The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Outlawmws]

That looks like an old coffee spill stain. I would give a product called "Spot Shot" a try. we learned about it from our last carpet installer years back and it seems to work well, even on other than carpets. The only caveat would be how well the dye in the felt was put into it.

Generally Spot Shot has always done well for us, and NOT damaged the colors of the fabric/carpet applied to, but I've never tried it on felt. I had "clean" spots once where some carpet was really dirty and it had light spots, but after shampooing the carpet, it evened out...

If you try it I would apply it, rub lightly (it is only felt...),, wet it with clean water and blot it with clean paper towels, then use a wet vac to **** the remaining rinse water out (you don't want wet felt to warp the wood) then get a fan on it for good air circulation (not A heater fan the heat could also cause warpage...) I rinse 2X.

 

[drivesitfar]

RAG: if the stain doesn't come out or you just might want to spiff up your Gertsner a lot of members have removed and replaced the felt in theirs. it's been a while since i've seen threads on it, but you might check out the wood cabinets thread to see other Gertsners and maybe ask the guys posting theirs on that thread if they have replaced their felt.

from what i recall it wasn't that hard to do.

 

[RagTopTA]

Good info thanks, guys! I'm gonna look into that Spot shot and do a little research to see what people used on pool table felt to clean stains also. gotta be something that will work well.

 

[tombell572]

RagTopTA, that is an outstanding find. Easily would sell in the hundreds in most places. As Drives suggests, I have replaced felt with excellent results. The material is available in most fabric stores. The old stuff should peel up, clean the surface underneath, mask off areas to be left uncovered and spray with an aerosol adhesive, Cut the felt roughly to size, cover the area and trim excess at edges with an Xacto knife.

Tom B.

 

[RagTopTA]

RagTopTA, that is an outstanding find. Easily would sell in the hundreds in most places. As Drives suggests, I have replaced felt with excellent results. The material is available in most fabric stores. The old stuff should peel up, clean the surface underneath, mask off areas to be left uncovered and spray with an aerosol adhesive, Cut the felt roughly to size, cover the area and trim excess at edges with an Xacto knife.

Tom B.

thanks, Im gonna try the cleaning first thing to see if I can keep it original, almost all the other drawers felt are in really good shape.

 

[TRSRHNTR]

Can anyone help me date this 32” carpenters box? I have seen them branded Union, SK, and Kennedy, when did manufacturers quit using leather handles?

 

[BlueBomber]

Already posted on the Garage Sale thread, but here are the pics of the Snap-On KRA-650 and KR-655 top and bottom chests I picked up for $300 yesterday. They are a bit beat up, but my first ever Snappy tool containers.

My problem: I locked the top lid while it was laying on its back in my truck bed. After unloading it and standing it back on its wheels, it won't unlock. The key starts to turn the tumbler, but it feels like something is hitting something else. I'd hate to have to get this beast horizontal again. Does anyone have any insight or magic trick that can get help before I try that?

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[NYBODYMAN]

Picked this up for $350 this weekend. Hope I didn't pay too much. SO KRA-61a.
Also the SO 3 drawer chest for $30.

 

[FJ 432]

Picked this up for $350 this weekend. Hope I didn't pay too much. SO KRA-61a.
Also the SO 3 drawer chest for $30.

Nice grab. I found that same pair (mines a 1957) for about the same money. The intermediate box is a you **** price. I will triple your money if you want to get rid of it.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Nice grab. I found that same pair (mines a 1957) for about the same money. The intermediate box is a you **** price. I will triple your money if you want to get rid of it.

Still not sure if I am keeping the 2 drawer one or not but I think it would be very expensive to ship from NY to CO.

 

[drivesitfar]

NY: I think you found a great box at a decent price especially if YOU LIKE IT. i'm not a SNAP ON GUY per se, but that box the FJ restored a few years ago is still up at the top of my list. if you haven't seen it do a search and i bet it might give you some ideas on how you restore yours if you want to do more than just a basic cleaning.

