The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Guzzista]

This one is staying with me, for the time being at least.

 

[FJ 432]

This one is staying with me, for the time being at least.

A very nice pair. Pressteel made boxes for Plomb. The chrome handles were added by the PO.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Found this on Friday, just needed a wipe out and a quick polish

Very nice find and minty too!

 

[misterbill]

I bought this early ('40s?) Kennedy cantilever box at a sale in Berkeley yesterday. The interior was really surprising. It doesn't look as if the trays were ever used.
-Don

Very nice! Somebody must have been using it as a pet carrier. Is that the original handle, too? With the two catches would that make it later - post-war?

Bill

 

[d42jeep]

Bill,
That would be one heavy pet carrier. If it's postwar, it must be immediately postwar because they went to steel handles shortly after the war as far as I know. I haven't totally figured out the catch situation because it seems like there were many configurations. It is definitely the original handle with that unique Kennedy shape.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I did a little research and it looks like Kennedy was using leather handles at least until 1949. In the ads I'll post below it seems that the number of catches really doesn't indicate vintage. The ads were supplied by Roger M in the U.K.
-Don

 

[paulm12]

Recent Waterloo find, came with a few, mostly inexpensive hand tools. Most of the tools will go to local ReStore, the few decent wrenches and sockets will go to my sets. The box is pretty straight, mostly surface rust. The PO replaced (poorly) the felt but it'll work for now. I will do a light cleaning, try to stop the current rust, and put to use again. $15.

 

[FJ 432]

Recent Waterloo find, came with a few, mostly inexpensive hand tools. Most of the tools will go to local ReStore, the few decent wrenches and sockets will go to my sets. The box is pretty straight, mostly surface rust. The PO replaced (poorly) the felt but it'll work for now. I will do a light cleaning, try to stop the current rust, and put to use again. $15.

Nice find. I found this one for 50. I gave it to a friend of mine. Well built box.

 

[drivesitfar]

Jeep: I own one of those old Kennedy cantilever boxes with the leather handle that is (or was) in mint condition when i bought it a few years ago. it can hold a ton of tools and stuff. so it's pre 1949 with the leather handles?

ALL: maybe that's why our grand dads and dads were so strong cause just picking up a loaded cantilever box is a workout.

anybody have one loaded up and weighed it? i think I'll do that and get back to you on that cause i'd bet a few others i have weigh over 100 pounds.

 

[d42jeep]

My 18" US Navy NAF box loaded with tools weighed in at a lightweight 73 lbs. I'm not sure when they went away from the leather handles but I imagine it was shortly after '49. I have an old box with a metal handle although I can't say exactly how old.
-Don

 

[Rickster55]

Not mine!

https://syracuse.craigslist.org/tls/d/vintage-craftsman-top-and/6426554934.html

 

[drivesitfar]

Jeep: thanks for weighing your box and any chance you might want to open it to show how you store your stuff in it cause i'm (maybe we) are looking for ideas?

Rick: if it was near me i'd be trying to buy it NOW. i love those old Heritage boxes. and i'd like to find one I don't have to spend hours restoring.

 

[jfrey123]

2016-03-22 19.32.29 by divituswolf, on Flickr

my napa new britian box in the basement only one i've seen like it.

Shared this pic in the New Britain tool thread, but I'm still a noob wandering through all these old awesome threads and thought I'd share here too. Couple people over the years mention not having seen NB boxes much. Mine camp from my grandpa when he downsized from 10 acres and a metal 60x40 shop.

This tool box has sat relatively untouched in my two car garage for 7 years. He used it mainly as his 1/2" everything socket box with the tiny drawer handling the handful of metric stuff he owned. I had picked through a little to kind of fill my socket sets, found lots of Craftsman duplicates, nothing organized (he tended to go to Napa in our small town when he didn't immediately find a tool he wanted, lots of duplicates that way.

