Metal Cabinets vintage or homemade and no name toolboxes. got any to show please do

[senlow]

Oh ... I think I need these to replace my old saggy shelves with oil and grease.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1261599340

$125 (Canadian) 15 minutes from the cottage.

I have a 3M cabinet like that in my shop. I got mine when I was managing a body shop. Years ago, they were freebies in a promo. You had to buy a certain amount of 3M products and they would throw in the cabinet. Be warned, it is a light duty cabinet. I keep sandpaper, respirators, dust masks and paint guns in mine.

 

[drivesitfar]

PC06 & ALL: i have to agree medical cabinets are maybe my favorite cabinets. they were built with excellent quality in mind and if you can find any in your budget that has a good design to hold your stuff all the better.

ALL: anybody have a or a few metal cabinets to post a few pictures of? also if you wouldn't mind showing us how you store and organize your tools and STUFF in them even better.

thanks in advance

 

[bubinga]

Got this out of a dumpster, years ago.
Don't know if it was in an office or shop.
Have the CM 150 on it, Drill bits on the shelf, mostly pulley's in the bottom.


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[bubinga]

Got this out of a dumpster, years ago.
Don't know if it was in an office or shop.
Have the CM 150 on it, Drill bits on the shelf, mostly pulley's in the bottom.


Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[rmalkow2]

Here's a pretty cool vintage cabinet I picked up last summer actually but just recently pulled from storage. It will eventually get cleaned up and restored.
It's an Autolite shock absorber cabinet for storage of shocks and all the necessary hardware you would need for installation. On casters so it rolls around. I'm sure this was sold to repair shops as an easy way to service vehicles and have all the parts on hand. Anyway I love it for the utility and advertising still in good shape. It fits my Ford theme and will get used probably not for shocks but other useful shop tools and parts.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's an interesting military electronics cabinet turned into a tool cabinet. It's a "Decoder, Video KY-118/GPX", part of a "GPX-7A Long Range IFF/SIF Radar Recognition Set".

The description is "Radar Identification Set GPX-7A operates with an airborne transponder identification set. Any of 32 security identity (SI) codes, 400 personnel identity (PI) codes, or 6,1 traffic identity (TI) modes, provide identification friend or foe (IFF) and selective identification feature (SIF) for Radar Sets FPS-3 or FPS-3A. Two interrogators of the GPX-7A alternately transmit coded rf pulses to trigger the airborne transponder identification set and convert the received transponder reply to video pulses. The equipment permits the video pulses to be displayed on the plan position indicators of the associated radar set or supplies the video pulses a the SIF Coder-Decoder. The GPX-7A supplies coded pulses for security identity, personnel identity, and traffic identity. The set decodes multiple-pulse response codes transmitted by airborne equipment in reply to interrogations or challenges and supplies the video reply signals to the indicators of the associated radar. The interrogator output level and receiver sensitivity are adequate for interrogating and receiving replies from transponders operating within the detection range of the associated radar. The AN/GPX-7A may be independently operated to track targets equipped with a radar identification set"

This is old technology from the 1950's and 1960's I believe .

Anyways the front panel opens and then the front half hinges open too. I haven't quite decided what to do with this yet, continue using it as a tool cabinet or repurpose for something else or sell it.

 

[ducksface]

I'm thinking of painting this and adding a wwIl German propaganda type emblem. Someone here has one similar as an Avatar... Destructo or something.
The roaster will become a parts washer.

It's haunted me for two years at a junk store.
They dropped the price to 30 bucks so I brought it home.

 

[rmalkow2]

I'm thinking of painting this and adding a wwIl German propaganda type emblem. Someone here has one similar as an Avatar... Destructo or something.
The roaster will become a parts washer.

It's haunted me for two years at a junk store.
They dropped the price to 30 bucks so I brought it home.

I have that exact same bottom cabinet and later learned it was part of a set to hold that roaster. Nice to see and example of the two together as they were intended.

 

[thehorse13]

I found this old metal Durham (made in Durham, CT) box at the flea market for 10 bucks. It was in very sad shape but it is very well made and in need of a new home.

