The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
DarkMonohue
Well-known member
Here's my vintage Snap-On combo. 1979 KR-537A top box on an '81 KR-557C lower. They are not that old by the standards of this thread, but I was contemplating taking off my training wheels when the top box was new. The 537 was a Craigslist find and the 557 was purchased from a tech at work who finally upgraded after working out of it for a couple of decades. He bought it used, too, come to think of it.
The photos make them look a little cleaner and brighter than they really are, but that's OK. Maybe I should take a few pics of myself and see if the camera does the same for me...
The little service cart next to them is your standard issue Sunex, probably sold under a different name, and I think it will be converted to welding cart use pretty soon.
Same top box was seen back in post #566 of this thread. Spent a weekend cleaning the slides and re-lubing with Door Ease (beeswax?) a while back and everything seems to work pretty well so far.
I suppose the repurposed wood paneling adds to the unintentional (and highly questionable) 1970s vibe...
The photos make them look a little cleaner and brighter than they really are, but that's OK. Maybe I should take a few pics of myself and see if the camera does the same for me...
The little service cart next to them is your standard issue Sunex, probably sold under a different name, and I think it will be converted to welding cart use pretty soon.
Same top box was seen back in post #566 of this thread. Spent a weekend cleaning the slides and re-lubing with Door Ease (beeswax?) a while back and everything seems to work pretty well so far.
I suppose the repurposed wood paneling adds to the unintentional (and highly questionable) 1970s vibe...
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I really like that setup!!
lowbucktruck
Well-known member
I've posted a couple of threads about this one, but upon receiving new locks, the restoration is complete. Picked up this old box at a tag sale:
And restored:
The consensus in another thread is that it's not a MAC box, despite the decal, but I thought I'd tip my hat to the previous owner, who used it professionally, but putting new repro decals on it.
That refurb and paint job turned out really nice! Wonder who made that box? Good before and after pix, btw.
chopper1
Member Emeritus
Lkdelta
Well-known member
Lkdelta
Well-known member
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Those are some very cool boxes and tools!! Lots of family history I am sure.
DarkMonohue
Well-known member
Thanks, guys. I am happy with it so far, though it feels a little like cheating to just clean up some perfectly serviceable old boxes and call them "vintage". Some of the slides in the bottom cabinet did need a little straightening, but really, there wasn't much to fix.
I have no idea what these are worth, but they kept me from buying new stuff made elsewhere, so I'm pretty happy.
timbitca
Well-known member
I love the snap on boxes of that vintage, they look great!
DieselDent
Well-known member
These were actually my first snap on tools, found them the other day at my dads house they were given to me by my grandfather.
View media item 24374Mostly snap on but a few Craftsman found their way in.
View media item 24375
View media item 24374Mostly snap on but a few Craftsman found their way in.
View media item 24375
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teamacacia
Member
I will try to post pics when I get some time in the next day or two, but I have a vintage snap on that I believe is a k-300 like this one I found searching the net:
http://www.collectingsnapon.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=152
The only difference I see in his and mine is that mine still has a light that can attach to the top of the bench and I have only one snap-on emblem on the flip up tab. I am considering tearing it apart and having it powdercoated but can't decide what color I want to do. Red is the obvious choice but I don't know if I want to do that or not.
http://www.collectingsnapon.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=152
The only difference I see in his and mine is that mine still has a light that can attach to the top of the bench and I have only one snap-on emblem on the flip up tab. I am considering tearing it apart and having it powdercoated but can't decide what color I want to do. Red is the obvious choice but I don't know if I want to do that or not.
y'sguy
Well-known member
Nice score especially the price. I have the same one full of snap on. i call it my little treasure chest.
y'sguy
Well-known member
JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
Well-known member
Nice score especially the price. I have the same one full of snap on. i call it my little treasure chest.
chopper1
Member Emeritus
oldmerc
Well-known member
I resent the term vintage . Some of those Snap On chests look just like my new ones .
I just bought them 30 years ago.
I just bought them 30 years ago.
teamacacia
Member
Here are a few images of my toolbox as promised. Is it a K-300? What does that mean, if anything? It's overall condition is pretty decent but there is some surface rust here and there as well as a few dings. One thing I want to do is replace the wiring and light socket and get that back up and running.
posaune
Well-known member
Provincial
Well-known member
So you can plug an extension cord in to feed power to the other plugs and accessories wired into the box.
mvptrukin
Well-known member
These boxes ( K-300) were the original roll-a-bench . The inlet/outlet plugs with factory cord and the light were add on items. Do you have the the aluminum slide that covers the front like a roll top desk? Nice box BTW!
teamacacia
Member
That is cool!