I finally went through and sorted it. Ended up with about 4 mostly intact USA socket sets (one a NB to match the box), and a bunch of cheapo mismatch sockets I set aside. Good stuff filled out my HF red cart, with extras stored back in here. I debated getting rid of the box: it's old, had a hard life, kinda small for a 26" chest and a bit too heavy to lug around when full. But it was grandpa's, I love the guy, and we ran countless projects in that old metal shop. And now, according to GJ, it's kind of a neat and rare box. I think I'll find a use for it.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the knowledge.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Not mine!

https://syracuse.craigslist.org/tls/d/vintage-craftsman-top-and/6426554934.html

I so badly want that set, and for $135, it's a steal.

Posting picture for posterity's sake.

 

[Outlawmws]

Recent Waterloo find, came with a few, mostly inexpensive hand tools. Most of the tools will go to local ReStore, the few decent wrenches and sockets will go to my sets. The box is pretty straight, mostly surface rust. The PO replaced (poorly) the felt but it'll work for now. I will do a light cleaning, try to stop the current rust, and put to use again. $15.

I have that same Waterloo box! Story behind it too! I bought the box at a "Stage 1" estate sale, sans the cover. a Month later they held "stage two". and I found the the cover burred way over and under!

Mentioned I'd bought the box last time and they "gave" the cover to me!

So reunited!

 

[paulm12]

sounds like good karma Outlaw ...

 

[Smokeshow69]

I so badly want that set, and for $135, it's a steal.



Posting picture for posterity's sake.

I think rileysan has already gassed up the Camry and is driving to pick that up [emoji1] such a clean box ! Can't believe it is priced so low ! I would love to find one of those! All I have is a worn 3 drawer that needs is some love that I got at the swap meet for $15! It is the rare one with the offset heritage emblem on the left hand side


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[txlonghorn1989]

I so badly want that set, and for $135, it's a steal.

Posting picture for posterity's sake.

Wow! Would love to find this at that price in my part of the world!!! I hope someone here gets it.

 

[Rileysan]

I think rileysan has already gassed up the Camry and is driving to pick that up [emoji1] such a clean box ! Can't believe it is priced so low ! I would love to find one of those! All I have is a worn 3 drawer that needs is some love that I got at the swap meet for $15! It is the rare one with the offset heritage emblem on the left hand side


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LMAO! I think I can make it there in 3 days. Do you think it will still be available?!?

But seriously, if that were anywhere within 200 miles of me, I'd already own it.

Brian

 

[dngrmse]

That box is crazy clean. I wonder if it's been redone. 3.5 hrs away for me is a deal breaker though.

 

[Outlawmws]

I suspect it has been painted; the pulls look like silver paint?

 

[dkroth]

And old Kennedy stack and an old Champion USA, which looks suspiciously similar to other boxes of the period (read: an OEM making stuff for various vendors).

Looks like some interesting random tools in the trays, too.

https://rochester.craigslist.org/tls/d/2-roll-around-tool-boxes-with/6428015199.html

A couple pics that will last a few weeks more than the post:

.

 

[Outlawmws]

Boxes alone are worth more than the $300...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first reported in the Garage Sale thread, I found this machinists’ chest at a flea market today. (See thumbnails for “Before” pics.)

There’s little to no doubt it’s military. The leather handle suggests wartime or earlier, despite the 11-digit Federal Stock Number a prior owner scrawled on the top some time in the early 1950’s. It’s very compact compared to my other machinists’ chests, measuring just 16” H x 11” W x 8-1/2” D. And yet, attesting to how well-built this is, it weighs 28 lbs empty! Five (5) drawers with a few dividers and green felt lining that appears original. The drop front is detachable and has a nifty shallow trough running the entire width of it, handy for keeping small parts and pieces from rolling off when it’s in its work surface position. Heavy duty clasp with a provision for a padlock with a chain. Strong handles on each side. Crinkle green baked enamel finish.

If anyone recognizes it based on any of the features, pulls, hardware, handles, etc, please shout it out.

I have not cracked open a single catalog etc, but I am pretty sure it’s not an SK or a Kennedy, or, at least not a 1940’s SK or Kennedy.

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[ryan20021982]

Picked this up for $30 today, in really good shape except for the felt in the bottom of the drawers is torn up a bit and dirty

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[A E Numan]

ryan: I really like that Craftsman machinist box nice find!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Nice find Lugz! You too ryan20021982!

