The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
ZRX61
Well-known member
ZRX61
Well-known member
I'd love to own it. Has there been any updates?
None. That thing is amazing. You would need a huge garage or shop. There are door on both sides, and it looks pretty deep.
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ZRX61
Well-known member
I'd make room for it in my house if I had to. If I had spare cash I'd probably throw the guy $2K as it sits.
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It would take a huge house. It would look so **** with a K60/K200.
Honestly… It is way beyond my ability. That needs a serious cash infusion.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
anyone know what kind of car that is on the top shelf?
I want the car and the workstation! (And a shop big enough to house it for use and display, and... Yeah...; but I missed the Powerball...)
freeisforme
Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 14
A garage down the street from me had the Snap On shop equipment truck there today, I stopped and talked to the CS rep and sales guy on the truck, they told me that the warranty has fine print, that basically says that SO reserves the right to rescind any warranty on any item at anytime. This is not to protect against abuse but a way to get out of warrantying items long past their production era or useful lifetime.
To me that's just a BS, its either a lifetime warranty or its not. I have the owners manual from my last four boxes here, those warranties have all sorts of disclaimers but none saying that they can rescind the warranty at anytime. It does say that to get a full copy of the Snap On tool warranty to right to their Kenosha, WI address for a copy. So they leave an opening legally in that unless you got a copy of that warranty in hand at the time of purchase and it clearly did not state that they could toss the warranty out the window if they so please, then you wouldn't have much to stand on legally.
I remember when they decided to drop the drill bit warranty, I had just bought a set of bits in 1989, the dealer came in with a sheet stating that bits would no longer be covered for breakage, and on the reverse side it gave a page full of fine print and legal jargon about why they were and could do this.
I gave the bits back and got a refund. I bought a set from Mac tools that were guaranteed. Its one thing to drop a warranty but when your paying an inflated price just for that warranty, and they then take it away, its theft in my eyes. After a few deals like that I started to look at Snap On differently, I bought only what I had to for either quality or functional reasons. Things like sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and some specialty tools I bought from Snap On because there was a clear difference, but on tools like bits, files, chisels, and blades, I bought with cost and warranty in mind. Even with this in mind I still ended up having close to $80K in Snap On tools in my boxes, and probably half again of that in other brands. I worked on multiple brands over the years, so my tool set was pretty diverse. I also worked two jobs for 20 years, meaning I kept two separate tool sets at two different shops. It also meant I had two Snap On dealers to choose from.
twertsy
Well-known member
I've got the shop, just need that setup! Where the heck is it. That thing is worth the drive.
Was anything ever learned about it? I have my doubts that it was actually produced by snap on, or at least not mass produced. Could have been a dealer or custom job, but I think it was more so a custom build that someone stuck snap on badges on. The badges are 60s era and don't really match the design style for the rest of the unit. Very cool nevertheless.
May Pop
Well-known member
EcoTec
Did that come out of the Titanic or one the Pyramids?
It sure is neat.
Did that come out of the Titanic or one the Pyramids?
It sure is neat.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Nope, after the original posts by Ramblur about it, it just went quiet. We didn't even find out where the hell it is/was.
I'm thinking some kind of cabinet made for a manufacturing plant, either by snap on industrial for that specific industry or another manufacturer of industry specific tooling and the SO badge was put on by the guy that ended up with it when the business closed. It is pretty interesting for sure.
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Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk
djwallace
New member
My contribution to this thread (hope this counts as vintage, as I just picked up this "leatherette" Gerstner and don't know much about it, but it's in great condition):
four.cycle
Well-known member
re: warranty question on Snap-on box
suggested reading: Magnuson-Moss act of 1975
overview:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act
15 USC chapter 50:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/chapter-50
if you have a written warranty from the time of purchase which contains no exclusionary clauses or provisions you would do well to follow Outlaw's suggestions from the previous page.
manufacturers don't get to change "lifetime" warranties after the fact, regardless of how many high-priced lawyers they have on retainer.
suggested reading: Magnuson-Moss act of 1975
overview:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act
15 USC chapter 50:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/chapter-50
if you have a written warranty from the time of purchase which contains no exclusionary clauses or provisions you would do well to follow Outlaw's suggestions from the previous page.
manufacturers don't get to change "lifetime" warranties after the fact, regardless of how many high-priced lawyers they have on retainer.
taumac
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
My guess is that it was custom made and if "mass produced" it was a short special run for a manufacturer or a chain of specialty shops. What interesting about it are the two levels of work surface. I'm thinking maybe transmission or other drive train, or possibly Aircraft maint or mfg. It has both tool storage and parts storage, as well as a work light, and then there are the wheels, which leans me to aircraft assuming they are original
ZK may be right about the SO badges, or it could have been something a big important customer came in as said "I want this; how much?" and struck a deal. I could see a custom job like that being subbed out and made with older approaches... any really decent fab/sheet metal shop could have done something like that.
