The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Oregon rock crusher]

So many neat boxes in this thread! For a first post I will put up a couple pics of one of my boxes which is kind of rare. This is a Utica//Bonney marked three piece stack from the mid 60's. It is possibly a rebadged Waterloo as I can't find this box in old catalogs but I'm not sure. I have seen a couple others boxes exactly like this but lacking the three drawer riser box. I've also seen a few other Utica Bonney marked small machinist chests. I haven't got too far on my Bonney collection to fill it but I'm slowly working on it. Ed.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That is awesome!

 

[Lump]

Wow, great timing on the discussions about drawer-slide clips! I need advice finding one replacement drawer-slide, and 5 or 6 clips like the bottom one on Taumac's post above. Any recommendations?





I'll post my story about this old tool chest separately next. (I just thought I should probably get right to the point on the help I'm asking for first).

 

[Lump]

Here are two end-view pics of the bent slide that I prefer to replace. It is about 14.75" long.





(Yes, I can straighten it. I was a journeyman sheet metal worker years ago. But if I could buy a replacement quickly, it would be better, and take MUCH less time. And time is what I have the LEAST of these days.)

 

[honza.vosalik]

I just ordered mine from here http://m.ebay.com/itm/272272928275?_mwBanner=1

 

[Lump]

So now for the story. Sometime about 2 years ago, my good friend and I went together and bought the entire estate (tools, cars, and garage stuff-related) of a lifelong hot rodder. We came home with dozens of fenders, body sections, pedal cars, etc, etc, etc. (several large truck loads). One item we got was a dirty old tool box "set," consisting of an old Mac Tools top box sitting on an old Cornwell chest.



I have NEVER seen a tool chest set so filthy, and it needed repair. And it was full of tools, MOST of which were worn out and abused junk. So I planned to flip it immediately.



But I have to admit that I really dug the old time stickers that were glued all over it, and for the past couple of decades I have really gotten into "patina" on old garage equipment.



I especially loved the old Garlits decals on the inside of the lid:



So recently I started cleaning out some of the filth, and trying to fix stuck drawers, etc. That's when I found the missing clips, and the one bent drawer-slide. So where did I turn? To the wise and wonderful vintage tool guys and garage buffs on Garage Journal, of course!

Any help steering me towards clips and a slide will be much appreciated. I do not know who made the chest for Cornwell. THANKS, GUYS!

 

[Lump]

Honza, those on eBay are shaped differently than mine. Do you know if they will work on my slides?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lump]

Love that Bonney box, Crusher!

 

[Lump]

Just for the record, the OTHER end of that slide is mangled much worse than what you can see in the photos. But if I cannot find a new one, I will indeed straighten it.

Cheers.

 

[ZRX61]

Lift out tray or two sliding trays?

Picked up this beauty this weekend

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[honza.vosalik]

I'm not sure. But the seller is selling other kinds / brands too.

 

[r_olson_06]

Lift out tray or two sliding trays?

2 sliding trays

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[ZRX61]

2 sliding trays

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Same as mine

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/384264_2540609247319_1519383747_n.jpg?oh=b0a393a42e15bb8d3531bd2b68304869&oe=57FC1C0F

 

[JHuston]

New arrival today...not in bad shape. Hard to see the Craftsman logo.Someone welded small angle iron on the bottom. I think it will be my project for the winter. Going to clean it up and store some of my older tools in it for now.

I have a similar chest that I use for my truck's tools; they're made by the architectural metal co. If I recall.

James Huston

 

[mdbeck1]

I have a similar chest that I use for my truck's tools; they're made by the architectural metal co. If I recall.

James Huston

Interesting tool box. Did you modify an existing one or build it from scratch?

 

[Lump]

I called Waterloo Industries about my missing clips, and my damaged drawer-slide. They were very helpful, and are sending me 5 clips and a brand new slide.

Apparently, the new-style slides do not require any clips, but will work fine to replace my damaged original. I'll post some photos after the new parts arrive, to show you if they worked, and how effective they might be.

The big news for me, from reading this thread and contacting Waterloo, is that the new style clips fit perfectly to replace the old style clips.

