jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Want!!
The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
here's my score from today. proto box with the orig key and tool tray. paid $20 for it.
Saw this old box in flea market. I was covered by grease/dirt. I could not tell the maker, but it was certainly a solid built. It is really heavy, and the metal is thicker than other boxes I have seen. Took it home, clean it up. It is a Snap-On!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
emeraldcoupe, I'd LOVE to find a Proto like that sometime, maybe even a bigger one!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
wxm, KR 21, 34-38, Mine is not quite as nice as yours, but mine has (Some of) the original handle. (leather covered handle originally)
Hi, outlaw, would it be possible to post a picture of your box with the habdle? I am going to keep my eye open for a replacement handle.
I picked up a bottom box for my KR-53 today. Looks like it's a KR-352, but I haven't found the stamping yet.
I had to flip the slides over to the other side and push down on the drawers to help get things moving smoothly again without binding.
It needs a good cleaning, but all in all it's in OK shape. Keys were of course lost...
I had to flip the slides over to the other side and push down on the drawers to help get things moving smoothly again without binding.
It needs a good cleaning, but all in all it's in OK shape. Keys were of course lost...
For the guys that don't frequent the garage sale thread, here is an old SUN cabinet from a tech school I just picked up from auction. It had an auto ac training setup fabbed up on top when I bought it, here is just the cabinet.
Rsharp66
Well-known member
Hey all,
I've been a lurker for a while now, collecting ideas for a future build. I am currently "stuck" in an industrial loft home with a shared garage but working on a move soon so I am looking for inspiration for my big build in a coule years.
I picked this thread to start because I do at least have the boxes and all are vintage by the 20 year rule:
1938 Gerstner - This box was in Hawaii in December 1941. Left to me by a family friend full of 1938-45 equipment.
Early 70s Craftsman, was my box for 22 years. Bought it with the bent drawer and would love to find a replacement. I do have the logo still.
Latest addition 1993 (just in on the 20 years) S-O KRA3800 + KRA3810. Just finished the buff and fluff. Anybody know where to get the little plastic handle ends and lid bumper?
The thing that prompted me to write was my really good experience with the Snap On customer service. The box had a couple broken slide clips and two worn out gas springs. I was able to get the one BB slide working with some tweaking. I also had a couple broken SO allen sockets. After some difficulty getting any response from local franchise guys I finally called the phone support. Super nice girl, helped me thru my list and gave me updated PNs. Sent the whole mess out free and I had it 4 days later. Frankly I had expected from my experiences years ago to hit significant attitude but I did not. Very pleasantly surprised!!
Good job to the Snap On folks on this board and the girl who answered.(sorry no name)
I've been a lurker for a while now, collecting ideas for a future build. I am currently "stuck" in an industrial loft home with a shared garage but working on a move soon so I am looking for inspiration for my big build in a coule years.
I picked this thread to start because I do at least have the boxes and all are vintage by the 20 year rule:
1938 Gerstner - This box was in Hawaii in December 1941. Left to me by a family friend full of 1938-45 equipment.
Early 70s Craftsman, was my box for 22 years. Bought it with the bent drawer and would love to find a replacement. I do have the logo still.
Latest addition 1993 (just in on the 20 years) S-O KRA3800 + KRA3810. Just finished the buff and fluff. Anybody know where to get the little plastic handle ends and lid bumper?
The thing that prompted me to write was my really good experience with the Snap On customer service. The box had a couple broken slide clips and two worn out gas springs. I was able to get the one BB slide working with some tweaking. I also had a couple broken SO allen sockets. After some difficulty getting any response from local franchise guys I finally called the phone support. Super nice girl, helped me thru my list and gave me updated PNs. Sent the whole mess out free and I had it 4 days later. Frankly I had expected from my experiences years ago to hit significant attitude but I did not. Very pleasantly surprised!!
Good job to the Snap On folks on this board and the girl who answered.(sorry no name)
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Update....It is my box now. And, that nameplate does little to help in the box ID field. Addressograph made mail room equipment, this box was likely an accessory to their machine and had that nameplate attached by the OEM. My guess is that Beach was that OEM. The only thing really saying otherwise, are the roller, full extension slides on the drawers........ but you never know, they could have been a special for A'graph.
The reason I wanted that box is that it is such a close match for the six drawer Beach that I recently acquired. I would have preferred more smaller drawers, but it is something else to look at come warmer weather.
Got around to cleaning up that blue box, added a (Beach) handle, drop down shelf and newer castors from PAL. The old paint was chipped badly as it was not properly prepared before, so I took it down to bare metal with a belt sander. Note the small difference in colours between that shelf and box, the paint is Tremclad's "Fire Red" which is a very close match to the red that Beach used. The handles were stripped and re-used as they have a rather odd spacing for the screws.
