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The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

taumac

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Joined
Aug 30, 2011
Messages
8,104
Location
Brooksville, Fl
the side handles and the slides look MBC.

the drawer pulls and the top/front lid handle do look like snap-on.

but i have seen boxes w/ these drawer pulls that were not snap-on/MBC.



look on the left side panel of the box. left from facing the box.

IF it's MBC or SO it will be stamped in the lower left corner there.

i may be lightly stamped or dirty or painted over, so you might need a flashlight and a magnifying glass.

if its there it'll have the brand and date.

i'm guessing mid 60s to 70s..although i did have a early 80s SO w/ that style dtawer pulls.


My MBC was stamped left side lower left corner. Since MBC made Snap On for a few years it could be either. My guess maybe a Snap On from what I seen.
 
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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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16,939
I picked up this Snap On KA-260 wall cabinet over the weekend. Didn't even realize it was snap on till I was cleaning/mounting it and saw the stamping. Not much seems to be known about the KA-260, only other info I can find is a post on here about 2 years back. Thoughts, original design? It's not the most sturdy thing. :dunno:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5017386

Is there a wall cabinet specific thread?
 

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twertsy

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Jan 5, 2014
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6,726
Location
Reedville, VA
Is this an MBC or a SnapOn box ??????

It's 12"x26". When I found it, it was sitting on an MBC roller with similar drawer pulls.
The SnapOn stickers are throwing me off and there are no stampings anywhere on the box. I figured for $25 bux I wouldn't be loosing out (the roller was in worse shape for $40, I passed). It's going to take quite a while to degrease and clean it up. A hammer might be involved. ;)

This thing weighs a ton. The key was included.

Quite sure that's SO, no way it's Duplex with those corner reinforcements. Could be MBC. Do some comparisons in my tool box ID thread that nobody contributes to.
 

zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Quite sure that's SO, no way it's Duplex with those corner reinforcements. Could be MBC. Do some comparisons in my tool box ID thread that nobody contributes to.

Read your own thread with close attention to detail and you'll see it is certainly not a snap on. ;) Big hint is the mounting style of the top to front cover hinge. I'm still sticking with my knockoff, possibly Duplex, might be a Williams box idea.

Not that I know of.

They get most of their stiffness after being anchored to a wall.

It's not that, and I agree, but more so the inside mounting tabs, etc. aren't extremely sturdy. I wonder what it was designed for. :dunno:
 
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Joined
Mar 9, 2010
Messages
16
Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Here's a 3-drawer Beach portable box I picked up at a yard sale this morning, cleaned up really nice.



Really, nice! There is just something about the old Beach boxes, just a really nice look almost an price of art. I have a two drawer model similar to yours that I keep my art supplies in. Kinda odd I know, but it was the only way I could get my wife to let me keep it in the apartment.
 

Cato

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Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
636
Location
Alhambra, California
Here's a 3-drawer Beach portable box I picked up at a yard sale this morning, cleaned up really nice.


I wish those were available in the US - they look awesome. I love how they still have little metal labels (that says quality) instead of the stickers we get here in America.
 

Sauce73

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Joined
Jun 8, 2015
Messages
35
Location
Central Indiana
Although I'm pleased with the outcome, I had a difficult time getting the hammered paint in an even "pattern" I was getting darker streaks in areas and the dimples or hammered effects were not uniform. As I tried to retouch areas, the overspray would leave a dull silver coat on surrounding area and cover up the hammered effect. I made sure to shake can well before and during the painting. Temperatures were okay and humidity was around 60%.
Not sure why it gave me fits???
You can really notice it on the bottom half of the middle drawer
5702fd1ae9ed05ff33ccbeef56541e81.jpg

Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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jim

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Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
284
Location
wi
I have had the same problem with the hammered paint. Could not get an even spray pattern no matter what I tried. Tried using a brush out of a can with not much luck. Best luck out of a can with a short nap roller. Any help on this would be great. Jim
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
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39,321
Location
The Badlands
Hammered paint is a bit tricky, you have to lay it on thick to get the hammered effect right; almost to getting runs...
 

