The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[JoCoSawdust]

Hi

First of all, sorry for the awful quality on the photos....my cell ran out of battery

I have this Waterloo toolbox:

It is rather ugly and beat up, but it is complete (even comes with two working keys).

It also came with a tool tray, but this is to big and dont fit:

On the right side of the lower drawer, there are holes and traces of a square badge.
I have googled, and searched this forum, to learn that Waterloo Industries, not only made boxes for themselves, but also for other tool brands; Craftsman, Proto, New Briatain, S.K, MAC and probably many more

As I will restore it, I am looking for the correct badge... Are there any ways of narrowing it down to the correct badge? And if so, are there any known sources for reproductions of these?

Some samples I found that seem to fit the size and location of the badge:

Waterloo Industries

Blackhawk

New Britain

Proto

Thank you.

Targa. I have what appears to be the same box. Mine is badged Blackhawk. No clue if anybody makes repo badges for these or not.

 

[lilredex]

If anybody is interested, I started a new group on Facebook for Vintage Tool Chests / Boxes - if you would like to join - search groups Vintage Tool Boxes - Restore / Buy / Sell / Trade

If this is it, you should update your profile to show a Canadian location.....I almost didn't bother to look into it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500743976903487/forsaleposts/

 

[bmwrd0]

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

Oooo... Keep me posted on that one! Hopefully, it is not when my mother is in town.

Just checked, that should work out well for me. See you there!

 

[Outlawmws]

With a good photo and some photoshop or Gimp (shareware) time, more and more labels are being reproduced.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Located 2 potential fixes on CL last night. I'm hoping my bubble doesn't get burst on the S-K by finding out it's some kind of reproduction but it's so clean and intact it has me wondering. Met the seller and didn't try to haggle him down from his 25 buck asking price. Paint is great, zero dents, nothing on the tin hardware that a going over with NeverDull can't fix and the interior decal is damned near perfect. The leather handle is in great shape, no dry rot and is still pliable. I don't believe there's ever been a tool in this box. Barring finding out this is a reproduction, I'm very happy with this one.

Incidentally, my wife turned me on to the S-K listing as she saw it before I did. I not only have a new addiction but apparently I'm betrothed to an enabler.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Stop 2 today, same small town about 10 mins away from the S-K box. Crown logo carry box listed at 15 bucks. I was intending on trying to talk her down. Entered her house which was full of vintage Quiji boards and rabbits. Yes rabbits. While I looked at the box she said she needed a heavy trunk carried in from an out building into the rabbit shack/house and if I'd help her I could have the box. Done deal. She also had a beautiful Gerstner (which was lid open with a rabbit laying in it) that she wouldn't part with since it was her Grampa's. Stopped by the flea market after that and fed my Plombola virus with 3 DBEs for 8 bucks. Good day.

 

[Outlawmws]

Any markings on the lock?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Estate sale find $16

Classy looking box. Great find!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Located 2 potential fixes on CL last night. I'm hoping my bubble doesn't get burst on the S-K by finding out it's some kind of reproduction but it's so clean and intact it has me wondering. Met the seller and didn't try to haggle him down from his 25 buck asking price. Paint is great, zero dents, nothing on the tin hardware that a going over with NeverDull can't fix and the interior decal is damned near perfect. The leather handle is in great shape, no dry rot and is still pliable. I don't believe there's ever been a tool in this box. Barring finding out this is a reproduction, I'm very happy with this one.

Incidentally, my wife turned me on to the S-K listing as she saw it before I did. I not only have a new addiction but apparently I'm betrothed to an enabler.

Wow! Just. Wow! That looks showroom new. Sounds like your wife is a keeper! You should post those two boxes over on the 2018 Garage Sale Thread in the General Tool Discussion section. And in the S-K tools thread. There will be a lot of drooling going on!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Any markings on the lock?

