The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[twertsy]

Here's a Wards machinist chest I picked up today. It's covered in a layer of greasy dirt, so the paint may clean up better.

Very nice. That front flap is always gone.

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[Username already in use]

Here's a Wards machinist chest I picked up today. It's covered in a layer of greasy dirt, so the paint may clean up better.

NICE! Lets see some more pics of that one when you get a chance.

Very nice. That front flap is always gone.

Somewhere they're a pile of those garage doors for these machinist's chests. Where do they all go?!?

 

[Smk01]

Very nice Wards box post some after a good cleaning.

 

[jeeper46]

NICE! Lets see some more pics of that one when you get a chance.

Somewhere they're a pile of those garage doors for these machinist's chests. Where do they all go?!?

Here's the inside. The drawers are all nice and clean inside. I've got so many projects going now that it might be a while until I get to this, but I couldn't let this one get away when I saw it.

 

[BlueBomber]

Okay, hopefully the GJ collective can help with IDing this old box.

I was given this old machinist box by a dear family friend. Dan is a retired machinist, and when he heard I had a metal lathe, he insisted I take one of his old tool boxes and a pile of tooling home with me.

The box visually is similar to a seven drawer Gerstner, but it has a sheet metal skin instead of finished wood. The drawers are not numbered on the back and the drawer bottoms appear to not be metal. The locking drawer has copper eyelets in the locking pin holes and looks like a piece of mahogany. The lock shows "Eagle Lock Co Terryville, Conn". The bottom drawer has a Sheffield badge, but I think it's a souvenir, like the many banana stickers on the front, because it is not on straight.

Any thoughts?

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[beatcad]

BB- i dont know about that one. i wish i did.
i've seen/got wood chests w/ metal drawers but not the other way 'round.
a lot of the hardware on it is very familier to me, but i wont even try to reckon a guess on it.

can you show a pic or the mirror in the top lid?
not saying i can help ya, but maybe i can narrow it down

 

[BlueBomber]

BB- i dont know about that one. i wish i did.
i've seen/got wood chests w/ metal drawers but not the other way 'round.
a lot of the hardware on it is very familier to me, but i wont even try to reckon a guess on it.

can you show a pic or the mirror in the top lid?
not saying i can help ya, but maybe i can narrow it down

Thanks, Beatcad. There's no mirror mounted on the bottom of the lid and I should clarify that the outer box is formed from wood, but has a thin sheet metal outer skin. Could it be a back-in-the-day knock off of the Gerstner design?

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[drivesitfar]

BB: you might be on to something cause Gertsner has metal bottoms on some of their machinist boxes. i think BEATCAD and a few other members also have Gertsners with leather or vinyl coverings too.

that label might not be original, but it's certainly on close enough to maybe be a real on put on when the box was made.

thanks for the close up so i can maybe eliminate a Sheffield, England connection.

you might also post it in the WOOD CABINET thread cause for one it belongs there and maybe a member or potential member might see it there and have something to add. here's the link to the wood cabinet thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305831&highlight=wood+cabinets

 

[PghJKB]

Okay, hopefully the GJ collective can help with IDing this old box.

I was given this old machinist box by a dear family friend. Dan is a retired machinist, and when he heard I had a metal lathe, he insisted I take one of his old tool boxes and a pile of tooling home with me.

The box visually is similar to a seven drawer Gerstner, but it has a sheet metal skin instead of finished wood. The drawers are not numbered on the back and the drawer bottoms appear to not be metal. The locking drawer has copper eyelets in the locking pin holes and looks like a piece of mahogany. The lock shows "Eagle Lock Co Terryville, Conn". The bottom drawer has a Sheffield badge, but I think it's a souvenir, like the many banana stickers on the front, because it is not on straight.

Any thoughts?

BlueBomber
That looks like a Union box. It has all the same hardware (door pulls, handle mounts, slides, hinges) as mine. Possible made to Sheffield's specifications.

