The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[paulm12]

very impressive work ZEE

 

[Zeeman]

You guys! Thanks for all the complements.

Bubinga: The metal was pretty heavy duty. I don't know the gauge for sure, but I believe I used 20 ga. when I had to patch some large rusted out places on the one before this one.

Drivesitfar: Thanks. If I had two Masters tickets, I'd sell them and come buy a few boxes from you!

Tourqueman: Shhhhh. Don't tell everyone about all the nos Craftsman tool boxes I bought from you a while back.

 

[RedVise]

Zeeman - believe you have set a new standard for refurbs !!

Picked up an sturdy older middle box, no handles , no name plates, nothing stamped that I have found, any ideas on the make ??

26" wide , has the slide clips similar to a Mac.
Grabbed a quick pic in the parking lot this morning, not the best pics.

Brian

 

[Zeeman]

Thanks Red. I don't know a tenth of what some other guys on here do about different brands, so I'll defer to them on the maker. Nice mid box. It would be dreaming for me to think I'll find a mid for my Craftsman set, but I'll keep looking.

 

[Outlawmws]

Double check the back, particularly the lower right corner (seen from the back) in GOOD light. It may be faint and if repainted invisible?

 

[RedVise]

Double check the back, particularly the lower right corner (seen from the back) in GOOD light. It may be faint and if repainted invisible?

Nada, nothing, zilch... no matter, sturdy box, I will hang on to it.

thanks Brian

 

[rustyjames]

Zeeman, that's an impressive job on that box, truly well done. My big question is what do you do to the latches, replate them?

 

[Zeeman]

Thanks Rusty. The latches were hit with a fine brush on a Dremel, then the plating that came off was buffed using the Dremel to sort of blend it in with the plating that was still there. You can see what I did to the handle hardware in the thread: Saving another Craftsman Toolbox.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353861

 

[thehorse13]

This followed me home yesterday. I couldn't leave it behind for 25 bucks.

 

[twertsy]

This followed me home yesterday. I couldn't leave it behind for 25 bucks.

I wouldn't have left it either.............nice snag!

 

[Outlawmws]

Is that the 25 incher? I made one of those into my welding station/bench 1/2 steel plate on top, a folding shelf on the left with a small exposed screw, vise for holing/grounding smaller jobs, and a cabinet on the right that also has the Lincoln on top of it.

The table to and vise are grounded together so the mag ground is always on the table, and there is an extension clamp ground wire under the vise for grounding stuff too big for either.

It's been years since I had to move the welder itself...

 

[thehorse13]

I wouldn't have left it either.............nice snag!

It came with an unknown bonus too. If you look, someone bent the rails on the bottom drawer because something was stuck behind the drawer. Turns out it was a Utica (Orangeburg, SC) TCI-250 torque wrench. It looks to be from the 1960s. I'd say that little bonus more than makes up for the rail repair I have to make.

 

[Social_Joe]

Copied from my separate post trying to find more info on the Mac set.

Tool storage issues solved. Excuse my mess, we moved cross country and I'm still working on getting my shop setup again which is actually why I got more cabinets.

Yesterday I acquired 3 Craftsman and 2 Mac toolchests. I did not plan on the Macs. They were a gift. I went from 2 boxes to 7, today. I also have a smaller Waterloo top/bottom. So I guess nine.

I now have the period correct gray/red bottom cabinet I've always wanted to go with the smaller top that's been in the family since new, a big top for my newer roller cab, a BIG 10 drawer top box that came PACKED full of very good vintage American tools, and this Mac set that is OLD. The Mac set was left behind in the shop his dad purchased in '93.

I spent $140 on the big top and my friend who gave me the Mac set took $125 off of what he owes me for a car he's buying from me to buy the new big top / old (silver) bottom. So $140 out of my pocket. I think the Mac may gets restored, I've never seen one like it.

Much cleaning is needed. I love the old silver and red Craftsman boxes.
--

I'm trying to put a date on this Mac set. Best I can tell from the handles is early 50's. Does anyone have additional info on them?

And then I found two more... I may need professional help, but my inheirited top box will no longer be an orphan after I sell the top box from this set.

$140 with working locks.

Pics later

 

[Rileysan]

This followed me home yesterday. I couldn't leave it behind for 25 bucks.

Nice find! I have two different models of Heritage era 3 drawer boxes, but would fill my garage with them if I could find them for $25 each!

Brian

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

 

[Social_Joe]

This followed me home yesterday. I couldn't leave it behind for 25 bucks.

That's awesome.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

And then I found two more... I may need professional help, but my inheirited top box will no longer be an orphan after I sell the top box from this set.

$140 with working locks.