When I got it back to the shop, I found markings on it and on the keyring that told the story of its previous life. It was hung somewhere on an army base. Infantry markings were hiding under the terrible paint job.

I had a few cans of Chevrolet rally wheel paint just sitting around so I decided to blast it with what I had on hand. A Craftsman sticker later and it looks great hanging on the wall. It also has a super cool pull out metal shelf.

I'm still looking for a vintage 2 3/4" handle at the flea market so that I can finish this up but for a 10 dollar "no name" metal box, it sure looks cool.

 

[smokeyburb]

Nice refurb.

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[bubinga]

I found this old metal Durham (made in Durham, CT) box at the flea market for 10 bucks. It was in very sad shape but it is very well made and in need of a new home.

When I got it back to the shop, I found markings on it and on the keyring that told the story of its previous life. It was hung somewhere on an army base. Infantry markings were hiding under the terrible paint job.

I had a few cans of Chevrolet rally wheel paint just sitting around so I decided to blast it with what I had on hand. A Craftsman sticker later and it looks great hanging on the wall. It also has a super cool pull out metal shelf.

I'm still looking for a vintage 2 3/4" handle at the flea market so that I can finish this up but for a 10 dollar "no name" metal box, it sure looks cool.

Nice refurb.

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Yeah, I thought it was a real craftsman box.

 

[drivesitfar]

HORSE: you gave me a grand idea. i have a no name hanging cabinet like yours and the one Riley just picked up and i think i'll find a spare Heritage badge to put on it after i spiff it up. thanks and nice job on yours

ALL: anybody else want to post pictures of your metal cabinets? i have to brag a little cause not sure how long this will last cause i have one of my many many benches actually clean today and i moved it in my garage a couple weeks ago. i'm still deciding how and what i'm going to use it for, but i did find a spot for some smaller ADDRESSOGRAPH cabinets in the hole under it and i'll add a 18 drawer Lyon bin on top of them.

anybody else have these old government or huge factory steel benches in their shop or garage? the huge rotobin i managed to find and fit in my garage seems to catch the stuff that i used to leave on my bench so we'll see how long this lasts cause i hear FSD (flat surface disease) is curable.

cheers

 

[Username already in use]

Finally found something worth posting in this thread. At the flea on Sunday and I picked up this hanging Bosch parts cabinet for $20. Pretty decent size at about 3 foot across.

 

[bubinga]

Bosch Cabinet is VERY NICE!!!

 

[drivesitfar]

USER: yep i'd have bought that cabinet too and tried to find a spot for it on a wall.

 

[jim]

Look up the thread that I started a few weeks ago called "vintage tune-up cabinets" down the list a little here. Let me know what ya think. Jim

 

[macgee]

How did I miss this thread??
So many great old re-purposed cabinets.

My other wall is filled with many of the same cabinets that others have found so useful. Love the roller cabinets for hand tool storage.
Have been wanting to get them all painted the same, but paint wouldn't improve there use, so it has a low priority.

Hey Tarnished,

Amazingly I just came across your post and saw in the back corner of your photo the same cabinet I acquired just yesterday.

If you didn't already know, it's made by General Fireproofing and the model number for it is #3588X. I've included some General Fireproofing ad's showing the cabinet. This info might be useful to others as well, any info about these seems to be very rare.

It had been sitting in a chicken coop for 25 years but the inside was still in great condition. It originally came out the Union Oil HQ (UnoCal).

Question: Have you ever tried servicing the slides? The drawers themselves separate easily from the slides but the slides don't come apart like a Lista or Vidmar, can't figure out how to replace the ball bearings, I have two bearings with flat spots. The GF slides are pretty unique.

If you have any ideas to replace, please shoot me a PM.

The hinged mechanized aluminum drawer handles that unlock the drawers by lifting up or down to open drawer are really cool. The drawers are now fully loaded with hardware and close a fully extended drawer with a push of a pinky. You can't beat it.

Thanks

Here's yours:

This is how I found mine before it was cleaned up.

 

[drivesitfar]

MAC: in my opinion General Fireproofing made some very solid and stout cabinets. not sure how to take the slides apart so if you find out please post how you did and maybe a short instruction post or two about them.

funny where these old cabinets can be found isn't it?

