The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Scout Driver]

Nice looking boxes, JBW! Do you have any more pics of the Plomb?

Scott

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Nice looking boxes, JBW! Do you have any more pics of the Plomb?

Scott

Not yet. I just need to paint the top today. will post better pics when I am finished. It's in excellent condition no ding, dents even came with the front cover. The clips for the speeders are all present too

 

[Scout Driver]

Sounds good. I bet it will look great when you are done!

Scott

 

[zkling]

Lots of great boxes boxes in this thread!!!!

The only box I have that truly classifies as vintage is this old Star (I believe) brand machinist chest. Not sure on exact date, but it has definitely been around the block a few dozen times.

Any information on it's birth date would be great.

 

[runsub5]

Great looking box. I have one just like it, only mine has a Duplex decal with the covers not having the embossed Snap-on logo.

 

[Steevo]

I recently re-purposed my vintage (1977-78) Snap-on stack as my machine tooling storage box:

 

[timbitca]

Looks good Steevo, and I really like the looks of that bench your lathe is on!

 

[Toaster1]

This was my dad's. It isn't very retro-ey, but I remember when he got it in 91 which would put it around 21 years old. It had been sitting idle in his garage for the last 10 years or so and it and its contents were covered in surface rust. I brought it home and cleaned it up and refinished it a few weeks ago. This is my first attempt a painting anything like this. Not too bad though. The first pic you can see it on the bench in the makeshift paintbooth I set up.

 

[nine4gmc]

I like the rally stripes!! Now, splain me more about the booth. What did you use up top?

 

[Toaster1]

The booth is 6 x 9. I used 6 mil clear plastic on the sides and 4 mil on top. I used grommets on the top and bottom to hold the folded down portions. I ran clothesline through eyelets in the ceiling and attached the walls/ceiling to the line with shower curtain rings. It worked great to keep sanding and spray from getting on everything else in the shop.

 

[Steinmetz]

Kennedy made all of there own boxes. My dad has one with the exact handles on it, its from the middle 60's, it still has the original Kennedy Kits sticker in it. If I am correct the boxes were made at the plant on Sycamore Street in Van Wert, Ohio



I would love to have a box similar to those made be New Britain. I almost bought a Blackhawk from when they were own by New Britain. It was an early 70's box, all ball bearing slides, but couldn't afford it at the time.

Correct. I own that box (on top), with red crinkle finish. I paid $42 for it new in 1967.

 

[e-tek]

Winnipegtibook sent me this vintage Snap On box for restoration.

Pretty rough....really rusty on bottom and lotsa metal work to do:

Looks like the bottom drawer was overloaded with tools, they got hooked up and then it was pried open from the front...

Took a lot of work to get a couple of the sliders out of that bottom drawer - had to drill out a couple of the catches:

Let's see if I can perform some magic on it....

 

[Amitygravel]

Here's the SK box I picked up over the weekend with a few odds and ends in it for 6 bucks. Has the original leather handle I assume. Pretty decent paint. The only real issue is the hasp someone added. At some point somebody must have tried to break into it while it was locked and stretched the metal. I think I'll just do a good cleanup up leave it as is.
I think I would be better off maintaining as much of the original paint as possible and not worry about the hasp.

 

[nine4gmc]

I love it, I thought that was an SK. I just sold one almost exactly like it but the emblem was on the middle drawer and was barely legible. Yours is good shape, I would try to fandangle the dents out with a nylon face hammer or something soft, then WD-40 the **** outta it and use it!

 

[bluebolt]

I have a set of Craftsman (top and bottom) toolbox which I don't know much about. Does anyone have any information as for when they were made?

The top box is an older styler, late 50's to early 60's I think. The bottom is a later style, early 60's to late 60's. With the usual overlap they may have been made and bought at the same time. On the top box open the top lid and look at the left hand side bottom, there is usaually a date there. On the the bottom roller look on the front on the right side near the bottom, there should be a date there.

 

[Inkncraig]

Kra 61b - 1971

 

[Man of Many Vices]

Inkncraig:
Your KRA 61B brings back some memories. It is the identical box to one that the old man down the street had in his garage when I was a sophomore in high school. I swept his garage, cleaned the grease off his wrenches and was basically an all-around nuisance. He took me to into the pits of the Winternationals at Pomona and the California 500 in Ontario where I met Muhammed Ali. Turns out my good friend **** Pearce was vice president of Hurst/Airheart. Guess where I got my first job....

