The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[twertsy]

Thanks Twertsy! I'll watch for any labeling! - Getting ready for the Sat AM run...

Mine appears to have been painted on in a reddish color with a stencil. I believe it to be original.

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[pooterguy]

Garage sale find

Was $125 too much?

 

[twertsy]

Re: Garage sale find

Was $125 too much?

I'd buy it for that.

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[Sam'sAutoParts]

Re: Garage sale find

Was $125 too much?

I would be happy with that price, I have almost that into a Cornwell mid and Mac top box, and I still need the roller.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wound up passing on that box. No ID, but it had a side door as well for some reason. the drawers simply slid on angles, and were full of welded in dividers. I suspect it was shop made...

Probably for the best: the guy was delusional about what things were worth. I found a small (narrow) Kennedy machinist box, a hand drill and a few wrenches and he asked $90! I felt like telling him that this isn't Eprey and its not a boutique antique shop... I did say we aren't in the same realm...

Only 4 planned stops and one TOO, and the TOO was the saving grace. first stop wasn't and even coming back later when they were open, it was nothing... All in all a VERY slow day...

For $2 at the TOO got A P&C combo, a wood handled stubby, an a 4 in 1 driver, less one of the 4.

 

[Mooreag47]

Found this today the owner wasn't there so I'm waiting for a buddy to talk to him

 

[Smokeshow69]

Found this today the owner wasn't there so I'm waiting for a buddy to talk to him

If you look at the press weld sticker you can see it is made by pressteel ! Box looks like my roller pressteel boxes! How much is the box?


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[Mooreag47]

Don't know the lot is full (1 acre of ****) every where of government surpluss and the owner has to get it moved within 2weeks so I'm thinking cheap I'm also eyeballing a table with a 3 inch thick steel top ,shelving units,other steel cabinets. I'll prob know in a day or two

 

[mike_paxton]

Went on Saturday morning to a yard sale and saw this multi colored tool chest sitting on the ground. (pic 1)

Was looking it over and saw Snap On under the black spray painted area. (pic 2).

6 pull out drawers, 1 fixed upper drawer.

Dimensions are 26" W by 12" D by 14-1/2" H. (pic 3-7)

Plan to keep, but wondered about a model number and approximate year of mfg.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

 

[thehorse13]

Went on Saturday morning to a yard sale and saw this multi colored tool chest sitting on the ground. (pic 1)

Was looking it over and saw Snap On under the black spray painted area. (pic 2).

6 pull out drawers, 1 fixed upper drawer.

Dimensions are 26" W by 12" D by 14-1/2" H. (pic 3-7)

Plan to keep, but wondered about a model number and approximate year of mfg.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

KR-56. It was produced in the mid 1950s.

 

[mike_paxton]

KR-56. It was produced in the mid 1950s.

thehorse13:

Thanks for info on the Snap On box.

Know it isn't very presentable, but I still like it!!!


Mike

 

[Rileysan]

Went on Saturday morning to a yard sale and saw this multi colored tool chest sitting on the ground. (pic 1)

Was looking it over and saw Snap On under the black spray painted area. (pic 2).

6 pull out drawers, 1 fixed upper drawer.

Dimensions are 26" W by 12" D by 14-1/2" H. (pic 3-7)

Plan to keep, but wondered about a model number and approximate year of mfg.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

Nice! What'd you give for it?

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[Ole Slewfoot]

I was having trouble with all my stuff at the flea market, so I bought this cute little Kennedy to carry it in. L-16 637503 on the tag. about 4" deep. Doesn't seem there are too many little guys like this out there, anyone know what era it would be from?

 

[Rileysan]

Someone in my area needs to pick this up. I'm trying to show a little restraint here but this is testing my limits! If it's still listed next weekend, I'm gunna have to rescue it ...

