The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[zkling]

Except mine is 28.5in wide......

I'd still lump it into the 26/27" wide class of boxes. Possibly 29". What are the dimensions inside the top lip? As in what is the widest box you could set on the top recess? Tool boxes usually get lumped into a standard sizing of ~20, 22, 26/27, 28/29, 32-34, so on and so forth. They may vary a bit depending on specific box, but usually they fit into one of those groups.

 

[ZRX61]

28.5in is the inside the lip measurement. Corner posts are 2.5 x 3in. Drawers are 23in wide

 

[zkling]

28.5in is the inside the lip measurement. Corner posts are 2.5 x 3in. Drawers are 23in wide

Interesting. Kennedy makes a good number of 28/29" boxes. Does the bottom drawer have one or two sets of slides? Do they use the black retaining clip or just a pushed in tab? Did you check the circled locations in the attachment for a stamping? That is usually where they were stamped IIRC. :

 

[Outlawmws]

FYI the grey and red chests in that '73 catalog were 26 wide and the rollers 1/2" wider. again, I think ZRX's is later, probably at least ten years later.

 

[ZRX61]

Interesting. Kennedy makes a good number of 28/29" boxes. Does the bottom drawer have one or two sets of slides? Do they use the black retaining clip or just a pushed in tab? Did you check the circled locations in the attachment for a stamping? That is usually where they were stamped IIRC. :

Single slides on all drawers, black retaining clip (altho one is silver as it was missing a clip when I got the box so I made a replacement).
Haven't checked for stamping yet, I'll check tomorrow.

 

[ZRX61]

ok, just been all over it with a magnifying glass. There's nothing stamped on this box anywhere.

 

[jakemac]

Don'cha just hate when that happens.

 

[LiveWire64]

Update. Here's the pic of my early 70's Craftsman upper lower boxes from 2004.I had posted this pic on here in 2012.

I just picked up the upper & lower set in the bottom pic today...with keys for both! The bottom box has 65037 stamped into it. I haven't yet found a number on the top box yet. Any idea on the year for either box?
The upper box I got today has swinging handles on the sides,not the alum. stationary pieces like the other box. Also, the Craftsman emblem on both of the lower boxes is on the right side of the drawer. All the others I have seen have been on the left. Weird? Thanks for any help. I will post pics as I restore them.
*****I am still looking for the middle box to match these.*****

 

[pokey459]

well heres a Lyon i picked up never seen one nor did i know they even made it till two night ago its a good built box and heavy theres no model# or any other name on the boxes that i can find

i have a mid box by lyon, good box. like someone else said, the top drawer
locks the rest when pushed in. the only real drawback is the paint inside the
cabinet is almost non existent. yh top and bottom are mac , very similar.

 

[zkling]

i have a mid box by lyon, good box. like someone else said, the top drawer
locks the rest when pushed in. the only real drawback is the paint inside the
cabinet is almost non existent. yh top and bottom are mac , very similar.

I really like that top box. Do you know the model number by chance? I don't remember seeing that before. Almost looks like a heavy duty road chest. Are those fork lift slots on the bottom? Is your middle box the full 18" deep or just ~16"?

 

[bobcatdan]

Update. Here's the pic of my early 70's Craftsman upper lower boxes from 2004.I had posted this pic on here in 2012.

I just picked up the upper & lower set in the bottom pic today...with keys for both! The bottom box has 65037 stamped into it. I haven't yet found a number on the top box yet. Any idea on the year for either box?
The upper box I got today has swinging handles on the sides,not the alum. stationary pieces like the other box. Also, the Craftsman emblem on both of the lower boxes is on the right side of the drawer. All the others I have seen have been on the left. Weird? Thanks for any help. I will post pics as I restore them.
*****I am still looking for the middle box to match these.*****

Your new boxes are mid to late 60's. My Pa's box, I found the date in the top left back corner in the top til. His is a 1963. The top is identical. The bottom is a little different. It only has one row of split drawers vs the more common two row set up. Also how had four swivel casters, is not I frame construction and has file cabinet style roller slides on the bottom four drawers.

 

[Rummel]

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg"/></a>

Well I just inherited this one. My Dad got it from my Grandpa. Not 100% on exact age, but it's old!

 

[Outlawmws]

Not that old: probably late 70's or 80's. could be later.

 

[Rummel]

Well, that's 20 years! qualifies for this thread!

