The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Stuart in MN]

So, I finally landed my unicorn toolbox. I have searched for years with no success. I just wanted a simple heritage box. I have a three drawer craftsman crown, but I wasn't satisfied. I wanted a heritage box. I got one. It looks like it comes from the Clint Eastwood city that was renamed hell.

Whoever painted that thing wanted to make sure they got full coverage. Other than that it looks to be in good shape.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Whoever painted that thing wanted to make sure they got full coverage. Other than that it looks to be in good shape.

What was the original color(s)? Anyone got a color catalog pic of these? That would be pretty cool to see.

 

[Rileysan]

What was the original color(s)? Anyone got a color catalog pic of these? That would be pretty cool to see.

Not a catalog picture but a picture of my 8 drawer the day I picked it up. The paint is original.

Brian

View attachment 667443

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[Private Lugnutz]

Whoever painted that thing wanted to make sure they got full coverage.

I'm surprised they removed (or possibly taped) the decals. I've seen them with those painted over too!

 

[twertsy]

I'm picking what appears to be a honeyhole tomorrow. This gentleman's dad worked for PWA for 40 years. This gem is full of tools for $150 and I told him I'd pay his price. Can't wait to see what else he has!

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[thehorse13]

I'm picking what appears to be a honeyhole tomorrow. This gentleman's dad worked for PWA for 40 years. This gem is full of tools for $150 and I told him I'd pay his price. Can't wait to see what else he has!

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I love that MAC stack.

PS
I know a guy who really likes Plomb pebble stuff in case you run into anything like that during your pick.

 

[smschriefer]

Twertsy, those are nice boxes. By PWA are you referring to Pacific Western Airline? BTW, at that price with tools earns you a "you ****"!

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy, those are nice boxes. By PWA are you referring to Pacific Western Airline? BTW, at that price with tools earns you a "you ****"!

No sir, Pratt Whitney Aircraft.

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[txlonghorn1989]

Not a catalog picture but a picture of my 8 drawer the day I picked it up. The paint is original.

Brian

View attachment 667443

That's outstanding Brian!

 

[smschriefer]

No sir, Pratt Whitney Aircraft.

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Ahh,so he must have worked up around Baltimore.

 

[twertsy]

Ahh,so he must have worked up around Baltimore.

That would make sense I suppose. His son (where I'm headed) is down Rt. 5 on the peninsula.

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[Rileysan]

That's outstanding Brian!

Thank you, sir! It, along with half a dozen other rollers, was moved in that very Toyota Camry you see in that picture. 307K miles and counting

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[paulm12]

Steve: I love the heritage boxes. I am looking for that too. Good job.

 

[Smokeshow69]

No sir, Pratt Whitney Aircraft.

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OH man, there could be some plomb contract tools in there ! Keep us posted


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[gawald]

Help! I have a 9 level, 12 drawer Craftsman bottom box with casters made in October 1988. I need a pair of drawer slides. I contacted Waterloo customer service who tells me the slides for this box are no longer in stock and Waterloo will not be ordering any more slides for parts service. The dimensions on the friction slide are 1 1/8" high by 14 5/8" deep with U shaped channels on the top and bottom of the slides. If anyone has a Craftsman parts box with slides with these dimensions, please contact me if you are willing to sell me a set of slides. Thanks. (I tried the search function hoping to find something in classifieds but nothing.)

 

[paulm12]

picked this up recently. It has a ding in the top lid, and some surface rust. The felt it rotten, I already started scraping out. I'm trying to figure out the color in case I do want to repaint.

.

 

[Rileysan]

When you see an ad on CL that looks like this, you have to go get it!

4 boxes full of tools. Naturally, the two Craftsman boxes on the right are what caught my eye!

That makes *4* Craftsman red/gray middle chests for me. That's one for each of my rollers!

I already sorted out all the Chinese junk from the good tools and stuffed the two boxes on the left with the junk. The two boxes on the left will be quickly resold. No pictures, but rest assured, I did well.

Paid $125 for all

Brian

 

[compunaut]

Anybody interested in a set like this?
Almost full tool (display) case. Seems pretty pricey at $200

 

[Rileysan]

Anybody interested in a set like this?
Almost full tool (display) case. Seems pretty pricey at $200

Is that the "junior" Sears set? I've seen a few of them around over the past couple of years, and only one I considered buying (was only $40), but that price seems like antique store of eBay price madness. I honestly don't know how uncommon or rare it is. I suppose it's probably rare if complete. Still, I think that price is a tad high.

