The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
That Craftsman chest looks odd, late 70's early 80's rectangular label but the side handles and drawer pulls are unfamiliar.
Agree, that screams not craftsman. More like old Mac/Matco or Cornwell.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
14" deep is also wrong for Craftsman; until recently they were all 12" or less.
taumac
Well-known member
I'll agree there many odd things going on here. First the repaint, original color is red. Second, side handles aren't craftsman. They look like something off my MBC I had. Third, that's a 80's badge like like one off my 86 craftsman
Plus it's on wrong side of box. I posted it mainly cause I knew wasn't a craftsman and thinking someone could get a deal cause the seller didn't know what it was.
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Plus it's on wrong side of box. I posted it mainly cause I knew wasn't a craftsman and thinking someone could get a deal cause the seller didn't know what it was.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
FJ 432
Well-known member
2015 began with a bang last Friday when a local CL ad mentioned a Plomb Toolmobile. Wound up with the toolmobile, a top box with a Plomb logo I can't place and the trifecta finished off with a Ideal stencil machine. 300.00. He threw in the 1/2 Snappy oil ratchet. My boxer Hank approved of the deal.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Holy Cow! Don't you just **** golf balls through garden hoses! Not sure I've seen anyone else score the top and bottom Plvmb, boxes in one buy!
Outlawmws
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Only because some maroon painted the bottom red...
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
Holy ****! Awesome score!
montanafordman
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Nice score! Looks like you got the locking bar with the toolmobile too! Do you have keys for it too? Neat looking vintage snappy ratchet too.
uniballer
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Do you have the rollup door?
montanafordman
Well-known member
I have never seen a green toolmobile, Many of the smaller top boxes I have seen green ( more olive drab I guess?
) , but I have an original (unrestored if you will) toolmobile and its red but it does have some gray stripes so I'm guessing his has been painted at some point. 
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More so the "matching" top chest was called the "Master" it was a full width top box. I was just poking FJ432 a little. It's an awesome setup in the hands of someone that will give it a good home. It was essentially Plomb's answer to snap on's roll a bench. Work bench / bottom box.
Fun, ironic fact if you will, Plomb called that color "Chinese Red".
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FJ 432
Well-known member
You know Outlaw you just never see these in Denver and to find both together will make this one of my greater picks. I was telling zkling that I've been looking for a stencil machine for a long time and that's why I mentioned in my first post a trifecta score.
Nice score! Looks like you got the locking bar with the toolmobile too! Do you have keys for it too? Neat looking vintage snappy ratchet too.
Unfortunately no key and not nearly in the same league as your grandfather's. Thankfully all the ball bearing rollers, the lock bar and original (or I believe it to be true) casters.
I deserve your poke. The toolmobile does have a respray coat on it. It may require a full restoration.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
FJ: so you picked up 3 items that could all have a thread just on their own in one stop. very nice.
since the top box doesn't seem to be the same width as the bottom roller and you'll need the top of the roller for the stencil machine i think you should ship that old green box to me and i'll put it on my bench. let the trade talks begin?
i can't say I've seen a Plvmb box restored properly and if you are planning to and do half as good of a job as the little Snappy you did a few months ago i'd like to see it.
congrats
Montana: you can post up your plvmb box as many times as you like and don't forget to include that tool board next time that we only saw of piece of in that picture you just posted. very cool item to find in the family's store.
since the top box doesn't seem to be the same width as the bottom roller and you'll need the top of the roller for the stencil machine i think you should ship that old green box to me and i'll put it on my bench. let the trade talks begin?
i can't say I've seen a Plvmb box restored properly and if you are planning to and do half as good of a job as the little Snappy you did a few months ago i'd like to see it.
congrats
Montana: you can post up your plvmb box as many times as you like and don't forget to include that tool board next time that we only saw of piece of in that picture you just posted. very cool item to find in the family's store.
softailgarage
Well-known member
WOW! Outlaw hit the golf ball right on the head, thou doth sucketh. I would almost kill someones ex-wife for a set up like that
. BTW, I've seen both olive drab bottoms and tops & red bottoms and tops, a matching set would give me shivers 
.Nice score
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I have a 2 drawer Pressteel bottom roller, closest I've gotten to the Plvmb box. Pressteel made these for Plvmb... (They also made my 50's craftsman five drawer roller, (no "garage" in the bottom of this one, 2 shallower drawers on top, then 3 deeps.)
That one was olive drab under a magenta repaint.
That one was olive drab under a magenta repaint.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Sucking golf balls through a hose would be an understatement!! I hate you and admire your find all in one breath! Great find! The toolmobile is on my bucket list
montanafordman
Well-known member
Bummer on the keys, however I might have a solution for you! I was fortunate enough to find my original keys, and if you have the same original lock, the lock is made by Illinois Lock Co, which I found still exists! I did some searching and was even able to find a matching key blank and made a bunch of extra keys to carry on my daily carry key ring, spares in case a few were cut improperly, and some more to prevent against loss, so now I have like 8 keys for the darn thing! lol...I keep the originals separate with my Model A keys. I pretty much could only find the key blanks in a single eBay auction although a locksmith might have more access to finding such things. I just bought the blanks and had them cut to my existing keys, however in your case you could bring the blanks and the lock to a smith and he might be able to work something out. If all else fails maybe Jeff Moss would like a challenge!
From what I gather he's a bit of a lock "enthusiast." The seller I bought my keys from still has some available. Here is the auction. (not mine FWIW) http://www.ebay.com/itm/271020619023?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
They key blank is Illinois 1041P.