Interesting it has both grounded and un-grounded duplex receptacles. I'm guessing the un-grounded were original, so that would tend to date it no later than early mid 60's at a guess.
Again, I'd love to do a restore on that.
ZK may be right about the SO badges, or it could have been something a big important customer came in as said "I want this; how much?" and struck a deal. I could see a custom job like that being subbed out and made with older approaches... any really decent fab/sheet metal shop could have done something like that.
Interesting it has both grounded and un-grounded duplex receptacles. I'm guessing the un-grounded were original, so that would tend to date it no later than early mid 60's at a guess.
Again, I'd love to do a restore on that.
After staring at the pic of that thing for a while I don't think it was Snap On either, other than the emblems. If you look close, the top cabinet doors are attached with plain old door hinges from a house, just **** welded in place to the cabinet. The carousel behind the one door appears to be from a display or old hardware store. The handles are generic screen door or camper latches, and the top looks like two commercial work bench tops from a sewing factory or similar. If you look at the lower doors, the top of the doors don't match the bottom, only the bottom of the door has a finished, radius edge. The back panel also looks like a bunch of pieces welded together.
My first impression was that maybe it came from a diner or coffee shop but with the cars in the background, maybe it was someone's elaborate pit box?
If not maybe something built for a trade show or World's Fair exhibition?
I've got an owners manual or booklet for my KRL1004, and for a KR555. I bought the latter brand new in 1985. The warranty page has what resembles a certificate that reads Guaranteed Forever. But, in the fine print under the Terms of warranty it states something to the effect of "Snap On tool boxes are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship, any warranty claims should be presented to a Snap On representative for warranty determination".
In other words the dealer has the right to say whether or not its warranty, abuse, or normal wear and tear.
Now with that in mind, back around the time that I bought the KR555, I had a KR661 that had a rusty spot on the right side lower corner, the paint was blistered up and the affected area was about the size of a dollar bill. The dealer took one look at it and said he'd talk to the rep, the following week the dealer showed up with a brand new box. I had bought that box used off that dealer a year prior to that. I traded that set up in on another box a few years later.
I've never seen a life time warranty that didn't have some sort of disclaimer as to normal wear, abuse, or other.
The bottom line is that the dealers market the boxes as being guaranteed forever, no matter what. The problem usually arises when the dealer dealing with the issue isn't the selling dealer who made the profit off that box.
I bought a used side cabinet for my KRL1004 and wanted a lock to match those on the main box. The dealer here now told me that the locks are obsolete, even though there's a listing for them on their website. When I made mention of this he said some things are only available online now????
From past experience, when a dealer won't order parts or do warranty repairs, he's quite possibly behind on payments to Snap On and been cut off or on a cash only basis when he orders. In other words, the beginning of the end of that dealer.
DJ- that's a good looking gerstner ya got. and yes it counts as "vintage".
id say its mid 40s for sure, but to be on the safe side i'll say '40 to '50.
hard to tell from the pix. is it 26" wide? if so it's a model/style 52.
if its 20" wide its a 42.
still its a very desireable chest
id say its mid 40s for sure, but to be on the safe side i'll say '40 to '50.
hard to tell from the pix. is it 26" wide? if so it's a model/style 52.
if its 20" wide its a 42.
still its a very desireable chest
MattVette89
Well-known member
Hey guys, need some help with IDing this box. I picked it up tonight from a facebook buy/sell group. Seller didn't have any background.
My gut tells me an early 80s Waterloo. No badging and no exterior stamping that I can find. I pulled the two bottom drawers and didn't see anything stamped inside. Can someone tell me where to look specifically? I'm wondering if it was badged as a Waterloo, store brand, etc.
10 drawers total. 29 1/2' inches wide w/o handles, 15 1/2' deep, 18" high. This guy weighs 85 pounds unloaded
Any ideas? Enough blabbing, on to the pictures:
Thanks!
My gut tells me an early 80s Waterloo. No badging and no exterior stamping that I can find. I pulled the two bottom drawers and didn't see anything stamped inside. Can someone tell me where to look specifically? I'm wondering if it was badged as a Waterloo, store brand, etc.