Here is a link to an online resource:
https://sites.google.com/site/theguideforwoodmachinistchests/pg-31---union

Could not find an exact match here, but I will post some pics of mine which has an original decal on it. The only non-matching item are the drawer pulls, but if you read the posting, the author mentions that they went to standard knobs.

JKB

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: i wonder if your guy got this through DAYTON as a special order or anniversary type toolbox? here's my Union wood toolbox i had for comparison to hardware, but i'm guessing hardware might have been sourced from the same place by several wood toolbox makers.

is there a name on the lock of yours cause mine had UNION on the main lock?

i've never seen a UNION wood box encased, but not sure that Gertsner was the only one that did that.

thoughts??

maybe you can find a nice leather handle on a toolbox that doesn't have as much quality as this one to replace the missing one yours used to have. i think one of my Kennedy cantilever boxes has a leather handle and a lot of small carry boxes did too that might be a good spot to borrow one from.

 

[Benryanuk]

Got an old Snap On roll cab from eBay nice and cheap.. took a lot of effort to clean up and is a bit rusty but I'm pleased with it. I think it's late 70's. Does anyone know where you can get a replacement period badge?






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[tombell572]

Drives, I believe you are correct on hardware. Locks, latches, hinges and corner guards were generally outsourced. I have a Union box similar to yours that same the drawer pulls and also a Gerstner. The pulls on my Gerstner are similar to PghJKB's while the hinges on my Union are also the same as his. The outside of wood machinist's boxes would sometimes be covered in a leatherette material glued to a lesser specie of wood but I have not seen a metal-sheathed box before. Wonder if it was done by an earlier owner?

Tom B.

 

[dinoperson]

Dino Are those yours, or are you looking to buy one or more of those?

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[dinoperson]

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Their mine. I'm in sell mode rather than collect mode.


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[00fxd]

Their mine. I'm in sell mode rather than collect mode.

Hey dino, I'd be interested in the snap on set.
Frank

 

[Outlawmws]

Their mine. I'm in sell mode rather than collect mode.


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I wish you were closer!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The first thing I saw when I rolled up to my favorite Early Bird flea market this morning was this OD green cabinet in the back of a van.

A pair of these would be bolted on the back of a 2.5-ton Jimmie serving as an emergency repair truck or a mobile maintenance shop. The tools would go in the drawers and they’d put a vise and a manual bench grinder etc on the butcher block type worktop and work right on the back of the truck.

Here’s a wartime pic of the set-up...

And here're a few of the cabinets in action...

I wasted no time approaching the vendor.

“It’s already sold,” he said.

So I started going through the tools and stuff he had hauled out to the flea market from an estate sale he had sniped, some of which were removed from the drawers in the cabinet. He had an L-shaped space around his van with stuff laid out on 8 or 9 tables so it took me awhile and I found some nice stuff, all WWII or KW era. When I settled up for the tools, I noticed that the cabinet was still in the van, so I inquired again. This time he said, “If he’s not back in 15 minutes with cash, it’s yours.”

15 minutes later, it was mine!

Here’s the data tag.

If you're having trouble reading it, it says:

CABINET, STORAGE, VEHICLE REPAIR PARTS AND TOOLS
TYPE V
7125-330-0130
UTILITY METAL PRODUCTS CO., INC. - BEVERLY, MASS.
01S-10978-62FU.S.

The 11-digit Federal Stock Number dates it to NET 1953 (13-digit NSN’s are 1970’s and later) and the actual year of manufacture (1962) is embedded in the contract number. So this was in service between Korea and Vietnam, but the concept was the same.

Here’re some more shots of the cabinet after I got it home.

Note that the sides are just sheet steel panels riveted to the frame. I’m thinking the wheels (one missing) are not original, but it sure is easier to move it around! This thing is heavy. Note that it takes a single security bar down the middle to lock the drawers in place for safekeeping and transit.

