The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[zkling]

@moose2367
Sorry to tell you but you got a fake one .
If you put yours next to a real Hazet Assistent you'll see it's smaller and maybe only half as heavy.
Anyway it will probably look awesome in your garage/shop and that's the most important .

gr
Wout

I thought the same thing. Maybe it has been repainted as most of the clones I've seen are red based. I have a buffalo brand clone that looks very similar to that one.

 

[RedVise]

here is an '83 5 drawer roller I bought.
Looks like it started life in a hospital, based on the drawer labels.
Slides are in excellent condition.
It will get a little clean and paint job.


Brian

 

[ZRX61]

I have an externally identical box, but it has 2 slide out trays instead of a lift out tray. Bought mine for $20, sold it for $80 to my ex-brother in law, regretted it immediately & ended up trading a beat up $60 '50's vintage Craftsman stack to get it back again3 years later. Two days later the B-i-L traded the beat up old stack for a much newer cherry Craftsman stack. Told him he owes me a meal.

(Not my photo - because of time, but almost identical condition). Picked this up tonight for $18. Surface rust but no real damage/holes. Badge a bit scratched up, missing the tool tray (of course). I don't see these all that often, and never for what I have in my wallet . . . .

I know this is from the '47/'49/'52 era and is called a "Mechanic's Tool Box" - if anyone has anything more specific I'd love to hear. If anyone is sitting on a tool tray, well PM Me! LOL.

 

[BlueBomber]

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I found one of these yesterday at an estate sale. I was excited at first thinking it was a real Hazet, but once I got home and did some research, I concluded it was a knockoff.



Honestly, I like the stickers on yours a lot, and since mine isn't the real thing either, decorations won't harm the value. Hmmmmm.

 

[organ]

Can someone help identify this box? I'm fairly certain it's not a Gerstner. I came across several similar examples on Google(nothing learned there) so I don't think it's a shop-built one either.

 

[beatcad]

pretty sure its a STAR

 

[organ]

It's obviously been refinished... the lady wants $165 for it... what's a good, smaller number?

 

[stumbofarms]

Here's my current situtation. I have an older Matco Toolbox. Threw it up on a forum about getting it sandblasted and powdercoated. Most guys told me not to so... Here's where I'm at. All drawers and box are washed and degreased. Currently here's where I'm at: flipped the box on its back. I've already used Compound on the front of the drawers, now waiting for this coat of wax to dry.





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[beatcad]

It's obviously been refinished... the lady wants $165 for it... what's a good, smaller number?

in my mind i was thinking $65 would be a GOOD price.
it's a neat piece but i wouldnt go over 100 clams for it.


if it were a gerstner id pay $165 quick

 

[smokeyburb]

I started a thread about my International Harvester badged tool box.

 

[Bob-B]

Smoky, that IH box looks like a Kennedy 220B.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Old Mac and Kennedy mid-box still in use

Jim

Any idea of the model # on that mac, Jwitt? I'd like to find one it looks pretty neat.

 

[S4cruiser]

Picked up this pair at a farm / garage sale earlier today for 25 bucs. Any help identifying the make / model of the bottom box would be great.

I really don't need anymore boxes so I may pass these on to the next person...but there is a part of me that would really enjoy restoring the top box!

 

[jakemac]

The bottom box is a Huot. The oval "swoosh" on the garage door is the telltale.
It's missing another thin drawer in that hole. I can't tell if there were drawers in the garage area underneath with the door closed.
I don't know who made the folding tables that were added on.

Here's an ad for later models than yours, but it will give you an idea of what you have. For the most part only the handles, wheels, and decal changed during the approx. 30 or so years they made these boxes.

 

[S4cruiser]

Jake thanks for the details on the bottom box...and yeah it's missing one of the thin drawers. Whoever added the wings did a super job as I was convinced they were factory!

I've never heard of Huot before, are they well regarded or just run of the mill?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Huot built good quality stuff. They are still in business but have gotten away from making regular toolboxes; they sell various products for drill and CNC tool storage, along with equipment for government use. http://www.huot.com/ Mr. Huot himself posts here every once in a while.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those folding wings are factory made, but many did so, so it could be anyone.