BB: did you ever figure out how to get your cool boxes unlocked?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

when did manufacturers quit using leather handles?

Circa late 1940's.

 

[bradpac]

Picked up this box at an auction a while back. Finally went through everything. I'm guessing it's an older Husky by the stickers, although they were placed crooked so not sure if they are legit or not. I pulled out the wrench organizer in the bottom drawer and the back side was a nice piece of advertising. Can anyone tell me the age of this thing? The Corvette/Chevy II is 60s, but I figured this box was 70s or 80s?

 

[drivesitfar]

LUNACY: I can't tell you if Husky made it, but with the quality and cool sign socket holder I like it. i'm guessing late 50's maybe early 60's cause of how stout it's built. nice find!

 

[smokeyburb]

Picked up this box at an auction a while back. Finally went through everything. I'm guessing it's an older Husky by the stickers, although they were placed crooked so not sure if they are legit or not. I pulled out the wrench organizer in the bottom drawer and the back side was a nice piece of advertising. Can anyone tell me the age of this thing? The Corvette/Chevy II is 60s, but I figured this box was 70s or 80s?

Any numbers stamped anywhere? Rust and dirt hide shallow markings pretty easily...use a strong light source and move your head a lot while searching.
That organizer is cool.

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[txlonghorn1989]

At what age do toolboxes become vintage?

I recently picked up a 12-drawer Craftsman roller for free. After some rust & paint removal I can see the manufacture date is 08-91. So it'll be 27 years old in August.

I wanted to ask some questions about what paint to use to match the old paint for both the cabinet body and the drawers. Not sure whether to ask here or in General Tools forum.

 

[drivesitfar]

TEX: everybody's idea of WHEN VINTAGE IS might be different, but we've usually been ok with toolboxes on this thread up to the mid 80's. if you want to post up yours to ask questions about color I don't think the members participating on this thread would mind and sorry i'm not a PAINT GUY cause I like almost all steel and cast iron NAKED.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

TEX: everybody's idea of WHEN VINTAGE IS might be different, but we've usually been ok with toolboxes on this thread up to the mid 80's. if you want to post up yours to ask questions about color I don't think the members participating on this thread would mind and sorry i'm not a PAINT GUY cause I like almost all steel and cast iron NAKED.

Thanks Drives! I too love naked steel and cast iron but I hate rust so...gotta get it covered to protect it. And I've only hit the paint where there were obvious rust.

What I'm wondering is if there's a Rustoleum or some other paint that matches the Craftsman red for the body of these rolling cabinets and the same for the Craftsman dark gray (?) for the drawers.

Here's a pic of the roller I'm spiffing up. As I posted previously, it's got some issues to be worked out but the price ($free$) was right. Ordered a new set of casters from Waterloo today. Plus ordered 3 keys for boxes I've picked up over the last month or so.

Thanks for the help!

Mike

Thanks!

 

[Jim C.]

I recently picked up this Craftsman box to store a complete set of Craftsman Whitworth tools. This box and one socket, which I also found recently, were the last pieces I needed to finish the set. With the exception of the drip of stain (or whatever it is) on the right side of the top, the box is in great condition for its age.

Jim C.

 

[Tynee]

I recently picked up this Craftsman box to store a complete set of Craftsman Whitworth tools. This box and one socket, which I also found recently, were the last pieces I needed to finish the set. With the exception of the drip of stain (or whatever it is) on the right side of the top, the box is in great condition for its age.

Jim C.

That’s pretty sweet. I’m working on a refresh of a Proto box very similar to that. Post some pics when you get the tools in it and the stain cleaned up.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I recently picked up this Craftsman box to store a complete set of Craftsman Whitworth tools. This box and one socket, which I also found recently, were the last pieces I needed to finish the set. With the exception of the drip of stain (or whatever it is) on the right side of the top, the box is in great condition for its age.

Jim C.

Great pick up Jim! I'd love to find one of these in any condition much less almost pristine! Post pics of it with the tools in it when you're ready.

Mike

 

[garthg]

Sunrise Red is a pretty close match.