Thanks guys! This has been a handy tool box but I have definitely outgrown it as you can see. I found the date code on the bottom left of the front...I guess it was manufactured in 1956 but I am not positive.
The roll front is there and seems to be a little off color as a likely result of being stowed with the roll front out of view most of the time. The flip down latch doesn't stay "up" and consequently the lock mechanism has left a stripe down the middle of the front over the past few years.
Does anyone know if these can easily be torn down for refinishing? I don't mind spending the time but I'd love to bring it back to "new." That is, assuming these aren't worth a ton of money.
EDIT #1: Once the light has been restrung, I plan on plugging it into the outlet on the back and then running a longer cord from the box to the wall. That will give me the utility of the lamp if I need to roll the box around for any work.
EDIT #2: By tearing it down, I am most concerned about the roll top portion followed by the drawers. I will probably give it a better inspection this weekend but there are a few screws in the track for the roll top so I can probably get the roll top off. I do wonder if the roll top itself can come apart...and then go back together
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timbitca
Well-known member
Never seen one of those, that is a sweet box!
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Those are nice boxes, I have one from the 60's with a full set of drawers.
DarkMonohue
Well-known member
So tempting to make a poopy-pants joke here, but I'm going to rise above it for the good of the community...
bobcatdan
Well-known member
So tempting to make a poopy-pants joke here, but I'm going to rise above it for the good of the community...
Its not quite old enough for adult diapers yet.
Patrick123
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2012
- Messages
- 229
Leave this box as is. Its rare to see one with the light, and if you ever sell it, would be worth more just like it sits.
Thanks guys! This has been a handy tool box but I have definitely outgrown it as you can see. I found the date code on the bottom left of the front...I guess it was manufactured in 1956 but I am not positive.
The roll front is there and seems to be a little off color as a likely result of being stowed with the roll front out of view most of the time. The flip down latch doesn't stay "up" and consequently the lock mechanism has left a stripe down the middle of the front over the past few years.
Does anyone know if these can easily be torn down for refinishing? I don't mind spending the time but I'd love to bring it back to "new." That is, assuming these aren't worth a ton of money.
EDIT #1: Once the light has been restrung, I plan on plugging it into the outlet on the back and then running a longer cord from the box to the wall. That will give me the utility of the lamp if I need to roll the box around for any work.
EDIT #2: By tearing it down, I am most concerned about the roll top portion followed by the drawers. I will probably give it a better inspection this weekend but there are a few screws in the track for the roll top so I can probably get the roll top off. I do wonder if the roll top itself can come apart...and then go back together
ShadowRuleZ
Well-known member
Not sure if this is vintage or not, no idea on age. 12 drawer roller Beach made in Canada.
PCO6
Well-known member
ShadowRuleZ - That's a Beach 2289 box that was made during the 70's & 80's. It's a pretty popular box up here probably because it was available at places like Canadian Tire. It's a fairly basic box but the quality is good. I bought one in the mid 70's and still have it. It's held up very well for my home use but you also still see them in professional shops. There are lots on guys on here who are fans of Beach boxes.
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ShadowRuleZ
Well-known member
Felt pretty solid, I just have to go through and clean/grease all of the slides. There's one or two other things, like the split drawers hang a bit low and don't let the first full width drawer close without messing with it. The bottom of the front cover is a bit wonky, and there are no keys. Got it for $50 off CL plus a two hour drive. I really like the front cover on it, the Craftsman I had been looking for didn't have that. Been looking for a while, but there's a guy on my side of town who's been beating me to every older toolbox and then turning around and flipping them back on CL. Few weeks ago I missed a Proto stack by an hour or so and he had it up for 4x the price the next night.
Toolhunter
Well-known member
Got this one for free
alittle paint and a hammer...i did re paint it as i had some issues with my gun
Drawers slide alot better and you can se how the paint looks bad here
alittle paint and a hammer...i did re paint it as i had some issues with my gun
Drawers slide alot better and you can se how the paint looks bad here
RCRGarage
Banned
Got this one for free
alittle paint and a hammer...i did re paint it as i had some issues with my gun
Drawers slide alot better and you can se how the paint looks bad here
Wow. Just wow.
