The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[bluebolt]

Hey there's another intermediate box with only two drawers in those pictures as well!

 

[loudog212]

Anyone know where the date stamp is on those intermediate boxes. i cant find anything

 

[csargents1546]

csargents, No luck on the latch in the latch collection; I had the bottom of a wire bail type, but not the covered curved cap type... Sorry.

Thanks for looking. Now for the wonderful Internet search.[emoji47]

 

[Project_shadow]

What do you guys use to paint your boxes?
I haven't had any luck with the paint curing right

 

[nine4gmc]

Hey Project Shadow, a lot of us use Rustoleum in rattle cans or gallons but you gotta let it cure a day or so depending your temp/humidity. You can use a heat lamp or 500w halogen work light or similar to "bake" it and speed up the process.

 

[timbitca]

This one popped up on Kijiji yesterday for 550$.

It's a lot of money, but the seller says it's in pristine condition. I may have to go have a looksy with a friend who has a pickup truck. If it's in the condition he says it's in, I'll do my best to buy it off of him, both pieces of that combo aren't exactly common. Not really fond of the square drawer on the top but I'd make it work

I should check if my buddy is available tommorow seeing as it's a holiday and I don't have to work.

One negative though, is that besides gas money it'll cost me an additional 45$ to get it as it's on Prince Edward Island and that's what the bridge toll costs.

 

[nine4gmc]

$45 toll bridge, HOLY SH!T!!

 

[lilredex]

This one...

http://www.confederationbridge.com/tolls-fees/tolls-fees.html

 

[rmalkow2]

$550 plus $45.50 bridge toll. That's true dedication to a tool box. Maybe you can walk across and roll the cab back across the bridge and load into your vehicle on the mainland side.

 

[mtds]

Here is a Dayton combo I bought at a garage sale for $55. After putting new locks on it, some minor fixin' and lubing and cleaning, I swapped it to a co-worker for a bunch of wrenches. I thought that it was pretty well put together: original paint had held up with no major rust, drawer slides were easy to repair, and the sheet metal was thick enough that it had few dents. A lot better than some newer boxes anyway. I wish I knew when it was made.

 

[taumac]

What do you guys use to paint your boxes?
I haven't had any luck with the paint curing right

I'll second what Nine said. I've havnt had much luck either but found krylon dried quicker with my last box. I also did it in direct sunlight using light coats which seem to have better results.

 

[taumac]

This one popped up on Kijiji yesterday for 550$.



It's a lot of money, but the seller says it's in pristine condition. I may have to go have a looksy with a friend who has a pickup truck. If it's in the condition he says it's in, I'll do my best to buy it off of him, both pieces of that combo aren't exactly common. Not really fond of the square drawer on the top but I'd make it work



I should check if my buddy is available tommorow seeing as it's a holiday and I don't have to work.



One negative though, is that besides gas money it'll cost me an additional 45$ to get it as it's on Prince Edward Island and that's what the bridge toll costs.

Awesome looking toolbox there. I'm unsure it's worth that much IMO but if as rare as I hear they are and pristine as ad says then might be worth it.

 

[Outlawmws]

I paint boxes with Rustolium Hammered for the most part, but you DO need to bake it and give it time to cure. (a week out in the sun helps a LOT.)

 

[taumac]

I got this one on trade this pass week.

 

[Project_shadow]

Hey Project Shadow, a lot of us use Rustoleum in rattle cans or gallons but you gotta let it cure a day or so depending your temp/humidity. You can use a heat lamp or 500w halogen work light or similar to "bake" it and speed up the process.

I used krylon and it seemed to not want to cure, never had a problem but it seems on these old boxes it won't,
I've used it on dirt bikes before and no problem, guess I'll be changing my paint

 

[Project_shadow]

I tried something different on the drawers since the paint wouldn't work right

 

[timbitca]

$550 plus $45.50 bridge toll. That's true dedication to a tool box. Maybe you can walk across and roll the cab back across the bridge and load into your vehicle on the mainland side.

