The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[1984Datsun]

Alright got the picture thing figured out Here is my vintage Matco tool box and as you can see it really needs restoring. Yes the datsun emblem is coming off....

I expect to find that Datsun emblem in my mailbox... completely intact...

No, really. I'd like that to put on the wall in the barn.

 

[DaWoodster]

Here is the newest addition to the 1950s Craftsman Garage family:

See bottom left tool chest, 1957 catalog:

And

See right rolling cart, 1957 catalog:

And together:

Apparently this was the top of the line model, as noted in the Craftsman catalog. You can tell the different by the size of the casters - their 'best quality' ones as they say had the 4" casters, whereas others they made had 3".

Too be honest, I'm just super glad to have found one, any one

Feel free to read up more about this find here:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1933661#post1933661

Another great find I gotta get our more...

 

[clemet]

Here's mine. I got it from a friend that was going to throw it out. Not sure on the age, but with the Sears Best sticker I figure it's pretty old. I have it taken apart to fit under the bench and take up less floor space. And the labels on the drawer are to help my 10yo know where to put things away when we are done.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's mine. I got it from a friend that was going to throw it out. Not sure on the age, but with the Sears Best sticker I figure it's pretty old. I have it taken apart to fit under the bench and take up less floor space. And the labels on the drawer are to help my 10yo know where to put things away when we are done.

I believe the date range on that is late 70's to early 80's. Does it have roller bearing drawers? Look on the bottom of the lower cabinet, it may have a date on it. Mine posted a few posts ago has 10-74 on it.

 

[clemet]

I believe the date range on that is late 70's to early 80's. Does it have roller bearing drawers? Look on the bottom of the lower cabinet, it may have a date on it. Mine posted a few posts ago has 10-74 on it.

No on the roller bearings. I will have to look and see if there is a date on it when I get home.

 

[Flatintoone]

bluebolt,
Where exactly (front, back, side, etc) on the bottom of that roller did you find the date? I picked up a similar one (though not so nice) at a recent estate sale, but didn't have any luck locating a date.

Interesting to see the differences: Mine has a gray lower compartment door, the lock is in the door front, the sides are flush, the badge is on the opposite side, etc.

 

[jvitez]

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3016/pc100791.jpg

I absolutely love that color!!! I've never seen any toolboxes with it. Was it a Craftsman-specific color? Is there a specific Craftsman name for it? I know steel-grey would do, but.......

 

[bluebolt]

bluebolt,
Where exactly (front, back, side, etc) on the bottom of that roller did you find the date? I picked up a similar one (though not so nice) at a recent estate sale, but didn't have any luck locating a date.

Interesting to see the differences: Mine has a gray lower compartment door, the lock is in the door front, the sides are flush, the badge is on the opposite side, etc.

You can barely see the date in the third pic bottom right.

We need pics of yours!

 

[Red Leader]

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3016/pc100791.jpg

I absolutely love that color!!! I've never seen any toolboxes with it. Was it a Craftsman-specific color? Is there a specific Craftsman name for it? I know steel-grey would do, but.......

Good question. I'm not sure about the Craftsman specific name. I've heard rumors that the Hammertone Gray color is supposedly a dead ringer for a paint match. I might find out soon about that, as I have a few touch up spots to do on it

-Dave

 

[CRTDI]

It's really cool to see all of these old tool boxes. I don't have what you would call a great vintage roll away box like some posted here however, I've got a pretty sick addiction when it comes to 40's and 50's Blackhawk stuff and I always seem to be searching for more. Posted this a while back, but I think it should qualify for a spot in this thread.

The original thread:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107186

 

[johnnybentwrench]

The Blackhawk box is awesome. post it in the blackhawk thread

 

[fredd7924]

I needed a box for a an airbrushing class I took, so I used one of my dads old beat up boxes. I am unsure the brand, as there was no readable markings on it before I stripped it.

 

[toymn6366]

i bought this a while back i gave more then i wanted to but had to have it i give 35 bucks for it but sold the one it replaced at a swapmeet for 45 so was happy

 

[CecilTheTurtle]

You people have infected me! Just found this forum recently and I've spent the last week engrossed in epic threads like Jack Olsen's garage, the Vintage Vise thread, and A_PMech's tool restorations. Now I find myself constantly scouring CL for old tools to play with.

Just picked up this nice Craftsman 6536 tool box off CL for $40 from a guy who bought it new in the 70's and used it in his carpentry work. Might restore it, might just use it now and restore it when I eventually give it to my son.

Not quite vintage, but another CL score. A Husky rollaway for $100 that came with it's own pile of misc nuts, bolts and screws.

Now to find a vintage Wilton bullet vice to restore....

 

[Hank McMauser]

man you guys finding all the good stuff on CL all I ever find here are snap-on/matco that want $2500 for a box that retails for $3000 or a clapped out walmart stanley box for $175-200 oh well guess it's one of the few drawbacks to living in a small town

 

[Geurt]

just seen the whole thread and I'm still drooling. maybe one day I need to trade one of you guys some Hazet Assistents for an old top and bottom Craftsman box.
here's my collection. after some ****** plastic boxes some years back I bought my first real tool box at a second hand shop. today I use it for tools that don't fit in my Assistent. don't know the make unfortunately

after that toolbox I bought two Assistents from a local garage. they 'upgraded' to new plastic boxes. one is used for my most used tools. the other one is partly dismantled for cleaning and fixing. after that's done this one will get the same treatment. I also have the two supports for glass (windshields etc) that go in the vertical supports.