I have one of those on my "welding bench" which is an old 50's craftsman three drawer roller, and I added a conduit brace to the outermost vise mounting hole, to the corner of the roller. (Small vise - Exposed screw homeowners, but with a longer than usual slide & screw...)

 

[1badbird]

25 bucks, that's a steal of a deal!

 

[altersaddle]

A few weeks ago, I tried to grab a vintage Mac / Craftsman 27" wide stack to replace my homeowner grade Craftsman (6-drawer 27" chest, 8-drawer top box).

It was a good deal and I missed out. Should have called faster. I was bummed so I decided to try to get the equivalent box brand new. After some emails back and forth with GH Metals, who were making Beach brand toolboxes, finally got a quote on a brand new 27" full depth chest and box.

A few days after sending the "Shut up and take my money!" email, I learned that GH Metals has shut down.

Back to the drawing board.

After searching far and wide on the various used-stuff websites, and even going to some auctions, I finally sourced a Proto top box (27" wide, 18" deep, 12 drawers) and a Vulcan roller cab (31" wide, 18" deep, 7 drawers.

The Proto is not that old, I'm guessing 15-20 years tops. It has ball bearing slides but the drawer pull pattern looks a bit different than what is sold now.

The Vulcan is made by MBC (Metal Box & Cabinet Corp) in Chicago. Date code is 1965. I spent this evening yanking the drawers and straightening the slides.

The locking mechanism confuses me a bit - the top drawer has to be open a bit before the other drawers will open. Could something be missing in the lock works?

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Picked up this pair at a farm / garage sale earlier today for 25 bucs. Any help identifying the make / model of the bottom box would be great.

I really don't need anymore boxes so I may pass these on to the next person...but there is a part of me that would really enjoy restoring the top box!

Great score! I'll give you $20 for the top box, I need it!

 

[zkling]

The locking mechanism confuses me a bit - the top drawer has to be open a bit before the other drawers will open. Could something be missing in the lock works?

No that's they way those work. The lock really only locks the top drawer, which pushes against tabs on the back corners of the box, locking the other drawers. You have to have the top drawer open a bit, close all the other drawers completely and then close the top drawer.

 

[altersaddle]

No that's they way those work. The lock really only locks the top drawer, which pushes against tabs on the back corners of the box, locking the other drawers. You have to have the top drawer open a bit, close all the other drawers completely and then close the top drawer.

OK, that makes sense. I'll probably put stuff in the top drawer that I need the most (pencil, notebook) so that it'll normally be opened first.

Is there anywhere online I could get replacement drawer slides, or should I contact my friendly local sheet metal fab company?

 

[PghJKB]

Been following this thread out for some time. Manged to read through it twice trying to identify what I have. Am down to only two boxes that I cannot nail down. If they are here, consider it collateral damage from following the vise thread.

I've looked in all the usual places for stampings and have found nothing.

I think both boxes may be Kennedys, but the only reason I have is that they appear to be Kennedy brown. (They could be covered in Kennedy brown dirt and grime...)

Box #1 measures 7.25 x 18.25 x 8 (On the bottom of this box there are two metal straps running the length of the box)

Box #2 measures 8.5 x 20 x 9.675

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any/all assistance.

JKB

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Please be aware I'm just a beginner when it comes to identifying hand boxes, but I agree they both look like they could be Kennedy's.

Looks like you have the trays for both of them which is a bonus, nothing more frustrating then a hand box missing the tray, I recently picked up a Union for $5 that is a great size, but the missing tray is

 

[drivesitfar]

JKB: i like this thread too and i've probably got more tool boxes than vises now. your first box looks a lot like my MYSTERY box that several other members own too. some say it was made for tractors or i've heard it called a preacher's box. some say homemade or from a school of tin knockers. here's mine in case you didn't already see the pictures. mine isn't exactly like yours so might not be a match, but it's close enough to maybe be in the same family.

the other one looks manufactured and maybe when i get more organized i'll find one with a similar handle that has a name or marking on it. i know i've seen that handle before though.

good luck and if you find something on Etsy, Ebay, Craigslist or another forum that tells you more information more than a few of us would be interested.

cheers

 

[geologist]

My Gerstner winter project:













A bit of minor damage on the back side which will be concealed with an engine turned band at a later time. I like the big, veiny, flecks in the quarter sawn oak. You know... I've gotta overcompensate for other things not being so big and veiny... LOL

 

[nine4gmc]

Awesome box Geologist!

