The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[TRSRHNTR]

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!

I would call Snap On direct for replacement parts. I've read about some forum members having mixed results but it couldn't hurt to ask, they'll have the caster info at least. A truck guy once told me that he would be happy to warranty vintage slides...if I had the originals and I wanted to "buy some tools" That's the kind of negotiating I can work with. Cool box, good luck.

 

[winchman]

In the UK some dealers change slides most don't.
I have waited weeks for ratchet parts, the problem I have is a rarely buy any more as I have all I need

 

[clydeclutch]

I had one just like it. It came off a ship commissioned in the late 40's. The drawers in the bottom have Snap On like slides. At one time I believe Snap On farmed out their tool boxes and did not have a name on them. Mine had all the spot welds drilled so they could squeeze it together and get it into the engine room. it was reassembled using screws and bolts. I kept the three drawers and junked the rest when the hinges wore out

 

[Jim C.]

Not too long ago I completed the 1960 Craftsman Whitworth tool set. One of the last pieces I needed was the correct tool box. Thankfully I did find the box, and on a scale of 1 - 10, I'd give it an 8 - 8.5 or so. I was pretty happy about that. Anyway, in the last few months, I started working on the 1960 metric set. I figured the tool box would be tough to find again in good condition. Well, I lucked out and found one a couple days ago (not quite as nice but about a grade 7 - 7.5 give or take) just one town over from where I live. So the metric set is underway..... On a side note, I thought the period correct metric DOE and DBE wrenches would be easier to find than the Whitworth wrenches, but so far, that does not seem to be the case.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is another Crown box with an extremely bad repaint that I've been using for a while.
-Don
Edit...
A couple of metric DBE wrenches

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Not too long ago I completed the 1960 Craftsman Whitworth tool set. One of the last pieces I needed was the correct tool box. Thankfully I did find the box, and on a scale of 1 - 10, I'd give it an 8 - 8.5 or so. I was pretty happy about that. Anyway, in the last few months, I started working on the 1960 metric set. I figured the tool box would be tough to find again in good condition. Well, I lucked out and found one a couple days ago (not quite as nice but about a grade 7 - 7.5 give or take) just one town over from where I live. So the metric set is underway..... On a side note, I thought the period correct metric DOE and DBE wrenches would be easier to find than the Whitworth wrenches, but so far, that does not seem to be the case.

Jim C.

The rich get richer! Nice find(s) Jim!

 

[dkroth]

A couple of metric DBE wrenches

Want!

.

 

[Jim C.]

The rich get richer! Nice find(s) Jim!

Thanks. I don’t usually have that kind of luck. It took me a few years to find the first box in good original condition. The second one showed up within two weeks of finding the first one..... It was dumb luck, but I still gotta fill it. Like I said earlier, those =v= metric DBE and DOE wrenches aren’t as easy to find as I thought they might be. I’m also having trouble locating the 22mm socket.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Here is another Crown box with an extremely bad repaint that I've been using for a while.
-Don
Edit...
A couple of metric DBE wrenches

Great wrenches Don. Is the letter “A” in the word CR”A”FTSM”A”N pointed or flat top?

Jim C.

 

[Outlawmws]

Not too long ago I completed the 1960 Craftsman Whitworth tool set. One of the last pieces I needed was the correct tool box. Thankfully I did find the box, and on a scale of 1 - 10, I'd give it an 8 - 8.5 or so. I was pretty happy about that. Anyway, in the last few months, I started working on the 1960 metric set. I figured the tool box would be tough to find again in good condition. Well, I lucked out and found one a couple days ago (not quite as nice but about a grade 7 - 7.5 give or take) just one town over from where I live. So the metric set is underway..... On a side note, I thought the period correct metric DOE and DBE wrenches would be easier to find than the Whitworth wrenches, but so far, that does not seem to be the case.

Jim C.

You mean like these?

 

[Jim C.]

You mean like these?

Maybe......are they pointed “A” or flat top “A?”

 

[Outlawmws]

Pointed A

 

[d42jeep]

So apparently the pointed A vs the rounded A is a dating tell on =V= wrenches. I'm sure that I am not the only person that would like to know exactly what dates are indicated by the two styles of A. Are there any other dating clues to be found? I'll take a look at the metric DBE wrenches later today.
-Don

 

[Bockscar]

Any info on this.... I kind of gathered it's a WWII box

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[d42jeep]

You have found a 41-B-1840 McAleer toolbox. These boxes housed many toolsets during WW2, including the Motor Vehicle Mechanics Tool Set and the General Mechanics Tool Set (GMTK). Here are some of mine.
-Don

 

[Bockscar]

You have found a 41-B-1840 McAleer toolbox. These boxes housed many toolsets during WW2, including the Motor Vehicle Mechanics Tool Set and the General Mechanics Tool Set (GMTK). Here are some of mine.
-Don

Thanks for the Info

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[Jim C.]