 

[FJ 432]

Well, that's 20 years! qualifies for this thread!

Definitely qualifies and welcome.

If that was your grandfather's that means you type well for a three year old!

 

[Rummel]

Definitely qualifies and welcome.

If that was your grandfather's that means you type well for a three year old!

Well, that's at least what he told me, for all I know it is the last tool box he ever bought! He used to build the over pass bridges in South Texas way back when. By the way, I actually type very poor for a twenty year old!

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, that's 20 years! qualifies for this thread!

Yes it does, AND it was your grandfathers, so even better...

Plus "old" is somewhat subjective. It mostly has to be older than I am to seem old to me... :evil"

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

*****I am still looking for the middle box to match these.*****

You'll probably be looking for quite awhile.

 

[tedsters]

i have a mid box by lyon, good box. like someone else said, the top drawer
locks the rest when pushed in. the only real drawback is the paint inside the
cabinet is almost non existent. yh top and bottom are mac , very similar.

that is a nice set of boxes you have i never even heard of one till i found the one i have kind of cool to see the different models they made and yours looks like a full mechanics set, nice

 

[zkling]

Yes it does, AND it was your grandfathers, so even better...

Plus "old" is somewhat subjective. It mostly has to be older than I am to seem old to me... :evil"

It's like when my grandfather says "O my neighbor, he's just a young guy, late 50's at most."

 

[Rummel]

Yes it does, AND it was your grandfathers, so even better...

Plus "old" is somewhat subjective. It mostly has to be older than I am to seem old to me... :evil"

Well, Considering 20 years is my whole life and most of these are older than I, the relative term seems appropriate.
haha

 

[NKlamerus]

I just picked this up today on clist. The owner bought 2 of them when he was 17. It's almost in this condition too! But missing the key, and 1 latch is busted, but I was surprised it had a tray! Only 15 bucks!!!!! Note that's not mine, but it is the correct model and colors

 

[NKlamerus]

Man I hope I recieve my father's box one day. I'm not sure what year it is but it's a MAC box, with the old style individual handles. Semi rectangular and stamped with mac, I love them things.

 

[Rummel]

I just picked this up today on clist. The owner bought 2 of them when he was 17. It's almost in this condition too! But missing the key, and 1 latch is busted, but I was surprised it had a tray! Only 15 bucks!!!!! Note that's not mine, but it is the correct model and colors

$15 is really good! Congrats on the steal.

 

[torqueman2002]

Update. Here's the pic of my early 70's Craftsman upper lower boxes from 2004.I had posted this pic on here in 2012.

I just picked up the upper & lower set in the bottom pic today...with keys for both! The bottom box has 65037 stamped into it. I haven't yet found a number on the top box yet. Any idea on the year for either box?
The upper box I got today has swinging handles on the sides,not the alum. stationary pieces like the other box. Also, the Craftsman emblem on both of the lower boxes is on the right side of the drawer. All the others I have seen have been on the left. Weird? Thanks for any help. I will post pics as I restore them.
*****I am still looking for the middle box to match these.****

From 1972 - 1973 Sears Tool Catalog on VintageMachinery.com.

 

[Mavawreck]

From 1972 - 1973 Sears Tool Catalog on VintageMachinery.com.

Can you imagine $8.00 being a deciding factor as to whether you bought the smallest or largest combo?

 

[drivesitfar]

minimum wage that year was $1.65 because i was 17 and getting paid that to work the cash register at a local golf driving range.

Gas was screaming up from $.29 per gallon to $1 and they were saying we had a gas shortage.

Kinda miss those days and maybe why i like "OLD TOOLS" to take me back there now and then.

Gotta love those old catalog pages and thanks for posting one Tourque.

Jake did you figure out how to get Nine those catalog pages you have so he can put them on his web site? Nine can you post or PM me your web site address or is it at the bottom of your posts?

 

[jakemac]

Jake did you figure out how to get Nine those catalog pages you have so he can put them on his web site? Nine can you post or PM me your web site address or is it at the bottom of your posts?

I posted the links this morning. Here's the thread.

1992 Kennedy Catalogs
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244852

 

[drivesitfar]

thanks Jake and i thought you were talking about the Craftsman catalogs that are no longer being stored on Rose's Antiques that you copied.

thanks for sharing the Kennedy catalog and by the way i did pick up an older small Kennedy box the other day while picking up a few tools at a garage sale just so i could have something to put them in. it's a pretty nice little box and with just a little cleaning i'll put it to use somewhere.

any idea of the age because the 90 year old owner couldn't remember, but he thought he bought it a while ago. 90's or earlier? not sure vintage, but the other tools were really old.

anybody know Nine's website so i can gaze at it to see what he is up to over there?

