious, but when it all ended, my $23 bid ended up on top, and I picked up the cabinet today.

The listing pictures only showed the cabinet with the drawers fully closed and did not mention anything about contents being included, so I assumed it was being sold empty. Imagine my surprise when I found all of the drawers fully loaded.
Drawers out iso.jpg

Once home, I dumped them all and spent some time sorting. A pretty decent miscellaneous collection of vintage tools, including a few Snap-On items (small 3/8" socket set, couple of screwdrivers & allen key sets, and a Bluepoint hacksaw), some calipers, dividers, protractors, etc. (L.S. Starrett, Moore & Wright), a Gray Canada wrench roll, Proto 12" adjustable, assorted Vice-Grips, Groben USA rotary burr set, some Walter & Metabo jig saw blades, Sandvik and Disston files, assorted small Chicago & Cincinnati C-clamps, a nice drill index case full of hardly used Butterfield drill bits, assorted threading taps and of course plenty of the usual junk that accumulates in a tool chest.
Sorting on trailer.jpg

And of course, the cabinet itself. Definitely plenty of that vintage "patina", but in pretty decent shape overall.
Reassembled 1.jpg

And as a bonus, the staff at the estate sale threw in this mystery box - it looks something like a oversize vintage metal lunchbox, except with a couple of small drawers. Anyone know what this type of container was used for?
LB open with drawers out.jpg

LB Iso with ruler.jpg

LB closed.jpg

I'm guessing maybe a sample case, or carry case for some sort of instrument? The T.W. initials on the front are actually those of the original owner - almost every item in this tool collection was stamped accordingly.
 
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