Pointed A

Great sets Outlaw!!! I’ll keep looking. I know they’re out there.

Jim C.

 

[Outlawmws]

So apparently the pointed A vs the rounded A is a dating tell on =V= wrenches. I'm sure that I am not the only person that would like to know exactly what dates are indicated by the two styles of A. Are there any other dating clues to be found? I'll take a look at the metric DBE wrenches later today.
-Don

Well, wrenches didn't have very distinctive markings that you could show on a catalog for instance, but ratchets...

That flex head I showed in that pic, has the pointed A.

Here are some more:

Top 3 are Flat top A reminiscent of the old Geometric lettering on the Long C tools from the 30's/40's.

Interestingly, those are generally newer than the Pointy A on the bottom two.

=V= or -V- is no real help:

Of the top 3, the Top and bottom are -V- the middle RHFT is =V=


The bottom two are =V=... So there was apparently overlap in the stamping.

I wonder if they had multiple factories, and possibly different tooling?

More examples tied to the catalog year ranges might tell the story...

Forgot the pic...

 

[d42jeep]

So apparently the pointed A vs the rounded A is a dating tell on =V= wrenches. I'm sure that I am not the only person that would like to know exactly what dates are indicated by the two styles of A. Are there any other dating clues to be found? I'll take a look at the metric DBE wrenches later today.
-Don

Here are the pictures of my Craftsman metric DBE wrenches. The 17MM/19MM does not have the pointed A whereas the 22MM/24MM does. I'm still hoping for the answer from Jim C. regarding =V= wrench dating.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Here are the pictures of my Craftsman metric DBE wrenches. The 17MM/19MM does not have the pointed A whereas the 22MM/24MM does. I'm still hoping for the answer from Jim C. regarding =V= wrench dating.
-Don

Don,

I'm interested in hearing the details as well.

I don't have much in the way of metric on my old Craftsman tools since the OWWM (Old Woodworking Machines) I have are all US made and thus no need for metric. But since I'm trying to put together some sets for my son and son-in-law and they live in a world where metric is literally a requirement with just about everything made overseas I'm going to start looking to add metric to my old Craftsman searches.

Mike

 

[d42jeep]

Mike,
I’ve done the same thing at my daughter and son in law’s house. They have the bulk of the Craftsman metric wrenches that I’ve run across.
-Don

 

[Ledman_70]

Anyone know anything about the age of manufacture of this all American machinists chest? I picked it up 3 years ago from a guy for $20. Thanks, Jeff.

 

[TheCraneGuy]

Here is some of what I have. I added the small hand-held box. I can’t remember the model number of it, but it’s vintage 1955.

The bigger box does not have any identification numbers stamped on it, so I’m guessing 1940-1945.

Either way, I am currently using both boxes at work. It’s hard to find anything newer that actually works and holds up.

I also have a taco wagon from 1977, being used in the garage for whatever comes it’s way.

 

[misterbill]

Your "big box" is a K55R and is from the 40s as you mentioned. I have the same box.

Bill

 

[Ford Farmer]

Couple of Kennedy 520's I pulled from a pile in my Grandfathers barn. There was a Waterloo Chest of nearly identical design also, but I left it. Full of tools too, a little snapon and some other random brands.

 

[d42jeep]

Your "big box" is a K55R and is from the 40s as you mentioned. I have the same box.

Bill

mrbill is modestly failing to mention that his box is over 80% filled with period correct tools from the master set that came in the box!
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

No Pics FF...

 

[TheCraneGuy]

Your "big box" is a K55R and is from the 40s as you mentioned. I have the same box.

Bill

Thank you misterbill. I have seen others talk about them but wasn’t sure what I had. I picked up two of these, along with a master tap and die set in the original wooden box. It is about 80% complete with the original pieces.

The boxes didn’t have keys, but found an old locksmith who helped me out.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with the second one. I have seen an intermediate box pictured from the same period. Might be nice to have a “complete” set at some point.