Jim: i did see your tune up cabinet thread and you can post them here too if you have time and want to. i'm not saying your thread won't have a life of it's own, but this thread with ALL METAL CABINETS get's buried or almost lost.

since i'm in a small space i like to maximize my storage so i don't have a lot of or any wall space for signs or small cabinets that don't hold much. maybe some day that will change.

ALL: post up any and all your metal cabinets and we'd all like to see how you store stuff in them and maybe what material you line them with (cork, rubber, yoga mats, HF drawer material or ???).

cheers

 

[rmalkow2]

Very glad to see all the info about General Fireproofing cabinets. I have one of those same type cabinets but did not have any info on it. It's built like a tank! Mine was bought at auction and had been used hard over its life but still has smooth working drawers. Very heavy and came with some of those original card trays.
Thanks for the education.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those semi flat files from Gen /fire must be nice! Up to about a week ago I had a three drawer legal file cabinet my son had been using. AS said built like a tank. the case in particular is very heavy, and the drawers are easily taken in and out... I let it go as no room.

 

[macgee]

Very glad to see all the info about General Fireproofing cabinets. I have one of those same type cabinets but did not have any info on it. It's built like a tank! Mine was bought at auction and had been used hard over its life but still has smooth working drawers. Very heavy and came with some of those original card trays.
Thanks for the education.

rmalkow2,

This is what makes GJ so great. I dug really deep into google looking for info and pics for this cabinet and pretty much found nothing. I post a pic here on GJ and right away I find out other members have them as well. I see yours has a deeper double depth bottom drawer.

I own various metal cabinets from Nu-Era, Lista, Vidmar and Lyon (messy pic below); all of them have very similar ball bearing slider design and all needed rehab after acquiring. The General Fireproofing was no different, while slides fully extended out without drawer cleaning the slides by brushing and removing the buildup of grime on bearing runners and then finishing off the slides and bearings with large amounts of Teflon lubricant. I was very pleased with results and the slides easily rival my other cabinets if not better than most of them. Just wished I was able to access the large 3/8" bearings.

Like I said earlier the GF slides are very different and a bit more complicated. I would love to find out more info about them and hoping someone has taken one apart. I think the GF slides have a pinion gear in them. With the drawer tub removed using my hand to move the slide I see that the two part slide move at different speeds?

I did find out that ours are called "Super-Filer" cabinets, here is another version with same slides but different model with different dimensions and without the locking handle mechanism, a bit less functional for us with the center divider. Perhaps it's also an older model.

MAC: in my opinion General Fireproofing made some very solid and stout cabinets. not sure how to take the slides apart so if you find out please post how you did and maybe a short instruction post or two about them.

funny where these old cabinets can be found isn't it? Cheers

Drives,

You have been collecting copious amounts of nice shop gear, I'm always in awe over the years of your collection of vises. I love your army green cabinets. It's not always possible to hang on to everything. We always have to purge the occasional items, even nice ones.

Thanks for keeping this thread alive.



All:
I strongly recommend acquiring one of these if you can. This cabinet has really nice drawer dimensions for tools (4" deep), very cool & unique drawer locking handles and easily rivals a Vidmar/Lista cabinet.



`

 

[00fxd]

Look up the thread that I started a few weeks ago called "vintage tune-up cabinets" down the list a little here. Let me know what ya think. Jim

Jim, I like the idea of thread purely for "tune-up" [we called them "ignition"] metal cabinets. Hope it catches on I have a few

 

[pcmeiners]

Wow, those GF slides are super-duty, all cabinets slides should be so robust.

 

[Outlawmws]

You have no idea! what is even better is the slides are entirely box mounted. The drawer is a tray that drops into the sides with NO fuss, and thus makes the drawers "portable" and the slide weight is left behind...

If the one I gave away had been the card drawers, I would have MADE room for it!

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: i still regret selling my 11 drawer 22 bin General Fireproofing cabinet. as you say the bins came out without the drawer slides on mine too and it maybe weighed close to 250 pounds. the paint job was spray bombed, but the real issue why i sold it was the bottom needed some welding and i haven't got that skill or all the tools to do that work yet. i'll find another one (I HOPE).

the other thing i liked about it over other 11 drawer file cabinets i own is that the bins were made out of very heavy gauge metal and they didn't have a hole in the bottom of them like some do that were used for file cards.

