The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[davethorik]

It’s difficult to tell, most of the time. If the Kennedys are brown it’s very unlikely that they were military. Ones with original olive paint are much more likely. Yours does have the single circle like the Simonsen boxes but the shape of the end towers exactly matches our mystery Navy boxes. My Kennedy Navy NAF box was painted grey on the interior. Kennedy boxes with metal handles were made after 1949.
-Don

Don, I took a closer look at my box. Due to some drips I can see inside the box, it appears hand-painted brown with a white stripe on the highest flat point, at a later time. The bottom of the box matches the interior. There also appears to be faint remnants of a name hand-painted on one lid, possibly obscured by brown coat.

 

[d42jeep]

Don, I took a closer look at my box. Due to some drips I can see inside the box, it appears hand-painted brown with a white stripe on the highest flat point, at a later time. The bottom of the box matches the interior. There also appears to be faint remnants of a name hand-painted on one lid, possibly obscured by brown coat.

It wouldn’t have been unusual to have hand painted markings on a military box. These old boxes have probably mostly been repainted by various owners since the war but with a little digging it’s usually possible to determine the original color. I found traces of olive paint on my NAF box before I painted it.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

It wouldn’t have been unusual to have hand painted markings on a military box. These old boxes have probably mostly been repainted by various owners since the war but with a little digging it’s usually possible to determine the original color. I found traces of olive paint on my NAF box before I painted it.
-Don

I suspect there are a lot of us who love the old pics Don. Please keep sharing them! As always, you find and have the coolest stuff.

 

[garthg]

Wow, yours looks great! I wonder what the difference in the emblems means, older - newer?

Older. I think mine dates from the 1950's.

 

[d42jeep]

I suspect there are a lot of us who love the old pics Don. Please keep sharing them! As always, you find and have the coolest stuff.

Thanks. Here is another picture of the U.K. mystery Navy cantilever box showing the Navy label. The partial wartime S-K set was in the box when purchased.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Left home at the crack of dawn to drive 1.5 hrs to buy a 10 drawer Craftsman grey and red for 30 bucks as agreed upon last night. By the time I got there somebody else had beat me to it. Not too happy with the seller but hated to waste the trip so brought this home for 20 bucks. No branding on it as far as I can tell so far. Obviously pimped out with the auto badges. Seems well made, looks like a late 30s C-man knock off to me. Heavy gauge steel, all drawers work well, garage door is there but needs some tweaking on the guides. Any clues or did I waste a 20? Thanks.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

And driving home from my failed Craftsman red and gray trip I stopped at a garage sale. It was starting to rain so the seller was ready to pack it in. Picked up this Craftsman for 5 bucks. I've dubbed it The Green Weenie but it's in overall good shape. Needs stripped down and some body work done. I'm assuming the 2 screws in the bottom front corners mean a busted spot weld. Hoping I can preserve the heritage badge when removing the green paint. This find salvaged my morning trip.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Pulled this Blackhawk out of a North Georgia landfill at least 20 years ago. Caked with mud but hey it was free. Stopped by the carwash on my way home, sprayed it down and it's been storing drill bits ever since. Motivated by what I'm seeing on this thread, she'll get a face lift this summer. Good tool box.

 

[dkroth]

Pulled this Blackhawk out of a North Georgia landfill at least 20 years ago. Caked with mud but hey it was free. Stopped by the carwash on my way home, sprayed it down and it's been storing drill bits ever since. Motivated by what I'm seeing on this thread, she'll get a face lift this summer. Good tool box.

Facelift? It's too nice for that. How about a simple cleaning and wax? Maybe $10 for a fresh, shiny lock?





.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Pulled this Blackhawk out of a North Georgia landfill at least 20 years ago. Caked with mud but hey it was free. Stopped by the carwash on my way home, sprayed it down and it's been storing drill bits ever since. Motivated by what I'm seeing on this thread, she'll get a face lift this summer. Good tool box.

That box looks like a big brother to one I just did. I suggest a Gulf Racing theme.

 

[smokeyburb]

Pulled this Blackhawk out of a North Georgia landfill at least 20 years ago...she'll get a face lift this summer. Good tool box.

That's a nice looking box, I'd keep using it "as is." Similar layout to a Penncraft I use for miscellaneous stuff, but MUCH better condition.


