Let's Hear it for the Old Gray/Red Sears Craftsman Tool Chests and Cabinets (60s/70s)

[txlonghorn1989]

I posted this in the Craigslist thread, but thought I would post here as well. Looks to be in pretty good condition.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/tls/d/craftsman-vintage-60s/6528482424.html

That's a nice looking older 9D. Appears it's been sold the ad is gone. Out of curiosity, do you recall what he was asking?

 

[6pony6]

That's a nice looking older 9D. Appears it's been sold the ad is gone. Out of curiosity, do you recall what he was asking?

He had $100 or best offer. I would have taken a drive if it was a little closer.

 

[pop pop]

Not to worry. It went to a good home. Has the electrical plug on the right side!

 

[Rileysan]

Not to worry. It went to a good home. Has the electrical plug on the right side!

I trust that means you? At $100, you get a "you ****" from me!

Brian

 

[pop pop]

Still looking for the key. Even Waterloo didn't have it. Chicago Lock and Key 1J07.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Still looking for the key. Even Waterloo didn't have it. Chicago Lock and Key 1J07.

I wonder if that lock is original. Did you ask Waterloo?

Also, is the electrical plug original? If so I didn't know that Craftsman sold cabinets with them. Would you mind posting a pic of that side of the cabinet?

 

[Offcenter12]

This top box is a $50.00 CL find that was just dirty from 50 years of use, but cleaned up beautifully with polishing compound and some wax. It's stamped 1967. The rollaway was another CL for $65.00 with a little rust on one side, but it has the fold up tray and came with some useful tools scattered amongst a lot of junk. Still working on this one.

John

 

[Rileysan]

This top box is a $50.00 CL find that was just dirty from 50 years of use, but cleaned up beautifully with polishing compound and some wax. It's stamped 1967. The rollaway was another CL for $65.00 with a little rust on one side, but it has the fold up tray and came with some useful tools scattered amongst a lot of junk. Still working on this one.

John

Nice find! Dare I say that I've made several trips north the the Seattle area to pick up these boxes? It's nice to know someone else here in the Pacific NW appreciates them.

Your roller is one of my favorites because of the drawer slides, which are the smoothest and strongest of any bearing the name "Craftsman" - before or since. The were sold from the early to mid 60s, and did not have date codes stamped on them. The 3 drawer is common, but the other configurations are not. Rest assured that if an early one comes up, I'll be all over it!

Brian

 

[SAA44-40]

This is kinda local. Price is listed as obo. Can anyone chime in with decade of manufacture and assess a rough value? How is the quality?

 

[Offcenter12]

Hi Brian,
I was in the market and these just happened to show up for the right price. Agree on the rollaway drawers; was pleasantly surprised to find actual rollers!

SA,
That top box looks to be a similar vintage as my '67, though the badge is on the opposite side. I'm a novice compared to most on here so take my estimate lightly, but I'd guess 60s vintage for both, possibly early 70s.

John

 

[SAA44-40]

Thanks Offcenter- how is the quality? I feel $75 is fair for both

 

[Offcenter12]

Hi SA,
They're good solid quality, definitely home worthy and probably quite a few shops when they first came out. $75.00 for both would be a steal out here in Seattle.

John

 

[Rileysan]

Hi SA,
They're good solid quality, definitely home worthy and probably quite a few shops when they first came out. $75.00 for both would be a steal out here in Seattle.

John

The top box is common, so offer whatever you feel is fair. The bottom cabinet is uncommon from any era, and I wouldn't think twice about giving $100 for it, though I'd begin with an offer of $75. The roller is late 60s to early 70s - the clue being location of the lock. In the early 60s, the lock is located on the cabinet door. The top chest could be any era, but since I can't see the inside of the lid or the handles on the sides, I can't tell you any more.

As Offcenter stated, $75 would be a steal. As a pair, offer $100 but don't be offended if the seller declines. $125-$150 is what I'd expect to these to sell for.

Brian

 

[pop pop]

I wonder if that lock is original. Did you ask Waterloo?