rmalkow2

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Jun 26, 2009
Messages
4,087
Location
Brighton, MI
Although I'm pleased with the outcome, I had a difficult time getting the hammered paint in an even "pattern" I was getting darker streaks in areas and the dimples or hammered effects were not uniform. As I tried to retouch areas, the overspray would leave a dull silver coat on surrounding area and cover up the hammered effect. I made sure to shake can well before and during the painting. Temperatures were okay and humidity was around 60%.
Not sure why it gave me fits???
You can really notice it on the bottom half of the middle drawer
5702fd1ae9ed05ff33ccbeef56541e81.jpg

Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, hammered paint is a bit tricky to get right. It is recommended to apply a heavy coat evenly on the surface and to have that surface horizontal for best results. This makes it hard to do on items with curves like a vise or other tool. On tool boxes try painting it in stages one side at a time letting each side dry before turning it. Plan your sides out ahead of time to end up with the top and front done last so the places you see the most get the final coat. Trying to paint vertical surfaces is harder because you need to putt on thick to get the hammered effect and can cause runs that spread the hammered look in uneven patterns.

Check out this Rust-Oleum video and other similar ones on You Tube.
 

R. Johnson

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Jun 19, 2015
Messages
78
Location
CT
This was my grandfather's box, date code says it is from 1971. Outside is in good shape but some of the draws are rusty. Nothing some sanding and some paint can't fix.
 

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Sauce73

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Jun 8, 2015
Messages
35
Location
Central Indiana
On tool boxes try painting it in stages one side at a time letting each side dry before turning it. Plan your sides out ahead of time to end up with the top and front done last so the places you see the most get the final coat.


I did do it in stages, but I didn't plan it out for the top and front last. So I had to go back and redo those areas. This is a very helpful tip, planning! I'm working on doing more of that. I find the older I get, I'm slowing down and taking more pride in my work. Instead of just rushing to get it done.


Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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rmalkow2

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Brighton, MI
I did do it in stages, but I didn't plan it out for the top and front last. So I had to go back and redo those areas. This is a very helpful tip, planning! I'm working on doing more of that. I find the older I get, I'm slowing down and taking more pride in my work. Instead of just rushing to get it done.


Sauce
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Haha, I'm with you on getting older and slowing down part. I used to rush into every task but I'm learning (many times the hard way) to slow down and do a little research. So many good resources on this forum and, now days I just go straight to You Tube because chances are someone has made a "how to" video on your subject of choice.:beer:
 

gtg082y

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Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
54
Location
30076
It's been a while since I've had any boxes that qualify as vintage, but I picked up this Huot on Saturday... $30! It's so clean I'm not totally certain it is actually vintage, but it certainly has the vintage look.

I think it will serve me well as a detail cart and detail supply storage unit.

IMG_1701.JPG


IMG_1702.JPG


FullSizeRender.jpg


IMG_1706.JPG
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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36,060
Location
Pacific Northwest
GTG: that Huot almost looks new. any idea of the age?

Clipped: i like those fold over carry boxes and i haven't seen one with a Remline sticker on one ever. nice find and nice tools included too.

Tim: i do like Beach boxes and getting ready to load up one for a top box on one of my benches.

ALL: does this qualify as a tool box? I've had it for a while and still looking for a spot to hang it. it's a Borg Warner and has some cool small organizer drawers inside it.
 

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gtg082y

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Aug 31, 2013
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30076
GTG: that Huot almost looks new. any idea of the age?

No real estimate on the age. Previous owner said be bought it surplus from a local Lockheed facility... so at least old-ish, but certainly is the same design as the truly 'vintage' Huots.
 

nine4gmc

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Mar 24, 2012
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14,357
Location
Dallas
Love tht organizer Drives, try some simple green soaked paper towels to remove that spray paint!
 

senlow

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Apr 26, 2008
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2,250
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Here is the Kennedy that I have at work. I also posted this in the "Show us your Kennedys" thread. I bought it at an estate sale. This was the dirtiest box that I've ever bought. I just couldn't pass up a 5 drawer center section. I can't recall seeing a center box as tall as this one. It's 28" wide, an odd size. The box was originally gray wrinkle and was repainted at some time with gray spray paint.

I don't have any photos of the box in the condition in which it was purchased, but here is what it looked like after several hours of cleaning:





Here is the box after the old paint was stripped, a little body work, and hammered gray paint (no **** brown wrinkle for me).