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Ft.ValloniaStreaker
Well-known member
I work everyday in the dying field of offset printing, glad to see the old multi cab saved. Great job!
Coopduc
Well-known member
Here's my Grestner, originally purchased by my dad. Not sure of the year, but I did find in there some documents dated 1950. I keep it as a sort of shrine to him, complete with the picture of my sister in the corner.
Since this is the thread that first brought me to GJ, I thought it would be fitting to make my first post here.
This is my KRA-59C aboard my KRA-380. I bought these new when I was turning wrenches for a living, but now I work in electronics manufacturing. These have been 'retired' and are now used only for fun and household repairs.
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Do I get additional points for being the original owner?
This is my KRA-59C aboard my KRA-380. I bought these new when I was turning wrenches for a living, but now I work in electronics manufacturing. These have been 'retired' and are now used only for fun and household repairs.
Do I get additional points for being the original owner?
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They're a little battered, but as with most old SO, it still rolls nicely and the drawers are smooth. They date to '78 for the topper and '77 for the cab. Not sure what the white gunk is on the cab, but I'm not too worried.
Outlander
Well-known member
This certainly qualifies for the 'vintage' portion of the requirements. It was built by my Uncle, came to us (Dad and I) when he passed. Dad's been gone 20 years, and my uncle built this easily 20 years earlier.
I use it for tools and supplies in my (messy) home workshop.
View media item 27056
It would look way better if the workshop was clean & a nice wooden machinist's box was sitting on top. Another thing to research. GJ is killing me
I use it for tools and supplies in my (messy) home workshop.
View media item 27056
It would look way better if the workshop was clean & a nice wooden machinist's box was sitting on top. Another thing to research. GJ is killing me
Just picked these fellas up yesterday and am goin nuts trying to figure out the manufacturer. Looks like the original color is krinkle gray, had some type of white logo with black lettering on the mid section of the bottom box, the locks are Chicago lock co. (No keys but I will have them made)
I love these old handles and the lock featured on the top corners.
This one is a keeper for 50 bucks , but I hope someone can tell me the maker or point me in a good direction to look.
I love these old handles and the lock featured on the top corners.
This one is a keeper for 50 bucks , but I hope someone can tell me the maker or point me in a good direction to look.
crewchief888
Well-known member
This certainly qualifies for the 'vintage' portion of the requirements. It was built by my Uncle, came to us (Dad and I) when he passed. Dad's been gone 20 years, and my uncle built this easily 20 years earlier.
I use it for tools and supplies in my (messy) home workshop.
View media item 27056
It would look way better if the workshop was clean & a nice wooden machinist's box was sitting on top. Another thing to research. GJ is killing me
nice piece of vintage craftsmanship
crewchief888
Well-known member
Just picked these fellas up yesterday and am goin nuts trying to figure out the manufacturer. Looks like the original color is krinkle gray, had some type of white logo with black lettering on the mid section of the bottom box, the locks are Chicago lock co. (No keys but I will have them made)
I love these old handles and the lock featured on the top corners.
This one is a keeper for 50 bucks , but I hope someone can tell me the maker or point me in a good direction to look.
nice score !
i've seen that handle design before, but i cant remember who used it
i really like that top box
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That top is actually an intermediate. Five drawers? Very cool!
been waiting for you mister.....
can you recall who did locks like this or the handles?
Looks like some well earned patina to me.
OK, that is REALLY cool, especially when you add in the family history.
Great deal.
As for the manufacture, can you post a few more pics of it, including a picture of the drawer slides? As Outlaw mentioned, that top box is actually a middle or intermediate tool box. Kinda rare being 5 drawers. Probably designed for the not so vertically challenged. 
The only manufacture off the top of my head that makes a 5 drawer middle box is kennedy. The drawer layout on that looks just like a kennedy box. However the drawer pulls are a bit of a stumper. I think I have seem something similar to those, but cannot remember at this time.
The krinkle grey paint color should help to narrow it down. You mentioned a white logo with black lettering. Can you post a photo of that? It would probably really help in identifying it.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Sorry, this one has me stumped. I recognize neither the drawer pulls or the lock. That type of lock is common in office file cabinets, so does anyone know if HON or one of the other office cab makers made an attempt to get into making tool boxes?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Hmm the slides are similar to Waterloo and Kennedy. 
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Looks to me like a Chicago file cabinet lock. Common keys are S100, etc.
http://compx.com/products-cha.html
You knew I would chime in about locks
http://compx.com/products-cha.html
You knew I would chime in about locks
Looks to me like a Chicago file cabinet lock. Common keys are S100, etc.
http://compx.com/products-cha.html
You knew I would chime in about locks
lol, I knew you would chime in, good to hear from ya Jeff.
you are correct though, they are Chicago lock co locks
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
What do you need? Keys? Replacement locks?
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Ohh you mean the manufacturer of the box! Yeah that would drive me nuts