The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[bmwrd0]

Another box followed me home. It's a Gerstner Pattern makers box molded 44. What I like about it is its 31" wide. It was owned originally by a pattern maker and handed down to his son who is now 72 and is a retired machinist. It's a leatherette and is in good condition given its age. Came with two original keys as well. Now I have a. Is to store machinist tools.

Was that on the Eugene CL? It is a good looking box in any case!

 

[Thru-hika]

Bmwrd0, the Gerstner Patternmakers box was in a Louisville CL ad.

Jkherd, I had good luck using 0000 steel wool with dish liquid and warm water to get most of the dirt, dust and grim off and then using some rubbing compound and tonight I will use some turtle wax to protect the finish. She'll be looking good as new.

 

[niftyhalden]

Hi everyone, this will be my first post here on GJ.
I wanted to share this slick toolbox I picked up at a VW swap meet last year. I never found any brand stamped or stickered on it, but it's really solid and the drawers work beautifully. The lid could use a little tweaking, but it doesn't bother me.
I cleaned it very lightly with a rag and probably just windex when I bought it, and then hit the whole thing with my favorite clear furniture wax, and promptly put it in service.
I'm really curious if any of you might be able to help me identify it.
https://flickr.com/photos/152390283@N05/sets/72157685837365676

 

[bagged89s10]

Hi everyone, this will be my first post here on GJ.
I wanted to share this slick toolbox I picked up at a VW swap meet last year. I never found any brand stamped or stickered on it, but it's really solid and the drawers work beautifully. The lid could use a little tweaking, but it doesn't bother me.
I cleaned it very lightly with a rag and probably just windex when I bought it, and then hit the whole thing with my favorite clear furniture wax, and promptly put it in service.
I'm really curious if any of you might be able to help me identify it.
https://flickr.com/photos/152390283@N05/sets/72157685837365676

Kind of looks like an old snap on box to me

 

[Rileysan]

I posted this in the Garage sale thread because there was more to this than just the box.

I've been ignoring the online ad for the Huot top chest all week. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore so I sent the seller an offer and wouldn't you know it, she accepted. I paid $40. Damn. I don't need another tool box!

The second picture is from the online ad.

Edit: I just realized I can upload my high quality pix again so I'm adding the P&C hand carry box I bought last weekend.

Brian

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

So my neighbor has a bunch of carpenter boxes, anyone know the maker on these?
he also has some Union 'supersteel' that are similar but don't have the raised detail on the front.
they are about 36 long, and have brackets to hold 3 saws( I guess it really used to **** when you hit a nail) a level and a square.

 

[smschriefer]

Old Slewfoot, it is an old Waterloo box. https://norfolk.craigslist.org/tls/6186620796.html

 

[Rileysan]

So my neighbor has a bunch of carpenter boxes, anyone know the maker on these?
he also has some Union 'supersteel' that are similar but don't have the raised detail on the front.
they are about 36 long, and have brackets to hold 3 saws( I guess it really used to **** when you hit a nail) a level and a square.

I agree with the previous post in that they were made by Waterloo even though the logo isn't a match between the CL ad and yours. It could have been sold under the Western Auto or Wizard names as well, thus accounting for the differences in the logo.

Brian

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Happy to be able to oblige with a pic or three...my Craftsman gray & red. I picked them up three weeks ago off CL for $100. Chest and rolling toolbox were filled with tools and a few parts. Manufacture date for both pieces is 01 76.

 

[twertsy]

Newest family members. $50 for the pair.

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[Cope]

Happy to be able to oblige with a pic or three...my Craftsman gray & red. I picked them up three weeks ago off CL for $100. Chest and rolling toolbox were filled with tools and a few parts. Manufacture date for both pieces is 01 76.

Nice find. In late 1976 I ran across a man who displayed Waterloo at trade shows, etc. He got to keep the boxes and shipped them to his warehouse. I bought the Waterloo equivalent of your bottom box to go with a Dayton branded Waterloo top box like yours that I already had. I told my wife I'd never fill them up. Wrong.

 

[Rileysan]

GJ fixed the photo uploading issue, so I am uploading a couple of better pix of the Huot box I picked up along with a Craftsman red/gray 9 drawer roller I actually bought a few weeks ago from another GJ member in Washington, but finally got around to picking up.

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

Making progress on the old oak Machinist's box for cleanup after spending a week re-laminating the back panel.

Several different approaches at "cleaning" ir pretty much failed. So I've scraping it... in detail with my old timer pocket knife... (A regular scraper just skips over this crud)

The middle drawer on the right should be what it all looks like more of less once done. there will still be plenty of "patina" I don't know what the brown crud was that was painted on (right over paint splatters in some cases... Heck they painted the crud on over the brass pull straps...), but its not completely dry. Some of it is gummy after being scrapped off and that unclean gummy feel is why I decided to cut that layer of "patina" out of the picture.

Clamps are for gluing some bits that were coming loose.

Box is 30" wide 9-1/2" deep and 18 high..

 

[davethorik]

Outlaw, if that box was used in a machine shop, it could be residual cutting coolant that got into the air and would settle on everything, making it kind of oily/sticky. It's my theory why most Kennedy machinist boxes were brown, to hide all the ****.

Here is my newest old box. SK 2 drawer. Its a little rough, but I just love that hammertone green. For $20 I heard it calling my name and couldn't say no. It had some random junk inside, the only thing saveable were some random small Allen wrenches and a Blackhawk 7/8 socket.
Edit: measures 9-3/4" tall, 21-1/2" wide, 9-7/8" deep

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i haven't bought this (yet), but i can't recall seeing one on here either. common or rare and good quality or just a cheap version of my Cornwell or Plvmb boxes?

thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

Probably similar if not made by the same MFG that made SO back in the day. I would think more likely 1940's vintage, possibly earlier.

