The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Holy **** that top box is cool!

What's the model # so I can look for one?

I saw one of those in person last summer. Guy was selling that model, and an older Snap on roller which is what he had the Mac Box sitting on. The Snap On was what I was buying. Thought that top box was cool, though. He played the radio for me, it was a radio w/tape player, and it was made in 1985

 

[DynoDale]

Holy **** that top box is cool!

What's the model # so I can look for one?

The bottom box is MB1700. There are a few around. I've seen the top box on eBay a couple of times, but they're more rare.

 

[APEowner]

Holy **** that top box is cool!

What's the model # so I can look for one?

Thanks, I thought it was cool when I bought it. I got it from a dealer who was going out of business. As I recall it was a $3000.00 box and I got it for $1500.00, brand new. It's a pretty practical layout too with the socket storage in the doors. I have no idea what the model number is. Does anybody know where (or if) Mac typicly put model numbers on their boxes?

 

[DynoDale]

Thanks, I thought it was cool when I bought it. I got it from a dealer who was going out of business. As I recall it was a $3000.00 box and I got it for $1500.00, brand new. It's a pretty practical layout too with the socket storage in the doors. I have no idea what the model number is. Does anybody know where (or if) Mac typicly put model numbers on their boxes?

It's on the top left on mine:

 

[stevejh82]

Lot's of neat boxes, great thread

Early 70's Craftsman Commercial


Early 70's Craftsman and Huot top box


Craftsman lower, Huot Top


Mid to late 60's Craftsman


Late 40's early 50's Craftsman top, shop made middle/bottom


SK Machinist Chest

 

[207racing]

Here's a couple of those "grey and red" Craftsman boxes. The roller/chest combo was given to me by my Dad about 10 years ago as a wedding present. It was one of his first tool boxes. He re-painted it prior to giving to me. As I was cleaning up @ his shop a few weeks back, I found a matching "roadbox" as he called it. He let me have it also, so I cleaned and painted it up too. All three are 1966 models.

 

[justinmc]

I'll contribute a couple... sold this top & bottom combo but Matco's circa 1979.

I still have the side box.. use it in my basement.

Also have this Snap On KRA unit I picked up at a Estate Auction a few years ago. Dated 1982. The old guy was a Chrysler mechanic and when he retired he messed around with gun smithing. This box had a metal lathe on tope of it and was full of bits, etc for the lathe. Neither the box nor the lathe looked like they had more than a few hours worth of use. This ones in my basement as well now. The remline top box isn't stamped with a date.. I'd guess its quite a bit newer any nowhere near as nice of metal as any of these others.

 

[mjozefow]

These are hands down my favorite. Beautiful box!

If you ever decide to sell...

 

[justinmc]

These are hands down my favorite. Beautiful box!
If you ever decide to sell...

Sold em awhile back... It was a "package deal" and unfortunately I had way more boxes than room so some had to go. IIRC I sold em for $400 for the top & bottom. The guy who came and picked them up owns this place..

http://www.harpermotoguzzi.com/

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

All right Justin, where's that beautiful Cornwell box of yours?!

 

[justinmc]

All right Justin, where's that beautiful Cornwell box of yours?!

Its not vintage!!!!!!! Its not even 10 yet.. lol.. I did have this one for awhile..

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Its not vintage!!!!!!! Its not even 10 yet.. lol.. I did have this one for awhile..

My bad, forget it had to be at least twenty years old!

 

[mjozefow]

My bad, forget it had to be at least twenty years old!

I'm not going to hunt anyone down if its 19yrs old. Less than ten is pushing it though!

 

[VegasBruce]

The Snap On is late 70's, the Craftsman's are mid 70's and and old gray and red mid chest.

 

[selohssa]

This is one that I bought recently for the set of vintage Snap-on tools that came with it. The owner retired in the mid eighties and had not used them since. He had it for sale for months and no one wanted it. He was so happy that I appreciated them that he threw in a bunch more tools and cut his price by mre than 50%.

 

[snapmom]

 

[old salvage]

This is my 'around the house/go to' box
I think its from the 60's.

 

[Hellcat6]

Here is my CMan from the 40s, top and bottom box. Restored and used every day. This thing was also filled with tools when I got it at an estate sale....for $35!

 

[Mickey O]

Here is my CMan from the 40s, top and bottom box. Restored and used every day. This thing was also filled with tools when I got it at an estate sale....for $35!

You want to make a quick $5, I'll give you $40 cash for that old out of date tool box. Just kidding, cool box, I haven't seen to many vintage Craftsman boxes that old, the restoration looks great.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

This is my 'around the house/go to' box
I think its from the 60's.

Man, I'd love to pick up one of those. I'm really starting to appreciate those cantilever boxes.

 

[jshillin]

I just sold these Snap-On Boxes.

Bottom '72

Top '86

 

[chad s]

 

[scoutkid]

Lot's of neat boxes, great thread




Mid to late 60's Craftsman

That is the most awesome/dangerous chainsaw i have ever seen! Looks like something Duke Nukem would carry! Zombies beware!

