The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Username already in use]

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.

Nice little box you've got there. The military used this style box for all manner of tool sets. Most commonly, the general mechanics tool kit. Private Lugnutz might be able to give you more specifics on the contract quantities and dates, but Union was a verified wartime supplier for toolboxes.

I've got a few of those boxes from various manufacturers.

 

[Username already in use]

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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That RemLine box is nice!
Is there a date inside the drawer and behind the badge?

 

[ryan20021982]

That RemLine box is nice!
Is there a date inside the drawer and behind the badge?

No not on top or bottom, where else would it be?

I plan on stripping it and spraying it with this

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Here is a sample of what that paint looks like from when I tested it on another Remline box I got

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[twertsy]

Nice little box you've got there. The military used this style box for all manner of tool sets. Most commonly, the general mechanics tool kit. Private Lugnutz might be able to give you more specifics on the contract quantities and dates, but Union was a verified wartime supplier for toolboxes.

I've got a few of those boxes from various manufacturers.

Good Lord Jason......

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[elidas]

Interesting weekend for toolboxes. Saturday I went to an estate sale listing tools and found a bunch of newer Craftsmen loaded with Harbour Freight stuff. The prices were more than reasonable but I didn't need anything. Looking further into the garage I found the OTC stuck against the wall. I bought it and a box of tools for $30. After loading I discovered that the cabinet it was sitting on was a Kennedy. I couldn't squeeze it in if I had to. Probably super cheap. AAAHH.
Sunday there was a sale in nearby Ansonia. Walking into the garage there was the Hout and the Craftsmen. We agreed to $40 for the two boxes and a vintage coffee pot. (another collection). When does too many start?

 

[Username already in use]

Good Lord Jason......

Let's not go throwing stones...

 

[Username already in use]

No not on top or bottom, where else would it be?

I think that's it. Supposedly, it should be there, but my RemLine top doesn't have a date, nor does my RemLine made PowrKraft stack.

Just thought I'd ask.

That stack should clean up nice. Looks pretty straight. Be sure to share a before/after pic when you get finished.

 

[beatcad]

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?

sorry it took so long to get back to ya.
it's not a union.
i thought i had it narrowed down to a Star or a Sipco.
i wouldve said Sipco originally because of the 2 straps at the top.
that's why i asked about the mirror. that would make the difference.
i looked again at the drawer slides and i'm gonna say it's a Star.

everything about that chest says not union.
all the hardware says star or sipco.
the slides say Star.
the metal casing says i dont have a ******* clue

as much as i want to say its a Star the double straps up top and the metal housing and lack of mirror really wants me to say its a sipco.

 

[ecotec]

That RemLine box is nice!
Is there a date inside the drawer and behind the badge?

I have the same box, and there is no date behind the logos of my box.

Did you get the original keys?

They are really wonderful boxes. I really love mine. I wish that it had drawers instead of bulk tool storage at the bottom, though.

 

[bareass172]

Hey guys! Been so busy lately I haven't had time to stop in, but I wanted to post this little find I got a couple weekends ago. 1950's era Union wooden machinist box.

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I put some pictures up in my albums so you can see more about it here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5633
I still haven't had time to really dive into it, but it is FULL of Starrett tools. I hope to have more details after I get to dig through it all, but every time I open a drawer I find more stuff hidden under things. I paid $250 for it, which is more than the box is worth, but given that it was stuffed with tools and tooling I consider it a good find.

Not to repeat myself, but this is my blurb from my album:
"Managed to snag this box, in somewhat rough condition, from an estate sale. Top box is a Union 7 drawer machinist's chest from the 50's. These were also re-badged as Craftsman in this era. The bottom box is a homemade deal, nothing too special.
As a whole this thing is a little rough, but it just oozes character. Most of the pictures are shown as I found the box with everything still in disarray. This box was complete with vintage 50's ****, top left of the cover.
Yes, the box did have a $1000 price tag on it when I found it, but I didn't pay anywhere even remotely close to that and it came complete - and I mean STUFFED with almost nothing but Starrett tools.
Box came complete with cool little details like a machinist's handbook and pocket reference both dated 1945. Real telegrams sent to the original owner discussing work, and several little notebooks where job details, hours, pricing, etc were listed and dated all through the 60's."

So yeah, lots and lots of cool details buried in it!

