Cope
Well-known member
KRA53B Should have the model and date code on he right rear. It is a nice size, holds a lot, but can still be loaded by one man.
The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
KRA53B Should have the model and date code on he right rear. It is a nice size, holds a lot, but can still be loaded by one man.
sonvolt
Well-known member
Nice to have such a box just chilling in your basement
Bill Ramsey
Well-known member
My dad has one just like that. Except for the straight metal. And the pristine paint. And the badge. And the cleanliness.
That's a nice clean early to mid 70's KRA53 and the price seems fair for the condition.
taumac
Well-known member
I stumble across this tonight and thought I would share.
I'm redoing a crown top machinist chest ( similar to a Kennedy 526) and switched out some drawers from a leather handle Kennedy 520. While taking the knobs off I noticed this.
The Kennedy front have 2 holes vs Cman 3
Plus knobs are held in by 2 clips verse the one.
I thought I would share info on that for people the needed to know if it's a Kennedy or not.
By the way here's the box and changes I made.
I took big drawer from a Kennedy and swap it.
I got Kennedy for free and Craftsman for $10. So thought I would turn the Craftsman into a mini version of this and same paint.
In current state.
I'm redoing a crown top machinist chest ( similar to a Kennedy 526) and switched out some drawers from a leather handle Kennedy 520. While taking the knobs off I noticed this.
The Kennedy front have 2 holes vs Cman 3
Plus knobs are held in by 2 clips verse the one.
I thought I would share info on that for people the needed to know if it's a Kennedy or not.
By the way here's the box and changes I made.
I took big drawer from a Kennedy and swap it.
I got Kennedy for free and Craftsman for $10. So thought I would turn the Craftsman into a mini version of this and same paint.
In current state.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
My dad has one just like that. Except for the straight metal. And the pristine paint. And the badge. And the cleanliness.
I saw a PowrKraft carry box similar to one my dad had when I was a kid last weekend, and that described it exactly!
BlueBomber
Well-known member
I posted this on the Garage Sale Finds thread, but wanted to immortalize it here too. I found this at an estate sale today and recognized that Craftsman logo was "old". I bought in a lot of other stuff for $40, so I'd say $8 was this guy's share.
It's been sprayed rather poorly with black paint (although in this picture, it is still wet from the rain and so isn't quite as bad as it looks). I don't know if I can salvage the logo's original color. Can anyone recommend a solvent or other method for stripping the black paint without harming the logo underneath?
It's been sprayed rather poorly with black paint (although in this picture, it is still wet from the rain and so isn't quite as bad as it looks). I don't know if I can salvage the logo's original color. Can anyone recommend a solvent or other method for stripping the black paint without harming the logo underneath?
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twertsy
Well-known member
Ok folks, got a bit of a problem here. I scored this little gem but it has a couple issues. As you can see in the pics, the tray that is supposed to be attached to the hinges on the underside of the top has come apart. I want to get it back together without messing up the appearance of the box. The hinges are supposed to be tack welded to the back of the tray (last pic) but I just don't see how I'll ever get in there to do it. Any thoughts/recommendations/solutions (without marring the box).
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Bryan Burns
Well-known member
BlueBomber
Well-known member
It's been sprayed rather poorly with black paint (although in this picture, it is still wet from the rain and so isn't quite as bad as it looks). I don't know if I can salvage the logo's original color. Can anyone recommend a solvent or other method for stripping the black paint without harming the logo underneath?
I started real slow, with a tooth brush and some paint thinner. There is hope...
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Blue Bomber, Use Simple Green instead of Paint thinner...
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Twertsy, can you get some pics at a slight angle? I'n not seeing it well, (in focus is also good...) I'm guessing you need to spot weld in places, but can't tell
Outlawmws
Well-known member
What am I saying? Twertsy, that thing is scrap and dangerous toxic waste. PM me for an address to ship it to for safe disposal... 
twertsy
Well-known member
I'll post a better side pic tomorrow afternoon. If you look at the inside of the top of the box, there are 2 hinges welded to it. Those hinges appear to have been spot welded to the rear side of the tray.
Unfortunately, the tray/hinges for tray are riveted. If they weren't, I could simply tilt the tray up against the inside of the top and get in there properly. I'd hate to put modern rivets in the tray hinge or "rig" the welds on the back of the tray.
On another note, what do you all think about restoring it? What color would it have been? I'm on the fence at this point about doing a full resto..........
BlueBomber
Well-known member
The Plomb box should have been red or green (that inside color could be correct) depending on year, pretty sure it is a model 9990.
Hard to tell what is going on in the pics for the hinges, but nothing that a few rosette welds couldn't fix. Looks like the middle hinge was ripped in half?
Hard to tell what is going on in the pics for the hinges, but nothing that a few rosette welds couldn't fix. Looks like the middle hinge was ripped in half?
twertsy
Well-known member
Yup, the middle hinge is toast. The issue is access to do the welding.
Just drill a small hole or two at the location of each hinge in the back of the tray and put a rosete weld in those holes to attach the hinges. That is going to be your only option outside a custom set of spot welder electrodes or dissection of the long support bars.
twertsy
Well-known member
Well THAT'S not what I wanted to hear (although I expected it). Here's a little better side view of the hinges whilst I'm holding up the tray.