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[Smokeshow69]

Left home at the crack of dawn to drive 1.5 hrs to buy a 10 drawer Craftsman grey and red for 30 bucks as agreed upon last night. By the time I got there somebody else had beat me to it. Not too happy with the seller but hated to waste the trip so brought this home for 20 bucks. No branding on it as far as I can tell so far. Obviously pimped out with the auto badges. Seems well made, looks like a late 30s C-man knock off to me. Heavy gauge steel, all drawers work well, garage door is there but needs some tweaking on the guides. Any clues or did I waste a 20? Thanks.

That is an early 70’s Waterloo made box. They are well made boxes. You did fine for the price. Your green painted heritage craftsman box is also a good deal! Not a you **** in either box but you most certainly is not overpay. You can see an example of a top chest that another member posted that he pulled out of a dump in a post following yours.


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[JoCoSawdust]

Facelift? It's too nice for that. How about a simple cleaning and wax? Maybe $10 for a fresh, shiny lock?





.

Oh it'll be a minor face lift for this one. I've never even had the drawers out so I'm sure a good deep clean and lubrication will help the drawers. The front left corner is a bit bent (probably from being tossed in the landfill) that I'll straighten out so closing it can be a one-handed affair and yes, definitely a new lock.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That is an early 70’s Waterloo made box. They are well made boxes. You did fine for the price. Your green painted heritage craftsman box is also a good deal! Not a you **** in either box but you most certainly is not overpay. You can see an example of a top chest that another member posted that he pulled out of a dump in a post following yours.

Thanks for the info. I was guessing Waterloo based on the plethora of information I've been soaking up on this thread and the handles looked 70's-ish to me. I think this box will be my first full-resto i.e. it needs some body work done, sanded down, painted etc. I've refurbished a lot of old machines but never a box so if I screw something up it won't be a monumental loss. I've dubbed this one the "Foolmobile". This one will be a place holder until the Tool Box Gods deem me worthy to find a Toolmobile in some little old ladies garage sale for a price I can live with.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That's a nice looking box, I'd keep using it "as is." Similar layout to a Penncraft I use for miscellaneous stuff, but MUCH better condition.


That's a cool box with a ton of character! Gotta love those shallow drawers.

 

[Smokeshow69]

That is an early 70’s Waterloo made box. They are well made boxes. You did fine for the price. Your green painted heritage craftsman box is also a good deal! Not a you **** in either box but you most certainly is not overpay. You can see an example of a top chest that another member posted that he pulled out of a dump in a post following yours.



Thanks for the info. I was guessing Waterloo based on the plethora of information I've been soaking up on this thread and the handles looked 70's-ish to me. I think this box will be my first full-resto i.e. it needs some body work done, sanded down, painted etc. I've refurbished a lot of old machines but never a box so if I screw something up it won't be a monumental loss. I've dubbed this one the "Foolmobile". This one will be a place holder until the Tool Box Gods deem me worthy to find a Toolmobile in some little old ladies garage sale for a price I can live with.

Feel free to check out my pressteel tool box thread. There are plenty of tool mobiles in it [emoji51]


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[JoCoSawdust]

Feel free to check out my pressteel tool box thread. There are plenty of tool mobiles in it [emoji51]


That statement is like a "Free Puppies" sign on a blacked out van. I'd never even heard of Plomb till I found this site now I'm consumed with it. (heading over the Pressteel thread now because I don't know any better)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's a slippery slope

 

[Rileysan]

Feel free to check out my pressteel tool box thread. There are plenty of tool mobiles in it [emoji51]


That statement is like a "Free Puppies" sign on a blacked out van. I'd never even heard of Plomb till I found this site now I'm consumed with it. (heading over the Pressteel thread now because I don't know any better)

The first one's free, little boy!

 

[Outlawmws]

These guys can be worse than dope peddlers!

 

[Smokeshow69]

It's a slippery slope

Dare I say it is a greased precipice with a bunch of forum members standing at the edge willing to push you off the edge [emoji51] the only way you could go down it quicker is if you where shot from a cannon [emoji23]


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[bmwrd0]

Toolboxes are the ultimate crack.

 

[Rileysan]

Toolboxes are the ultimate crack.