 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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Pacific Northwest
Senlow: how did you get the sticker off? any special prep work before painting? that box looks awesome and nice work.

Nines: thanks for the tip on the SG rag to remove the red spray bomb. this one might just get a new paint job on the outside because Borg Warner has no special meaning to me. the inside is in pretty decent shape so original patina might have to stay and would save me a lot of work.

Dngr: thanks and i agree.
 

rmalkow2

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Jun 26, 2009
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Brighton, MI
Very nice work on the Kennedy box senlow. The red stripe in the pulls is a great touch that really pops on the front of that box now.
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,321
Location
The Badlands
Senlow, Great save and repaint! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

So 28 wide is definitely odd, but would be more than enough for the 526 series, What is the depth front to back? (BTW in my experience, K is not known for sensible fits between boxe widths...)
 

senlow

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Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,250
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Rickster55: Thank you.

drivesitfar: I just warmed it from the back side with a heat gun and it peeled right off. I was really careful not to melt the sticker and peeled very carefully.

Yes, there was a little prep work before painting. As I mentioned previously, this was the dirtiest box that I have ever bought. I spent countless hours over the course of a couple of weekends cleaning the dirt and grease off of the box. I used 3M Clean & Strip wheels to remove all of the paint on the outside surfaces and the inside bottom of the box. After stripping the paint, all the dents and bent sheet metal stuck out like a sore thumb. So I did a little metal work. The back was severely stretched. I shrunk that as much as I could, but never did get it straight. Properly shrinking the back would need to be done by someone with more sheet metal skill than I have. Fortunately the back is not visible where it is placed. I ground flush the crappy looking welds on the front of the box. I also welded several holes shut and ground them flush. This box required far more work than I originally planned on. If this were a more common box, I would have cleaned it and sold it off.

And, of course, thanks for the compliment.

rmalkow2: Thanks for the compliment. I wish that I could take credit for the color combination. If you look really hard at the pic of the unrestored box, some of the drawer handles had a bit of red in the center depression. I just polished and repainted them.

Outlawmws: Thanks for the compliment. I think that it is 15" or 16" deep. It's at work, so I can't provide exact dimensions today. I will measure it on Monday and post them. I have noticed that Kennedy is all over the place with their box dimensions. It's really frustrating when nominally 26" boxes will not fit together properly, even when they are all Kennedy made boxes.
 

bagged89s10

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Mar 13, 2005
Messages
4,607
Location
CT
Here is the Kennedy that I have at work. I also posted this in the "Show us your Kennedys" thread. I bought it at an estate sale. This was the dirtiest box that I've ever bought. I just couldn't pass up a 5 drawer center section. I can't recall seeing a center box as tall as this one. It's 28" wide, an odd size. The box was originally gray wrinkle and was repainted at some time with gray spray paint.



I don't have any photos of the box in the condition in which it was purchased, but here is what it looked like after several hours of cleaning:











Here is the box after the old paint was stripped, a little body work, and hammered gray paint (no **** brown wrinkle for me).









Awesome! :rocker:
 

jeffmoss26

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Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
12,861
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Spotted this today at my buddy's shop - his dad picked it up at an auction. The panel covering the drawer is cracked, but it's full of goodies!
 

BlueBomber

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Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
3,201
Location
Outside Boston, MA
Found these this weekend at an estate sale in Tyngsboro, Mass. I bought the bottom roller boxes on Saturday and on a whim went back today and noticed one of three old toolboxes on a separate table was the match to one of the rollers. So I emptied out the decades of screws, dirt and other no name tool debris and brought it home too.

2f59c292503b4d82026dd115d0bad5bd.jpg
5448337583bd181204459abfd8c49cb3.jpg

The metal is pretty thin on all three boxes, so I'm guessing 1970's vintage. Are there date codes on these boys anywhere?

There was an older green Park like the one below that I passed on.
P1010012.jpg

It was a little beat up and missing a drawer knob and the tool tray. It pained me to leave it, knowing it would go into a dumpster or to the scrapper, but I already have three vintage tool boxes I'm not using. And the garage is starting to get hard to move around in...
 

Gidge

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Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Messages
2,308
Location
New England
Does anyone have an idea on the age/make/model of this toolbox ?
There are no marks of any kind as far as I can tell.
 

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