The ULTIMATE "vintage" tool chest

[Elroy]

Elroy has always been aware of this "foot locker" as it has been around Pops house for years. Elroy never really paid it much attention as it had always been just a junk catcher. Nothing really special, just an old foot locker.

Recently Elroy noticed something odd and unique about it. Do you see it??

Here, lets flip it over for a better view:

YEP, the bottom is tappered to fit the running board on an old truck and you can see the square holes where carrage bolts held it on.

Check out the cool hardware:

Riveted on hinges

And a shot of Pop cleaning the cob webs off the bottom:

Hope you enjoyed that. Elroy did

 

[sk farmer]

elroy, you take good care of that box. pops too. dad just turned 80 this year. pretty sure when the wheels turn this spring, he'll be behind one. it's good to still have them around.

 

[old salvage]

Box = Awsome. Particularly the taper and hardware.
Elroys father = Awsome. Especially that he walks around a work area in his socks.
I do that too

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

People still laugh when I say I would like to build my (wooden) toolbox. My grandfather generation , went from hand to power tools, and built quite a bit with them.
What they built before, then after the war (WWII), as well as seeing what all a former neighbor did (WWI), and all the old wood homemade toolboxes, and foot lockers, gives me a lot of respect for them.

The ONLY way I could see an improvement on that box, is to have the vehicle to go with it.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

What truck came with that box? Was it a Willy's something?

Adam

 

[Delray]

That is a very unusual box! The generic ones in my old catalogs all have square ends. I have seen flat tapered ones but never one with a gentle curve. Most front of rear fenders come down pretty straight. That would make me think it is specific to a certain vehicle and maybe even OEM. I would venture a guess that the hardware would make it no earlier then the 20's.

Thanks for sharing the pictures. My Dad is 85 and still going strong!!

 

[Elroy]

Most front of rear fenders come down pretty straight. That would make me think it is specific to a certain vehicle and maybe even OEM. I would venture a guess that the hardware would make it no earlier then the 20's.

OEM ? After market ??

We have no idea as there is no identification on it. Elroy would be interested in getting an idea on the application as Pops is the one who mentioned it was for a running board. The shape does make sense for an application like that.

Application suggestions would be appreciated.

Mack ? Diamond T ? Indiana ??

What do you guys think?

By the way, That isn't sheet metal it's more like PLATE with all the seams fully welded.

 

[-B-]

yep those suckers are heavy i have a small truck box that is the "old iron box" has all the tools pops thinks are trash in it.

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Could it be homemade?

 

[Elroy]

Could it be homemade?

Maybe but we doubt it.

The riveted on cast iron latches look real good. This appears factory made to Elroy.

The "wall" looks to be formed from one piece with a single weld going up the side at the corner shown.

Then the bottom is welded in 360.

 

[Delray]

Sorry, I meant no later then the 20's. The curve looks more like the back of a front fender but that would put it in a position to block the drivers door. I'm stumped?

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21001380

 

[old salvage]

Could it be from a tractor or farm implement of some type ?

 

[Elroy]

Sorry, I meant no later then the 20's. The curve looks more like the back of a front fender but that would put it in a position to block the drivers door. I'm stumped?

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21001380

Actually, Elroy thinks that would be an ideal candidate. Some of the earlier trucks had much longer fenders which would not block the drivers access. Our hunt for application continues. Pops indicated it was a Ford but he admits that's a guess

 

[voidifused]

Could it be like somthing shown here were you could step on/over it maybe?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G3DjZetEq...cQII--3w8/s1600-h/1920-1929-ford-trucks-5.jpg

 

[Elroy]

Well that's a "T" and the fender has the right shape. Thank you for posting up a few options

 

[T56 Impala]

I'm no expert Elroy, but those hasps look MUCH earlier than 1920. I would say closer to '09-'10 maybe? I will be looking, but if you would like to search too, the hinges and hasps on old boxes are some of the best things to date. The steel thickness is another clue as you can see. Again, the thickness indicates closer to the turn of the century.

It is one nice box for sure. If its in no danger of rusting to bits, I wouldn't do a thing to it.

And for those of you that don't know, Elroy is a freakin' genius!!!! Ask him anything and I'll bet he has THE answer you are looking for. Elroy, I still thank you for your advise!

 

[voidifused]

1909-1912, wow! back to the old horse and wagon.

 

[Elroy]

And for those of you that don't know, Elroy is a freakin' genius!!!! Ask him anything and I'll bet he has THE answer you are looking for. Elroy, I still thank you for your advise!

STOP THE TRAIN and BACK THE BUSS UP. We don't need to hear all that ****. All I do is try. The same thing everyone else does.

1909-1912, wow! back to the old horse and wagon.

Elroy has doubts as it being that old. The latches are cast iron but we would guess this is late teens to mid 20's.

Don't worry about the rust. There is PLENTY of METAL in that thing.

We would appreciate any leads on running board mounted tool boxes. Mid 20's Cadillac had them but they look like they are set into a well in the front fender and have a square bottom to the box.

Elroy understands that when Mom and Dad moved into their first apartment in Milwaukee (about 1949) this thing was in the basement. So Pops has had it 60 years !!!

 

[lauver]

Elroy,

In my mind there are three possibilities:

1) Store bought box (perhaps OEM, perhaps aftermarket),

2) Home made, and

3) Repurposed (Store bought, but modified by the owner for a unique purpose).

A case in point, I have an old flat bed truck that was originally owned by a very crafty welder. Everything on this truck had been modified by the original owner including two aftermarket tool boxes that are mounted under the bed. These were store bought tool boxes, but heavily and professionally modified to fit this particular truck. One of the boxes had been cut in half, then sectioned about 8 inches, then rewelded so that it would fit between the gas tank and the rear wheels. Even the door to this tool box was sectioned and rehinged so that it opened horizontally instead of vertically. Most people who look at these tool boxes would never suspect that they had been modified because they were modified so professionally. Just thought I'd throw out this third possibility for your consideration.

 

[fatfillup]

Elroy,love all the cool old stuff you post. Can't help with ID, but treasure your time and relationship with Pops. Lost mine about 1 1/2 years ago and seeing Pops picture brought back memories and sadly some regrets.

Old salvage, good eye on the socks, had to look back.

 

[Elroy]

but treasure your time and relationship with Pops. Lost mine about 1 1/2 years ago and seeing Pops picture brought back memories and sadly some regrets.

We see Pop every night!! He still has the knack of keeping Elroy in line. Pops is a Navy trained Electrical Engineer ( Elroy is a ME) and many evenings I bounce Electrical issues off him that came up at the plant that day. It keeps him sharp and helps Elroy produce.

good eye on the socks, had to look back.

Elroy had to take a second look as well.

 

[toadjammer]

I don't know this for sure, but I thought some of the earlier vehicles only had doors on one side. If that was the case it could have easily been mounted on the "other" side.

 

[Elroy]

The "diamond logo" cast in the latch is pointing Elroy toward an International application from the early 20's.

We have found pictures of several IH running boards that would accept this box. We just need to find a photo of one with a box mounted on it.

Then again maybe Elroy is smoking crack

 

[ears]

http://forums.aths.org/instantforum414/

These guys know their stuff. My ex boss could probably tell you right off the top of his head if not he has a monster library. He doesn't do computers though just plays in the shop all day.

 

[mkdive]

thanks for sharing elroy. That is a stout little box. The curve on it is interesting. Sorry I cant help find its origin. Subscribed tho, interested in how old it is!