And we all seem to be each other's dealer!

Speaking of which, I'm sorry to have missed you in Albany but the NWDRA high performance swap meet is coming to Vancouver in January. That's where my first Craftsman Heritage stack came from. It even still has the vendor's pass stuck to the top chest!


Brian

 

[Smokeshow69]

And we all seem to be each other's dealer!

Speaking of which, I'm sorry to have missed you in Albany but the NWDRA high performance swap meet is coming to Vancouver in January. That's where my first Craftsman Heritage stack came from. It even still has the vendor's pass stuck to the top chest!


Brian

Is that a certain spray bombed 6 drawer top chest ?


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[Rileysan]

Is that a certain spray bombed 6 drawer top chest ?


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The swap meet find was a 3d top chest. The 6d is the "crack" I'm dealing to you

 

[RiseAbove]

A few of my toolboxes.

Craftsman 6500 Toolbox. Always loved these little boxes.

'78 Snap-On KRA-58. Gonna leave this as it is...just throw some cork in the drawers and either clear coat or wax it.

'64 Snap-On KRA-56A (not pictured). Been painted all kinds of colors! Planning to strip the paint and restore it.

 

[Provincial]

I recently saw a smaller Snap-On tool chest/roller that had drawers that have a slope to the front below the full-width drawer handle/lip. I don't remember seeing this style. It appeared to be older, but not pre-1950's older.

 

[d42jeep]

I was recently generously gifted this small green box by GJ member Shiftless. The clasps are made by Eagle. Any guesses on the manufacturer?
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

These guys can be worse than dope peddlers!

How very true Outlaw. They reel you in with the little things like 1/4" socket sets in really cool metal boxes and before you know it you're grazing through flea markets with a vacant look in your eye in a desperate search for a 1228 pebble combo wrench.

 

[Rileysan]

How very true Outlaw. They reel you in with the little things like 1/4" socket sets in really cool metal boxes and before you know it you're grazing through flea markets with a vacant look in your eye in a desperate search for a 1228 pebble combo wrench.

Oh yeah - you're hooked.

 

[Bigplum]

Is there a tool box addiction help group or is this it ?

 

[Farmer J.]

Is there a tool box addiction help group or is this it ?

Yes. This is the group that helps you to become addicted...

 

[nypdblue]

Estate sale find $16

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Estate sale find $16

Great find and only $16!!!!

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Estate sale find $16

That’s a great find! Congrats!

 

[smokeyburb]

Yes. This is the group that helps you to become addicted...

I used to think it was only me, but then I found this place, and I found out I'm really NORMAL.

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[JoCoSawdust]

Thoughts? Available in my area but I'm new to the box ID business and this is throwing me.

 

[Rileysan]

Thoughts? Available in my area but I'm new to the box ID business and this is throwing me.

That is a Huot 10 drawer top chest. The embossing on the front cover shows a sort of oval "swoosh" (next to the "45" decal on the right) that would normally hold their decal.

They are very well made boxes and a favorite of mine.

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

Jo: yep it's a HUOT. also welcome to GJ and sounds and looks like you are HOOKED so just hang on and enjoy the ride.

ALL: I found out the cure for not buying every cool vintage tool box that is being sold. KEEP MY WALLET EMPTY and I don't buy them with visa/Mc. otherwise asking anybody on this thread if you SHOULD BUY A TOOLBOX you are looking at is usually going to get you the same answer. HELL YES and maybe WHY NOT and put it back on you.

hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That is a Huot 10 drawer top chest. The embossing on the front cover shows a sort of oval "swoosh" (next to the "45" decal on the right) that would normally hold their decal.

They are very well made boxes and a favorite of mine.

Brian

Thanks Riley. I knew I'd seen the oval and "swoosh" in here as I've been going through the 500 pages of this thread but I'm honestly on a bit of information overload at the moment. Sooner or later the info will settle in and be more accessible in my gray matter.

drives..thanks for the second opinion and the welcome. And yes I'm hooked. 6 "new" boxes have somehow crawled into my shop in the past 10 days or so and this Huot is probably coming home with me if the owner isn't married to his initial asking price. I'll be trying drives temptation resistance method. I'm going to be living in a tool box if I don't figure out how to step on the brakes.