The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[bubinga]

Bub, Google "French Polish" and quite a bit comes up on this as a new finish. Less so for repairs like Joe described. There seems to be some pretty serous experience and a light touch required for good results. I may play with this a bit...

OK, Thanks,
I had always read, it was done with a wad, and thin shellac, and a little oil to keep it from sticking.
Said to produce beautiful results.
I was too lazy to apply myself to learn it.....................LOL............. although I have done some pretty nice work, just simpler methods.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe, you have to get yourself under control or at least be open to some help. I've informed my son to have the guys in his firehouse treat you gently should they get a call for an adult male trapped under a pile of tool boxes.

The Gerstner in your second photo is an unusual configuration and looks like a real beauty. Also, which two vises did you buy?

Tom B.

Bought all three, L-R...Big Bear Parker/120 lbs, Parker 23/80 lbs and Emmert K-1/80 lbs. I am a vise-aholic and have 70 in my shop at this moment. Bought all three for $165.

 

[toddmp]

picked this up today for $30. A few small dings but the body is rock solid. It is gorgeous.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice find! Are the casters missing, or are they the type usually used on creepers?

Look inside the third drawer where the logo should be, and see if there are any markings. there might be a date code.

 

[tombell572]

Toddmp, that's sweet one. What are the holders on the left side for?

Tom B.

 

[Mooreag47]

Making a guess on the holders but they look like oil can holders

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd say aerosol cans.

 

[tym]

I'd say aerosol cans.

Beer?

That's what I would use it for.

 

[toddmp]

I'll take some more pictures later today and check on the date. The holders are too small for aerosol cans (most). Not really sure what they were used for.

 

[twertsy]

Nice little snag at the flea today. This box is immaculate.







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[r_olson_06]

Nice little snag at the flea today. This box is immaculate.







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Nice snag. Is that the one for the 3/4" drive set?

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[twertsy]

Nice snag. Is that the one for the 3/4" drive set?

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I'm not sure, haven't had time to look in my catalogs yet.

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[toddmp]

Nice find! Are the casters missing, or are they the type usually used on creepers?

Look inside the third drawer where the logo should be, and see if there are any markings. there might be a date code.

super low profile casters. appear original but I could be wrong. could not find a date code anywhere inside the third drawer

 

[toddmp]

Toddmp, that's sweet one. What are the holders on the left side for?

Tom B.

still not sure what these holders are for. they almost appear stock. here are some more photos:

 

[Outlawmws]

certainly factory made, but for what?

I can't recall seeing those as tool box accessories in Sears catalogs.

 

[Blue Frog]

certainly factory made, but for what?

I can't recall seeing those as tool box accessories in Sears catalogs.

Oil cans? Mine of that size always seem to tip over easily.

 

[BlueBomber]

certainly factory made, but for what?

I can't recall seeing those as tool box accessories in Sears catalogs.

I agree with factory made, but don't think they are a toolbox factory accessory. The differing mounting hardware and the extra, unused mounting holes on the bottom of the holders seem to indicate these were adapted from another application.

 

[toddmp]

maybe I can find some steel cups to fit in them to make them useful. All my oil dispensers are cans.

second questions:

I love the patina on this box and although I am in the process of giving it a good scrub and wash what is a good way to preserve the existing look? paste wax? poly spray? Anything best to do for the insides of the drawers as far as a durable coating?

 

[joe.striper]

maybe I can find some steel cups to fit in them to make them useful. All my oil dispensers are cans.

second questions:

I love the patina on this box and although I am in the process of giving it a good scrub and wash what is a good way to preserve the existing look? paste wax? poly spray? Anything best to do for the insides of the drawers as far as a durable coating?

might you consider a matt clearcoat over the entire box, sort of what they do on ratrods today...

 

[Outlawmws]

My suggestion is to clean, claybar then paste wax.

If you have any rust spots, before all that, get some Evaporust], soak a bit of paper towel and place over the rust, then cover with saran wrap while it does it's thing (the saran keeps the ERust from evaporating)

For drawer liners for that era, I like to use cork mat, which you can get in rolls from the big box stores.

For the cans, maybe soup or tomato paste cans?

 

[FJ 432]

First off, I love the green Craftsman. Really beautiful.

Those are brackets to hold oil cans. Similar to this:

 

[crewchief888]

Oil cans? Mine of that size always seem to tip over easily.

thats what they look like to me...

 

[crab]

I'd be tempted to match the paint and restore it.

 

[toddmp]

I'd be tempted to match the paint and restore it.

Im leaning in that direction as well. really like the green color.

 

[R-Savage]

Does this count????
My Toolbox?

 

[joe.striper]

Can anyone help me match this color? A customer wants me to paintva vise this color.

 

[twertsy]

Can anyone help me match this color? A customer wants me to paintva vise this color.

Cross reference for all Snap-on Colors.

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?model=Snap On Tools

 

[joe.striper]

Cross reference for all Snap-on Colors.

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?model=Snap On Tools

Thaks sooo much.

 

[toddmp]

are those bel aire boxes custom?

 

[joe.striper]

are those bel aire boxes custom?

i dont know. they are a customers and he wants a vise painted the same color.

 

[smschriefer]

The Bel Aire boxes were a special edition.

 

[Tellingthem]

I was messing around with these tonight and figured I'd post them up here. Strangely enough I found them both within a couple of weeks of each other. Just random luck I guess. Got them both for about $30 total

 

[Makattak81]

I'd like to find the machinist tool box, looks great.

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[LesserSon]

Im leaning in that direction as well. really like the green color.

But..."restore?" That green is not the original color. It's sprayed over the Craftsman badge. Original looks gray to me. Not saying green isn't beautiful, but if you like it as is, just clean it and use it. If your conditions are humid, then yeah, maybe wax, BLO, or clearcoat.

 

[toddmp]

But..."restore?" That green is not the original color. It's sprayed over the Craftsman badge. Original looks gray to me. Not saying green isn't beautiful, but if you like it as is, just clean it and use it. If your conditions are humid, then yeah, maybe wax, BLO, or clearcoat.

yeah it was gray. I am cleaning it as best I can and will wax it for a while. if the green keeps peeling I will eventually restore it with a total strip and paint back to original.

 

[taumac]

But..."restore?" That green is not the original color. It's sprayed over the Craftsman badge. Original looks gray to me. Not saying green isn't beautiful, but if you like it as is, just clean it and use it. If your conditions are humid, then yeah, maybe wax, BLO, or clearcoat.

I think that box would be same "gray" as on this.

I use this




This matches the Gray/ Red era but the original paint can also be the slightly lighter silver hammertone paint. Both paint are great. That's if you want to go back to original but that green looks great and has nice patina. I would get green off the badge and use it cause you can always restore down the road.

 

[Motorman55]

Here's my vintage Kennedy with its leather handle

Anyone know when they stopped using leather handles?

 

[taumac]

Here's my vintage Kennedy with its leather handle



Anyone know when they stopped using leather handles?

I've heard leather puts its back to 40's 50's but the square corners makes it older. Now I notice the color change from the top lid to rest of the box. Has it or look like ever been swapped out.

 

[Outlawmws]

40's or early 50's? not sure... I have two that are mid 30's to mid 40's as best as I've been able to discern.

What logos is inside and where?

 

[Outlawmws]

I've heard leather puts its back to 40's 50's but the square corners makes it older. Now I notice the color change from the top lid to rest of the box. Has it or look like ever been swapped out.

Yep, the square corners should put it into the 30's

I would guess the top was left open for decades maybe in front of a window and faded?