Haha, thanks drivesitfar. Maybe next time.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Hmmm that's interesting, My Pressteel has a lock bar, but you use a padlock on it.
taumac
Well-known member
Drake9
Well-known member
Snagged this on CL, not sure the brand or year. I have looked it over but cant seem to find any markings. Anyone got any ideas?
Drake9
Well-known member
The slides remind me of a Kennedy I had.
The lock says Chicago, not sure if that means anything.
That would be my guess as well, an OLD one at that. Is the back smooth, folded columns, overlapping sheet?
Drake9
Well-known member
It is smooth, I can take a picture if need be.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Probably the drawer pulls got replaced
and Chicago was (is?) a major lock Mfg. (Jeff?)
taumac
Well-known member
The slides remind me of a Kennedy I had.
The lock says Chicago, not sure if that means anything.
Here's my question? Kennedy and Waterloo used almost same style of slide and clip to retain them. How do you tell the difference between them so you can tell if a Kennedy, Waterloo or other box? That box has has the Kennedy brown paint in the inner drawer so that's a clue but if that wasn't the case what are the differences in slides/ clips?
gipraw
Well-known member
Bummer on the keys, however I might have a solution for you! I was fortunate enough to find my original keys, and if you have the same original lock, the lock is made by Illinois Lock Co, which I found still exists! I did some searching and was even able to find a matching key blank and made a bunch of extra keys to carry on my daily carry key ring, spares in case a few were cut improperly, and some more to prevent against loss, so now I have like 8 keys for the darn thing! lol...I keep the originals separate with my Model A keys. I pretty much could only find the key blanks in a single eBay auction although a locksmith might have more access to finding such things. I just bought the blanks and had them cut to my existing keys, however in your case you could bring the blanks and the lock to a smith and he might be able to work something out. If all else fails maybe Jeff Moss would like a challenge!
FWIW. I have had success a couple of times by calling Illinois lock and giving them the lock number. They will mail you a key for the lock for a small fee. I have done it for a couple of fire safes from the mid 70's when I couldn't find blanks anywhere.
I think it is an original kennedy drawer pulls an all, just been repainted. I don't remember the time frame when they used those pulls but they did on their non machinist boxes.
Taumac, the two keys are kennedy uses a two piece spot welded together slide and the black retaining clip is straight on one end (back end) and completely folded over on the front, extending out past the stop point.
The mac/matco/old craftsman/ waterloo made slides were similar to an I beam in cross section, but folded out of one piece.
This is the fastest pic I could find ATM.
Taumac, the two keys are kennedy uses a two piece spot welded together slide and the black retaining clip is straight on one end (back end) and completely folded over on the front, extending out past the stop point.
The mac/matco/old craftsman/ waterloo made slides were similar to an I beam in cross section, but folded out of one piece.
This is the fastest pic I could find ATM.
softailgarage
Well-known member
I have never seen a green toolmobile, Many of the smaller top boxes I have seen green ( more olive drab I guess?
I have the same Pressteel box, olive drab with a 1" white stripe around the top
coleman10
Well-known member
Here's a slide from a small Waterloo box from 1968. Looks just about the same to me. Did both companies use the same supplier?
Drake9
Well-known member
That is cool, thanks for the info. I wonder how hard it will be to find another one of those handles as the bottom door is missing it. I am thinking I might restore this box back to the original color if I can figure that out. I am at work at the moment but I seem to remember the inner drawer being more of a gray color. I will have to check when I get home. We will see though, I have lots of projects already that are waiting to be completed.
taumac
Well-known member
I think it is an original kennedy drawer pulls an all, just been repainted. I don't remember the time frame when they used those pulls but they did on their non machinist boxes.
Taumac, the two keys are kennedy uses a two piece spot welded together slide and the black retaining clip is straight on one end (back end) and completely folded over on the front, extending out past the stop point.
The mac/matco/old craftsman/ waterloo made slides were similar to an I beam in cross section, but folded out of one piece.
This is the fastest pic I could find ATM.
Great info but Coleman thru a wrench in it. I just got home and he's right. All my Kennedy and craftsman machinist boxes have the Kennedy slides since made by Kennedy.
Now all my 1970 craftsman and older have the other slide.
Ok everything is matching up UNTIL I get to my 1967 10 drawer craftsman.
It's has these slides
Those are Kennedy slides? I'm confused now. If all the silver/red craftsman where made by Waterloo during this time why would the pre 1970 boxes I have have the Kennedy slide? Did Kennedy supply Waterloo slides and brand them craftsman? Very interesting
Project_shadow
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for my 84 craftsman/Waterloo? Top boxWhat do I need to do to remove the drawers
taumac
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What do I need to do to remove the drawers
Take a pic of slides and we could tell you.
Project_shadow
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It's 4 hours away so I can't really lol
crice63
Well-known member
I picked this Kennedy 520 Machinist Chest up at an Estate Sale. It was dirty, grimy and had a splash of red paint across the front of it.
It's an older model based on the square corners of the top/lid and the reinforcement on the inside of the lid.
I scrubbed the majority of the stains and paint off of it - some of the red paint is in the "krinkles" and isn't coming off without bringing some original paint with it.
Here is a before and some after shots.
Cheers
Jim
After Open - showing the re-felted drawers.
Jim, what did you use to glue your felt down (if you did). I'm working on one identical to yours and the PO, or someone, used a glue that allowed moisture to collect and consequently the drawer bottoms rusted wherever the glue was. You could even see the glue brush applicator marks in some of the rust patterns. I'd like not to repeat that mistake.