 

[Jim C.]

That’s pretty sweet. I’m working on a refresh of a Proto box very similar to that. Post some pics when you get the tools in it and the stain cleaned up.

Great pick up Jim! I'd love to find one of these in any condition much less almost pristine! Post pics of it with the tools in it when you're ready.

Mike

Thanks. It was a fun set to collect. It took a few years to piece together. I used the 1960 Craftsman hand tool catalog as a guide (see photo below). The box and the 3/4 W socket were the last two things I needed to finish the set. I think I'm going to start working on the metric set now.....looks like I'm gonna need another box.

Jim C.

 

[drivesitfar]

TEX: hope you get your answer and I think Sunrise Red might be it, but not sure. maybe somebody else will post up their restored Craftsman toolbox and mention the paint color. it's your box and your color is my rule, but I know some members really like to go with ORIGINAL.

JIM: great post and love how you saw that catalog picture and said i know i can find all that stuff. WELL DONE!!

ALL: I think i finally found a spot for my Huot tool box built into this cart (litterally cause it won't come out unless i remove the welded in divider). anyway I might strip the cart and just put on BLO or maybe paint it ARMY GREEN like so many of my cabinets are, but I'll wait until i get organized and maybe have more time.

speaking of spiffing up a toolbox I was planning on using maybe goof off to remove that old sticker or tape residue. is that the best method or do any of you have a better way to remove old stuff?

also since i might want to remove the drawers to clean and put on some beeswax anybody remember off hand how to take the drawers out of an old HUOT box? i think it was by using a bent piece of hacksaw blade or is there an easier method?

 

[Outlawmws]

Jim, No combo's? Great job!

 

[Tynee]

Jim, I’m curious, can you come out in the black piecing together sets like that, or is it strictly a hobby with no expectation of recovering what you’ve put in? Disregard your time for purposes of this analysis.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks. It was a fun set to collect. It took a few years to piece together. I used the 1960 Craftsman hand tool catalog as a guide (see photo below). The box and the 3/4 W socket were the last two things I needed to finish the set. I think I'm going to start working on the metric set now.....looks like I'm gonna need another box.

Jim C.

Jim,

I picked up an almost complete 3/4" Craftsman =V= set last year and I hope someday I can find a box like yours! Again, super nice!

How are the British/Whitworth different? I recall as a kid back in the '60s we used to find British Titleist golf balls which were smaller than their American version. But it makes no sense (To ME) to have, for example, tools labelled with the size and for them to actually be smaller than that. And as I write this I think about the real size of lumber (2x4) versus what we call it.

Mike

 

[smokeyburb]

... I was planning on using maybe goof off to remove that old sticker or tape residue. is that the best method or do any of you have a better way to remove old stuff?

Drives, if you don't have Goof Off, WD40 works very well. I generally don't like or use WD40, except for removing goo.

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[Jim C.]

Jim, No combo's? Great job!

You know, I don’t think Sears/Craftsman ever offered Whitworth combos. If they had, and they were part of that set, I would have tracked them down. Honestly, the DOE wrenches weren’t too hard to find. I actually have a few duplicates. The DBE wrenches seemed to be a lot harder to find, and the sockets were VERY difficult to acquire. As for the 1/2” drive tools, the breaker bar cross handle is always tough. The ratchet is the first generation (what I would call Type 1) teardrop and can also be tricky to find. I see them occasionally, but they’re frequently in really rough condition. (On a side note, that ratchet was actually produced with 40 teeth and 32 teeth. They’re identical on the outside. The ratchet in my set has 32 teeth.) Then there’s the box. Since I started piecing together the set, I’ve seen a few, but they’ve been totally trashed so I passed on them. Like I said, it took me about three years to put it all together.