Notwithstanding the fact pedestrians aren't allowed on the bridge, I'm not sure I'd want to roll a tool box 13km's.

And besides, the authorities just gone done dealing with a suicidal guy who tried to jump off, got talked down and proceeded to steal a bridge workers truck and crash it into two other vehicles. I'm sure a guy rolling a toolbox across would land in the loony bin fairly quick.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

Got a friend with a boat ?

 

[rmalkow2]

Notwithstanding the fact pedestrians aren't allowed on the bridge, I'm not sure I'd want to roll a tool box 13km's.

And besides, the authorities just gone done dealing with a suicidal guy who tried to jump off, got talked down and proceeded to steal a bridge workers truck and crash it into two other vehicles. I'm sure a guy rolling a toolbox across would land in the loony bin fairly quick.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk

It was suggested more in jest than serious. First look at the bridge web site I saw a price for pedestrians but that is actually for a shuttle service.
So hey, maybe there's room on the shuttle!!!

 

[timbitca]

Got a friend with a boat ?

Haha! Never thought of that, and I do actually. But gas would probably be more than using a truck + toll.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk

 

[Mike-T]

 

[twertsy]

I scored the elusive grey/red intermediate craftsman box today. $50. That completes my stack.

For those interested this is the ad i got it from. He still has the other 3 boxes.
http://york.craigslist.org/tls/5195257454.html

I'm somewhat envious. York and surrounding areas are arguably the best tool sniffing grounds in the country. I travel up there all the time for good deals, just wish I lived closer!!

 

[jakemac]

Haha! Never thought of that, and I do actually. But gas would probably be more than using a truck + toll.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk

True, but you'd get a day out on the water for the trouble. Make it a family day.

 

[Mikeb7247]

Here's my Matco mb910/920 combo I bought on CL and refurbed.

 

[nine4gmc]

That's a NICE box Mike

 

[Mikeb7247]

Thanks nine. Got it for $240 in pretty rough shape. But those old mac/matco boxes are built like tanks.

 

[nine4gmc]

Yes they are and for that price, you did really well! Love all the drawers, that is a TON of storage. Great job!

 

[taumac]

Here's my Matco mb910/920 combo I bought on CL and refurbed.

Always been fan of those boxes. A buddy has one and has a lot of storage and looks great.

 

[twertsy]

Here's my Matco mb910/920 combo I bought on CL and refurbed.

I just bought one of those stacks too. Unfortunately, I'm missing the large middle drawer in the center of the top chest.

 

[timbitca]

Probably going to go up to get that Beach on PEI Thursday night with a friend.

Also this Beach made Craftsman in Halifax, but like the Beach it's also overpriced and I prefer the other top chest. Though if it were Red/Gray instead of Red/Black I'd definitely make him an offer. Don't think I ever remember seeing a 9 drawer top Craftsman like that before though.

 

[Username already in use]

Some really nice boxes in here!
Happy to have found this vintage Cornwell box over the weekend. Looks to have a layer of dirt and paint over-spray on it. I was able to brighten some of it up using rubbing compound, but that's not working on the over-spary. Maybe a glaze will take that off? Suggestions?
Anyhow, not too shabby for $50!
Also, can anyone help me with getting some keys made? Looks like the lock cylinders are marked 2114 and 2056.
And, does anyone know how to remove the drawers?

Thanks for looking.

 

[jimmybread]

Maybe some clay or silly putty will get that overspray for you. Get it a little wet maybe with some dawn and water and kinda scrub with the clay. It works sometimes. As far as the drawers go, probably a clip you can see or the clip is on the side of the drawers behind the sliders. Watch when you open it. Should be a hole in the sliders you can see how it stops. Just gently push on tab on drawer through hole in slider. Hope that helps.