See the bends in the frame for the last two sets of drawers? Whatever was put in there was heavy, because it bent the frame in the middle and the collapsed lip prevented the drawers from being opened at the flea market. I told the vendor that whatever I found in there I would bring back tomorrow, but he said we could split them 50/50.

A few good whaps with a hammer on a block of wood held up against each piece straightened them right out, revealing the tools.

I’m going to keep the soldering irons, the heavy duty nippers, all the NOS file handles, and the NOS OD tire spoon.

And here are the tools I bought that I mentioned earlier.

- EAGLE oiler with a Jeep-perfect spout
- Two (2) oval sash brushes, one I can’t read the brand, and a Wooster, both have an 11-digit FSN (8020-297-6657) embossed in the handle although one is barely legible.
- Nicholson file card (pick is missing)
- CAMRON “US” 6” pliers
- Mayhew, UNITED, and Marco punches
- The cherry handle screwdriver is a Bridgeport #3 Phillips with the wartime patent
- The 1/2-inch drive extension is a Duro-Chrome with the part number stamped in it
- The lady’s foot pry bar is a - C. DREW & CO. No 75
- Ignition wrenches are GMTK spec, all Cornwell except for the Herbrand

Not a toolbox, per se, and probably only exciting to those who pee OD green, but this was a banner day for me.

 

[jeeper46]

Sgt. Lugnutz: here's a photo from my Flickr page you may like-it's the interior of a 328th Ordnance truck, taken in Korea during 1952:Too bad those toolboxes aren't visible.

 

[drivesitfar]

Lug: i've had a few of those types of cabinets with the butcher block tops on them. i swear i owned one like the one in your old picture and one of my clients talked me out of it and i swear I had it loaded with close to a ton of steel parts and screws. i still wish i hadn't sold it cause it worked great. sorry i don't have a picture of my old green stout cabinet.

the other one i had was more like yours and it wasn't nearly as stout, but still a good looking cabinet. mine had a little different drawer config.

 

[jpickar]

A pair of these would be bolted on the back of a 2.5-ton Jimmie serving as an emergency repair truck or a mobile maintenance shop. The tools would go in the drawers and they’d put a vise and a manual bench grinder etc on the butcher block type worktop and work right on the back of the truck.

Here’s a wartime pic of the set-up...

I always wondered where those cabinets were from. I got one of those from my father-in-law when he died. He worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. So I figured he got it from there somehow. Now I know.
John

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sgt. Lugnutz:

Thanks for the promotion!

here's a photo from my Flickr page you may like-it's the interior of a 328th Ordnance truck, taken in Korea during 1952:Too bad those toolboxes aren't visible.

Love it! Thanks for sharing. I am going to send it to some of my Army collector friends. After drooling over the machinery, they'll spend all day trying to identify everything visible!

i've had a few of those types of cabinets with the butcher block tops on them...[ ]...the other one i had was more like yours and it wasn't nearly as stout, but still a good looking cabinet. mine had a little different drawer config.

Hi Drives. Yes, there were many types over the years with slightly different configurations. Thousands of them went into surplus in the 70s. I've been looking for references (e.g., the SNL for cabinets, bins and shelving that would have all the specs) to try to distinguish and date them. Mine is the first I have seen that had an intact data plate. Note that mine is a Type V, which means there were at least four other types.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I always wondered where those cabinets were from. I got one of those from my father-in-law when he died. He worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. So I figured he got it from there somehow. Now I know.

Glad to help, j! I'm not seeing my other photo show up for some reason - but it's a pic of the same cabinets on the back of a CCKW with mechanics at work.

 

[jpickar]

Glad to help, j! I'm not seeing my other photo show up for some reason - but it's a pic of the same cabinets on the back of a CCKW with mechanics at work.

Yea it isn't showing but I would like to see it if you think you can fix it.
John

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Scored a 10 Drawer CMan Gray + Red! But, any idea on what the bottom is?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yea it isn't showing but I would like to see it if you think you can fix it.