Pics later

I may be interested, pm me. Thanks

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Grandfather's Tools]

Really old Kennedy with felt lined drawers. Was my dads. Guessing he got it in the 50s as he was born in 1925

 

[Grandfather's Tools]

Looking to sell this if you know anyone shopping

 

[garthg]

It came with an unknown bonus too. If you look, someone bent the rails on the bottom drawer because something was stuck behind the drawer. Turns out it was a Utica (Orangeburg, SC) TCI-250 torque wrench. It looks to be from the 1960s. I'd say that little bonus more than makes up for the rail repair I have to make.

I've got a Utica TCI-150 I bought new back in about 1986. I think I paid over $50 for it then. Probably equivalent to $200 now.

 

[Zeeman]

Dang Horse, I would have taken that one home for 25 also. How do you find these 25 dollar jewels? I guess I don't have enough connections or something.

 

[thehorse13]

Dang Horse, I would have taken that one home for 25 also. How do you find these 25 dollar jewels? I guess I don't have enough connections or something.

Luck, word of mouth and fertile hunting grounds. The back roads of Pennsylvania are treasure troves. That's where this jewel came from. I have a top box for it too.

 

[RagTopTA]

Found this bottom box for $20. Anyone know what it is? It is on wheels. One dive
Idershelf across the middle and left side top to bottom storage.

 

[oldmantaylor]

Really old Kennedy with felt lined drawers. Was my dads. Guessing he got it in the 50s as he was born in 1925

I have that same box, with the leather handle. It was my Dad's, purchased in about 1940.

 

[twertsy]

Found this bottom box for $20. Anyone know what it is? It is on wheels. One dive
Idershelf across the middle and left side top to bottom storage.

No clue but I'd have snagged that too...........Love the older rounded styles.

 

[RagTopTA]

No clue but I'd have snagged that too...........Love the older rounded styles.

I may go back and get it later... i didnt see any markings on it,, but only got a min or two to look at it.

 

[Zeeman]

Luck, word of mouth and fertile hunting grounds. The back roads of Pennsylvania are treasure troves. That's where this jewel came from. I have a top box for it too.

I think my hunting grounds got a giant vasectomy! Ouch.

 

[rrich1]

Picked this one up today for $12

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Steel A Rod]

Here's one of my Snap-On boxes.

 

[twertsy]

Here's one of my Snap-On boxes.

Nice old Snappy box!

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[Steel A Rod]

Thank you!

 

[drivesitfar]

STEEL: nice looking Snappy. also i couldn't help seeing the cast iron grinder stand that looks like it has a BLOCK GRINDER sitting on top of it with a sanding attachment like McBrownie's BLOCKMEISTER. yes?

nice looking shop.

 

[Steel A Rod]

Yeah, Block grinder. It has a Multi-tool on it.
Use it often

 

[Smk01]

Just picked up this Craftsman pair from 1958. I've started cleaning them up thought about restoring but think I'll just keep patina and clear coat it when finished. Not sure if paint is original but can't find any overspray inside is grey. Did they come red outside and grey inside? Best deal I've ever gotten ?

1st pic when I got it home
2nd removing contents and wipe down
3rd steel wool and WD-40 bringing color back
4th inside paint color

 

[Outlawmws]

smk, did you find dates on the boxes to establish '58? I know by 60 they went with that crown logo, but '58 seems early.

For power tools for instance, '59 had mostly the oval logo or transitional labels that were simply block letters, only some of the DP's and the big metal lathes had the crown.

 

[Smk01]

Yes I found the date stamp. When I first started researching I looked online saw that crown logo was 1960-73. Then tried looking in catalogs 1960-73 but couldn't find it until I went back to 1957 that confused me until I found the stamp.

Photo of date stamps and the 1957 catalog

 

[Smk01]

I know the 57 catalog says it came with machinery grey paint. Mine is red paint really looks original of course it could have been stripped and painted if so they did a great job with no overspray inside drawers, handles, ect. I can't find catalog for 1958 assume they were still using old one any thoughts on the paint?

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

smk, did you find dates on the boxes to establish '58? I know by 60 they went with that crown logo, but '58 seems early.

For power tools for instance, '59 had mostly the oval logo or transitional labels that were simply block letters, only some of the DP's and the big metal lathes had the crown.

I used to believe that too, but one or two of my power tools with crown logo's are dated as early as 12/57

 

[egnorant]

Bought a top and bottom from a guy dated 58 and 59. He got one for Christmas 1958 and bought the other in July 1959. Both Crown logo.

Bruce

 

[Smk01]

Egnorant is yours red with grey inside?

 

[egnorant]

Egnorant is yours red with grey inside?

I will check!

It has been repainted at some point in its life, but I believe it was gray.
Looking at the picture I wonder.

Bruce