40s or 50s Kennedy Tool Box

[Goleee33]

Hi All!
So I just came across a Vintage Kennedy Tool Chest/box combo and I would like to know if anyone has any information about it! Guessing it's from the 40s, maybe early 50s.

Optional Back Story: My dads father passed when he was 5 (his dad's only child but had half sisters from his mom) and before my dad even knew what tools were, pretty much everything had been picked over from family. This week my uncle calls my dad and said "I'm not sure if I ever told you but I have your dads machinist tool box in my garage. Let me know if you ever want it". My dad now in his later 60s is ecstatic to have something from his father. My uncle sent a picture, I know it's pretty bad but it's all I've got right now. My dad and I plan to jump in the truck and go pick it up one of the upcoming weekends. About 3 hours away or so. Will get better pictures when I see it in person

Stoked to have something from my grandfather. A couple cool 50s Snap On pieces as well! We only have a few things of his so we jump whenever we hear someone has something of his.

 

[Farmer J.]

The only information I can come up with is that it's priceless!
It's valuable to you, because of the back story. I suggest you write the story down, with all the other information names, dates, where it was used, what he worked on, and keep the document in the box..
I've done that with my grandfathers WW2 box, then the young people in the family don't have to listen to me telling them all the story and details over and over again..

 

[d42jeep]

From what I can see it looks to be newer than the '40s. My wartime Kennedy boxes have leather top handles and that handle looks to be steel.
-Don

 

[Goleee33]

From what I can see it looks to be newer than the '40s. My wartime Kennedy boxes have leather top handles and that handle looks to be steel.

-Don

He passed in 1957 so we were just guessing the age. Maybe it's from the 50s then!

 

[Goleee33]

The only information I can come up with is that it's priceless!
It's valuable to you, because of the back story. I suggest you write the story down, with all the other information names, dates, where it was used, what he worked on, and keep the document in the box..
I've done that with my grandfathers WW2 box, then the young people in the family don't have to listen to me telling them all the story and details over and over again..

That's a great idea. I will certainly do that. Luckily we have a few things he brought home during WW2 and he became a Machinist after serving.

 

[Bdgjr215]

My Dad's is from the early 60's and his still has the leather handle.I believe this is newer
Also.

 

[Goleee33]

My Dad's is from the early 60's and his still has the leather handle.I believe this is newer
Also.

If that's the case then I have some digging to do, as if its truly my grandfathers box, it would be impossible to be newer than mid 50's.

Does anyone know if there are any manufacturing dates stamped on these boxes generally? If so, where would I look?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Goleee,

I'm a HUGE fan of Kennedy boxes & cabinets. I would say that yours are priceless because they were from your family.

The top, 2 drawer box is like my first Kennedy box (in the picture below) that I bought in 1983, from a Woolco store that was closing down. The only thing that I knew about it back then was that it seemed sturdy, and I liked the wrinkled paint finish. Since then, I've bought a lot more.
Through the 80s & 90s, I was a Maintenance Electrician in some plastic product manufacturers. Your bottom box looks like the ones that the mold setters used for their tools (in the places that I worked). Circa; late 70's to early 80s.



I really don't know the years that the style of your box & cabinet were manufactured. However, I thought that I would weigh in.

Cheers.

Edit: If you can get some tag pictures, that would help. The top box tag should be on the inside if the lid, and the tag for the bottom cabinet should be inside one of the drawers.

 

[woody 73]

Just from the looks of the aluminum drawer pulls makes me think it is from the 1970's and later.

 

[1982fxr]

My gut tells me much newer than 1950's ?

 

[Goleee33]

Just from the looks of the aluminum drawer pulls makes me think it is from the 1970's and later.

My gut tells me much newer than 1950's ?

If this is in fact true, its going to be a pretty big let down! Now i'm nervous and want to go check out ASAP!

 

[ganymede]

It looks newer to me too but is it normal for the drawers to be a different color?
Maybe the op's grandfather bought the box in the 50's and years later some one swapped drawers on it.

 

[Goleee33]

It looks newer to me too but is it normal for the drawers to be a different color?
Maybe the op's grandfather bought the box in the 50's and years later some one swapped drawers on it.

When I searched the Kennedy 220 box, I did see some with the different drawer colors, but I couldn't find any info on the dates of the boxes. Going to ask my dad if he remembers seeing the box in the garage ever or if it just magically appeared. Regardless of the outcome, my uncle is giving it to us so its a come-up either way.

 

[6PTsocket]

Kennedy is still in business. Send them a photo. They may be able to date it. Call first. I find emails are sometimes ignored by people that will talk to you. I am sure they take pride in their long history of producing a quality product.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[1930artdeco]

My dad's Kennedy box dates from the 60's and is red. Don't know if this helps or not.

Mike

 

[d42jeep]

i am also a big fan of Kennedy toolboxes. It does seem as if those aluminum drawer pulls indicate that the original posters box is quite a bit newer than he first thought. Here is my selection of Kennedys.
-Don