I can't, but I re-saved it as something else. Here ya go!

 

[jpickar]

Cool Thanks. I now have my two decade curiosity solved!
John

 

[Outlawmws]

Scored a 10 Drawer CMan Gray + Red! But, any idea on what the bottom is?

Rick, I think its Red...

 

[BlueBomber]

I picked up this Crowntop Craftsman machinist toolbox at a moving sale outside of Buffalo, NY today. $30 full of mostly USA-branded wrenches, including Williams, Indestro, Bonney, Vlchek, Barcalo. The outside is rusty, but the brown crinkle finish inside the lid and front drawers/door is perfect. Best part is that after getting it home, I found the keys in one of the drawers! Oh, and the vintage sticker on the front is cool too!



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[elidas]

I picked this up today with the tools on the side and the (mosty) **** in side for $30

 

[Garage&Beer]

Definetley a you **** Bluebomber for that one. Box looks to be in nice shape.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

$30 must be the magic number. Both of those boxes look like nice finds. I wonder who the OEM is on the OTC box?

 

[ryan20021982]

Picked up this Remline combo for $75, going to redo it in original color. This will be for my son, I have been buying good tools for him and stashing them away at the sales for about a year now.

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[dinoperson]

Picked up this Remline combo for $75, going to redo it in original color. This will be for my son, I have been buying good tools for him and stashing them away at the sales for about a year now.



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View media item 69889

Nice here are some pics of an old Snap-On box my dad has. Any idea on the year?


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[thehorse13]

I found this 1940s Union tool box at the flea market this weekend. I couldn't leave it behind for 10 bucks.

Although I can't be sure, it almost appears to be a military box. It's olive drab on the inside.

 

[BlueBomber]

BlueBomber
That looks like a Union box. It has all the same hardware (door pulls, handle mounts, slides, hinges) as mine. Possible made to Sheffield's specifications.

Here is a link to an online resource:
https://sites.google.com/site/theguideforwoodmachinistchests/pg-31---union

Could not find an exact match here, but I will post some pics of mine which has an original decal on it. The only non-matching item are the drawer pulls, but if you read the posting, the author mentions that they went to standard knobs.

JKB

BB: i wonder if your guy got this through DAYTON as a special order or anniversary type toolbox? here's my Union wood toolbox i had for comparison to hardware, but i'm guessing hardware might have been sourced from the same place by several wood toolbox makers.

is there a name on the lock of yours cause mine had UNION on the main lock?

i've never seen a UNION wood box encased, but not sure that Gertsner was the only one that did that.

thoughts??

maybe you can find a nice leather handle on a toolbox that doesn't have as much quality as this one to replace the missing one yours used to have. i think one of my Kennedy cantilever boxes has a leather handle and a lot of small carry boxes did too that might be a good spot to borrow one from.

I believe your box is a Star.

Hmm, a couple of votes for Union and one for Star. Thanks, all. I'll take a little more time researching it after I get SWMBO's car back on the road.

 

[Apache3057]

Here is my fathers Mac box. Took some talking and begging but he finally agreed to let me have. He worked in the aviation industry for over 30 years. Hopefully someday I can pass it on to my grandson.

 

[FJ 432]

Here is my fathers Mac box. Took some talking and begging but he finally agreed to let me have. He worked in the aviation industry for over 30 years. Hopefully someday I can pass it on to my grandson.

I've owned approximately 50 bottom rollers and one of them was your father's box. Still one of my favorites. Your begging really paid off. Your grandson will have a nice box one day.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That looks like a clean example. I for one really like the looks of those Mac boxes.

 

[wrenchr]

That looks like a clean example. I for one really like the looks of those Mac boxes.

X2 here!!

 

[dinoperson]

Here is my fathers Mac box. Took some talking and begging but he finally agreed to let me have. He worked in the aviation industry for over 30 years. Hopefully someday I can pass it on to my grandson.

Beautiful box!


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