Also, is the electrical plug original? If so I didn't know that Craftsman sold cabinets with them. Would you mind posting a pic of that side of the cabinet?

Yes, I spoke with Waterloo and they used Chicago Lock and Key way back, but no keys now, nor could they locate the key number. I'll get pictures soon and post. Surprised today when I found it has roller drawers that lift out rather than drawer slides.

 

[Rileysan]

Yes, I spoke with Waterloo and they used Chicago Lock and Key way back, but no keys now, nor could they locate the key number. I'll get pictures soon and post. Surprised today when I found it has roller drawers that lift out rather than drawer slides.

Did you ever post photos here? I can't find any. Just curious if it's a 3 drawer roller or another size?

Brian

 

[Ledman_70]

Been looking for a couple 7, 8, or 9 rollers for a couple months, just got this 7 drawer the other day for $40, along with the Craftsman machinist missing it's drawer pulls for another $10. Already cleaned up both and the new one has replaced my 5 drawer in my small woc. Still looking for the pulls for the machinist chest if any knows of availability. The roller is dated 11/75 and still has it's coveted chevron emblem in good shape.

 

[Cruzan80]

Look at Shapeways. People have designed pulls for 3D printing.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[jeffmoss26]

Still looking for the key. Even Waterloo didn't have it. Chicago Lock and Key 1J07.

I will run that code and see what I can come up with.

 

[pop pop]

Did you ever post photos here? I can't find any. Just curious if it's a 3 drawer roller or another size?

Brian

Here's a two part post. First is of the new to me bottom cabinet. Note that the narrow drawers have slides while the wide ones have rollers. The wide drawers lift up and out.

 

[pop pop]

This is the top box from another purchase. I need a new lock here. Waterloo sent a picture of the latch hook that was double bent, kinda Z shape. My other boxes have a straight latch hook. Any idea what is correct? Box is 65282 and the "reach" or depth of the lock is ~3/4".

 

[pop pop]

Jeff, here are a few pics of the strange lock on the bottom chest.

 

[Bockscar]

Jeff, here are a few pics of the strange lock on the bottom chest.

I guess that is a file cabinet style lock...the same on my bottom box.....Waterloo does not have a key for it.....I took the box to a locksmith and they could not find a key for it even with the code so they rekeyed it

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[jeffmoss26]

Yep that is a Chicago single sided file cabinet lock. Should have the blank at work. I will check tomorrow.

 

[bubinga]

Here's a two part post. First is of the new to me bottom cabinet. Note that the narrow drawers have slides while the wide ones have rollers. The wide drawers lift up and out.

Nice shape, Is that the one that was $10.00 on CL.
Top 4 drawers NO sag either, I have Seen a few of them where the center of the top 4 drawers and sagged toward the center.
I like how it has drawers going all the way to the bottom too.
Pet peeve of mine is those bottom bins.
IDK, maybe it's just me, But I always thought they were sort of a waste.
Im still kicking My self in the **** for selling my bottom, with the 18" husky top. at least I did get the $300.00 I was asking for it.
The husky top was Circa 1995, and full 18 deep, and Heavy duty.
Pretty sure it was the grey and red bottom.
Think I gave $150.00 for it. But it was Totally like NEW at the time.
Goof Ball I was working for for a while let the lift down on it, while a few drawers were open, (Told me "I needed to watch that", "I need to.....you're the Jag-off that let the lift down".)
That's why a few if the drawers look bent. I hd to straighten it considerably.
What is that bottom, about a 1975 year?
I'll look for a picture.

Thanks for reading..............................