ALL: anybody have some other cool metal cabinets to show even if some similar ones like yours have already been posted please do? also if you can show us how you organize the drawers even better cause a lot of us need ideas.

 

[FadedGray]

This one is for sale locally for 50. Thinking about grabbing it. Needs a cleaning but has pull out shelves on it.

 

[00fxd]

You need to grab that for $50. I'd say. The pull out drawers are unusual .... makes it maybe older than it appears.

 

[jim]

look for a post here under tune up cabinets. Good info. Jim

 

[FadedGray]

You need to grab that for $50. I'd say. The pull out drawers are unusual .... makes it maybe older than it appears.

Too late. Just sold. Oh well.

 

[6pony6]

I posted this in another thread, but thought it may be of interest in this one. I got this metal cabinet last week with an old MBC toolbox. I haven't been able to find out much info on it. I'm guessing 70's?


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[Oregon rock crusher]

This Lyon three drawer workbench is pulling pretty hard on me right now. It is in a local antique shop so not much of a bargain at nearly $485 list but pretty darn cool. Not quite like any I've seen. All three drawers roll out nice and smooth and have small parts trays in them. It has definitely has a few battle scars. It's been there a while now but I'll probably throw out an offer and see what happens. Not the best pics but here are a couple. Any opinions on value? Ed.

 

[macgee]

While scouring my local listings, I noticed this one for $49. It's not something I'm looking for but thought I would post it here as it being a bit interesting. I actually like the patina on it but strange they would have the outside look like a tall cabinet with drawers but it's just one door with lots of shelves. 15" wide, 6'-6" tall

 

[Outlawmws]

Mac, those almost looks like multi doors in the larger doors? so you could "stock" the thing opening the big doors; and access things individually as needed or if you had the right key? Maybe the small doors slide?

Definitely different...

It almost looks like it went though a fire...

 

[Gittgo]

A guitar safe I did for a chap. Just under 10 feet tall x 5 wide and 2 deep. 1/8 x 1 1/2 tube covered with 14ga. Chassis paint in and out. You open the top doors and 2 pins lock the bottom.Dehumidifier inside.
Externally hosted photos only ? A bit pathetic in 2017 doncha think ?

 

[macgee]

Mac, those almost looks like multi doors in the larger doors? so you could "stock" the thing opening the big doors; and access things individually as needed or if you had the right key? Maybe the small doors slide?

Definitely different...

It almost looks like it went though a fire...

I have no idea whats going on there. Each drawer front may have opened like a safety deposit cabinets (left to right) but now looks bolted all together. Not sure if the shelves slide out but maybe.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/fuo/6213491917.html

 

[Outlawmws]

A guitar safe I did for a chap. Just under 10 feet tall x 5 wide and 2 deep. 1/8 x 1 1/2 tube covered with 14ga. Chassis paint in and out. You open the top doors and 2 pins lock the bottom.Dehumidifier inside.
Externally hosted photos only ? A bit pathetic in 2017 doncha think ?

Not quite...

 

[Outlawmws]

Mac I'l bet those bars on the left were added and there are keyholes for the individual doors. I think I see the edge of one... Looks like piano hinge on the right.

Mini lockers? Personal belongings for people not allowed wallets and such inside a secure building/facility?

 

[macgee]

Externally hosted photos only ? A bit pathetic in 2017 doncha think ?

Actually you've always been able to attached photo's to a post. Scroll down below to additional options and select "attach files".

There's a help section in the forum to help new members to learn how to post.

 

[macgee]

Mac I'l bet those bars on the left were added and there are keyholes for the individual doors. I think I see the edge of one... Looks like piano hinge on the right.

Mini lockers? Personal belongings for people not allowed wallets and such inside a secure building/facility?

I think your right.

 

[MercLSU]

Picked up two Microfiche cabinets at the state auction. Unfortunately these may be catch and release for me...don't think I can fit them, currently. We'll see if I can finagle something.