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[TheCraneGuy]

Couple of Kennedy 520's I pulled from a pile in my Grandfathers barn. There was a Waterloo Chest of nearly identical design also, but I left it. Full of tools too, a little snapon and some other random brands.

Would have loved to see the older Waterloo chest.


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[TheCraneGuy]

mrbill is modestly failing to mention that his box is over 80% filled with period correct tools from the master set that came in the box!

-Don

Definitely bow down...


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[Ford Farmer]

No Pics FF...

Just edited my post...again. Tried 3 devices and editing on my computer, still show up upside down. iPhone pics.

 

[Ford Farmer]

Would have loved to see the older Waterloo chest.


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I'm only in town for another day but I may go pull it out too.

 

[Jim C.]

Here are the pictures of my Craftsman metric DBE wrenches. The 17MM/19MM does not have the pointed A whereas the 22MM/24MM does. I'm still hoping for the answer from Jim C. regarding =V= wrench dating.
-Don

Hey Don,

I tried responding a couple times yesterday but for some reason, I couldn’t submit the posts. Anyway, without going into all the details again, I think it’s reasonable to say that Craftsman tools manufactured up to about 1967 were stamped with the pointed A.

Jim C.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. What is the vintage of the =V= wrench without the pointed A? I got the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that those were the ones you were looking for. I was hoping for details.
-Don

 

[Jim C.]

Thanks. What is the vintage of the =V= wrench without the pointed A? I got the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that those were the ones you were looking for. I was hoping for details.
-Don

The flat top A was produced after the pointed A. So any time around 1967 - 1968 and later, the flat top A would be generally correct if you were trying to put together a set of tools using a post 1967 catalog as a reference. But you still might see some over lap too. I have seen more than one set of wrenches and sockets in their original packaging with a mix of pointed A and flat top A stamps. Those tools frequently have the =V= manufacturer’s mark. Pointed A tools and many flat top A tools bear the =V= mark. I don’t remember exactly when it occurred, but at some time in the mid 1970s or so, the =V= (double line) mark changed to a -V- (single line) mark. Finally, “yes” I’m looking for metric wrenches with a =V= mark and a pointed A. Your 22mm x 24mm mostly fits the bill. That being said, earlier =V= pointed A wrenches, say from the late 1950s and early 1960s, usually have thinner shanks than the later 1960s wrenches.

Jim C.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Just edited my post...again. Tried 3 devices and editing on my computer, still show up upside down. iPhone pics.

FF,
With the iphone the default is to take the pics with the phone turned sideways (landscape mode). If you take them with the phone in the normal position it will rotate the pics unless you edit them to rotate and then save them. If you don't want to have to edit them (although with the pic sizes allowed here you may have to anyway) then take pics with your phone sideways and your "button" on your right. Hope that helps.

Mike

 

[d42jeep]

Jim,
Thanks again. Those are exactly the kind of details that I'm looking for. Those =V= wrenches covered such a long timespan and it seems that you have studied the more minute differences. I found this wrench in my Daughter and Son in law's toolbox this morning. It seems to have a rather narrow shank. Sorry for getting a little off topic.
-Don

 

[Jim C.]

Jim,
Thanks again. Those are exactly the kind of details that I'm looking for. Those =V= wrenches covered such a long timespan and it seems that you have studied the more minute differences. I found this wrench in my Daughter and Son in law's toolbox this morning. It seems to have a rather narrow shank. Sorry for getting a little off topic.
-Don

Hi Don,

That’s what I’m talking about. If I had to guess, your 13mm x 15mm wrench was probably manufactured before your 22mm x 24mm wrench. I’m basing that on the appearance of the shanks, but that’s not science or numbers confirmed. I never really measured various wrenches from different eras to determine if that’s true or not. It’s just my impression/observation. I also failed to mention, that along with thinner shanks, the actual walls (for lack of a better term) of the boxes on earlier wrenches also seemed to be thinner or less substantial. I guess the only way to show you what I mean is to post a picture or two. I’ll try to do that tonight if time permits.

Jim C.

 

[Ford Farmer]

The Waterloo


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[Ford Farmer]

FF,

With the iphone the default is to take the pics with the phone turned sideways (landscape mode). If you take them with the phone in the normal position it will rotate the pics unless you edit them to rotate and then save them. If you don't want to have to edit them (although with the pic sizes allowed here you may have to anyway) then take pics with your phone sideways and your "button" on your right. Hope that helps.



Mike

Thanks Mike. Actually took those photos in landscape. Did the same with the Waterloo box and no issues using Tapatalk....


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