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Bigplum
Well-known member
If you don't want to weld ( but I think that's the best option with new hinges )
You could try sikaflex or similar, the pu glues have a daft amount of adhesion if the surfaces are cleaned and keyed
You could try sikaflex or similar, the pu glues have a daft amount of adhesion if the surfaces are cleaned and keyed
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BlueBomber
Well-known member
What about removing the hinges from the lid, welding them to the tray, then rewelding then to the lid?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That's not going to be an easy fix, but I'd:
pull the pin on the left hinge still on the box lid, carefully align and spot weld it onto the tray.
Then spot weld the other hinges back onto the tray, (replace if needed)
lastly re-pin the left hinge before spot welding the remaining 2 hinges back to the lid.
No "trick" electrodes needed, as long as there is reach to the center hinge.
But I own a spot welder, so... (ship it to me for disposal)
pull the pin on the left hinge still on the box lid, carefully align and spot weld it onto the tray.
Then spot weld the other hinges back onto the tray, (replace if needed)
lastly re-pin the left hinge before spot welding the remaining 2 hinges back to the lid.
No "trick" electrodes needed, as long as there is reach to the center hinge.
But I own a spot welder, so... (ship it to me for disposal)
PCO6
Well-known member
Not sure if this helps but if you need to make spot welds and only have access from one side a Porta-Spot welder might do the trick provided you can get the "pistols" in where you need them. Some body shops still have these and they're "quick".
View media item 36196
twertsy
Well-known member
That's a good idea Outlaw. Now I just need to check the hinge pins. Given the age of this box, I'm afraid they are peened on there........which doesn't make it impossible, just more difficult. I'm thinking this is the route I'm going to pursue.
park city flyer
Active member
Cool lining. Here's a site which sells restoration supplies for machinist boxes : http://machinistchest.com/site/
Tom
rodsnratfinks
Well-known member
My box is a little newer than many in this thread, but I thought it would be appreciated here. I bought it in February for $550:
I really like the drawer count of this box, but I wanted the top drawer(s) to be deeper for sockets like a lot of the newer boxes have. So, I reorganized the drawers so that the top two were 4"deep, then graduated from smallest to largest.
I'm quite satisfied with the end result. Now I can put my sockets in the top big drawer and the air tools in the narrow drawer.
I really like the drawer count of this box, but I wanted the top drawer(s) to be deeper for sockets like a lot of the newer boxes have. So, I reorganized the drawers so that the top two were 4"deep, then graduated from smallest to largest.
I'm quite satisfied with the end result. Now I can put my sockets in the top big drawer and the air tools in the narrow drawer.
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Should be stamped on the side of the box actually... rather than the rear. Mine is stamped on the right (if looking at the box) side near the bottom.
vintage nut
Well-known member
The box my circle H score in the new Britain thread came in
And my current top cab. Mastercraft, sold at canadian tire. Relabled beech. I still have my first top cab, a matching but smaller one that was also my dad's first top cab. He got it for Christmas when he was 14. He's 54 now, so its been around a while. I'd take pictures but its in storage
The matching roll cab is my dads, and he stores all the mill and metal lathe tooling in it
you can never have too many tools
And my current top cab. Mastercraft, sold at canadian tire. Relabled beech. I still have my first top cab, a matching but smaller one that was also my dad's first top cab. He got it for Christmas when he was 14. He's 54 now, so its been around a while. I'd take pictures but its in storage
The matching roll cab is my dads, and he stores all the mill and metal lathe tooling in it
you can never have too many tools
vintage nut
Well-known member
Just traded for this Kennedy
you can never have too many tools
you can never have too many tools
ChadTexas
Well-known member
Snap-on Tools KRA-108 from 1963. Its got some nice patina on it with original paint. Does anyone know why it says Snap-on Tools instead of just Snap-on?
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Untitled by cawthon_engineering, on Flickr[/IMG]
Bigplum
Well-known member
Bigplum
Well-known member
Hideous paint job on it though , it was hammer finish green & silver and it's missing the rubber bumpers ,
Hopefully it'll get a refurb later this year maybe sooner
Hopefully it'll get a refurb later this year maybe sooner
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Um, I'm confused; it looks red...
It was originally green and silver, someone did a poor repaint to its current red clothes.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45377&showall=1
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45377&showall=1
Bigplum
Well-known member
Yep , the red paint must have been applied during a sand storm with zero prep too ,
It will get blasted clean or perhaps I might go down the electrolysis route if I can find a big enough tank
It will get blasted clean or perhaps I might go down the electrolysis route if I can find a big enough tank
Outlawmws
Well-known member
A E Numan
Well-known member
OK I will try over here. Is this a cantilever tool box or a tackle box, I picked this up at the flea market this morning, it seems to be in great condition for it's age. I'm guessing late 40's to mid 50's? I've never seen on in person so any information is appreciated.
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rmalkow2
Well-known member
I'll vote its a tool box but I've never seen one with the round top and handle of that design. Very unusual and a nice find.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Deadsquiggles
Well-known member
Don't know what it is exactly. Just know it's vintage craftsman. Granddad used it for most of his career As a inside machinist at the shipyard. The black spray paint and rust is from where a coworker got upsets granddad would loan him tools so he tried to run over with a forklift. My granddad worked the metal back into place and sprayed some paint on it. He gave it to me, full of old KAL-USA, old craftsman, proto, and other branded tools, now that I started at the same shipyard as an outside machinist. If anyone can give specifics just from looking, post up or pm me.