Edit: After looking at the CL ad, I don't think that's a Sears product. In fact, that metal box looks very familiar to a box I purchased last year at ReStore (it was completely empty and without any markings. You may very well have solved the mystery of my box!

Here are a few pictures to compare.


Brian

 

[maxcarp709]

When you see an ad on CL that looks like this, you have to go get it!

4 boxes full of tools. Naturally, the two Craftsman boxes on the right are what caught my eye!

That makes *4* Craftsman red/gray middle chests for me. That's one for each of my rollers!

I already sorted out all the Chinese junk from the good tools and stuffed the two boxes on the left with the junk. The two boxes on the left will be quickly resold. No pictures, but rest assured, I did well.

Paid $125 for all


R
Brian

Rileysan, now you REALLY ****! I was fortunate to find the 2 mid boxes I have even tho they were from different era's.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

When you see an ad on CL that looks like this, you have to go get it!

4 boxes full of tools. Naturally, the two Craftsman boxes on the right are what caught my eye!

That makes *4* Craftsman red/gray middle chests for me. That's one for each of my rollers!

I already sorted out all the Chinese junk from the good tools and stuffed the two boxes on the left with the junk. The two boxes on the left will be quickly resold. No pictures, but rest assured, I did well.

Paid $125 for all

Brian

Major you suckage there Brian! Any good finds in the keeper tools?

 

[thehorse13]

When you see an ad on CL that looks like this, you have to go get it!

4 boxes full of tools. Naturally, the two Craftsman boxes on the right are what caught my eye!

That makes *4* Craftsman red/gray middle chests for me. That's one for each of my rollers!

I already sorted out all the Chinese junk from the good tools and stuffed the two boxes on the left with the junk. The two boxes on the left will be quickly resold. No pictures, but rest assured, I did well.

Paid $125 for all

Brian

Urgh. You ****. The only way you could **** worse is if the good stuff is Plomb.

 

[Rileysan]

Major you suckage there Brian! Any good finds in the keeper tools?

There wasn't anything exciting amongst the tools. There were lots of Craftsman wrenches and screwdrivers, but almost all of the sockets and pliers were chinese, thus the reason I didn't bother with a picture.

The best items were a Proto 24" pry bar, a new set of Victor brazing torch tips and two Snap-on impact socket adapters - 1/2" to 3/8" and 3/8" to 1/4". I had never seen those adapters as impact tools before. The value of the new brazing tips alone exceeded price I paid for the whole lot!

I do have to address an issue with the 6 drawer Craftsman top chest. At some point in its life, someone removed the 3 lock bars from inside the chest so the drawers won't lock shut when you close the lid. This created a bit of a hazard when I tried moving it. Unfortunately, I didn't find them anywhere after I got them home.

Nor did I find any Plomb. Can't win em all!

Brian

 

[gawald]

Help! I have a 9 level, 12 drawer Craftsman bottom box with casters made in October 1988. I need a pair of drawer slides. I contacted Waterloo customer service who tells me the slides for this box are no longer in stock and Waterloo will not be ordering any more slides for parts service. The dimensions on the friction slide are 1 1/8" high by 14 5/8" deep with U shaped channels on the top and bottom of the slides. If anyone has a Craftsman parts box with slides with these dimensions, please contact me if you are willing to sell me a set of slides. Thanks. (I tried the search function hoping to find something in classifieds but nothing.)

Correction: the dimensions are 1 1/8" high x 14 7/16" deep. The U shaped channels are 3/8" wide. Thanks for any help in locating replacement slides.

 

[Rileysan]

I got my unicorn today! Details to follow.

Edit:

In the Craftsman Red/Gray thread, I made a comment about not being able to find a 12 drawer roller. Until Texaslonghorn posted his find a couple weeks ago, I don't think anyone here on GJ had ever posted pix.

Anyways, this week one shows up on the local CL. Guy wants $280 for this roller and a newer top chest. I lament the price and wasn't going to consider making any offer for weeks. Then A E Neuman pipes up and tells me that he saw this very box at an estate sale here in Portland a couple weeks ago, and that it was only $95.

Armed with that information, I set up a time to go see the box.

The guy who bought it at the estate sale was really nice. I didn't know what to expect but he was great to work with and in the end, I wanted him to make a fair profit and still feel like I got a fair deal myself. I had already made up my mind what I was willing to pay and in the end, I think we were both happy.