10 drawers total. 29 1/2' inches wide w/o handles, 15 1/2' deep, 18" high. This guy weighs 85 pounds unloaded
Any ideas? Enough blabbing, on to the pictures:
Thanks!
taumac
Well-known member
Hey guys, need some help with IDing this box. I picked it up tonight from a facebook buy/sell group. Seller didn't have any background.
My gut tells me an early 80s Waterloo. No badging and no exterior stamping that I can find. I pulled the two bottom drawers and didn't see anything stamped inside. Can someone tell me where to look specifically? I'm wondering if it was badged as a Waterloo, store brand, etc.
10 drawers total. 29 1/2' inches wide w/o handles, 15 1/2' deep, 18" high. This guy weighs 85 pounds unloaded
Any ideas? Enough blabbing, on to the pictures:
Thanks!
That's the same locking system as the MBC I had. Mine was a 1965. If it is look for a stamp left side ( if looking at it ) lower left corner.
gipp
Active member
Re: Replacement keys
A search of this thread confirmed to me that other than a lock smith, a source for replacement keys to a Craftsman tool box has not been identified.
Well I have one and I'd like to tell everyone it is www.easykeys.com and for $6.95/ea you can get a replacement for your old or new CM tool box. From the code on the lock cylinder I found they have a key for my late 40's vintage box. They also sell the lock itself. Check them out. I'm not sure about other brands.
A search of this thread confirmed to me that other than a lock smith, a source for replacement keys to a Craftsman tool box has not been identified.
Well I have one and I'd like to tell everyone it is www.easykeys.com and for $6.95/ea you can get a replacement for your old or new CM tool box. From the code on the lock cylinder I found they have a key for my late 40's vintage box. They also sell the lock itself. Check them out. I'm not sure about other brands.
MattVette89
Well-known member
Thanks, I'll look again.
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
MattVette89
Well-known member
Another friend also suggested mbc if not Waterloo. The side handles didn't seem to match the mbc pictures I've seen, but could be a different vintage.
Still didn't find any external stampings, I think I'll pull the drawers out and see if there is anything inside.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
From the back lower right corner (usually) and look CLOSE with light an magnification (especially if its been re-painted) it is usually VERY faint.
taumac
Well-known member
I've seen Waterloo, Cornwell and others around that era all look the same. I only have first hand experience with the MBC in had. The more I think about it the dividers in top are different and mine had 2 drawers on one side and 3 on other side of the center drawer. So lending more towards a Waterloo IMO. It's a nice box and and well made..
Blue Frog
Well-known member
I think this one qualifies.
The lock mechanism.
Label inside.
A lift out tray.
The bottom exposed.
Some of the contents - first, some small items.
A sharpening stone in a turned rosewood box.
A handy ratcheting tool for small taps.
A small vintage drill box to hold the small taps.
Enough about the contents.
The box will clean up will little effort and new leather sewn onto the handle will make this box a nice one for a collection.'
Blue
The lock mechanism.
Label inside.
A lift out tray.
The bottom exposed.
Some of the contents - first, some small items.
A sharpening stone in a turned rosewood box.
A handy ratcheting tool for small taps.
A small vintage drill box to hold the small taps.
Enough about the contents.
The box will clean up will little effort and new leather sewn onto the handle will make this box a nice one for a collection.'
Blue
Outlawmws
Well-known member
VERY cool Kennedy!
taumac
Well-known member
Yes sir. I believe your right again. The MBC I had look similar to this one.
But I found a later version
So it falls in between theses two. The box of the newer and drawers of the older. Interesting.
MattVette89
Well-known member
Update - I still can't find any stampings. I believe it's the original paint based on the color consistency and chips/scratches/etc. I pulled out all of the drawers and nothing inside either. I will take some pictures later of the inside construction and maybe someone can compare it to a known box.
Thanks again guys.
Thanks again guys.
I picked up another Snap On top box at an auction the other night. Its in decent shape with only a few dings here and there.
The best price was the price, they didn't have a key for it so it went for $30.
Its a KR533B from 1980, it sits nicely on the bottom of my 30" wide roll cab for now. I'd like to find it a matching bottom and mid box as well.
When I got it home, I quickly noticed that any key will open the box, someone removed all the tumblers from the lock. Otherwise its in super shape for the price.
The best price was the price, they didn't have a key for it so it went for $30.
Its a KR533B from 1980, it sits nicely on the bottom of my 30" wide roll cab for now. I'd like to find it a matching bottom and mid box as well.
When I got it home, I quickly noticed that any key will open the box, someone removed all the tumblers from the lock. Otherwise its in super shape for the price.
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
That was a steal for that price!