 

[pop pop]

Nice shape, Is that the one that was $10.00 on CL.
Top 4 drawers NO sag either, I have Seen a few of them where the center of the top 4 drawers and sagged toward the center.
I like how it has drawers going all the way to the bottom too.
Pet peeve of mine is those bottom bins.
IDK, maybe it's just me, But I always thought they were sort of a waste.
Im still kicking My self in the **** for selling my bottom, with the 18" husky top. at least I did get the $300.00 I was asking for it.
The husky top was Circa 1995, and full 18 deep, and Heavy duty.
Pretty sure it was the grey and red bottom.
Think I gave $150.00 for it. But it was Totally like NEW at the time.
Goof Ball I was working for for a while let the lift down on it, while a few drawers were open, (Told me "I needed to watch that", "I need to.....you're the Jag-off that let the lift down".)
That's why a few if the drawers look bent. I hd to straighten it considerably.
What is that bottom, about a 1975 year?
I'll look for a picture.

Thanks for reading..............................

Post 1240

 

[vinceg101]

Bubinga,
That bottom is definitely later; Craftsman was still making the grey & red cabinets up to 1976. After that it were they black & red starting in about 1977, but the key to a visual clue is the logo. The Chevron logo was used up to 1977 (there were even used on I think the first year of the black & red boxes), after that was the rectangular Sears/Craftsman logos still on the drawers.
Your cabinet here came after all that; if I had to guess I would say yours is early '80's. The construction of the carcass is still the same as the older '70's (see the way the corners flare up at the top and down at the bottom) and the casters are like the older ones. Also the amount of drawers identifies it further; only the newer ones (and the Craftsman Commercials) had that many drawers in the bottom cabinets.

If Sears serial #'d and dated them the same way as the older boxes, you can find a four digit date stamp on the bottom of the right side rail. Look with a flashlight as they are sometimes hard to spot at first. The model # will be at the top of that rail.

I agree about those '90's Husky chests; I have one like yours only all red from 1995 and it is awesome. Full 18" deep, full extension ball bearing glides and very solid. I have dreams of finding its' lower mate someday; but it seems Husky boxes of this vintage are rarer than the Craftsmans. Here is mine when I picked it up the same day as the two Lyons cabinets; the Husky top chest came with the black & red Intermediate drawer cabinet also (I think this goes with your chest).

 

[6pony6]

Bubinga,

That bottom is definitely later; Craftsman was still making the grey & red cabinets up to 1976. After that it were they black & red starting in about 1977, but the key to a visual clue is the logo. The Chevron logo was used up to 1977 (there were even used on I think the first year of the black & red boxes), after that was the rectangular Sears/Craftsman logos still on the drawers.

There are always a few exceptions to the rules. Here’s my 10 drawer top chest from 05-76 with the rectangular logo.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bubinga]

Bubinga,
That bottom is definitely later; Craftsman was still making the grey & red cabinets up to 1976. After that it were they black & red starting in about 1977, but the key to a visual clue is the logo. The Chevron logo was used up to 1977 (there were even used on I think the first year of the black & red boxes), after that was the rectangular Sears/Craftsman logos still on the drawers.
Your cabinet here came after all that; if I had to guess I would say yours is early '80's. The construction of the carcass is still the same as the older '70's (see the way the corners flare up at the top and down at the bottom) and the casters are like the older ones. Also the amount of drawers identifies it further; only the newer ones (and the Craftsman Commercials) had that many drawers in the bottom cabinets.

If Sears serial #'d and dated them the same way as the older boxes, you can find a four digit date stamp on the bottom of the right side rail. Look with a flashlight as they are sometimes hard to spot at first. The model # will be at the top of that rail.

I agree about those '90's Husky chests; I have one like yours only all red from 1995 and it is awesome. Full 18" deep, full extension ball bearing glides and very solid. I have dreams of finding its' lower mate someday; but it seems Husky boxes of this vintage are rarer than the Craftsman. Here is mine when I picked it up the same day as the two Lyons cabinets; the Husky top chest came with the black & red Intermediate drawer cabinet also (I think this goes with your chest).

Sounds good, Thanks, Wish l had not sold it.............
This 2 sets are nice,
"I thought it was your set at first, but this is from a internet auction.