Matco 33" box on CL for $125

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/tls/6172244963.html

 

[TruckJunkie]

This may not look like much, and most people would probably pass it by, but it was just given to me. I plan to remove the loose paint and preserve as much of the original finish as possible. It belonged to my parent's neighbor's mother, from when she worked in a war production plant during WWII. It looks like it is probably a shop made box, but is well made, quite heavy, and other than the finish, in really good shape.

 

[smokeyburb]

This may not look like much, and most people would probably pass it by, but... It belonged to my parent's neighbor's mother, from when she worked in a war production plant during WWII.

IMHO old stuff with a pedigry makes for great human interest stories, which is probably one huge reason why we love and seek to preserve it for those that follow behind us.

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[Provincial]

Great story! You should put her name and something about the WWII plant were she worked somewhere on the inside.

 

[TruckJunkie]

I wish we knew more about where she worked, but other than her first name and her married name, we know very little. Her and her son are both long gone and her son's widow does not know where she worked exactly. She believes she worked in a small job shop making parts that were eventually used in aircraft at Willow Run. So, in effect, she was probably nearly a true 'Rosie-the-Riveter'.

It does not lessen the value of the box to me, I met her a couple times and used to baby-sit for her grandkids when I was a teenager. I also was given some of her son's tools by his widow, mostly body tools, so they will reside in this box, along with some other body tools from my grandfather.

Great story! You should put her name and something about the WWII plant were she worked somewhere on the inside.

 

[Rick B.]

My late '70's Craftsman stack. I bought all three pieces separately for a total of about $50.oo. Yeah they've been repainted along the way.

 

[Rileysan]

My late '70's Craftsman stack. I bought all three pieces separately for a total of about $50.oo. Yeah they've been repainted along the way.

That middle "ball bearing" chest is late 80s or 90s, but that doesn't make it the lesser box! Those have almost full depth drawers like the rollers and are very hard to find. Nice setup!

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[Farmer J.]

I wish we knew more about where she worked, but other than her first name and her married name, we know very little. Her and her son are both long gone and her son's widow does not know where she worked exactly. She believes she worked in a small job shop making parts that were eventually used in aircraft at Willow Run. So, in effect, she was probably nearly a true 'Rosie-the-Riveter'.


The inside looks like it's painted in the light green used inside aircraft, 'cockpit green'.

 

[mike_paxton]

I picked up a Snap-On Chest Model # KR-56 and produced in mid 1950's (info thanks to thehorse13) on Saturday at a yard sale.

Plenty of "non-original paint".

Decided to hand sand just enough to clean-up and show off the colors, rather than full restore. Pics 1 & 2.

At same sale as the Snap-On, was a 24 drawer pull out metal cabinet, so hand sanded it enough to blend with Snap-On. Pics 3 & 4.

Now, the reason for above, is that I want to see these two pieces together as seen in Pics 5 & 6.

Plan to keep.

Mike

 

[TruckJunkie]

Farmer, we were thinking the same thing, will have to check paint numbers to see if it matches. That would be really cool if it does.

The inside looks like it's painted in the light green used inside aircraft, 'cockpit green'.[/QUOTE]

 

[Zeeman]

Very nice finds Mike. I really like the one with all the drawers.

 

[mike_paxton]

Very nice finds Mike. I really like the one with all the drawers.

Zeeman:

That one with the 24 pull out drawers caught my eye first, but when I saw the Snap ON logo on the tool chest next to it, thought they both should come home with me.

Mike

 

[00fxd]

my electrical tote-

Big Bore Really nice piece!

 

[Zeeman]

Zeeman:

That one with the 24 pull out drawers caught my eye first, but when I saw the Snap ON logo on the tool chest next to it, thought they both should come home with me.

Mike

I agree, I would have tried to get both of them too.

 

[Zeeman]

Bigbore: How's the wiring business in Hell? Cool tote!

