The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[lowbucktruck]

I've been waivering on a resto on this one.
A little body work, a bead blast, and a rattle can finish.
Anyone know what paint would be a close match to the original?

Wow, that old crafty box is COOL... its got patina!

 

[ZRX61]

I've been waivering on a resto on this one.
A little body work, a bead blast, and a rattle can finish.
Anyone know what paint would be a close match to the original?

The handles & badge match one I have. Pull one of the drawers out & have a look on the bottom to see what color is was. I went witha light green hammered finish paint from rustoleum which was a close match to mine. (pics in this thread someplace)

I masked off the badge & then beadblasted the handles. They came out real nice.

wait, found a pic:

 

[posaune]

I don't know whether to hate or love you guys, but after years of looking at this thread and drooling over boxes, I picked one up today. Pickin's seem to be slim in this area so I was happy to find this one for $100 and an afternoon of driving.

The owner had a very cool Porsche shop which I wish I could have explored further, but it was the end of a Friday for him. He apologized for not having keys to the box but when I took it out of the car and opened the top, there they were!

 

[Thumper]

Thats a badass set of RemLines !!!

 

[mjozefow]

Nice Remline set! I have pieced together a set for my dad. He loves them.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Wow! 100 bucks for a stack like that is a great score, Posaune! I'm digging the VW name badge.

 

[Adrien]

It just so happens that I've been looking around for old Kennedy boxes lately and I got lucky yesterday. Saw these sitting out at a random yard sale and picked them up for $50.

Adrien

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Here's a couple of my old ones.

Old Gerstner, a least 60 years old. There was a copy of Machinery's Handbook copyright 1919, with a signature from 1923 in the book till.

Kennedy cantilever box, about 25 years old, so not really old to me, but fits the OP's criteria.

 

[str8axle55]

Picked this up over the weekend, nice sweet all origional box, KR-59, with key.

goes well with these K-5, and K-23

and this, I think a Dunlap maybe, has origional handle.

 

[Adrien]

Here's a couple shots of a Kennedy Chest I'm restoring. I'm not very meticulous as you can tell by the lines in my rattle can job. I could probably cover it up with another coat of paint, but buying factory paint at $23 a can from MSC is a little steep. I added a small work surface on the side of the chest and I think overall it turned out pretty well.

Adrien

 

[Enloe]

well i had been lusting over an old snap on top box papaw had. I finally asked him about it since I do all the work he gave it to me. he said he got it from a neighbor in 56 or 57. where do i find the model # and where do i get a new lock and key for it.

it seems like 1 drawer is missing a divider. i think i will use this box for drill bits and files and gadgets

 

[Stuart in MN]

I picked this one up at a flea market today. It's a Snap-On KR280, built in 1965. It could use a paint job (it looks better in the photos than it really is) but I figured it's a nice size to throw in the trunk of the car.

 

[bobemmerich]

Here's mine. I believe both pieces are Williams and I believe it's old enough for this thread..They were going to toss this at work, so I asked and they told me to get it out by end of day or it's going to the scrap dumpster. Someone welded on a bracket for a padlock and the arms to hold the top up are long gone, but I like it. I'm guessing Mid-late 70's or so. If anyone knows where I can find a model # or manufacture stamping I would appreciate it.

 

[Steevo]

Just picked up this Remline / Wards Powr-Kraft today

I think I may have paid too much for this ($140), but when I saw it in the local second-hand shop, I had to have it. I was looking for a vintage Kennedy to house my machinist tools, but when I saw this, I liked it even more.

I don't know whether to try to preserve the original patina, or completely tear it down and re-chrome the drawer pulls, paint it, etc.

It even has the original lift-out tray in the top:

What vintage is this logo? 1960's ??

 

[posaune]

Re: Just picked up this Remline / Wards Powr-Kraft today

I think I may have paid too much for this ($140), but when I saw it in the local second-hand shop, I had to have it. I was looking for a vintage Kennedy to house my machinist tools, but when I saw this, I liked it even more.

I don't know whether to try to preserve the original patina, or completely tear it down and re-chrome the drawer pulls, paint it, etc.

Nice box! Then again, I'm biased (post 486).

I'm in the process of cleaning mine up. All the drawers and slides are are out of the top and I'm thinking I'll spray the outers and the drawer fronts. Yours looks to be in better shape than mine though. I'd be tempted to clean it and leave it as is.

 

[flathead74]

Those Powr Kraft boxes are great. The drawer layout is really good for precision tools as well. If it was me, I'd just clean them up and use them as is...at $140, I think you got a good deal.

 

[Steevo]

Re: Just picked up this Remline / Wards Powr-Kraft today

Nice box! Then again, I'm biased (post 486).

I'm in the process of cleaning mine up. All the drawers and slides are are out of the top and I'm thinking I'll spray the outers and the drawer fronts. Yours looks to be in better shape than mine though. I'd be tempted to clean it and leave it as is.

Sweet box you got there. Virtually identical except the upper right drawers.

