jakemac
Well-known member
The metal handle says that it's from the 50's or very early 60's. The handles became black plastic in the early 60's. First with the ends pointed out, later with the ends pointed in.
The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Cope
Well-known member
Don't know the date, but the 70s and newer I have never seen a tote tray.
taumac
Well-known member
Nice buy
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Thought you guys might like to see the newest vintage tool box I own. It is a pressteel and is in really good shape. No rust at all and is really straight. I just bought it for $59 but couldn't pass it up. I really want a tool mobile but this will have to do! I am wondering what it's original colors where? It has original color drawers(light grey) and I think the red body is original as well?? Some one painted the cover black I think and they also painted the top olive green?? Maybe they had a plvmb green top box 
Ruffgeezer
Well-known member
Sneak peek of my latest acquisition, no idea on age, but there is a telex number on the label. Anyone seen one like this before?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Thought you guys might like to see the newest vintage tool box I own. It is a pressteel and is in really good shape. No rust at all and is really straight. I just bought it for $59 but couldn't pass it up. I really want a tool mobile but this will have to do! I am wondering what it's original colors where? It has original color drawers(light grey) and I think the red body is original as well?? Some one painted the cover black I think and they also painted the top olive green?? Maybe they had a plvmb green top box
Some of these were OD for military use, during WWII and Korea at least...
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
Just showing off my latest box....
26" Wide 11 drawer Huot. Probably 1950's? Now to find the matching bottom...
26" Wide 11 drawer Huot. Probably 1950's? Now to find the matching bottom...
jimmybread
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- Joined
- Aug 18, 2014
- Messages
- 133
That huot is sweet!
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
Bought this toolbox in 1974. Been using it ever since.
Am trying to ID it in order to replace the lock and/or key.
Will likely have to take the lock to a locksmith.
Am trying to ID it in order to replace the lock and/or key.
Will likely have to take the lock to a locksmith.
Lock and key for that unit are pretty universal. You might be able to get a key cut for the lock. You certainty can get a new lock with key for ~$15.
I want to say ~70's-early 80's. Check the top compartment floor and back thoroughly, it should be stamped year and "USA", Somewhere I have a catalog saved
:
I want to say ~70's-early 80's. Check the top compartment floor and back thoroughly, it should be stamped year and "USA", Somewhere I have a catalog saved
:jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Is there a code stamped anywhere on the lock?
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
Likely not quite that old. I have it's little brother (6 drawer, plus a roller), and my Dad bought it new. He can't remember the exact date, but probably about 1970 give or take. Nice find, but looks like it's led a rough life. What are your plans for it?
What are your plans for that box Rick? Full repaint? That is quite a bit of surface patina for your money.
taumac
Well-known member
Is this a Snap On?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Canoe50
Well-known member
I recently picked up a red & gray Craftsman 6 drawer top box dated 7-71 that has a tote tray. It came with the matching lower roller cab.....both in nice shape.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
It may not apply to the smaller chests, but I bought a craftsman 10 drawer chest in the mid 70's and it came with a tote tray in the top (Which I took out and used for other stuff, until I eventually got rid of it..)
The 73 catalog shows all the top boxes with drawers with trays.
the craftsman box would've been waterloo built.
i had a '72 blackhawk box(waterloo built) with a tote tray
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
My 1986 26" craftsman top has a tote tray, it was bought new by my dad and it had the tote tray as long as I can remember so I believe it is original.
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Cope
Well-known member
Back in the day, everyone except Snap on provided a free tote tray. I remember Cornwell used to make a roll cab that had a tote tray in one of the drawers.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Not what you would normally expect to see here but I thought it is worth sharing.
My Dad was a sign painter from 1957-2003. He got this from one of his mentors and used it until the mid 90s when he "cleaned up" the exterior. the inside still has plenty of spills and goop from use. I always thought it was neat, I have been using it for display only, have not found a use for it, but either way it will always have a place in my garage. I have not idea who made it, or what its intended use was.
My Dad was a sign painter from 1957-2003. He got this from one of his mentors and used it until the mid 90s when he "cleaned up" the exterior. the inside still has plenty of spills and goop from use. I always thought it was neat, I have been using it for display only, have not found a use for it, but either way it will always have a place in my garage. I have not idea who made it, or what its intended use was.
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mtwaterguy
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- Nov 16, 2007
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- 3,518
Can't even imagine the tales. Great family heirlloom Sam.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Sam, that is a very cool case! I'd probably find a light duty use for it, just 'cause!
damn sam!
that is a cool piece!
i know nothing about that box, except a buddy of mine that is a sign painter/pinstriper would dig it.
im no expert on locks/latches/hardware, but id say those eagle locks are probably 40s or 50s.
wheres jmoss? hes the lock guy?
that is a cool piece!
i know nothing about that box, except a buddy of mine that is a sign painter/pinstriper would dig it.
im no expert on locks/latches/hardware, but id say those eagle locks are probably 40s or 50s.
wheres jmoss? hes the lock guy?
