The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[bagged89s10]

Picked up my first Craftsman heritage logo tool box at a yard sale for two dollars. Box is a shade over 12" long and a shade under 7" tall, and 6" deep. Box is dirty, but the metal is nice and straight. It was full of buffing supplies. I thought the Long C buffing compound was pretty cool.

Pretty cool box. I have the same box and the same buffing compound in mine too!

 

[mingus2112]

I have my grandfather's old craftsman toolbox that i'd LOVE to actually use. It's in pretty rough shape, though. Really out of square, doesn't close right. How would I best re-align this and get it in shape for use? It's a long toolbox - probably about 2' long.

-James

 

[drivesitfar]

Mingus: can you post up a few pictures? i'm guessing if you are able to weld maybe a few new steel supports in the corners, but without any pictures it might be another fix.

Twertsy: i'm guessing you have about 3 or 10 times as many tools as i do, but without any pictures i'm calling BS until you post them.

i know of 2 that I've heard about that are the craftsman hand carry box with some cool tools in it and a mystery black box. I think you listed about 30 boxes in a post last month and we've only seen a few of them. do you have a warehouse full?

i know you are probably posting from your cell phones in between golf shots so after you finish the round take and post as many toolbox pictures as you want to. i and I'm sure others would like to see some of them you have mentioned and maybe with some of those tools in them too. cheers bud

 

[mingus2112]

Mingus: can you post up a few pictures? i'm guessing if you are able to weld maybe a few new steel supports in the corners, but without any pictures it might be another fix.

I'll snap some shots of it tonight. Welding is out - not something I have experience (or tools) doing. I'll let the shots speak for themselves later tonight.

-J

 

[drivesitfar]

Mingus: screwing supports sometimes works too, but i (we) will wait to see the pictures and maybe it just needs a little body work.

 

[Outlawmws]

if out of square, I've cross clamped them with pipe clamps, and pulled them just past square again, and then released them (past as it will usually spring back a bit...)

 

[zkling]

Intrigued to see what he has.

 

[twertsy]

Mingus: can you post up a few pictures? i'm guessing if you are able to weld maybe a few new steel supports in the corners, but without any pictures it might be another fix.

Twertsy: i'm guessing you have about 3 or 10 times as many tools as i do, but without any pictures i'm calling BS until you post them.

i know of 2 that I've heard about that are the craftsman hand carry box with some cool tools in it and a mystery black box. I think you listed about 30 boxes in a post last month and we've only seen a few of them. do you have a warehouse full?

i know you are probably posting from your cell phones in between looking for golf balls so after you finish the round take and post as many toolbox pictures as you want to. i and I'm sure others would like to see some of them you have mentioned and maybe with some of those tools in them too. cheers bud

What the........

First, I fixed that for you above.....

Secondly, here's a crapload I've posted and, since I've received zero pics / info of other models from anyone outside those of my own.........

Third, while I need to update this with some recent acquisitions, see post #7 of this thread

Maybe you guys just need to pay attention..........I've posted tons of pics of my tool storagistics.

 

[msgtsmithret]

My collection of boxes that are both cool to collect and practical. The crown top Cman houses lots of vintage carpenter tools, the small Union box holds my not so vintage dremel with all of its accessories. One of the two remaining Cman boxes holds all of my 1/2" drive sockets and ratchets, the other stays in the house and is my "honey-do" box for household chores. The slanted roof box holds a few tools, cleaning equipment and accessories needed at the shooting range. The blue Park box holds my oxy-acetelyne welding stuff. Last is my 1980 Mac rollaway still waiting to be restored.

 

[taumac]

What the........



First, I fixed that for you above.....



Secondly, here's a crapload I've posted and, since I've received zero pics / info of other models from anyone outside those of my own.........



Third, while I need to update this with some recent acquisitions, see post #7 of this thread



Maybe you guys just need to pay attention..........I've posted tons of pics of my tool storagistics.

I think drive doesn't spend as much time in the toolbox thread as he does the vise thread.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: don't get your Irish temper going about a few pictures. Taumac is right i don't spend as much time here as i used to and only because i'm trying to buy some bigger tools now like a welder, compressor and a lift. i know that you started a thread where you posted a bunch of your boxes that is awesome and will become a great resource for us and the lurkers too. i was really only asking about the two carry boxes you just mentioned. Show as many or as few as you want to and appreciate any you show us because you have a great eye for cool old tools. i still have a hard time not buying an old tool box especially when it comes full of tools.

ALL: here's a few more pictures of my Huot box that is blue with grey drawers. it's in really good shape except i don't have a key. i'm going to keep the creeper type wheels on it for now since it will just be rolling around very little in my small garage.

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy: don't get your Irish temper going about a few pictures. Taumac is right i don't spend as much time here as i used to and only because i'm trying to buy some bigger tools now like a welder, compressor and a lift. i know that you started a thread where you posted a bunch of your boxes that is awesome and will become a great resource for us and the lurkers too. i was really only asking about the two carry boxes you just mentioned. Show as many or as few as you want to and appreciate any you show us because you have a great eye for cool old tools. i still have a hard time not buying an old tool box especially when it comes full of tools.

ALL: here's a few more pictures of my Huot box that is blue with grey drawers. it's in really good shape except i don't have a key. i'm going to keep the creeper type wheels on it for now since it will just be rolling around very little in my small garage.

Just for you drives, uploading a video "Twertsy Shop Tour" as we speak. I'll post a link to youtube.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: will the two little boxes be in the tour.

thanks and i'm sure the other members and non members will enjoy the tour too.

