The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Outlawmws]

baneonrt, is that rust or old primer on the surface? If rust, skip the clay bar...

What do you want of the box? Keep it as close to how your dad had it as possible; or fully restored?

 

[baneonrt]

baneonrt, is that rust or old primer on the surface? If rust, skip the clay bar...

What do you want of the box? Keep it as close to how your dad had it as possible; or fully restored?

Fortunately it has no sentimental value. He obtained it a few years ago. It's just a cool vintage box. I'd like to clean it first then evaluate. Just not sure the best cleaning procedure. It's still in storage which is about a 2 hour drive from where I am now. When I get it home I'll go over it more carefully.

Now, his late 70's, early 80's snapon setup does have a ton of sentimental value. I'll post picture of that when I get it home.

Steve

 

[555]

Cornwell I'm going to free from my late father's storage. Any suggestions on cleaning it?

I've not tried this on tool boxes, but I used both TSP and CLR on 60s trucks to remove the surface rust and leave the original remaining paint. Try it on a spot that is not readily visible.
Regards,
John

 

[ianguilly]

been awhile since I've posted my toolbox set up. This is my home set up. The Kra429 is from 92'. The kr1000 is from 1988 and I'm the 2nd owner (even had his name on it). Just picked up the kr650&655 combo this weekend for a bit more space, they're from 1986.

 

[racinfarmer]

Picked up this reasonably nice Huot on my way home from work for $20. Overall in good shape with some rust. 3 drawer model.

Being from MN, it is kind of fun to now have a box made in MN.

 

[Kentuckian]

bump to the top

 

[dandan111]

Nice $20 find racin. Would be at least $75 up around here on a great day.

 

[thehorse13]

Picked up this reasonably nice Huot on my way home from work for $20. Overall in good shape with some rust. 3 drawer model.

Being from MN, it is kind of fun to now have a box made in MN.

That's a great box at, "you ****" pricing.

You should send it to me for safe keeping.

 

[jimreed2160]

This basket case turned up in my shop last week.

It has a rough life and then some ancient woodworker rebuilt it using parts of an old oak dresser. It does have charm.

It would take a lot of work to make it "prom ready". I have a much nicer vintage oak machinist chest by my milling machine for end mill storage. If I can get this one back on its feet, then maybe I will swap them out.

I like the vintage oak cabinets because the tight fitting drawers protect the contents from dust. My machining area is full of milling swarf and grinder dust and I need all the help I can get. The modern steel cabinets don't seem to be as tight and protective of tooling.

 

[Topdrag106]

I'm looking for a vintage craftsman middle section for the red and gray set for sale. I would purchase the complete set if needed as well. Ive been looking for years for my dad and would really like to get this for him.

Any info would be helpful.

 

[racinfarmer]

Nice $20 find racin. Would be at least $75 up around here on a great day.

That's a great box at, "you ****" pricing.

You should send it to me for safe keeping.

I was surprised it was still there after a week on CL.

I figured it was telling me to come get it.

 

[twertsy]

I was surprised it was still there after a week on CL.

I figured it was telling me to come get it.

That certainly would have been my interpretation! Nice snag.

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[454ragtop]

I'm looking for a vintage craftsman middle section for the red and gray set for sale. I would purchase the complete set if needed as well. Ive been looking for years for my dad and would really like to get this for him.

Any info would be helpful.

Like this? http://worcester.craigslist.org/tls/5923465376.html Not mine, no connection. Might want to post your loc.

 

[Jaxwagen]

Hey everyone, new guy here looking to put a vintage tool box in his garage, and was wondering if there was any guide or if anyone had tips for identifying age, model and what not of older boxes?

I recently passed on a Cornwell thinking it was from the 80's, but now after looking through this thread I think I might have been pre-70's, doh!

 

[FJ 432]

Hey everyone, new guy here looking to put a vintage tool box in his garage, and was wondering if there was any guide or if anyone had tips for identifying age, model and what not of older boxes?

I recently passed on a Cornwell thinking it was from the 80's, but now after looking through this thread I think I might have been pre-70's, doh!

A great form of educating yourself is looking over this thread. It's a bit of a monster but it will show you some true classics and get you down the road of what attracts you. Welcome BTW.

 

[MissileBear]

Picked up this old Kennedy K20 and a Craftsman 6536(?) for $25.

The Craftsman box weighs almost 20 pounds empty. It's real sturdy.

 

[Tynee]

A great form of educating yourself is looking over this thread. It's a bit of a monster but it will show you some true classics and get you down the road of what attracts you. Welcome BTW.

+1, I've learned a ton about who made what for whom, and when, by reading every post of this thread.

 

[Tynee]

Picked up this old Kennedy K20 and a Craftsman 6536(?) for $25.