 

[jon619]

Re: Just picked up this Remline / Wards Powr-Kraft today

I think I may have paid too much for this ($140), but when I saw it in the local second-hand shop, I had to have it.

Is this the same box from the Sacramento CL?
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/2362624780.html

I thought about taking a look over the weekend, but I got too many projects. Nice box though. I would just clean it up.

 

[Steevo]

Same box. Couldn't get him below $140, though I did get a commercial heat gun and a pair of Irwin furniture clamps for another $20, so overall a good day.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Re: Just picked up this Remline / Wards Powr-Kraft today

I think I may have paid too much for this ($140), but when I saw it in the local second-hand shop, I had to have it. I was looking for a vintage Kennedy to house my machinist tools, but when I saw this, I liked it even more.

I don't know whether to try to preserve the original patina, or completely tear it down and re-chrome the drawer pulls, paint it, etc.

No, you didn't pay too much. $140 is more than a fair price for that. I'd try and preserve the original patina. Looks like it could clean up real nice.

 

[Steevo]

Can anyone date the Powr-Kraft emblem here?:

 

[DieselDent]

My old snap on not sure how old it is but they guy I got if from was a Cadillac mechanic in the late 70s early 80s. Thought about restoring it but it looked so cool so I cleaned it up and Cleared it.
View media item 9312

 

[May Pop]

Steevo
That box was made by Rem Line. It is a little older than mine which I got in 1976. So I would date it late 60s to early 70s. Definitely worth 140. Great deal.
Ron

 

[Vinman]

My very first tool box,
KC506E chest and KC548D roll cabinet.
Bought new on Dec. 8, 1986 for the sum of $870.00 for both boxes.
I still have the original receipt.

It ain't the prettiest but it still does the job.

Vince

 

[Adrien]

Wow. Nice!

Adrien

 

[ZRX61]

The Kennedy I picked up last weekend...

 

[sawatch]

Came across this SO brake hone kit, ca '47. 10x5 box and complete kit.

 

[ksd]

I picked this up at the Goodwill for $4.99 maybe 60s or 70s???

 

[JimDon]

That logo was used by Craftsman around 1969 thru early 70s.
Brand new member joins up, goes to Goodwill and scores a nice box like
that -- well young'un you just scored yourself a really huge YOU ****! award for that purchase.
Nice nice buy.
Cheers,
You done good!
JimDon
PS With a hammer and dolly, you can probably coax that ding in the lid back into place. But if not, it just lends the box some character.

 

[billybudge]

Hi, I know I already posted a thread in the past, when I was doing a tool box restoration, but I thought I would had it here aswell,
Snap on tool box, made in 1947, check it out, beem in the same family since new,

 

[JimDon]

OUTSTANDING JOB!
CHeers to our mates across the big pond,
JimDon

 

[lauver]

billybudge(UK),

You did an awesome job on that box. Outstanding.

Your box was pretty rough to start with. You must have put some serious work into it.

 

[billybudge]

Thank you for your replies.
it took me a long while to finish this project, and I really like it,
I still am trying to track down an original snap on badge for the front lid, all in good time,
although I am stuck to what to put in it. I already have my main roll cab and top box filled to breaking point lol,

 

[CarWashGuy]

Got this Craftsman toolbox at a garage sale yesterday for $25. I'm trying to figure out what year it was made

 

[bluebolt]

Arooun 1960 to early 70's judging by that logo.

 

[Adrien]

Got this Craftsman toolbox at a garage sale yesterday for $25. I'm trying to figure out what year it was made

Don't know much about the year, and I'm no expert, but that's a Kennedy 520 isn't it? I wasn't aware that Kennedy re-branded for other manufactures. That's a cool box!

Adrien

 

[CarWashGuy]

Well after just googling Kennedy 520 I'd say that's exactly what it is, although branded Craftsman. Good eye

 

[Stuart in MN]

Kennedy did build boxes for Craftsman, I have one that's very similar - I think mine is a little older, and a little dirtier.

 

[willy3486]

I just drug an old one I had from storage in my shop. Its a old wooden one that has some kind of covering on it. The covering almost looks like paper but I don't think it is. It doesn't seem to be leather either. So I am not sure of what it is. I also do not know what it was used for. Anyone have an idea of what it could have been used for? It is at least 3 feet long. Here is photos

And here is the inside.

Anyone have suggestions on cleaning it, the age, or what it was made for? My dad picked it up and I inherited this one. I didn't pay much attention to it until I got into this site. I think I will pt it up on the wall as a display.


I have a second toolbox I picked up for five bucks at a yardsale. I has a lot of rust but I think I can clean it up. The only redeming quality is that it is a craftsman. I think it may be from the 80s due to the sticker. But for 5 bucks I thought it would be a decent project. I was able to heat the back of the drawer and then get the stickers to peel off. Does anyone have one like it, I was wondering the original colors. It has rust all over it but its not through. Here is a picture. I have the drawers out but sitting in the openings. It says it is a rally box.

 

[Drebs]

gonna clean these up when i get a chance