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy: will the two little boxes be in the tour.

thanks and i'm sure the other members and non members will enjoy the tour too.

I think there's at least a couple

 

[jakemac]

ALL: here's a few more pictures of my Huot box that is blue with grey drawers. it's in really good shape except i don't have a key. i'm going to keep the creeper type wheels on it for now since it will just be rolling around very little in my small garage.

DIF - I need to amend my estimate of the age of your Huot. The first time I looked, I didn't see that it has the Huot decal, instead of the oval sticker. Your's doesn't have the embossed oval either. This means that it is a little older than I first thought. Late 50's to early 60's, I'm now thinking.

 

[drivesitfar]

Jake: thanks for the heads up. i doubt i'll ever sell this Huot. i also have a nice MBC top and bottom box that i need to spiff up along with more than a few metal organizers and carry boxes. i might have a few too many tools, but can that really be true?

cheers


Twertsy: where's the video??

 

[twertsy]

Here's a video of my shop, including most of my old boxes. Link

 

[mingus2112]

Mingus: screwing supports sometimes works too, but i (we) will wait to see the pictures and maybe it just needs a little body work.

Finally got a chance to pull it out and it's not as bad as I remember it. Just the front lip on the lid (i think) that needs to be bent back into shape. Also, what's the best way to clean up the rust on something like this? Should I leave it as is or repaint it? It doesn't look like it's already been repainted, which is weird because my grandfather repainted EVERYTHING. Tool boxes, a drill press, EVERYTHING!

Thanks!
-James

 

[drivesitfar]

Mingus: finding the tray for it would give it some more stability, but it doesn't look too bad. cleaning rust off is a personal taste issue, but it does look like Craftsman's original bluish paint and almost a wrinkle pattern. here's my craftsman vise of the same vintage for a color comparison.

since it was grand dad's box i might soak a rag in Wd 40 and see if i could remove some of the rust that way first to preserve the color. if you want to remove rust and paint there are lots of examples on this thread and many options.

Even without the tray it should hold maybe 7.5 inch grinder or some other tools.

 

[zkling]

Mid to late 40's carpenters box. Looks like you are missing the tray. Shouldn't be that hard to straighten and fix as there are no drawers to keep aligned.

 

[mingus2112]

Mid to late 40's carpenters box. Looks like you are missing the tray. Shouldn't be that hard to straighten and fix as there are no drawers to keep aligned.

The era is just about right. He came home from the war in '45 and I'm pretty sure he had to buy all new tools at that point. I don't know anything about this box. I found it in the garage after he died, so it's not something he used after he stopped general carpentry / metalwork in the '80s to head up the maintenance department in the local school district. I had herd stories about his huge carpenter's box, which my uncle has, that was probably larger than this - and wood. (i'd bet he made it himself)

I might have the tray for this, actually. It also looks like he added the block of wood in the top of the lid (unless it came like that) with slits in it for saw or blade storage.

 

[twertsy]

Snagged this Plomb 9989 box today.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: is that your first plomb tool box? forgot to mention i watched about 75% of that video you made and OMG you have a lot of boxes and cool tools. thanks for sharing.

 

[twertsy]

No Drives, I have the bigger one with drawers too. And thank you.

 

[chopper1]

Todd, I restored one like that a couple years ago.
Pics of what I started with to finished.

 

[twertsy]

Very nice chop. This one is in very good shape so I think I'm just going to clean it. I'd love to try and fill it with a set but in my '32 cat there are 4 different sets that come in that box.

 

[chopper1]

The listing I found for this box.
BTW I do have the tray but it missed the photo session.

 

[twertsy]

If you look in the 32 cat I posted there are 9989 C, D, E, & F

 

[FJ 432]

Twertsy,

I took your tour:

You sir have a tool shop with a tool box problem!!!!

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy,

I took your tour:

You sir have a tool shop with a tool box problem!!!!

Yo no entiendo...........no speaka de engrish

 

[chopper1]

If you look in the 32 cat I posted there are 9989 C, D, E, & F

Where did you post the 32 catalog?

 

[twertsy]

thread Here and under tool history over there// plomb/Proto research thread

 

[TheModelAGuy]

Lots of patina on this 1950s Craftsman Machinest Tool Box.
Will probably leave as is after a good cleaning.
I need to locate some tool box felt and then off to work it goes!

 

[twertsy]

Drives, another little box I picked up today. Full set of Penens 1/2" drive.

 

[twertsy]

Here's a little 1/4" drive Penens set from the same seller. Sans ratchet unfortunately.

 

[HeelSpur]

Not a tool box but its 100% metal and getting harder to find.

 

[nine4gmc]

That is awesome Heelspur, never saw one with that styling!

 

[twertsy]

Agreed, that's very cool heelspur.

 

[drivesitfar]

HS: nice looking metal organizers and another one i have to put on my list now. thanks for sharing.

Twertsy: thanks for posting your little carry boxes and i really like the ones with the heavy duty metal handles maybe even more than the leather ones. BTW is Pennens somehow related to Proto or Plvmb because i have a few and they if names weren't on them i'd have issues telling them apart?

 

[twertsy]

HS: nice looking metal organizers and another one i have to put on my list now. thanks for sharing.

Twertsy: thanks for posting your little carry boxes and i really like the ones with the heavy duty metal handles maybe even more than the leather ones. BTW is Pennens somehow related to Proto or Plvmb because i have a few and they if names weren't on them i'd have issues telling them apart?

Plomb bought Penens, I believe during WWII.