The Craftsman box weighs almost 20 pounds empty. It's real sturdy.

If that's what Santa left under your tree, I was apparently naughty this year. Good score.

 

[Jaxwagen]

A great form of educating yourself is looking over this thread. It's a bit of a monster but it will show you some true classics and get you down the road of what attracts you. Welcome BTW.

Thanks, I started at the beginning and most of those ones had either no description or very basic ones, but I'll keep browsing looking for more informative ones. I have seen people mentioning using the serial number to find the year, is there a guide for those?

 

[Outlawmws]

Reading through as suggested is the key. Subsequent posts often ID the era if not the year. (and how it was done) You will find references as you read through to some manufacturers that did date code or stamp the boxes, but there is no standard and many were not so stamped.

SO, Some Craftsman, I think the truck boxes generally often were date stamped,

Mostly you are going look at drawer pulls for older styles, or just getting familiar with certain styles of box. For Craftsman for example you can often get a era, based on the logo. (50's oval vs, the 60's "Crown" and the later block letters...)

I'd suggest saving pics of the ones you like, and ID them as you can.

How vintage do you want, and how big? what drawer configuration do you like? Top and bottom? intermediate? What do YOU consider "vintage"? these are he Q's you need to ask yourself.

As to the S/N (if even used) I've never seen a cross reference to years made. The Mfg's either don't publish or didn't keep those records... The only one that might have some record is possibly SO, and only to track for warranty..

 

[sXe]

Been enjoying this forum for some time and thought Id share this box I picked up last fall. Got it from an elderly gentleman who was a small engine mechanic all his life starting in the 1940s. When I looked at the box it was so filthy I didnt know the color really was. The wheels were actually balls of grease and dirt and there was 1/4" layer of grease and dirt all over the box. It was full of tools, older but of good quality and many small engine tools that I dont even know what they are for. I paid the asking price of $150, which seemed fair with all the tools. I painted the bottom carcass to match the best I could, the original color can be seen on the bottom door, which is a hammered green. I have never been able to identify the manufacture. Seen some close but not exact...Any one have any ideas???? Thanks.

 

[FJ 432]

Been enjoying this forum for some time and thought Id share this box I picked up last fall. Got it from an elderly gentleman who was a small engine mechanic all his life starting in the 1940s. When I looked at the box it was so filthy I didnt know the color really was. The wheels were actually balls of grease and dirt and there was 1/4" layer of grease and dirt all over the box. It was full of tools, older but of good quality and many small engine tools that I dont even know what they are for. I paid the asking price of $150, which seemed fair with all the tools. I painted the bottom carcass to match the best I could, the original color can be seen on the bottom door, which is a hammered green. I have never been able to identify the manufacture. Seen some close but not exact...Any one have any ideas???? Thanks.

Does the bottom cabinet have easy to open drawers and use ball bearings? The reason why I ask is at one time I believe I owned that same bottom roller. I never found out who made it but it's a nice cabinet.

 

[sXe]

Yes only the bottom does have ball bearings and slide nicely even with lots of weight. The top does not have bearings. I agree it seems like a quality unit in its day.

 

[FJ 432]

Yes only the bottom does have ball bearings and slide nicely even with lots of weight. The top does not have bearings. I agree it seems like a quality unit in its day.

I wish I would have kept mine just because it was a great cabinet. Someone will chime in on the manufacturer but my guess it was build by Kennedy.

You made that pair look real nice. And welcome.

 

[sXe]

I wish I would have kept mine just because it was a great cabinet. Someone will chime in on the manufacturer but my guess it was build by Kennedy.

You made that pair look real nice. And welcome.

Thanks! I like to leave some of the patina, gives it personality. I was thinking possibly Kennedy also.

 

[Tynee]

I'm a novice, but my first guess was Power Kraft, or whomever manufactured their boxes.

 

[FJ 432]

I'm a novice, but my first guess was Power Kraft, or whomever manufactured their boxes.

You know what, you're on to something with that guess. I'm changing my answer to Waterloo who I've owned a machinist chest that had the same pull that the bottom door has on it. Good catch.

 

[twertsy]

You know what, you're on to something with that guess. I'm changing my answer to Waterloo who I've owned a machinist chest that had the same pull that the bottom door has on it. Good catch.

Yes, I believe Waterloo made those for Bonney, S-K, Plomb/Proto (tool-mobile), Blackhawk, NB, Craftsman, MAC and likely others.