 

[Ol'Hippie]

Here are my two, small portable and affordable. Especially the one with the drawers that look like hell. It was free after a house fire back in the late 70's, my neighbor gave it too me instead of taking it to the dump.
The one with the stickers is the one my Dad bought for me for Christmas in the early 70's (I worked for Alston Race Car Engineering so that is why all the stickers)
View media item 39894
View media item 39895
View media item 39896

 

[Rummel]

Alright guys, I have already posted my little black tool box on here, BUT, I just picked this sucker up for $8 at the flea market! So here it is, what do ya think?

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/ToolChest2_zps58f8ff4e.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/ToolChest2_zps58f8ff4e.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo ToolChest2_zps58f8ff4e.jpeg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/ToolChest3_zps185a0a8e.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/ToolChest3_zps185a0a8e.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo ToolChest3_zps185a0a8e.jpeg"/></a>

 

[RivennHewn]

I picked this box up a while back, then put it in storage.

Just pulled it out. I had completely forgot about all the goodies inside.

The guy I bought it from built it. He was a tin-bender/pipe fitter at the Hanford Nuclear plant. Interesting old guy. He had MS (something?) and was in a wheelchair. I sat on a stool by his feet, and listened to him tell stories for at least an hour and a half. Would have stayed longer, but he was getting tired.

It's all stainless steel. The paint is coming off in places, but I think it's absolutely wonderful.

It's not one to carry around. Empty it weighs more than I'd want to carry very far.

 

[MikeF2316]

I picked this box up a while back, then put it in storage.

Just pulled it out. I had completely forgot about all the goodies inside.

The guy I bought it from built it. He was a tin-bender/pipe fitter at the Hanford Nuclear plant. Interesting old guy. He had MS (something?) and was in a wheelchair. I sat on a stool by his feet, and listened to him tell stories for at least an hour and a half. Would have stayed longer, but he was getting tired.

It's all stainless steel. The paint is coming off in places, but I think it's absolutely wonderful.

It's not one to carry around. Empty it weighs more than I'd want to carry very far.

That's some nice workmanship!
I think the box would have looked better if it never would have been painted.

 

[Outlawmws]

Rummel,that one is a candidate for a complete derusting and a new paint job for sure. that is WAY beyond "patina"

Rivenn, I think that one might be a candidate for a paint stripping a getting buffed out! that would be cool!

 

[Outlawmws]

Can you imagine $8.00 being a deciding factor as to whether you bought the smallest or largest combo?

Only it's not... They should have had a combo deal with the 9 drawer bottom and the 10 drawer top...

 

[RivennHewn]

Rivenn, I think that one might be a candidate for a paint stripping a getting buffed out! that would be cool!

Oh no. It's earned it's faded paint, dents and dings. I like it just the way it is!

 

[zkling]

thanks Jake and i thought you were talking about the Craftsman catalogs that are no longer being stored on Rose's Antiques that you copied.

thanks for sharing the Kennedy catalog and by the way i did pick up an older small Kennedy box the other day while picking up a few tools at a garage sale just so i could have something to put them in. it's a pretty nice little box and with just a little cleaning i'll put it to use somewhere.

any idea of the age because the 90 year old owner couldn't remember, but he thought he bought it a while ago. 90's or earlier? not sure vintage, but the other tools were really old.

anybody know Nine's website so i can gaze at it to see what he is up to over there?

Those are nice little boxes. KK-19 IIRC. I got mine in the same was like $2 and I needed a shopping bag. I'm not sure on date as they also made them with a plastic top handle. Yours looks to be in very good condition. Just watch the top tray, the support shelves aren't the most stable design. I think I read somewhere those were used in a medical setting. Possibly emergency responder kits. :

 

[Gfleck067]

[/URL][/IMG]
When I first picked up this Mac for 600$ it was really dull so I took it apart and buffed and cleaned it up. It looks pretty cool. Just not sure if I am going to keep the vintage or get the whole box coated and refinished.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Gfleck067]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Gfleck067]

http://<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fleck047/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd30cb90e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee406/fleck047/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd30cb90e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image_zpsd30cb90e.jpg"/></a>