 

[Amitygravel]

Geurt
A belated welcome to the GJ.
Those tool boxes and cart are really neat !

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Welcome, lets see the other assistent

 

[Geurt]

Geurt
A belated welcome to the GJ.
Those tool boxes and cart are really neat !

Welcome, lets see the other assistent

Thanks guys!
Here's the other one. This one is slightly younger. She doesn't have the continental tires and has the newer locking mechanism on the casters. She does have the hole for the stool though.
Next week I'll give her a good clean. Don't now if the patina will stay, she has been used hard, maybe a new coat of paint is better. At the least I need to do some metal work, fixing holes and dents.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I have the knock off imitation. I have owned the first series Hazet assistent, but sold it off.

I am looking for the imitation hazet set for it.

 

[930dreamer]

A perfect metric box, those are so cool.

 

[Outlawmws]

No offense to the guys that like the Hazet Assistants, but does anyone besides me think they look like clapped out Radio Flyer Wagons?

 

[930dreamer]

No offense to the guys that like the Hazet Assistants, but does anyone besides me think they look like clapped out Radio Flyer Wagons?

They do, but that's ok.

 

[Geurt]

No offense to the guys that like the Hazet Assistants, but does anyone besides me think they look like clapped out Radio Flyer Wagons?

Haha, indeed they do. However in my part of town those go for crazier money than the Hazets.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Since we are showing old Hazet carts, here is mine:



I never had a radio flyer as a kid. Maybe that's why I like this so much


Geurt - what are you going to do about the rubber bumpers on your cart? Take them off and try to clean them up or leave them as is? Mine have a few tares in them and I am afraid I will destroy them if I try to get them off.

 

[Geurt]

Geurt - what are you going to do about the rubber bumpers on your cart? Take them off and try to clean them up or leave them as is? Mine have a few tares in them and I am afraid I will destroy them if I try to get them off.

Mine come off quit easily. I'm going to try to clean them up with a rubber cleaner. Maybe buy some new ones for those that are to far gone. I understood you can get them here. Might try to contact Hazet about them because they are closer to my location than Samstag Sales.

 

[jgj5150]

Heres my baby I bought from a fellow GJ'er..I love it....and they are VERY pricey!!

Before and after shots..

I added the period-correct badge on the drawer... This is my work carryall box. It was painted imron metallic cranberry..

 

[WhoWhatNow]

Mine come off quit easily. I'm going to try to clean them up with a rubber cleaner. Maybe buy some new ones for those that are to far gone. I understood you can get them here. Might try to contact Hazet about them because they are closer to my location than Samstag Sales.

Thanks! This is great, they even have paint color suggestions. The bumpers are relatively cheap too.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

jgj5150 - I love that box. Great job on the resto. What is the catalog number?

 

[Outlawmws]

JG, how small is that box? It's hard to tell without something to scale by, I'm thinking close to 6x6x12?

Great job, came out nice!

 

[jgj5150]

Cant recall the cat. Number. I will look, your close. Its about 10x10x14

 

[B17E1943]

Cant recall the cat. Number. I will look, your close. Its about 10x10x14

Great job on that, and it's a very cool little box. I think it's a KRA-149 or 149A. I have a similar box with a different number.

 

[Red Leader]

Gettin' there

After:

 

[W650Mike]

Some amazing boxes and projects!

ersatzs2 saw may sig line and made mine a very merrry Christmas...the KR 420 I've been searching for. Now the fun begins...

 

[Darrin88]

Here is my $45.00 1970 Snap On box and my late 30's or so SO box with tools that came in it. I'm not sure what the other bidders were thinking to let me get it for 45 bucks. I think since it looked brand new they didn't think it had any value.

 

[Thumper]

That KRA53 is a great box....I wish I still had mine.You got a smokin deal on that one!

 

[widerberg]

Hey, All:

Had an early Christmas yesterday when I treated myself to two old(er) tool boxes to go with my current collection. I picked up a Kennedy 520 to sit atop the Kennedy MC22 I bought a couple of years ago. And I picked up an old MBC top chest that the buyer thought was a Mac or Matco. The MBC badge is visible on it, but has been painted over by someone in its past. I'm going to try to remove the old paint from the badge and restore the whole unit. I saw a very similar box in one of our threads here a while ago. It was a Cornwell box badged both with the MBC badge that I have and the old, script-style Cornwell logo. So, it could be that mine was sold as a Cornwell originally. So far, I haven't found any stampings.

They were both $40 each from different Craigslist sellers. Don't think that's a "You ****" deal, but I'm happy

Sorry for the iPhone pics. My digital's batteries are charging for tomorrow morning.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

YOU ****.
40.00 each come on, thats a steal. I am calling the local PD

The MBC kicks ***

 

[widerberg]

YOU ****.
40.00 each come on, thats a steal. I am calling the local PD

The MBC kicks ***

Woohoo! Thanks, Johnny. That's my first "You ****" buy. I'm usually on the other side of the coin, paying way more than I should. I'm glad I've finally been able to join the club and score something dirt cheap

 

[jgj5150]

<img src="http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=157851&d=1324655737">
"Picture posted originally by Darrin88"

Positive proof that Snap-on attracts more *****!