pressteel tool chest
- Thread starter socket2me
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FJ 432
Well-known member
I never seen one before but I can understand why you like it. I would have bought it as well. A couple of questions:
Are all the drawer bottoms grated or just the top.
Is the bottom drawer the only drawer that has those sliding trays.
Dimensions please.
Price?
Are all the drawer bottoms grated or just the top.
Is the bottom drawer the only drawer that has those sliding trays.
Dimensions please.
Price?
Nice find!
We had one of those at a shop where I worked in the early 1970s. IIRC, one of the older guys there said they bought it when the shop opened in 1963. It was used for the community tools in the shop, so it took a pretty good beating. It had the same sliding trays too (1 in each of the 2 bottom drawers). Last time I visited there about 10 years ago, it was still there and still looked pretty good.
So I'd guess yours is early 1960s or maybe even 1950s.
The only problem I remember with it is that you could never find the tool you needed that was supposed to be in there, but that goes with the territory for community shop boxes.
We had one of those at a shop where I worked in the early 1970s. IIRC, one of the older guys there said they bought it when the shop opened in 1963. It was used for the community tools in the shop, so it took a pretty good beating. It had the same sliding trays too (1 in each of the 2 bottom drawers). Last time I visited there about 10 years ago, it was still there and still looked pretty good.
So I'd guess yours is early 1960s or maybe even 1950s.
The only problem I remember with it is that you could never find the tool you needed that was supposed to be in there, but that goes with the territory for community shop boxes.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yes, it's a nice box.
No, be aware the costs versus the probable resale going in. In my experience, paying for media blasting and powdercoating would put it way upside-down.
Maybe, if it will make you happier while using the box, just do it; your box, your money, your decision.
jack vines
No, be aware the costs versus the probable resale going in. In my experience, paying for media blasting and powdercoating would put it way upside-down.
Maybe, if it will make you happier while using the box, just do it; your box, your money, your decision.
jack vines
the cabinet is w28xd18xh32.5 inches
drawer 1- 22.25x17x1.5" fixed dividers left to right 4.5,11.5,16. grated
drawer 2-same without dividers
drawer 3-3.75 deep solid bottom,2-6"x1.25" tray with slots for dividers 2.5 from sides 1inch apart
drawer 4-4"deep
drawer 5-5"deep
cost $180.00
drawer 1- 22.25x17x1.5" fixed dividers left to right 4.5,11.5,16. grated
drawer 2-same without dividers
drawer 3-3.75 deep solid bottom,2-6"x1.25" tray with slots for dividers 2.5 from sides 1inch apart
drawer 4-4"deep
drawer 5-5"deep
cost $180.00
Yeah, they're actually kind of handy in the deeper drawers. We kept air tools in those drawers, and the accessories in the trays.
The fixed dividers in the top drawer were in the wrong place for everything we tried to put in that drawer. I guess those dividers made sense for something when the cabinets were made, but I don't know what. My Snap-On Rolla-Bench has fixed dividers in some of the drawers and they're in the wrong place too.
I am not an expert in this area, but I have read on this site that Pressteel and Plomb boxes are made by the same company. I think for Plomb branded stuff, you are looking at a box being no later than what, 1940-something, before the name change to Proto? Did Pressteel make boxes into the '50s and '60s? or, is this box that the OP has from the '40s?
I have a Plomb roller for a while, and it had those same diamond-shaped metal bottoms in some of the drawers. Pretty distinctive design. Here is a thread with some pics.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126700&highlight=bull's+plomb
I have a Plomb roller for a while, and it had those same diamond-shaped metal bottoms in some of the drawers. Pretty distinctive design. Here is a thread with some pics.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126700&highlight=bull's+plomb
FJ 432
Well-known member
Plomb would be pre-1948. In 1948, some things were marked both Plomb and Proto. Proto from 1949 to present.
The Plomb box in the link looks a lot like an old Black & Decker valve grinding machine cabinet I still have, so it's possible Pressteel may have made all of them.
Pressteel was still making tool boxes, cabinets and workbenches in 1967 (that from a line-card listing in a 1967 Walter Leese & Son industrial catalog) and continued in business until at least 1978 (that from corporationwiki.com).
I sold it for what I bought it for to a member on here who is fairly local to me. I realized that no way in heck would I have time to restore it.
Sounds like you know your stuff!
Notice too that it's an ungrounded two-pole outlet, probably original, so that alone puts it at no later than early 1960s or even more likely, 1950s. Guessing not as old as 1940s because it doesn't have the die-formed steel handles like the Plomb cabinet Bull mentioned.
I think the outlet was just one of the features of those Pressteel cabinets in the day. Ours had the same duplex outlet under the side handle, with the same motor-base connector at the bottom to power it with an extension cord. My 1950s Snap-On Rolla-Bench has an outlet too, and even had a light fixture mounted over the top originally.
On the other hand, the red color could work well on a medical crash cart to hide the blood stains.
I've just been around a long time, have seen a lot of old stuff, and still have most of my memory.
I wonder what the intent of the perforated drawer bottom was. Ours had drawer liners installed to cover up the holes. Were the holes so oil and dirt could leak down to the next drawer instead of just collecting in one spot?
softailgarage
Well-known member
FINALLY.... I was beginning to think I was the only one with a Pressteel cabinet...
This is after cleaning up, I'm having problems uploading the pics of the original look. I picked it up a year ago, first one I've ever heard of. There's not alot of info available on Pressteel, but Bull is correct as far as everything I've found. The cabinets, when originally sold were olive drab with a 1" white stripe wrapped around the top (fashion of the day). From the decal on mine they were located at 1925 W. Garvey Ave., El Monte, Ca. I've searched and searched and the only thing I can come up with is an office furniture company in the Riverside area that's now defunct.I was gonna restore it and sell it, but after my search findings I said "no way am I gonna sell this" Now I use it to store all vintage tools.