 

[pop pop]

This is the top box from another purchase. I need a new lock here. Waterloo sent a picture of the latch hook that was double bent, kinda Z shape. My other boxes have a straight latch hook. Any idea what is correct? Box is 65282 and the "reach" or depth of the lock is ~3/4".

Anybody own one of these? Pic of the latch?

 

[Ledman_70]

So after looking for weeks and finding a 7d roller a week ago, I found a 6 over 9 d stack on OfferUp Thursday for $50. They need painted, but the top box still has the key and both are dated 1975. I will paint the 6d top box to put on my 5d to sell and put the 9d into service. I'd like to keep them all but like the rest of you there's just no room.

 

[bubinga]

So after looking for weeks and finding a 7d roller a week ago, I found a 6 over 9 d stack on OfferUp Thursday for $50. They need painted, but the top box still has the key and both are dated 1975. I will paint the 6d top box to put on my 5d to sell and put the 9d into service. I'd like to keep them all but like the rest of you there's just no room.

Good Deal!
Damn good price,
I feel Y'a on the no room, trust me.

 

[Randy Mann]

I have a gray top chest with three red drawers from the early 70's. Does anyone know what lock it would use? Also, where would the date stamp be? I looked all over the outside and didn't see anything? Thanks for any help.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I have a gray top chest with three red drawers from the early 70's. Does anyone know what lock it would use? Also, where would the date stamp be? I looked all over the outside and didn't see anything? Thanks for any help.

What exactly do you mean by "what lock it would use"? The date should be stamped in the top tray look front left corner. It will be MM-YY and probably just beneath the "Made in USA" stamp.

We like pics by the way.

 

[vinceg101]

There are always a few exceptions to the rules. Here’s my 10 drawer top chest from 05-76 with the rectangular logo.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is interesting because I've seen some that are the opposite: red & black with the older chevron logo.
It starts to make me wonder if either that logo was replaced at some point with a newer one or Sears had multiple manufacturers they sourced the chests from. It might be possible that in the case of the latter, when Sears made the model update they might have done it mid-year run and not all vendors implemented the change at the same time. Kind of like with cars when they make updates during a model year run; you need to know the exact month to identify what exact part you need.
Either way, chests and boxes made in the cusp years of 1976 and 1977 are going to be a mixed bag; regardless though even if the colors are different they were still made the same: like tanks which is what make these such great bargains compared to newer boxes. Even up into the '80's they were still made pretty well and it's not until the '90's that the quality started to slip. Anything they make today is almost shameful in relation to what they charge for them; if I wanted a cheap Chinese made box I'll buy a US General from HF at a fraction of the price.

 

[Ledman_70]

I'm a newbie on these old boxes, but can someone explain this box listed on the Facebook marketplace? Top is ok, but the roller baffles me!

 

[bubinga]

I'm a newbie on these old boxes, but can someone explain this box listed on the Facebook marketplace? Top is ok, but the roller baffles me!

What baffles you?
It's a nice looking set, But I don't care for the rollers with the Bins on the bottom!
It's a waste of space IMO.

 

[Ledman_70]

What's baffling is the roller has plank sides instead of the usual recessed sides, the handle is wrong and the garage door lock is in the door instead of the cabinet itself. I just wonder if it's an early roller cabinet.

 

[taumac]

What baffles you?
It's a nice looking set, But I don't care for the rollers with the Bins on the bottom!
It's a waste of space IMO.

They can be but I had bunch of bulky stuff which made them work pretty good.

 

[bubinga]

They can be but I had bunch of bulky stuff which made them work pretty good.

Oh yeah, I mean I find Items to stow in there, But personally would rather have drawers all the way to the bottom.

What's baffling is the roller has plank sides instead of the usual recessed sides, the handle is wrong and the garage door lock is in the door instead of the cabinet itself. I just wonder if it's an early roller cabinet.

either that, or Craftsman bade on another makers box.
It does look odd for A craftsman bottom.
Edit,
Drawers sure look to be craftsman brand?????

 

[Ledman_70]

The drawers definitely look correct, but the cabinet looks totally incorrect.