The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

jakemac · Jun 28, 2014

Call Waterloo. The word is, that they have the best customer service and the lowest price for the clips.

Onedivinehammer · Jun 28, 2014

Thanks Jake. BTW, whatever became of that Kennedy roller you got? Just for the record, I was one of the guys on the "waiting" list for that.

chopper1 · Jun 28, 2014

Livewire that S-K set belongs on the Show Your S-K thread

jakemac · Jun 28, 2014

Onedivinehammer said:
Thanks Jake. BTW, whatever became of that Kennedy roller you got? Just for the record, I was one of the guys on the "waiting" list for that.

Sadly, it's on the back burner for now. I started to degrease it, but had to stop due to other "to-do's" popping up. It may end up orange. It seems that the red paint likes to fade when saturated with cleaners, and I'm not paying Kennedy's outrageous price for rattle cans of paint.

I wouldn't mind finding another one to use as supports for another bench.

I do use the Dazor lamp that came with it though.

ZRX61 · Jun 28, 2014

Onedivinehammer said:
However, I do need (4) of those black tabs that keep the drawers from sliding out too far. Any ideas where I can get some of those?

I needed one or two for a box I have, I just made new clips.

jeffmoss26 · Jun 28, 2014

I can finally play now!
I finally got a Kennedy box! After a couple years of searching, I stumbled upon a garage sale and the guy was willing to get rid of it. He kept most of the junk that was in the box but let me keep the cutting bits and inserts, maybe someone here or at work can use them.
Paid 40 bucks, not a bad price. The box is in rough cosmetic shape but structurally solid. It's already on my bench and holding all my lock rekeying tools!

Provincial · Jun 29, 2014

I saw an old Kennedy-made box yesterday. It was the standard smaller machinist box, except if I remember right, there was no deep narrow drawer. It was an early box, with a large center hasp/lock and round steel riveted drawer pulls. The paint was Craftsman blue wrinkle finish. The drawers had the remains of green felt lining. The drawer slides seemed to be the standard Kennedy slides.

There was no price posted, and I wasn't in the market for one of these. I thought it was interesting, though. I should have taken pictures, but didn't.

chopper1 · Jun 29, 2014

Jeff, I picked up one of those a few weeks ago and it had a lot of paint splatter on it. Lacquer thinner took most of it off.

LiveWire64 · Jul 1, 2014

chopper1 said:
Livewire that S-K set belongs on the Show Your S-K thread

Do you have a link to that thread? Can't seem to locate it using the search function here. Thanks.

beakie · Jul 1, 2014

just picked up the Craftsman Combo, (built by Beach)
came full of old CMan tools, and assorted others (Gray, SnapOn, etc)
Pretty good condition, from original owner downsizing to a condo with his wife. Keys came with it too, not sure if he stamped them but they were stamped "T" or "B" for top/bottom.

Sam'sAutoParts · Jul 1, 2014

LiveWire64 said:
Do you have a link to that thread? Can't seem to locate it using the search function here. Thanks.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156810

Here it is

JeremyBurke · Jul 1, 2014

beakie said:
just picked up the Craftsman Combo, (built by Beach)
came full of old CMan tools, and assorted others (Gray, SnapOn, etc)
Pretty good condition, from original owner downsizing to a condo with his wife. Keys came with it too, not sure if he stamped them but they were stamped "T" or "B" for top/bottom.

I don't know what you paid so I can't say you **** for price but that box has enough awesome for a you **** for awesome alone. :beer:

ecotec · Jul 1, 2014

beakie, that is a great looking box.

drivesitfar · Jul 1, 2014

Beakie: Dang i like Beach and Craftsman boxes and you have both in the same boxes. i also really like all the drawers in the top box and that it is as deep as the bottom box because i'd rather have all those drawers a few inches deeper than the 2 or 3 inch edge to lay a couple tools on.

not sure what all the #'s are on it so hopefully they come off fairly easily and are you planning on leaving as is or giving it a new paint job? doesn't really need it though and again nice find and also liked your thread showing all the nice tools you bought with them. :thumbup:

beakie · Jul 1, 2014

JeremyBurke said:
I don't know what you paid so I can't say you **** for price but that box has enough awesome for a you **** for awesome alone.