 

[d42jeep]

Jeep: thanks for weighing your box and any chance you might want to open it to show how you store your stuff in it cause i'm (maybe we) are looking for ideas.

Here is a look at the interior.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Here is a look at the interior.
-Don

Don,
That is a really cool toolbox! What's in that roll?

Mike

 

[smschriefer]

Lugz, your machinist box is an Asco Art Steel New York box. Good find!

https://richmond.craigslist.org/tls/d/vintage-asco-5-drawer/6426948787.html

 

[d42jeep]

Don,
That is a really cool toolbox! What's in that roll?

Mike

Mike,
At the time these pictures were taken here's what was in the roll. This toolset is constantly evolving as I find different pieces.

41-A-820 1/4" Auger Bit - Lakeside
41-A-821 5/16" Auger Bit - Irwin
41-A-822 3/8" Auger Bit - Red Devil
41-A-822 3/8" Auger Bit - Winchester
41-A-824 1/2" Auger Bit - Irwin
41-A-824 1/2" Auger Bit - Lakeside
41-A-825 9/16" Auger Bit - Irwin
41-A-826 5/8" Auger Bit - Lakeside
41-A-826 5/8" Auger Bit - Russell Jennings
41-A-828 3/4" Auger Bit - Irwin
41-A-828 3/4" Auger Bit - Russell Jennings
41-A-829 13/16" Auger Bit - Fulton
41-A-832 1" Auger Bit - Stiletto
41-B-844 7/8" to 3" Expansive Bit - Unmarked
-Don

 

[Alchymist]

Yesterday's acquisitions. Top & middle chest are in good condition, just need a good cleaning. Bottom might need heavy intervention. And all three came with keys!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, your machinist box is an Asco Art Steel New York box. Good find!

Many thanks for the link!

I was able to track the NSN crudely scrawled in yellow paint on the top to an early 1950's armorer's kit for small arms repair. The wartime FSN for the same kit was 41-K-8425. Below are some pics of other boxes from a WWII forum I participate in. The owners will be happy for your lead as nobody has been able to identify an OEM prior to this!

The box in this postwar French Army NOS "repack" from 1951, owned by a WWII collector in France, came with the entire kit.

Here's another one:



And a third in the thumbnail below.

All the boxes exhibit common features and yet some slight variations.

- All the boxes, including the CL ad, have the same center hasp, top handle hardware, and drawer pulls.

- All the boxes have different top handles. The handle on mine is leather. The French repack box is pressed steel, but shaped exactly like mine, hinting at it being a direct successor. The handles on the others rang from slimmer pressed steel (CL ad) to a simple bent rod (thumbnail below).

- My box and all the boxes I posted have a drop front door/work surface with the long recess the width of the panel (for small parts and pieces) and the side handles are all the same.

- The box in the CL ad has three dimples in the drop front and different side handles.

Almost impossible to figure out a progression, but I'm pretty confident mine is wartime. I believe the French repack also used a late wartime box. Hard to say on any of the others. Could be. Could be KW.

Again, though, very cool that we now have an OEM lead! Thanks again.

 

[Catfishdan]

Lugz- Dang! I used to have the exact same box, albeit with a crappy respray job. I traded it for a hammer drill last year. Kind of wish I hadn't now that I know some of the history.


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[dodge610]

Got another vintage box not sure on brand 2nd pic shows outline of badge. Not sure what brand uses that shape badge.


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[Private Lugnutz]

Kind of wish I hadn't now that I know some of the history.

I hope another one shows up in your AO!

 

[ryan20021982]

Got another vintage box not sure on brand 2nd pic shows outline of badge. Not sure what brand uses that shape badge.


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Proto maybe

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[Rileysan]

Proto maybe

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Yep! Proto box, made by Waterloo.

Brian

 

[dodge610]

Proto maybe

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Yes sir gents thank you looks to be a match there.

 

[dodge610]

Yes sir gents thank you looks to be a match there.

Guess I dont feel so bad now getting it for $20.00 needs a little TLC for sure. And the lock the previous owr put on it needs to go by.