The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Outlawmws]

Great find Ragtop!

 

[RagTopTA]

Great find Ragtop!

thanks Outlaw!

 

[Rileysan]

It's a bit of a train wreck, but am wondering if it's worth picking up - assuming it can even be identified.

Only $40

https://salem.craigslist.org/atq/6011721262.html

 

[drivesitfar]

Riley: my first thought is BLACKHAWK since it's yellow, but only a guess. it's definitely VINTAGE, but maybe not worth much more than asking price so do you NEED IT of have a use for it maybe to hold some BLACKHAWK or other old tools?

Rag: full of Plvmb of course so waiting for the after painting or even before if you want to show that box full of Plvmb.

 

[Rileysan]

Riley: my first thought is BLACKHAWK since it's yellow, but only a guess. it's definitely VINTAGE, but maybe not worth much more than asking price so do you NEED IT of have a use for it maybe to hold some BLACKHAWK or other old tools?

Goodness no, I don't need it. I have way more than I need! I am just trying to educate myself, and if it turned out being uncommon or rare, maybe take a look at it.

Brian

 

[Tomthumb717]

Picked up a MAC MB520-F1 for 50.00 over the weekend. I currently do not have a top to fit but hope to find one soon enough. Just wiped it down, everything is straight, minimal rust spots and paint is mostly intact. Does anyone know what year this was made? Im not sure what the F1 denotes.

 

[hdmark80]

Picked up a MAC MB520-F1 for 50.00 over the weekend. I currently do not have a top to fit but hope to find one soon enough. Just wiped it down, everything is straight, minimal rust spots and paint is mostly intact. Does anyone know what year this was made? Im not sure what the F1 denotes.

You deserve a you ****! Nice find.

 

[smokeyburb]

I NEVER see anything that nice for such a great price!! All I see is abused and rusty stuff. Congrats.

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[Sam'sAutoParts]

You **** indeed! That MAC is Nice!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Definitely a USUCK deal on the MAC!

 

[smschriefer]

Picked up a MAC MB520-F1 for 50.00 over the weekend. I currently do not have a top to fit but hope to find one soon enough. Just wiped it down, everything is straight, minimal rust spots and paint is mostly intact. Does anyone know what year this was made? Im not sure what the F1 denotes.

First off, you ****. If your box is like mine, look on the left side and then at that side's lower left corner. You should see a date stamp along with the model information.

 

[FJ 432]

I believe the F1 denotes a date for MAC. You have to look up the code that is somewhere. And yes you ****.

 

[Cf mtn]

hi all, it was recommended by another member i throw this at you all. i met a guy through CL and he showed me some pics of this box he has. no marking that he could see, don't know how hard he looked. i spent some time trying to figure them out, now turning to you for some help. any idea's? thanks for your time.

 

[bubinga]

Picked up a MAC MB520-F1 for 50.00 over the weekend. I currently do not have a top to fit but hope to find one soon enough. Just wiped it down, everything is straight, minimal rust spots and paint is mostly intact. Does anyone know what year this was made? Im not sure what the F1 denotes.

I'll give you $75.00 right now, like 2 crazy kids?
Quick $25.00 profit?
You got a super deal.

 

[crewchief888]

Picked up a MAC MB520-F1 for 50.00 over the weekend. I currently do not have a top to fit but hope to find one soon enough. Just wiped it down, everything is straight, minimal rust spots and paint is mostly intact. Does anyone know what year this was made? Im not sure what the F1 denotes.

that handle style was available up to the late 80's/early 90's

it's rare to see one that didnt turn orange. mac and matco had some paint issues for a while

 

[ryan20021982]

Picked up this Remline for $20, all drawers slide nice just no key but it looks like a standard universal lock

View media item 68786

 

[Cope]

Picked up this Remline for $20, all drawers slide nice just no key but it looks like a standard universal lock

View media item 68786

You can get a lock and two keys on eBay for less than ?10. Nice find.

 

[garthg]

You can get a lock and two keys on eBay for less than ?10. Nice find.

Actually, Home Depot sells a cabinet lock that will fit most boxes for $5.

 

[Cope]

Actually, Home Depot sells a cabinet lock that will fit most boxes for $5.

I know, they're available on eBay at that price too, I just quoted a rough price.

 

[FJ 432]

hi all, it was recommended by another member i throw this at you all. i met a guy through CL and he showed me some pics of this box he has. no marking that he could see, don't know how hard he looked. i spent some time trying to figure them out, now turning to you for some help. any idea's? thanks for your time.

cf mtn,

I will throw my guess into your cool box. I believe it might be a very early example of Blackhawk. I used the following example that is up for sale on etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/481679...cfb6c62b36cd&gclid=CMLlrJ6ox9ICFca6wAod3_gENQ

I believe your example would be earlier but the shape and the use of those casters leads me to believe they're similar. The "v" shape slides is nothing I've ever seen. Cool box and nice save.

 

[Cf mtn]

fj, thanks for chiming in. it's a mystery. your right about the casters, during my search i didn't see alot of carts with that type/design wheels. maybe that type of glide design was a budget thing? we'll see if anybody recognizes it.

 

[drivesitfar]

CF: I had that style casters on what i was told was a 1960's or 1970's Huot bottom roller and they were original to that box.

i like the Blackhawk theory, but i'm really leaning towards a HOMEMADE BOX.