 

[YoungVolks]

Got me a '67 9 drawer roller bearing cabinet, topped by a '72 6 drawer, and a year unknown 10 drawer:





Currently thinking about getting this Snap-On chest if it goes down in price, to hold my 10 drawer. They're asking $200. I checked it out, looks good, slides are all smooth and some even are ball bearing. Hasn't been painted or molested (other than the lock bar the guy added). Not sure of the vintage at all, would appreciate some advice!

 

[hippobeast]

Got me a '67 9 drawer roller bearing cabinet, topped by a '72 6 drawer, and a year unknown 10 drawer:





Currently thinking about getting this Snap-On chest if it goes down in price, to hold my 10 drawer. They're asking $200. I checked it out, looks good, slides are all smooth and some even are ball bearing. Hasn't been painted or molested (other than the lock bar the guy added). Not sure of the vintage at all, would appreciate some advice!

You can return those Ale 8 one bottles in the pic for 60 cents or so. Its been along time since I returned any.

 

[Jeff May]

Two of my wooden chests.
The darker unit is a Gerstner.
The other is a Union.
The Union I refinished a few years back.
The Gerstner I am currently in the process of refinishing. It won't be a full restoration as I will be using it in my small shop. Just repairing some small damage here and there, possibly re-felt the drawers and top part and a coat of poly.

 

[beatcad]

nice chests jeff.
is the gerstsner missing the bottom drawer or just out in the pix?

 

[Jeff May]

Yes, it is missing. Actually I have half of it. The front and one side is missing.
I had a gentleman on the Gertsner forum send me a piece of oak to make a new front.
The sides appear to be poplar.
While cleaning it today I noticed the front cover panel was broken where it sits in the top piece of the front cover.
I managed to get it apart, I think I have some wider oak in my shop. I'll just make up a new panel and put it all back together.
I'll have to play around with stains to try and get everything one shade and give it several coats of poly.
I'm going to stop in at a local pool table supply store next week.
I was thinking maybe they save the old felt when they re-felt a table.
I think Gerstner wants about $50 for the felt kits.
Since I'm going to use this chest, I think used felt should be ok....
Just need to find water based glue to attach it inside the box and drawers.

 

[compunaut]

Saw that this machinists toolbox is part of an online-only auction in Watertown, WI; 5 days to go.
Even though it's CHEAP, there's no way for me to arrange pick-up or shipping.

 

[BrettJ74]

Managed to pick up a couple of boxes this weekend..
First is a Plomb 9990 Mechanics Chest that my father gave me, it was originally purchased in Chicago by my grandpa in the 1940's.

I plan on fully restoring that one as a tribute to Grandpa.

The next is a cool small machinist chest with no makers marks. I also scored a ton of tools with this one which I go more in depth here, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363641.


Anybody have any ideas on who made that little grey machinist box?
Anyway I hope everybody had a great Father's Day weekend enjoy your week[emoji482]

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[Chris_the_wrench]

Managed to pick up a couple of boxes this weekend..
First is a Plomb 9990 Mechanics Chest that my father gave me, it was originally purchased in Chicago by my grandpa in the 1940's.

I plan on fully restoring that one as a tribute to Grandpa.

The next is a cool small machinist chest with no makers marks. I also scored a ton of tools with this one which I go more in depth here, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363641.


Anybody have any ideas on who made that little grey machinist box?
Anyway I hope everybody had a great Father's Day weekend enjoy your week[emoji482]

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So cool to have something like that Plomb box that's been in your family for so long.

-Chris

 

[Al Borland]

The grey/yellow box looks like a Kennedy box.

 

[Provincial]

The grey/yellow box looks like a Kennedy box.

If it is a Kennedy, the drawer pulls indicate that it is pretty old. Kennedy went to plastic pulls a long time ago.

I have a General machinist box that is very similar, and is also WWII or older.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lots of companies made boxes in the general Kennedy style. I don't think that is one of them.

 

[Al Borland]

Pulls on mine are aluminum, but I've seen a few "Creative" replacements and the ones in that pic kinda look like chrome acorn nuts or screws....
also looking at the rib inside the lid and the drawer cover with the holes for lock pins.