Price seems steep (to me, but I'm not a die hard Herbrand collector...)

 

[twertsy]

ALL: i haven't bought this (yet), but i can't recall seeing one on here either. common or rare and good quality or just a cheap version of my Cornwell or Plvmb boxes?

thanks

Dang I need that! Thanks to beatcad, I already have the roll cab.........

 

[d42jeep]

ALL: i haven't bought this (yet), but i can't recall seeing one on here either. common or rare and good quality or just a cheap version of my Cornwell or Plvmb boxes?

thanks

That is a nice (but pricey) Herbrand box. I wouldn't mind having it either. Here is an unmarked WW2 McAleer box that I was willing to pay quite a bit for because of the rarity of the stencils on the sides. Very few similar marked boxes have been found. If any other GJ members have one, the WW2 tool collectors would really like to see it.
-Don

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

thanks to a random CL ad, I also found the label on those Waterloo boxes i previously posted. Wards Master Quality.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/6208980875.html

 

[Rileysan]

thanks to a random CL ad, I also found the label on those Waterloo boxes i previously posted. Wards Master Quality.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/6208980875.html

Nice! I figured it was re-branded. Too bad the label isn't readable. That's part of the allure of owning the old boxes!

Brian

 

[BrettJ74]

Hey Brian do you need a Brother to the recent Huot you just purchased here is another in Beaverton.

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[Rileysan]

Hey Brian do you need a Brother to the recent Huot you just purchased here is another in Beaverton.

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That's the one I purchased

 

[Outlawmws]

So what did you do with the shoes?

 

[Rileysan]

So what did you do with the shoes?

A gentleman never tells!

Brian

 

[BrettJ74]

The ad says she sold the red box and the other is still for sale.

On a different note does anyone know a possible maker on this box. Been for sale for a while locally. I just can't figure out what it is.

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[smschriefer]

Looks like an old StackOn box to me.

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: nice work on the old wood box.

are you planning on making a couple drawers or do you have them and they were just out of the box when you took the picture?

Brett: yep those old Stack ons (I think that's what the black box is too) look a lot like a Mac or old Proto don't they?

Riley:

 

[BrettJ74]

Yea the handles had me wondering. Thanks for the input guys.

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[Outlawmws]

I have all the drawers. it's still "work in progress"

 

[FJ 432]

ALL: i haven't bought this (yet), but i can't recall seeing one on here either. common or rare and good quality or just a cheap version of my Cornwell or Plvmb boxes?

thanks

Drivesitfar,

Great heavy box that matches the Snap On K60 in weight and quality. I used to own these:

 

[drivesitfar]

FJ: thanks and one of these days i'll own it. i thought it had a top carry tray and i think I actually have one that vintage without a box to put it in. nice pictures and do you think it's as good quality as that awesome Snappy you restored?

Outlaw. i thought so and also figured if you needed to make a couple drawers and liked it enough that that skill might be in your wheelhouse too.

good luck

 

[lrhredjb]

I found this Rem Line box waiting for the trash last year. I gave it a home and a makeover.


Last Sat I found this Rem Line 10 drawer box at a garage sale for $20. I think I will put it on the roller cab since they are related. The PO painted over the Rem Line decal and I had to do some careful scraping and wiping with lacquer thinner to remove the paint.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: well guess what followed me home last night? did i NEED IT? probably not, but i can easily fill it and maybe with some HERBRAND TOOLS TOO.

i'll get better pictures if anybody asks or if it ever rains again, but it's headed for a shelf and back to working on my house for now.

cheers

 

[Thru-hika]

Cool box Drives, like the color and the two narrow drawers in the top center of the box. Nice find.

 

[thehorse13]

ALL: well guess what followed me home last night? did i NEED IT? probably not, but i can easily fill it and maybe with some HERBRAND TOOLS TOO.

i'll get better pictures if anybody asks or if it ever rains again, but it's headed for a shelf and back to working on my house for now.

cheers

That would have followed me home too. I love the look which automatically means that it's needed. lol

 

[mcmlvif100]

https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/tls/6208361788.html

Let me help you with that:

"Original SNAP-ON TOOLS K70 roller kart 1932 - $230 (winston salem) "

"1932 Snap-On Tools work cart. All parts and pieces appear present, including an attachment for side of kart (not shown in phot. Condition is solid, surface could use some cleaning, and there is some minor rusting present but this could easily be addressed. Ready to use, or restore, or whatever. I have only washed it down (shown wet in photo) and wiped it dry and greased the drawer slides a bit. Otherwise, nothing has been done to the surface. "

Quoted from the "Found a deal on craigslist? - List Here!" thread. Pretty pricey but cool.

 

[Provincial]

ALL: well guess what followed me home last night? did i NEED IT? probably not, but i can easily fill it and maybe with some HERBRAND TOOLS TOO.

i'll get better pictures if anybody asks or if it ever rains again, but it's headed for a shelf and back to working on my house for now.

cheers

Drives, I have an extra Herbrand DOE 13/16 x 45/64 that would make a great conversaton piece for your box.

 

[00fxd]

Quoted from the "Found a deal on craigslist? - List Here!" thread. Pretty pricey but cool.

Very...

 

[twertsy]

Quoted from the "Found a deal on craigslist? - List Here!" thread. Pretty pricey but cool.

Personally, I'd pay that.............

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Personally, I'd pay that.............

+ 1 in a freakin' hurry and Amen, brother!