 

[ryan20021982]

I have the same box, and there is no date behind the logos of my box.

Did you get the original keys?

They are really wonderful boxes. I really love mine. I wish that it had drawers instead of bulk tool storage at the bottom, though.

No I didn't get the keys but should be able to get matching locks pretty easy that will work

 

[Apache3057]

Here is my latest addition. Mac tools not sure of age I have not researched it yet.

 

[BlueBomber]

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


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I completely missed this post and question! I have no clue as to the age of your dad's box, but it sure is cool! Try posting a shot on the vintage Snap-on tool thread here.

 

[Tomthumb717]

Can anyone help identify this toolbox? I am thinking about picking it up tomorrow. Seem like it is in very nice shape. He says the dimensions are 35x27x18.

 

[tombell572]

"Kennedy" logo on the top. Looks like a nice one.

Tom B.

 

[Username already in use]

Drawers all the way down are nice. The bulk storage is kinda useless. That's a nice Kennedy and appears to be in great shape. I really like the drawer configuration.

 

[Tomthumb717]

Thanks for your insight. Asking 100.00 for it seems like a fair price may be able to get him down a few.

 

[Boxerrider]

Picked up this compact Kennedy pair last weekend. 220 top and 202 bottom.
I hadn't seen the two-tone brown before. Made in the very early 1980s is my guess based on other clues - anybody else have thoughts on that? Condition is very good; light rust on the latches, some paint flaked off, some scuffs, and some drops of splattered paint, but it appears to have very light use.

Enjoy!
Jeff

 

[beatcad]

Thanks for your insight. Asking 100.00 for it seems like a fair price may be able to get him down a few.

at 100 clams id be pickled as **** to get that.
if it was me i'd offer $80 but be prepared to pay $100.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: anybody know who made this little box that came with some old wrenches and this hex socket set in it?

TT: that OLD KENNEDY might only be 1980's, but it looks like new so i'd probably buy it and i don't really need another toolbox. i don't think BEATCAD needs one either and it sounds like he'd like it too.

good luck

 

[jeeper46]

I really like that two-tone brown on that Kennedy box-never seen that before!

 

[d42jeep]

How about this D-I wartime set by Duro Chrome?
-Don

 

[drivesitfar]

D42: i think you found it.

i might even have those tools to fill it up too. unfortunately both my clasps are broken off.

ALL: anybody ever replace broken clasps on these old carry boxes and do tell how if you have a minute and pictures would be awesome.

 

[d42jeep]

I can't help you with the clasps but these sets do occasionally come up for sale on the internet. I believe that they were used at least by the Navy and possibly other branches of the military during WW2. Here is a listing that is almost an exact match from my Navy WW2 catalog that Private Lugz scanned.
-Don

 

[tombell572]

Tomthumb--grab it!!

Tom B.

 

[Smokeshow69]

How about this D-I wartime set by Duro Chrome?

-Don

Man those sets are cool!


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[Tomthumb717]

Picked up the box today the gentleman wanted 100.00 but after some lengthy discussions into a common interest (gunsmiths) he said what the hell take it for 25.00 and here is a set of T handle hex wrenches i don't need anymore. Ive looked over the entire unit and cannot find any markings as to model # or manufacturing date can anyone offer some insight?

 

[Outlawmws]

late 50's maybe 60's is my guess; style 278. I have two; one brown crinkle and one smooth read. Yours looks crinkle red?

One of mine has the tag intact on the upper right front.

ps: You stole that at $25...

 

[drivesitfar]

TT: i bought a red crinkle 2 drawer top drawer box new in the late 80's and yours looks older. i hope you said THANK YOU for the free box since the T's were worth what you paid him!!

WELL DONE and if you wanted to trade for something older or a different color and you are in my area bring your Kennedy with you.

cheers

 

[honza.vosalik]

Picked up the box today the gentleman wanted 100.00 but after some lengthy discussions into a common interest (gunsmiths) he said what the hell take it for 25.00 and here is a set of T handle hex wrenches i don't need anymore. Ive looked over the entire unit and cannot find any markings as to model # or manufacturing date can anyone offer some insight?

This one was mine. it was early 70s I believe.

 

[beatcad]

tt- yeah i was also thinking that was 80s.
and 25 bucks?!
i think you get the "you ****" deal of the week...maybe of the month..

at $25 i'd probably get whiplash from reaching for my wallet or from doing a smokey burnout driving away.