Cheers!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this wartime hip roof box this morning. I'll post more pics, including the front side (two side clasps, a center clasp, and a lock hasp) later. Not sure who made it yet. I like the design of the compartments inside. This type was not cantilevered, and had no removable tray.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

By the way, if you're wondering what it is, it's a tool box to support the maintenance of model M5 and M6 anti-aircraft directors. Directors were used to "track" (calculate elevation, trajectory, and speed) airplanes.

Here's a figure of a late war M7:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:M7_director.jpg

 

[JHuston]

Interesting tool box. Did you modify an existing one or build it from scratch?

The sidesaddle box was a no-name aluminum unit my late uncle found in a crawlspace some years ago; I've welded in heavier hinges and added the front door ( and the '61 Ford emblem).

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Private Lugnutz is that a period correct Irwin flathead next to it?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Private Lugnutz is that a period correct Irwin flathead next to it?

It's a flat head, and it's period correct (has an Ordnance stock number on it), with an integral "perfect handle" type handle, but it's an extra heavy duty machinist's screwdriver made by Federal. The shank on these is shorter, square-shaped, and more robust than a typical 11" perfect handle. IRWIN made them, too. I'll post a close-up tomorrow.

 

[twertsy]

It's a flat head, and it's period correct (has an Ordnance stock number on it), with an integral "perfect handle" type handle, but it's an extra heavy duty machinist's screwdriver made by Federal. The shank on these is shorter, square-shaped, and more robust than a typical 11" perfect handle. IRWIN made them, too. I'll post a close-up tomorrow.

Gonna need to know what those 2 wrenches are too......

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Here is mine I picked up the other day
USOAS556 (as best I can tell) hand engraved on the blade

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is mine I picked up the other day
USOAS556 (as best I can tell) hand engraved on the blade

Did you remove the wooden inserts? Or were they missing? I don't know anything about that marking on the shank. It sounds like it's post-production/owner's. Yours is wartime. I can tell from the forged-in markings. Because the handles were ink-stamped with the IRWIN MADE IN USA marking during the war, many of the markings have worn off. We've taken many of them apart to be able to identify them. The forged-in marks are very different on the post-war models with IRWIN, IRWIN USA, and IRWIN US of A embossed on the shank.

Here are some wartime references...

And here are some close-ups of the Federal I found yesterday:

Federal is the Mfgr. They are cited in several wartime references. The “9-1/2” is the total length. That’s a bit unusual since other Federal perfect handle screwdrivers have been found with a number indicating the blade length (e.g., “W.F. 6” on an 11-inch screwdriver). The “W.F.” is a point of debate. I used to think “War Finish.” The Wright Field contract mark found on Plomb tools didn’t have periods and was always accompanied by a series stock number. But now I’m not so sure. That “TGBX1A” is an Ordnance Dept stock number. So-called "taxi" numbers were one of several stock number systems that the Ordnance Dept used prior to the war, and during the war, being phased out near the end of the war. That wouldn’t be found on a driver marked War Finish intended for the civilian market. So this particular EHD screwdriver could be a significant find for all WWII collectors in identifying all Federal wartime vintage screwdrivers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Gonna need to know what those 2 wrenches are too......

The combo wrench is a MAC 9/16, twertsy. The brake wrench is a Williams Superrench Chrome-Alloy '1099 Special' 1/2 x 9/16. You won't find it in any catalogs. That "A183907" stamped on the shank is a US Army Ordnance Dept drawing number. This wrench was definitely wartime, probably made in late 1941 or early 1942.

If you or anyone can help me date the MAC wrench, I'd appreciate it. I am going to make a separate thread. No WWII collector I know collects MAC. Nothing verified MAC as a WWII supplier. I know the MAC website says differently, basically explaining that they sold tools to the military under a couple pre-MAC names. But there is no evidence for that. I've looked them up in every reference I know. Still, it was interesting to find this wrench in the box. Doesn't mean it originated there, obviously. But I'd like to know if anyone can date it nonetheless.

 

[twertsy]

The combo wrench is a MAC 9/16, twertsy. The brake wrench is a Williams Superrench Chrome-Alloy '1099 Special' 1/2 x 9/16. You won't find it in any catalogs. That "A183907" stamped on the shank is a US Army Ordnance Dept drawing number. This wrench was definitely wartime, probably made in late 1941 or early 1942.