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Yeah, wish my Dad was still around to fill me in on the details of when he got it I seem to remember him saying he got it from his mentors widow, not sure when though, I think the fellow died in the early 80s
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
damn sam!
that is a cool piece!
i know nothing about that box, except a buddy of mine that is a sign painter/pinstriper would dig it.
im no expert on locks/latches/hardware, but id say those eagle locks are probably 40s or 50s.
wheres jmoss? hes the lock guy?
That is probably about right. Eagle has been out of business since the 70s.
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
Bang the top straight, it's a little off, scrub, compound, clear, and use. I like it more than my CMan machinist box, and I still have two other machinist boxes to do.... too many boxes, too little time
But the tools that were in it, I'll break even on the project.senlow
Well-known member
For your viewing pleasure, here is a Huot box that I recently acquired. The paint is in decent shape for it's age. I'm forcing myself not to do a complete restoration. The plan is to do some minor repair of the sheet metal. There are a few dents and the front cover of the top box is bent. Then I will clean, buff and wax the box. I also will remove the cork drawer liners that were glued in, and replace them with liner from Nu-Source. I have some nice casters with blue urethane wheels that will be bolted under the box. The original casters ****. Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to do anything to the box until spring. I have too many other projects ahead of it.
I apologize for the sideways photos. They are rotated correctly on my computer and in photobucket. But, as soon as I attach them, they turn sideways.
I apologize for the sideways photos. They are rotated correctly on my computer and in photobucket. But, as soon as I attach them, they turn sideways.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
That is a nice looking box, but those casters are so tiny, can't blame you for wanting to replace them.
JeremyBurke
Well-known member
Senlow that is an awesome huot. I'm very envious.
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
Senlow, super nice Huot pair. I'm jealous. That's about as clean as they come - mine and every one I've ever seen has more paint loss on the drawer faces. Those look to be slightly different ages. I've never seen that style drawer pull on that upper. And I think you have the highest drawer count available on both that upper and lower. Dang...nice find.
taumac
Well-known member
I got this craftsman today. It's a 9 drawer with a 10/65 date stamp. It's still carried over the heritage logo series rounded corners.
It also had a different lock
It also had a plug system on the side which I don't know if original
One also usually but turns out to be a good thing is the 4 top drawers have the normal clips but 5 bottom have a roller drawer system
I like that but then drawer doesn't fully open. I can't complain to much. It rust free and covered in almost 55 years of grime but I'll fix her up nice
It also had a different lock
It also had a plug system on the side which I don't know if original
One also usually but turns out to be a good thing is the 4 top drawers have the normal clips but 5 bottom have a roller drawer system
I like that but then drawer doesn't fully open. I can't complain to much. It rust free and covered in almost 55 years of grime but I'll fix her up nice
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Hey, an awesome find and another nice piece for your collection. Good Score!
taumac
Well-known member
Thanks, if I keep this trend up I might have to sell off my 2 HF 44's but then again if I gotten this vintage bug before I got them I could have filled whole garage with all vintage craftsmans. LOL Hind sight is always 20/20 LOL
Have a good one Gerard
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I got this craftsman today. It's a 9 drawer with a 10/65 date stamp. It's still carried over the heritage logo series rounded corners.
SNIP
One also usually but turns out to be a good thing is the 4 top drawers have the normal clips but 5 bottom have a roller drawer system
I like that but then drawer doesn't fully open. I can't complain to much. It rust free and covered in almost 55 years of grime but I'll fix her up nice
Now that is interesting! that roller system was what Pressteel used. (Think Plvmb toolmobile)
I wonder if they made that box, or someone else borrowed the design for the bigger drawers (presumably to more easily take the higher weight)
taumac
Well-known member
Its a 1965 so I don't know. Its like what I posted few weeks ago about my 1967 craftsman 10 drawer chest having Kennedy friction slides. This box also has the Kennedy slides in the top 4 drawers. The more I research the more confused.
While looking at it I pulled top drawers and saw the slides and clips for Kennedy style but when pulled the bottoms I said WTF. I wasn't expecting that and pulled the drawer out and surely in all original. Since it had rounded corners I just figured it got carried over from the heritage logo series. I'm sure once a get theses cleaned and lubed up the could handle some weight. Question.... Did the 1950's have the rounded corners and the pressteel slides?
Have a good one Gerard
Most of them, yes.
senlow
Well-known member
The paint loss is minimal, considering it's age. That is what motivated me to buy the boxes.
The boxes are different ages. I had the pleasure of buying them from the original owner. He is a talkative gentleman, in his mid seventies. He told me that he bought the top box first. He was a mobile mechanic, and kept the box in the trunk of his car. He bought the lower box a few years later as he acquired more tools. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember exactly when he bought each box.
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
I got this craftsman today. It's a 9 drawer with a 10/65 date stamp. It's still carried over the heritage logo series rounded corners.
SWEET! I love the Craftsman rollers that are all drawers. Congrats on the score. Are you going to repaint?