This box is in excellent condition with the original key. It needs 2 new casters as the ball bearings have long since fallen out.

I paid $155 and couldn't be more pleased.

I did not buy the red box.

Brian

 

[Stuart in MN]

I like that 12 drawer roller cabinet, for me it would be a lot more useful than the ones with the bigger bottom drawers.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I got my unicorn today! Details to follow.

Edit:

In the Craftsman Red/Gray thread, I made a comment about not being able to find a 12 drawer roller. Until Texaslonghorn posted his find a couple weeks ago, I don't think anyone here on GJ had ever posted pix.

Anyways, this week one shows up on the local CL. Guy wants $280 for this roller and a newer top chest. I lament the price and wasn't going to consider making any offer for weeks. Then A E Neuman pipes up and tells me that he saw this very box at an estate sale here in Portland a couple weeks ago, and that it was only $95.

Armed with that information, I set up a time to go see the box.

The guy who bought it at the estate sale was really nice. I didn't know what to expect but he was great to work with and in the end, I wanted him to make a fair profit and still feel like I got a fair deal myself. I had already made up my mind what I was willing to pay and in the end, I think we were both happy.

This box is in excellent condition with the original key. It needs 2 new casters as the ball bearings have long since fallen out.

I paid $155 and couldn't be more pleased.

I did not buy the red box.

Brian

Congrats Brian!

 

[Outlawmws]

Well done Brian and congrats!

 

[maxcarp709]

Wow!Good Show!You are really on a roll.Congrats Brian.

 

[ndfan6464]

Little to far for me but maybe some on GJ is closer

https://fortsmith.craigslist.org/tls/d/sears-craftsman-tool-box/6231431869.html

 

[smschriefer]

Congrats, Brian! Isn't it fun to catch unicorns?

 

[zkling]

I have one, posted it a year or so back on here in the red/gray thread, as well as the moder modern Waterloo version. There is also a catalog page posted. The bottom is built substantially better than the matching top box.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a little baby Craftsman locking box, I believe from the 50's that I picked up for a couple bucks today.
Anyone have any idea of its original intended purpose?

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Since I saw yours, I couldn't pass on the one I saw at the flea market yesterday.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

They really are nice heavy little boxes.
The recessed handle is nice for stacking.

 

[ConductorChris]

Hey guys,

Few weeks ago my wife and I picked up my mom for a day of garage sales. In our area, most people pack up and shut it down at noon. So at 1:30 - 2 we had given up following any signs and were just cruising in the countryside. And drove up on a yardsale still going on up a long drive way. I could see a red tool chest from the road so I went up and checked it out and this is what I found.

The seller said it was from his father in-law who worked at a Snap-on factory in Vaughn, ON Canada. Employees were able to buy the scratch and dent items. And his son had pried off the badge for something else.

Is this a Snap-On? Can anyone identify model and approx year? I can't find markings on the chest. Regardless, still happy for $10.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Hey guys,

Few weeks ago my wife and I picked up my mom for a day of garage sales. In our area, most people pack up and shut it down at noon. So at 1:30 - 2 we had given up following any signs and were just cruising in the countryside. And drove up on a yardsale still going on up a long drive way. I could see a red tool chest from the road so I went up and checked it out and this is what I found.

The seller said it was from his father in-law who worked at a Snap-on factory in Vaughn, ON Canada. Employees were able to buy the scratch and dent items. And his son had pried off the badge for something else.

Is this a Snap-On? Can anyone identify model and approx year? I can't find markings on the chest. Regardless, still happy for $10.

Yes, thats a snappy at a u **** price! Man oh man! Looks to be in good shape, I'd say 70s/80s.

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[Outlawmws]

From the back, lower left corner - look close with good light as tool box markings tend to be faint and SO in particular! Great score!

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is a little baby Craftsman locking box, I believe from the 50's that I picked up for a couple bucks today.
Anyone have any idea of its original intended purpose?

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Since I saw yours, I couldn't pass on the one I saw at the flea market yesterday.
-Don

I use a box that size for storing Coleman mantles (I have many and several different sizes...) I can't say it's a Craftsman as somebody red spray bombed it, but for free I can't complain - It is the same basic box...

 

[compunaut]

Not a Snap On collector, so unsure how good a deal this might be:
Snap On tool chest. Model KRA-58B $240; no key.
Also posted in Craigslist thread

 

[Outlawmws]

Seems way steep to me...