If you or anyone can help me date the MAC wrench, I'd appreciate it. I am going to make a separate thread. No WWII collector I know collects MAC. Nothing verified MAC as a WWII supplier. I know the MAC website says differently, basically explaining that they sold tools to the military under a couple pre-MAC names. But there is no evidence for that. I've looked them up in every reference I know. Still, it was interesting to find this wrench in the box. Doesn't mean it originated there, obviously. But I'd like to know if anyone can date it nonetheless.

Look at my mechanics tool & forge research page. They supplied something, wrenches I believe.

Edit: MAC wrench is their 2nd earliest style so early/mid 40s to about '52. Earliest had forged in markings.

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[Ole Slewfoot]

Did you remove the wooden inserts? Or were they missing?Pictured exactly as found, didn't even wipe it. Yours is wartime. I can tell from the forged-in markings. Because the handles were ink-stamped with the IRWIN MADE IN USA marking during the war, many of the markings have worn off. We've taken many of them apart to be able to identify them. The forged-in marks are very different on the post-war models with IRWIN, IRWIN USA, and IRWIN US of A embossed on the shank.

Sweet, one more for the GMTKish heap in search of a box. I have bit of Costa Rican hardwood a friend brought me that seems right for the inserts.

When you say rivet, is it a rod that's been peend, or an actual rivet? know the OD?

 

[MShaw]

Private Lugnutz said" So-called "taxi" numbers were one of several stock number systems that the Ordnance Dept used prior to the war, and during the war, being phased out near the end of the war."

There were still taxi numbers in use when I retired from military production four years ago. I am sure that the intention was to phase them out but nothing dies easily in government systems.

We were still using a few items with NAF numbers from the naval aircraft factory in Philadelphia.

 

[ZRX61]

Picked up this wartime hip roof box this morning. I'll post more pics, including the front side (two side clasps, a center clasp, and a lock hasp) later. Not sure who made it yet. I like the design of the compartments inside. This type was not cantilevered, and had no removable tray.

The one I have was made by Simplex.

https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1390699_10201985022579927_309455395_n.jpg?oh=2eca5a828f8b90dd06356dcdb6ea921e&oe=5806E70E

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When you say rivet, is it a rod that's been peend, or an actual rivet? know the OD?

I'll PM you the specs.

There were still taxi numbers in use when I retired from military production four years ago. I am sure that the intention was to phase them out but nothing dies easily in government systems.

Haha. Too true. Saw them in the 80's as well, also A through D drawing numbers, which we still used as part numbers to track parts that didn't have an FSN. But they were definitely phased out, replaced with the 11-digit FSN and then the 12-digit NSN.

 

[bagged89s10]

Nbc is nascar

 

[honza.vosalik]

Guys, why are there only 294 pages in this thread and 2284 pages in the vise thread? Do people not really restore their toolboxes as much?

 

[ganymede]

Id guess that because tool boxes are bigger people don't collect as many.

 

[Outlawmws]

The vise crowd is just way more talkative, especially the past couple of years. Also, vises are really quick and easy to restore, need it more often, and toolboxes can be a time consuming PITA, and are far more likely to get a basic cleaning and "use as is".

I can say I've done, what? one roller, and maybe one or two carry boxes...

 

[twertsy]

Going to meet the guy a look at this one this morning. Any ideas on brand??

EDIT: sorry about the size of the one pic. Tried to fix but it keeps resizing on upload.

 

[bl00]

It looks like more of a file cabinet than a toolbox.

 

[INSP380]

, and toolboxes can be a time consuming PITA, and are far more likely to get a basic cleaning and "use as is".

I've been working on a Craftsman for months. PITA is right. Blast, paint, wait for more time, blast, paint......wait for more time.My chest is a red / gray ten drawer, 7 of 10 are restored. The Chest will be last....Then the roll cabinet....not a project for the weak!

Steve

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, I and my kids spent some time on that roller! and it only had 5 drawers!

This was the project:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1673958&postcount=534

And this was the post about doing it (and ID'ing it...)...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1672355&postcount=530

 

[Outlawmws]

And another PITA box, and it was not huge (But considering its start point, didn't come out too bad):

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49743&page=52

 

[twertsy]

It looks like more of a file cabinet than a toolbox.

I bought it. Its a Huthe exhaust parts box. Neat little piece.

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