 

[Outlawmws]

Pretty sure these with the flat drawer pulls are late 50's through 60s. by AT LEAST 1972 they were using the extruded aluminum drawer pulls, and in 1956 they had a more conventional drawer pull. See post 1512 on page 76 of this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3233511&postcount=1512

1972 page scrap:

 

[ianguilly]

Here's my latest snap on buy a kr273 from 85 it's in nice condition for its age. I'll buff and clean it up and it will store my paint supplies

 

[Username already in use]

Picked up the box today the gentleman wanted 100.00 but after some lengthy discussions into a common interest (gunsmiths) he said what the hell take it for 25.00

ps: You stole that at $25...

$25... damn...

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Picked up this KRA-380 ('78) off CL today for $85. It was missing the next-to-bottom drawer, but in a strange circumstance, I had one that had come out of another KRA-380. So it was a win-win: the seller found probably the only person within 300 miles that had that drawer, and I found the box that made having that drawer worthwhile.

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This box will replace a KRA-377D ('74). That 377D has the same exterior and compartment dimensions (and the same top five drawers), but a different drawer lock design (both on the box and on the drawers). The lower compartment on that 377D is simply open storage with a detached (lockable) cover that stores in the top of the compartment when open. However, since it appears that several variations of this roller cabinet were based on the same carcass, the KRA-377D was sold with three pair of drawer slide channels already attached to the inside of the lower compartment (mine had them). This allowed Snap-on to offer two optional drawer sets to fill that lower compartment (catalog numbers KRA-432D and KRA-433D). An owner could go the open route (less expensive, different purpose) but would have the option to upgrade to drawers. But at only 17" deep, it appears those drawers were unique to the 377D - since there was no locking mechanism in the 377D for the optional drawers, they apparently needed to slide into the box far enough to be covered/locked by the cover. It appears that between '73 and '75, Snap-on addressed this cumbersome locking procedure by replacing the KRA-377D with the KRA-379. I conclude that the 379 must have a drawer-locking mechanism for the lower compartment, because with its optional drawer sets (KRA-435 and KRA-436), the "Drop in front may be removed when optional two- or three-drawer sets...are inserted into open compartment." (If anyone has a KRA-379, please comment)

At the same time Snap-on was selling the KRA-377D and KRA-379 (both sold with open compartment), they sold the same box already equipped with drawers in that lower compartment: the KRA-378C and then later the KRA-380.

Confused yet? Well, it looks to me like Snap-on was just offering different options for different price points, but improving their locking mechanisms as time went on.

It might be easier to find the Ark of the Covenant than finding one of those retrofit drawer sets for the KRA-377D, so I had found someone parting out a KRA-380 and purchased those drawers in hopes of modifying them to fit my 377D. The lowest drawer from that parted-out 380 would fit in my 377D for width and height, but I was going to have to shorten its depth if there was any hope that the 377D's cover would fit over it.

But then this KRA-380 came along and I decided to go this route and simply sell the KRA-377D. I write this just to document the differences and similarities between these boxes (as I've interpreted them from my boxes and from 1973 and 1975 Snap-on catalogs found on the excellent www.collectingsnapon.com site), in the hopes that the information might help someone else in the future.

 

[dodge610]

Not sure how vintage this box is but picked it up at a yard sale for $17.00. Just got a weakness for old boxes.


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[Sam'sAutoParts]

Nice find for $17! I want to say 60s/70s

 

[ganymede]

.
...Not sure how vintage this box is but picked it up at a yard sale for $17.00. Just got a weakness for old boxes.


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Dodge ,
There should be a date code in the top compartment, lower left corner.
Sams Auto is probably right as to time frame anyway.
Mine is a Mac branded made in 73.
They are nice heavy boxes.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Not sure how vintage this box is but picked it up at a yard sale for $17.00. Just got a weakness for old boxes.


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Nice pick up! Waterloo made these for Blackhawk , proto and Mac all at the same time. They also sold them under their own brand as well .


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[mcmlvif100]

Not mine, nor any affiliation, and too far away.

Vintage Craftsman top and bottom tool boxes with tools - $125 (Temperance)

https://toledo.craigslist.org/tls/6097504244.html

call or text: (419) 350-6859