 

[e-tek]

Inkncraig:
Your KRA 61B brings back some memories. It is the identical box to one that the old man down the street had in his garage when I was a sophomore in high school. I swept his garage, cleaned the grease off his wrenches and was basically an all-around nuisance. He took me to into the pits of the Winternationals at Pomona and the California 500 in Ontario where I met Muhammed Ali. Turns out my good friend **** Pearce was vice president of Hurst/Airheart. Guess where I got my first job....

Great story!

 

[Steevo]

I have a set of Craftsman (top and bottom) toolbox which I don't know much about. Does anyone have any information as for when they were made?

I have that same top box (and matching bottom) in a Wards PowrKraft version. Made by Remline, I believe.

Mine:

 

[wxm]

I have that same top box (and matching bottom) in a Wards PowrKraft version. Made by Remline, I believe.

Very cool box, I do notice a very poor design with the bottom box. Did you figure out a good way to pull the bottom cover up? I am thinking to get rid of the lock (don't have a key anyway) and replace it with some kind of low profile handle.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Nice vintage boxes guys

 

[softailgarage]

"I have that same top box (and matching bottom) in a Wards PowrKraft version. Made by Remline, I believe."

I was wondering why Powercraft looked so much like Remline. Makes sense now

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I recently came across this Kennedy style machinists tool chest. The felt inside is in great condition, and the drawers slide well. Looks good on the bench!

 

[351-C]

Scored this box today for free. Its been sitting under a workbench since I was hired 6 yrs ago and who knows how long before that. No emblem on it and I never wanted to seem too interested but it turns out its a 1959 kr-58b. All parts are there and in great shape. I would leave the patina if someone hadnt put some kind of shelac on the outside, now its getting a strip and paint.

 

[Super Sport]

I have a set of Craftsman (top and bottom) toolbox which I don't know much about. Does anyone have any information as for when they were made?

Damn, I like that top box! I didn't know Cman ever rebadged Remline. I'm going to have to be on the hunt for one of those!

 

[Ramblur]

Help! This monster has Snap On badges and is red but that's about all I can
tell you about it other than its built like a battleship with 1/8" steel everywhere.
Some kind of cool,but weighs a ton empty. My guess would be a purpose built
deal for manufacturing or rebuilding. Any ideas appreciated.

Overhead florescent fixture is on a trolley that rolls side to side.



All the doors are lockable (or were). Bench top shows signs of some hard rubber or linoleum covering at one time.


receptacles seen here on the lower bench edge are mostly 2-prong,but one or
two have grounded outlets. (possibly replacements).


All the doors below the bench tops have jamb switches for florescent lights
hidden underneath the bench tops.










screen covers the florescent lights


Another neat feature,swinging trays are located behind the left side door.


Overkill comes to mind here...




storage everywhere.


no idea on this round deal that opens to the back seen in these next two pics.




Some sort of hotplate on the top with cloth covered cord.




plumbed for air too.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

That's freaking cool.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wow!! Hopefully someone knows exactly what it is

 

[aroncornell]

I would love to see that restored!!!!

 

[Geurt]

That is beyond cool. I would love to restore the **** out of that. Excuse my french.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Ramblur, That's the coolest old toolbox I've ever seen.. Please restore that and make a thread documenting the process

 

[DarkMonohue]

Ramblur, That's the coolest old toolbox I've ever seen..

You ain't kidding. It's absolutely amazing!

 

[Ramblur]

Ramblur, That's the coolest old toolbox I've ever seen.. Please restore that and make a thread documenting the process

Shoot,I thought my 65 vintage KRA 500/???/510 was the coolest?

This monster I shared above is more like a work station than a tool box.

No doubt it is a cool 'workstation', BUT, it would take a major commitment to restore this bad boy and as of YET, I don't own it..
Need get an idea of what it is before I commit to making an offer...

 

[ZRX61]

Ramblur!! I want that!!

 

[ZRX61]

no idea on this round deal that opens to the back seen in these next two pics.

That's probably for a soldering iron...& it looks like it is next to the hot plate?

 

[crewchief888]

i wouldnt care what it is, or who made it,

thats a HUGE chunk of history

 

[nine4gmc]

Ramblur, GET IT! That workstation is cool as all get out!!

 

[wxm]

Ramblur, That's the coolest old toolbox I've ever seen.. Please restore that and make a thread documenting the process

+1. Very nice station.

 

[elvisslipperman]

I would love to restore / preserve this, that is by far the best tool station I have ever seen . I WANT IT !!!!!!!!!

 

[timbitca]

Wow, that thing is awesome. Do want!