 

[thehorse13]

CF: I had that style casters on what i was told was a 1960's or 1970's Huot bottom roller and they were original to that box.

i like the Blackhawk theory, but i'm really leaning towards a HOMEMADE BOX.

Urgh, that Huot bottom box is outstanding. I need that. lol

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Urgh, that Huot bottom box is outstanding. I need that. lol

No, you WANT that!

 

[drivesitfar]

TH & Galaxie: sorry guys that box went with my surface plate to a client that needed both. i've asked to buy them back a couple times as i now have a little more space, but he's a very very very happy camper and said he's put them in his WILL FOR ME.

at the time i made a choice to keep this Huot and sell the blue one. did i make the wrong choice?

 

[thehorse13]

TH & Galaxie: sorry guys that box went with my surface plate to a client that needed both. i've asked to buy them back a couple times as i now have a little more space, but he's a very very very happy camper and said he's put them in his WILL FOR ME.

at the time i made a choice to keep this Huot and sell the blue one. did i make the wrong choice?

I have the same Huot red bottom box. You should have kept the blue one. Out there, early blue Huot bottom boxes are impossible to find. Even Twertsy is missing one.

 

[drivesitfar]

TH: i agree if the blue one was in the steel cabinet it might have been nicer, but it wouldn't fit and i like the steel cabinet. i know i probably could or should have kept the blue Huot box, but even though i don't have as many boxes as Twertsy i have more than a few so some have to leave until i build a 60x120 and win the lottery.

 

[neurotoast]

Hi everyone! I love this thread. I picked this little beauty up a couple weeks ago at an estate sale for $50. It's a Proto 9997. It has some light rust in spots and needs a good cleaning but it was pretty well cared for. Still has the keys! I personally love the flying lady logo. Any idea if these have a serial on them? I wasn't able to find one myself but it might be obscured by dirt or rust. They still sell a box with this layout, J442715-6RD-D. Catalog scan is from '54. Any thoughts on how to preserve this beauty? Touch up paint or no?

 

[bluebolt]

Nice Proto neurotoast ! I have a Proto 9990 from that same catalog. It's a few pages back.

 

[hemifalcon]

I feel like those wheels on that Huot came from an old creeper. That advertisement shows standard casters. I don't feel like those angled rollers would do well on a production design once serious weight was added.


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[Outlawmws]

I've seen a few rollers with those angled Creeper casters on them.

 

[Mintgrun]

I added creeper wheels to an old Delta tool stand, simply because I had them on hand and the holes happened to line up.

I hate rolling that thing on my plywood floors, even empty.
It tracks funny and digs in with any kind of load on the stand.

Larger wider wheels would be much better. imho

 

[Rileysan]

I purchased this very old New Britain box a couple of weeks ago along with a Cornwell roller and Huot top chest. Haven't gotten around to photographing the other boxes yet.

Brian

 

[Username already in use]

Man, that New Britain box is sweet. Love the patina on that thing. The drawer pulls are unique. Looks very sturdy. Congrats on that nice score. Would love to see the Huot top and the Cornwell roller as well when you get around to it.

 

[twertsy]

Man, that New Britain box is sweet. Love the patina on that thing. The drawer pulls are unique. Looks very sturdy. Congrats on that nice score. Would love to see the Huot top and the Cornwell roller as well when you get around to it.

Ditto on the NB box! And I really want to see the Corny!

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[garthg]

hi all, it was recommended by another member i throw this at you all. i met a guy through CL and he showed me some pics of this box he has. no marking that he could see, don't know how hard he looked. i spent some time trying to figure them out, now turning to you for some help. any idea's? thanks for your time.

Wow. If only that thing could talk.

 

[garthg]

Hi everyone! I love this thread. I picked this little beauty up a couple weeks ago at an estate sale for $50. It's a Proto 9997. It has some light rust in spots and needs a good cleaning but it was pretty well cared for. Still has the keys! I personally love the flying lady logo. Any idea if these have a serial on them? I wasn't able to find one myself but it might be obscured by dirt or rust. They still sell a box with this layout, J442715-6RD-D. Catalog scan is from '54. Any thoughts on how to preserve this beauty? Touch up paint or no?

Personally, I'm a big fan of touching up boxes. They're meant to be used, right?

Rustoleum Sunrise Red is a good match for most red boxes.

 

[thehorse13]

Hi everyone! I love this thread. I picked this little beauty up a couple weeks ago at an estate sale for $50. It's a Proto 9997. It has some light rust in spots and needs a good cleaning but it was pretty well cared for. Still has the keys! I personally love the flying lady logo. Any idea if these have a serial on them? I wasn't able to find one myself but it might be obscured by dirt or rust. They still sell a box with this layout, J442715-6RD-D. Catalog scan is from '54. Any thoughts on how to preserve this beauty? Touch up paint or no?

I wouldn't touch up anything. Go grab yourself a 9 dollar bottle of Meguiar's Ultimate polishing compound and bring the old paint back to life. You'll thank me when you're done.

 

[BrettJ74]

A couple of weeks ago I was at the Habitat For Humanity store on my weekly prowl for tools, I turned around from the tool bins and here was this beauty on the ground for $25. The employee said it was only sitting out for about an hour. I was contemplating building something based off of a Gerstner, but now I can hold off on that for a while and hone my carpentry skills.



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[BrettJ74]

Deciding that I didn't want to do much. I decided to just line the drawers with a burgundy felt, and wipe down the wood with some Murphys. Here is the end result.



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