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[taumac]

Been enjoying this forum for some time and thought Id share this box I picked up last fall. Got it from an elderly gentleman who was a small engine mechanic all his life starting in the 1940s. When I looked at the box it was so filthy I didnt know the color really was. The wheels were actually balls of grease and dirt and there was 1/4" layer of grease and dirt all over the box. It was full of tools, older but of good quality and many small engine tools that I dont even know what they are for. I paid the asking price of $150, which seemed fair with all the tools. I painted the bottom carcass to match the best I could, the original color can be seen on the bottom door, which is a hammered green. I have never been able to identify the manufacture. Seen some close but not exact...Any one have any ideas???? Thanks.

That's a nice looking box. If Waterloo made it might have a the date stamped on it. I know Waterloo made the Craftsmans I had but did they date stamp other brands they made for other company? As Zkling might say the slides might tell us more of who made it.

 

[sXe]

That's a nice looking box. If Waterloo made it might have a the date stamped on it. I know Waterloo made the Craftsmans I had but did they date stamp other brands they made for other company? As Zkling might say the slides might tell us more of who made it.

Thanks all! I also thought Waterloo possibly. The color with the red drawers I figured would easily id this, but not so much. I cleaned and scrubbed every inch of this thing and did not find any stamping. I will post some pics of the slides later this evening.

 

[Jaxwagen]

I figured the best way to learn is by doing, so I went out today and bought this MBC box. I haven't been able to find a ton on MBC, looks like they made boxes in the 60's and 70's for other brands, but also made their own boxes. I am guessing Century is the model line, because I found pictures of another MBC box that had a similar badge but said El Dorado, I do like how Century is incorporated into the C.

<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg"/></a>

EDIT: I found the stamp, C-6C 2781 73.

 

[twertsy]

I figured the best way to learn is by doing, so I went out today and bought this MBC box. I haven't been able to find a ton on MBC, looks like they made boxes in the 60's and 70's for other brands, but also made their own boxes. I am guessing Century is the model line, because I found pictures of another MBC box that had a similar badge but said El Dorado, I do like how Century is incorporated into the C.

<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg"/></a>

I couldn't find a stamp, but I was able to find scans of a 1967 MBC catalog and it has the same layout as the MB-236, but my boxes' overall dimensions are slightly larger than the catalog's, and the lid is different, plus the boxes in the catalog don't have badges.

I like that.......I have the matching roll cab.

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[twertsy]

Thanks all! I also thought Waterloo possibly. The color with the red drawers I figured would easily id this, but not so much. I cleaned and scrubbed every inch of this thing and did not find any stamping. I will post some pics of the slides later this evening.

It would be in the leftmost floor of the tray in the top box.

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[taumac]

I figured the best way to learn is by doing, so I went out today and bought this MBC box. I haven't been able to find a ton on MBC, looks like they made boxes in the 60's and 70's for other brands, but also made their own boxes. I am guessing Century is the model line, because I found pictures of another MBC box that had a similar badge but said El Dorado, I do like how Century is incorporated into the C.

<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo f7a53496-c68c-48fc-af5e-42ee564bc50f_zpsecjkazgn.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/i_selinger10/media/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag415/i_selinger10/cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo cd22c581-8f7d-4fa4-bdcb-da7e194d7874_zps9awgcmrd.jpg"/></a>

I couldn't find a stamp, but I was able to find scans of a 1967 MBC catalog and it has the same layout as the MB-236, but my boxes' overall dimensions are slightly larger than the catalog's, and the lid is different, plus the boxes in the catalog don't have badges.

MBC should have a date stamp. If you're looking at the box it would be on the left side where the handle is lower left corner.That's where I found it on one that I had.

 

[Outlawmws]

Can you take pics of the roller slides on the bottom? The way you describe the rollers another possibility is Pressteel, who also made boxes for Plvmb/Proto and Sears under the Craftsman brand at least...

 

[twertsy]

Can you take pics of the roller slides on the bottom? The way you describe the rollers another possibility is Pressteel, who also made boxes for Plvmb/Proto and Sears under the Craftsman brand at least...

VERY true.

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[sXe]

Here are the pictures of the slides. I was surprised how nice the bottom drawers work for an old box. The guy I bought this from had them packed they rolled nicely.

 

[555]

I have an MBC Century that I've owned since 1981. It was a used and abused box when I got it. I'll get some pictures tomorrow. I tried to research the company and only found some trademark info with Metal Box and Cabinet Corporation listed as the owner. I did see a remark on another forum that said MBC is now the Edsal Corporation in Chicago, IL.
http://edsal.com/

 

[twertsy]

Here are the pictures of the slides. I was surprised how nice the bottom drawers work for an old box. The guy I bought this from had them packed they rolled nicely.

Those aren't Pressteel slides......Waterloo

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[Outlawmws]

Agree, the top isn't, the bottom I'd need to see the rollers inside...

I wonder if the two companies might have "done a deal"; or if the patents ran out and Waterloo made a few like Pressteel?