 

[MAD]

Here is my Kennedy Kits box.

 

[old salvage]

Man, I'd love to pick up one of those. I'm really starting to appreciate those cantilever boxes.

Thanks Galaxie.
I would recommend getting one of the larger ones if you can. This one looked big when I got it but its about ready to pop.

 

[chrislehr]

This thread makes me want to go to CL more often

 

[stevejh82]

Mad, that old Kennedy is sweet! Looks like the same vintage as Snapmom's old Bluepoint.

Scoutkid, Duke Nukem , I posted some pics of that saw awhile back here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32763

 

[Rusty Kustoms]

Here is one I bought my wife for her wedding present

 

[PCO6]

I bought this Snap-on box used in 1969. I was in high school then and worked part time at my Dad's gas station. I had a tiny box and the Snap-on dealer that frequented our garage said he'd keep his eyes open for a good trade in for me ... this is it. It's in pretty good shape considering I lugged it around with me while off-road racing for about 5 years in the 70's. I've bought several other boxes since then and this one has sat idle for about the last 20 years or so. After seeing some of the restorations on here I plan to do this one. One of the attached photos isn't that clear but on the back bottom left corner the following is stamped ...

Snap-on Tools
KC 532
MADE IN CANADA

ps - If any one has a matching roller cabinet they'd like to sell I'd be more than happy to speak with you.

 

[le6920]

Some really neat stuff here!

 

[kblazer87]

Here are mine. KRA59 top, KRA29C middle, and KRA379A bottom. Just picked them up last Friday (Dec. 4th). They are for sale right now, but if I don't sell them I will try to refurbish next spring.

 

[ears]

1950 Mac in a month or so I will start on this one. Plan on going full tilt.

Craftsman top box, like to fix it up but it will be a while.

Work boxes, fine as is. High tech locking system not my addition but it works, and only 12 padlocks to undo.

1970 Monroe, it's full of tools so I'm calling it a toolbox. Craftsman bottom box I got yesterday, I like it as is but it might look funny with a fresh painted top box on it.

1970 Snap on use it as my shop cart.

 

[ears]

Here is my CMan from the 40s, top and bottom box. Restored and used every day. This thing was also filled with tools when I got it at an estate sale....for $35!

Very nice. How did you go about restoring the handles? All mine are shot.

 

[Hellcat6]

Very nice. How did you go about restoring the handles? All mine are shot.

Mine were missing! I just went to the hardware store and tried to pick out something that looked period correct. All I had to go by were some bad pictures from the catalog so I just kind of winged it. Fantastic collection you have! PM sent.

 

[mjozefow]

Work boxes, fine as is. High tech locking system not my addition but it works, and only 12 padlocks to undo.

I have been looking for one of those Matco boxes for quite a while now. What a great looking box! Take good care of her!

 

[mooman]

That's a sweet MBC chest!! It wouldn't happen to be for sale?
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/tls/1496781421.html

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I bought this Snap-on box used in 1969. I was in high school then and worked part time at my Dad's gas station.

You know a box is old when it's got a I'd rather be driving my Austin Healey bumper sticker on it!

 

[PCO6]

You know a box is old when it's got a I'd rather be driving my Austin Healey bumper sticker on it!

That's a whole other story. My Dad's garage was next door to the largest British sports car dealership in our area. It's hard to beleive that it didn't do any tire work including balancing wheels. We did all their work for them. I got to test drive a LOT of new and used Jags, Healeys, Triumphs, MG's, Lotus', etc. after balancing their wheels. It was a great job for a kid in high school!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That's a whole other story. My Dad's garage was next door to the largest British sports car dealership in our area. It's hard to beleive that it didn't do any tire work including balancing wheels. We did all their work for them. I got to test drive a LOT of new and used Jags, Healeys, Triumphs, MG's, Lotus', etc. after balancing their wheels. It was a great job for a kid in high school!

Man, no kidding! I'm sure you have some great memories.

Nice box too, btw. I've never really seen a Snap On box like that before...now I want one!

 

[PCO6]

Man, no kidding! I'm sure you have some great memories.

Nice box too, btw. I've never really seen a Snap On box like that before...now I want one!

Regarding the memories, here's a somewhat bizarre one. The British car dealership salesmen were notorious for coming with brand new cars and asking for $1 worth of gas. They kept the cars with just enough gas in them to take customers out for a test drive. I went on a service call one night to rescue a salesman that had run out of gas in a new Jaguar V-12. The customer was Tim Horton, a well known hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His name is now on Canada's biggest coffee & donut franchise. He was not happy and started to walk back to the dealership as I fiddled with the 4 carbs trying to get gas into them. I don't know if he ever bought a Jag but about 2 years later he was killed on his way from Toronto to Buffalo in his Pantera.

Regarding the tool box, I don't know if these are unique to Canada but the lid is very simple. Up or down, that's it. There is no hinged panel to cover the drawers when not in use. The drawer lock is a manual bar at the inside back of the box ... very simple.