you can find the contents that came with it in here
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4069361&postcount=24
and here
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4069778&postcount=26

and cost for the tool chest, top & bottom, $250

ecotec said:
beakie, that is a great looking box.

not often you can say that to a guy and know he will appreciate it. thanks

drivesitfar said:
Beakie: Dang i like Beach and Craftsman boxes and you have both in the same boxes. i also really like all the drawers in the top box and that it is as deep as the bottom box because i'd rather have all those drawers a few inches deeper than the 2 or 3 inch edge to lay a couple tools on.

not sure what all the #'s are on it so hopefully they come off fairly easily and are you planning on leaving as is or giving it a new paint job? doesn't really need it though and again nice find and also liked your thread showing all the nice tools you bought with them.

I am very happy with the box itself. I much prefer older, properly built tools and the like, so this fits the bill nicely. I like the deep drawers too, the layout seems odd with the single x2 high drawer, but it should prove handy I'm sure.

The numbers are not difficult to remove (RT is gone already) but they leave a sticky residue, so I'm waiting until I have a paint thinner, or something to get rid of the paint splashes too.

I won't be "restoring" this, I much prefer the vintage look, and is much more attractive to look this way... conversation starter too for visitors.

I talked with the previous (original) owner for a while. He was into hot rods (maybe explains #'s) and cars in general. Rebuilt heavy diesel alternators and starters for a living. Great guy, and I wanted him to know his tools would be looked after and appreciated. Not blasted, spray bombed, polished and re-sold a few months later.

drivesitfar · Jul 1, 2014

Beakie: it sounds like the box found another good home. :thumbup:

I've seen machinist books, drills and more often than not a good size bottle of booze in the big smaller size drawer in the top box. :bounce:

taumac · Jul 1, 2014

beakie said:
just picked up the Craftsman Combo, (built by Beach)
came full of old CMan tools, and assorted others (Gray, SnapOn, etc)
Pretty good condition, from original owner downsizing to a condo with his wife. Keys came with it too, not sure if he stamped them but they were stamped "T" or "B" for top/bottom.

That's a nice set of boxes.

nine4gmc · Jul 1, 2014

Damn Beakie, that set just dropped my jaw!!! You got tools and keys with it :eyecrazy:

ecotec · Jul 1, 2014

I need to get out there and start looking for another vintage box. I already outgrew mine.

jakemac · Jul 1, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Beakie: it sounds like the box found another good home.

I've seen machinist books, drills and more often than not a good size bottle of booze in the big smaller size drawer in the top box.

For thinning cutting oil only, of course.

rickhigginshtbr · Jul 1, 2014

wow, that crowntop box is awesome!

zkling · Jul 1, 2014

beakie said:
just picked up the Craftsman Combo, (built by Beach)
came full of old CMan tools, and assorted others (Gray, SnapOn, etc)
Pretty good condition, from original owner downsizing to a condo with his wife. Keys came with it too, not sure if he stamped them but they were stamped "T" or "B" for top/bottom.

That is awesome. :drool:

You guys north of the border had some really interesting craftsman offerings compared to us in the states. Enjoy them, I really like the drawer layout. How do the full depth drawers in the top box work? Do they flex much?

beakie · Jul 2, 2014

zkling said:
That is awesome. You guys north of the border had some really interesting craftsman offerings compared to us in the states. Enjoy them, I really like the drawer layout. How do the full depth drawers in the top box work? Do they flex much?

well I have a 26" Mastercraft top box (much same size, but only 10 years old). The Beach/Craftsman has less flex (very very little really), and other than the friction slides it feels "better" than the Mastercraft. The only thing the MC box has over the CMan is the roller slides... other than that, this box is much better, IMO.

drivesitfar · Jul 9, 2014

All: is this a "real" Gertsner machinist box? any idea how i can find the date of birth? it needs some TLC because the cover is only about half there. my first Gertsner.