 

[twertsy]

I picked this up this morning for $80. ZKLING! Really like your (and others) opinion on the maker? I'm thinking MBC because of the corner folds, draw pull design and side handles. Cannot find a stamp anywhere, certainly not in the usual Waterloo suspect locations. Here you can find the detailed shots of each box.

 

[altersaddle]

On my Vulcan roll cab, the MBC stamp is down on the front left corner, right above the wheel.

The slides look very similar to mine on this Williams box, with a rivet retaining a leaf spring retainer.

 

[jim]

I have some very old Kennedy Kits boxes where the boxes are brown and the trays are green. Jim

 

[r_olson_06]

I picked this up this morning for $80. ZKLING! Really like your (and others) opinion on the maker? I'm thinking MBC because of the corner folds, draw pull design and side handles. Cannot find a stamp anywhere, certainly not in the usual Waterloo suspect locations. Here you can find the detailed shots of each box.

Where do find the room to house all these tool chests?

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[twertsy]

Where do find the room to house all these tool chests?

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The "room" is fading fast! I'm going to start putting the roller-cabless chests up the wall on shelves. Right now I simply need people to stop posting old tool boxes on CL!

 

[r_olson_06]

The "room" is fading fast! I'm going to start putting the roller-cabless chests up the wall on shelves. Right now I simply need people to stop posting old tool boxes on CL!

I would say you have a problem but I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite. Older tool chests never show up on craigslist in the Midwest. I have only been lucky enough to buy 1 in the past 3 years. But still an amazing find. Any tools in it?

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[twertsy]

I would say you have a problem but I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite. Older tool chests never show up on craigslist in the Midwest. I have only been lucky enough to buy 1 in the past 3 years. But still an amazing find. Any tools in it?

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Ugh......a couple hammers. Guy said it was a complete Williams mechanics tool set, still intact. He had already sold them separately. That would have been an awesome find had I seen it earlier.

 

[r_olson_06]

Oh yes that would have been an epic CL find. I have only seen 1 chest like that. Williams seems to be very scarce in the Midwest.

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[Outlawmws]

I have some very old Kennedy Kits boxes where the boxes are brown and the trays are green. Jim

Yep, me too, I think those are 50's 60's boxes at a guess.

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked this up this morning for $80. ZKLING! Really like your (and others) opinion on the maker? I'm thinking MBC because of the corner folds, draw pull design and side handles. Cannot find a stamp anywhere, certainly not in the usual Waterloo suspect locations. Here you can find the detailed shots of each box.

Do the deeper drawers all have built in dividers, possibly going laterally and front to back, depending on the drawer? That's a classic MBC marker as they used those as stiffeners.

 

[twertsy]

I would say you have a problem but I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite. Older tool chests never show up on craigslist in the Midwest. I have only been lucky enough to buy 1 in the past 3 years. But still an amazing find. Any tools in it?

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Do the deeper drawers all have built in dividers, possibly going laterally and front to back, depending on the drawer? That's a classic MBC marker as they used those as stiffeners.

R Olson: No, you would be correct...............I think I have a problem..........and there's probably 15 or so that aren't in those pics.

Outlaw: Yes, the deep drawers all have dividers. I've definitely settled on MBC, even though I still can't find (see) the stamps.

 

[Tippletrash]

Guy said it was a complete Williams mechanics tool set, still intact. He had already sold them separately.

Man that *****, would have been freakin awesomeness to find complete.

Still a good find willams boxes don't show up much it seems.

 

[r_olson_06]

R Olson: No, you would be correct...............I think I have a problem..........and there's probably 15 or so that aren't in those pics.

Outlaw: Yes, the deep drawers all have dividers. I've definitely settled on MBC, even though I still can't find (see) the stamps.

I am drooling very nice set up. I like the birdseye view of the set up. I will have to make a contribution to the thread now.

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