This is after cleaning up, I'm having problems uploading the pics of the original look. I picked it up a year ago, first one I've ever heard of. There's not alot of info available on Pressteel, but Bull is correct as far as everything I've found. The cabinets, when originally sold were olive drab with a 1" white stripe wrapped around the top (fashion of the day). From the decal on mine they were located at 1925 W. Garvey Ave., El Monte, Ca. I've searched and searched and the only thing I can come up with is an office furniture company in the Riverside area that's now defunct.I was gonna restore it and sell it, but after my search findings I said "no way am I gonna sell this" Now I use it to store all vintage tools.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
SNIP
I wonder what the intent of the perforated drawer bottom was. Ours had drawer liners installed to cover up the holes. Were the holes so oil and dirt could leak down to the next drawer instead of just collecting in one spot?
FINALLY.... I was beginning to think I was the only one with a Pressteel cabinet...
This is after cleaning up, I'm having problems uploading the pics of the original look. I picked it up a year ago, first one I've ever heard of. There's not alot of info available on Pressteel, but Bull is correct as far as everything I've found. The cabinets, when originally sold were olive drab with a 1" white stripe wrapped around the top (fashion of the day). From the decal on mine they were located at 1925 W. Garvey Ave., El Monte, Ca. I've searched and searched and the only thing I can come up with is an office furniture company in the Riverside area that's now defunct.I was gonna restore it and sell it, but after my search findings I said "no way am I gonna sell this" Now I use it to store all vintage tools.
I think the perforated drawer bottoms may have been a WWII war era attempt at saving steel in the shallow drawers while still leaving enough to support the tools.
Softtail, I have that Same 2 drawer Pressteel box, and it's original color was OD as you say, but mine was over painted with a dark plum color, AND it has the white stripe, so I'm not sure if this wasn't done ay the factory?
Mine still has the locking bar and everything.
These Pressteel boxes had a distinctive roller setup (See Bulls thread pics) for the drawers, and to get the drawers out, you have to "bang" them past the final stop, before lifting them out.
They made at least one box for Craftsman, and it's listed in the 54 catalog as "Our Best Craftsman Roller Cabinet" I have that box also and the clincher for it being Pressteel is the also distinctive aluminum trim on the top edge, as shown on the OP's box. The Craftsman box does not use either the louvered drawer pull or bolt on pulls, it had a formed lower edge drawer pull the full width of the drawer.
Pressteel box:
Craftsman ad:
My Craftsman box before (But after spot welding the broken drawer back together and doing some spotting putty):
My Craftsman box after:
The 5 drawer Cman started collecting my vintage tools also as Softail has done, and I've since added an (so far nu-restored) 1959 ten drawer top Craftsman box, that smacks of being a Huot built box.
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softailgarage
Well-known member
Damn Outlaw, you do some fine work, that Craftsman box is ****. Are those the original wheels? Mine have a pretty bad flat spot on 'em and one is broken where it looks like they've been welded on.And yes, it had the same white strip.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Thanks Softail! The kids and I worked pretty hard on that one for the prep. Both boxes have the original wheels AFAIK. The Craftsman wheels are in good shape, but the Pressteel box wheels had a hard life and are less so. One at least has a slight flat spot, and all show wear and dings from being rolled on rough surfaces.
That poor box was sitting under a HUGE MBC top box that by itself empty, weighs probably 150 lbs and was packed full when I bought the stack. 3/4 or more empty (All the heavy tools..) it was all my son and I could do to get it from the top of the pressteel box, to the back of the van, and they were up against the bumper when we did the shift! I'm actually impressed the Presteel didn't collapse under the load it had with the full box on it...
That poor box was sitting under a HUGE MBC top box that by itself empty, weighs probably 150 lbs and was packed full when I bought the stack. 3/4 or more empty (All the heavy tools..) it was all my son and I could do to get it from the top of the pressteel box, to the back of the van, and they were up against the bumper when we did the shift! I'm actually impressed the Presteel didn't collapse under the load it had with the full box on it...
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Nope, masked it off and painted.
littlebritishcar
Well-known member
Can I join your gang? I just bought a Pressteel Cabinet today. Interesting story - the seller thought it was made by Nash because it had a Nash car badge on it. I told him that it was a Pressteel tool chest and that the badge was off a car and he told me that it makes sense because it was his father in laws tool chest and he had worked at a Nash dealership. The seller just figured that the dealerships had Nash tools and toolboxes. How cool would that be?
Anyway for $50 I still have enough money left over to celebrate because I have been wanting one for a very long time and this is in great condition!
Anyway for $50 I still have enough money left over to celebrate because I have been wanting one for a very long time and this is in great condition!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That's nice, finding a roller that old and having all drawers in it. Pretty rare to fine 'em All drawers. Well done!
FINALLY.... I was beginning to think I was the only one with a Pressteel cabinet...
This is after cleaning up, I'm having problems uploading the pics of the original look. I picked it up a year ago, first one I've ever heard of. There's not alot of info available on Pressteel, but Bull is correct as far as everything I've found. The cabinets, when originally sold were olive drab with a 1" white stripe wrapped around the top (fashion of the day). From the decal on mine they were located at 1925 W. Garvey Ave., El Monte, Ca. I've searched and searched and the only thing I can come up with is an office furniture company in the Riverside area that's now defunct.I was gonna restore it and sell it, but after my search findings I said "no way am I gonna sell this" Now I use it to store all vintage tools.
I worked at Pressteel when it was located in El Monte. I know the former owner (nearly married his daughter).