Jim, I’m curious, can you come out in the black piecing together sets like that, or is it strictly a hobby with no expectation of recovering what you’ve put in? Disregard your time for purposes of this analysis.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m a pretty serious Craftsman =V= collector. That 1960 Cman hand tool catalog is my bible. I love collecting, and I love “completing the set.” That’s always my goal, so recovering what I’ve got into it wasn’t my motivation. I was really more interested in putting that set together without any future expectations. You’re probably wondering what I have into it. Make a guess! I’ll let you know if you’re close. I think another collector, or a vintage British motorcycle enthusiast might probably spend a little to get the set. Who knows?

Jim,

I picked up an almost complete 3/4" Craftsman =V= set last year and I hope someday I can find a box like yours! Again, super nice!

How are the British/Whitworth different? I recall as a kid back in the '60s we used to find British Titleist golf balls which were smaller than their American version. But it makes no sense (To ME) to have, for example, tools labelled with the size and for them to actually be smaller than that. And as I write this I think about the real size of lumber (2x4) versus what we call it.

Mike

Well, as I understand Whitworth sizes, the size stamped on the tool represents the diameter of the fastener’s threaded shank, not its head across the flats. It doesn’t make sense to me, but I think that’s how it works. Anyway, a lot of old British cars and motorcycles are put together with Whitworth nuts and bolts. Sears must have thought there was a market for these tools, but I don’t think they were around very long.

Jim C.

 

[TRSRHNTR]

Picked up this box at an auction a while back. Finally went through everything. I'm guessing it's an older Husky by the stickers, although they were placed crooked so not sure if they are legit or not. I pulled out the wrench organizer in the bottom drawer and the back side was a nice piece of advertising. Can anyone tell me the age of this thing? The Corvette/Chevy II is 60s, but I figured this box was 70s or 80s?

Lunacy that box is awesome, it reminds me of these but yours looks older.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. It was a fun set to collect. It took a few years to piece together. I used the 1960 Craftsman hand tool catalog as a guide (see photo below). The box and the 3/4 W socket were the last two things I needed to finish the set. I think I'm going to start working on the metric set now.....looks like I'm gonna need another box.

Jim C.

I have a very small start on that set. Unlike yours, mine will never be complete. Congratulations.
-Don

 

[Jim C.]

Hey Don,

You gotta start somewhere, and you’re off to a good start, particularly since you already have the box and a few sockets. I think the sockets are the toughest of the Craftman Whitworth tools to find. If you commit to it and keep chipping away, you can finish the set.

Jim C.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I have a very small start on that set. Unlike yours, mine will never be complete. Congratulations.
-Don

Don,
I need you to find me one of those crown socket set boxes for a song please! ;-)

Mike

 

[d42jeep]

Full or empty? PM me.
-Don

 

[Mr_P]

Jim,

Great job on your full set. I imagine that in your quest for the perfect box, you probably learned the breakdown on the years of the different handle designs. I have these four which i have picked up over the years and always wondered the difference in years... I bet it was in order of oldest to knewest as round steel followed by round plastic, and finally square plastic....

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[Jim C.]

Hey Mr. P,

I think you got it right on the tool box handles. I mentioned earlier that I used the 1960 Craftsman hand tool catalog as my guide for the Whitworth set. If you look closely at the catalog picture, you’ll see that the box has two latches and no center padlock latch. Well, I looked at a lot of boxes while trying to complete that set and noticed that those with the latch configuration I described, when found on that particular style/model box, all had the steel handle. I have a two drawer box stamped 10 - 62 (October 1962) in the top compartment that’s factory equipped with two latches and a center padlock latch..... it has a round plastic handle. I think that round steel handle was gone from Craftsman boxes very early in the 1960s.

Jim C.

 

[Outlawmws]

And before all those, they were leather wrapped handles...

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Full or empty? PM me.
-Don

Hahaha! PM sent!

Mike

 

[bblblw16]

Just joined the Snap-On club. Gf's dad handed me down a 1973 KRA 396 U. I need to ask for help in locating drawer slides for the large bottom drawer and eventually some casters. Is it possible to find replacement casters? Does anyone know if the newer snap-on casters will fit the old style boxes?

Any info is appreciated!

 

[Jim C.]

And before all those, they were leather wrapped handles...

That’s before my time!