 

[davidw]

Been looking for a while, but finally found a center box. It's missing the key and one slider clip, but overall pretty decent shape. Friction sliders are in good shape too. Here is a pic after I cleaned it up.

Found it on Craigslist for $40!
Pretty happy with that deal!

 

[jim]

Should be a C clip on the back of the lock. Pry off the clip with a screwdriver and take it to a lock smith that cuts keys. He should be able to use the number off the lock to cut the key. Have done it a bunch of times. Around here $10 for 1 key. NICE BOXES!!! Jim

 

[Mikeb7247]

Davidw, I like that center box! I'd like to find one too, but it'd have to have matco emblems. My ocd would kick in.

 

[davidw]

Davidw, I like that center box! I'd like to find one too, but it'd have to have matco emblems. My ocd would kick in.

I know what you mean Mike. My hodgepodge setup would probably make you cringe. I have a early to mid 1960's Snap-on roller cab and a late 1960's or early 1970's Mac top box with an older logo than the center box I just scored. I also have two side cabinets. One is Mac around the same age as the center box and the other has no logo but looks like a late 1960's Snap-on.

Gives me a headache looking at it, but I picked everything up together with the exception of the center box for almost nothing. It was in pretty rough shape but after took everything apart and cleaned it up it works very well.

Those old boxes are crazy tough. I bet I could stand in one of the drawers!

 

[Username already in use]

Maybe some clay or silly putty will get that overspray for you. Get it a little wet maybe with some dawn and water and kinda scrub with the clay. It works sometimes. As far as the drawers go, probably a clip you can see or the clip is on the side of the drawers behind the sliders. Watch when you open it. Should be a hole in the sliders you can see how it stops. Just gently push on tab on drawer through hole in slider. Hope that helps.

Thanks jimmy, I got myself a clay bar (expensive little guys!) and that seems to be working a bit. With some rubbing compound, it's getting a bunch of overspray off the box. It's a lot of work though! The top box has the wrinkle paint, and the clay bar is smoothing it out, not sure I like that. The bottom box has a smooth paint.

I'm still stuck on getting the drawers out.

Should be a C clip on the back of the lock. Pry off the clip with a screwdriver and take it to a lock smith that cuts keys. He should be able to use the number off the lock to cut the key. Have done it a bunch of times. Around here $10 for 1 key. NICE BOXES!!! Jim

Thanks Jim. I can't get the locks off because the cam is spot welded in place. I did send an email to Cornwell about some keys, and they responded with a note from their tool box manufacturer for a picture of the back of the lock, so they may be able to help me out there.
Drawer slides:

Locks:

 

[posaune]

I'm still stuck on getting the drawers out.

Thanks Jim. I can't get the locks off because the cam is spot welded in place. I did send an email to Cornwell about some keys, and they responded with a note from their tool box manufacturer for a picture of the back of the lock, so they may be able to help me out there.

Theres a good chance that if you take that thin nut off of the threads, it'll angle up and off even with the welded cam. I think I have run across that setup.

The drawers are probably going to have a tab on the slide (facing back) and one on the drawer (facing forward) so that when the drawer is pulled, they hit each other and stop it from coming out. The first trick is to find where they are. Pull the drawer out to full extension and look with a flashlight (and maybe mirror) to see if you can see the tabs.

Once you find them, you need to get something between them. Others have had success with a hacksaw blade. I've used a combination of things, including a metal coat hanger. It will be fiddly and annoying the first time, but it does get easier.

What you need to accomplish is getting something over both tabs so that they pass one another when you push the slide or pull the drawer.

It's hard to explain. I hope it makes some sense.

 

[jim]

Turn the thin nut off and remove the lock through the front of the box. Jim

 

[lilredex]

The lock was installed in one piece, so yes it will tilt out of that hole, once the nut is removed. The nut will slide out off over the cam. When you rent a Post Office box, they change the lock in one piece. The one on the far right is from a P.O. box and the cam is permanently attached like yours.