i'm pretty sure there is a restoration YouTube video on Gertsner's site or if not any leads to the how to process is appreciated.

beakie · Jul 17, 2014

beakie said:
just picked up the Craftsman Combo, (built by Beach)
came full of old CMan tools, and assorted others (Gray, SnapOn, etc)
Pretty good condition, from original owner downsizing to a condo with his wife. Keys came with it too, not sure if he stamped them but they were stamped "T" or "B" for top/bottom.

so having had this for a bit... what are the odds a Mastercraft that's almost exactly the same as the Craftsman comes up for sale 30minutes away from me?
the odds are good!

but after grabbing the craftsman w/keys, chock full of Cman/SO/Gray tools for $250 I can't bring myself to pay the $200 for this Mastercraft one.
emailed seller re: keys, tools included, condition, etc, would they take $100
response: condition is great, no locking mech so no keys, no tools included, $200 is best they can do.

meh, condition doesn't look "great", no lock mech/keys, no tools included... unless they drop price I won't end up with it.

add here

drivesitfar · Jul 17, 2014

Beakie: let it go and be grateful you got the better box and full of tools too. thanks for posting the pictures of yours again and the Beach version of yours.

beakie · Jul 17, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Beakie: let it go and be grateful you got the better box and full of tools too. thanks for posting the pictures of yours again and the Beach version of yours.

yes yes I know I "should" leave it be, and I'm gone camping for a week come Sunday... but if it's still around when I get back, I may put another offer in on it.

I have 2 boys, and while I don't know if they will ever care for tools the way I do... it would be cool to have 2 almost exact vintage boxes, and pass one too each of them.

JeremyBurke · Jul 17, 2014

beakie said:
yes yes I know I "should" leave it be, and I'm gone camping for a week come Sunday... but if it's still around when I get back, I may put another offer in on it.

I have 2 boys, and while I don't know if they will ever care for tools the way I do... it would be cool to have 2 almost exact vintage boxes, and pass one too each of them.

Beakie I completely understand this. I have 3 boys and am going through the same thoughts about what I will leave them someday.

DWise · Jul 18, 2014

I picked this up recently. I was going to restore it but I am lusting after a CL KR537 so this will have to go to offset the KR537 price. Bottom is sadly missing the crown top badge.

madison069 · Jul 18, 2014

I got the same top box as yours DWise, I cleaned and repainted mine and it's not my primary box!

bluebolt · Jul 18, 2014

DWise said:
I picked this up recently. I was going to restore it but I am lusting after a CL KR537 so this will have to go to offset the KR537 price. Bottom is sadly missing the crown top badge.

So measure it and buy a crown top handcarry box with the same badge!

taumac · Jul 18, 2014

Got this one last week.

$10 to flea market. What's cool is I got the original ad.

Now I gotta find that intermediate box.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

nine4gmc · Jul 18, 2014

You get the intermediate box and I'll really be jealous

mtwaterguy · Jul 18, 2014

If you find the two drawer model let me know. :drool:

taumac · Jul 18, 2014

My current vintage craftsman collection.

All but middle bottom and left machinist are original silver/ red and while those 2 where wrinkle brown. I repainted those to match.I still have to repaint the top chest and small carry I got while others need locks installed and badges done.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

nine4gmc · Jul 18, 2014

taumac · Jul 18, 2014

I didn't want to buy new latches on my machinist boxes. The looked worst than this.

I repainted mine.

I used this.

Its not chrome but I like the contrast next to the hammered paint.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

taumac · Jul 18, 2014

nine4gmc said:
You get the intermediate box and I'll really be jealous

nine4gmc said:

Thanks, it all started with the bottom left and it didn't want it to be lonely so I got it a twin. Same with the machinist. I don't know wether to blame GJ or my OCD with having 2 of something. LOL

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

beatcad · Jul 18, 2014

dang taumac! that's a nice collection ya got there.

mcmlvif100 · Jul 19, 2014

taumac said:
My current vintage craftsman collection.

Very nice collection !!!

The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

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