USA Excelsior and something below that that I can't quite make out. The same marks on the latches.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Wow! Just. Wow! That looks showroom new. Sounds like your wife is a keeper! You should post those two boxes over on the 2018 Garage Sale Thread in the General Tool Discussion section. And in the S-K tools thread. There will be a lot of drooling going on!

Thanks and I'll do that. I'm having issues with searching for stuff here. I knew there had to be an S-K thread on here but typing S-K into the search engine told me no results. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Outlawmws]

S-K thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7198718#post7198718

And the lock appears to be period correct! that is an old one too! I'd say 30's

 

[JoCoSawdust]

S-K thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7198718#post7198718

And the lock appears to be period correct! that is an old one too! I'd say 30's

Thanks Outlaw. Glad I wasn't bamboozled. That thing must have lived a lonely life in a very dry clean climate. I'll post it over on the SK thread.

 

[RedVise]

. This is what it looks like freshened up and in use:

Well dang, my Cornwell box has been waiting a couple of years for me to refresh it, your looks tremendous. I might get motivated...
Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Thanks Outlaw. Glad I wasn't bamboozled. That thing must have lived a lonely life in a very dry clean climate. I'll post it over on the SK thread.

I have a lot of great (and uncommon, if not rare) tool boxes but I'm seriously jealous of your S-K box! That is probably the nicest I've ever seen. Well done!

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a lot of great (and uncommon, if not rare) tool boxes but I'm seriously jealous of your S-K box! That is probably the nicest I've ever seen. Well done!

Brian

I agree! but I will suggest trying to get a perfectly square pic without any glare, so we can try to get reproduction decals made?

That plus accurate dimensions across, corner to corner is about all that is needed. with some photo shop to clean it up!

I have a couple of well worn boxes with that badge, but mine are NOT in good shape.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Brian: Thanks. Beginners luck for me but it sure is fun to stumble across something that nice!

Outlaw: Will do on the pics and dimensions. Probably not till after the Christmas festivities but soon.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm hoping my bubble doesn't get burst on the S-K by finding out it's some kind of reproduction but it's so clean and intact it has me wondering.

I can understand why you'd wonder - it is exceptional. Near mint. But I highly doubt it's a repop. That would be quite costly to set up, which would imply a heavy marketing campaign to recoup, and I think someone here would've been on to it already.

That decal was used right up through 1947 when they went to the metal badges. I will post a photo of a decal from a smaller box I have from the same era over in the SK thread.

After the holidays, take some measurements and weigh it. It appears to be General Purpose Tool Chest No. 619 or 626. I will post a 1943 catalog excerpt and the specs in the SK thread.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks Lugz. Will do on the measurements and weight.

 

[Nfenimore]

This is my Snap On set I had the opportunity to buy a couple
Of years ago. In great shape.

 

[drivesitfar]

NF: nice looking box. maybe you'll have more time to post cause it looks like you've averaged a post every other month so far. looking forward to you joining us in our conversations.

ALL: well I could send out a bunch of emails to most of you to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great 2019, but since a lot of you check this thread daily I hope you see this even if you are not checking emails.

CHEERS!!

 

[Joe Mamma]

Thanks, would anyone know the model of this box or possibly the years this model was manufactured. I have looked on Snap-On website but I cannot see it listed.

Spanner, I just saw this post. Give me about a week, and I can tell you when it was available and the exact model number. It's a rare box.

If I don't post the information in this thread, feel free to PM me.

Joe Mamma

 

[Nfenimore]

Thank you and yes I will! I have some new to me wrenches enroute via eBay

 

[garthg]

Well dang, my Cornwell box has been waiting a couple of years for me to refresh it, your looks tremendous. I might get motivated...
Brian

It was just a weekend's work during the summer with an air grinder, some sanding discs, primer, and Rustoleum Sunrise Red. A little bit of hammering to straighten some of the drawers. I was aiming for functionality and not cosmetic perfection. This box was $20 at an estate sale and was quite rusty.

Home Depot sells cabinet door stays that fit the lid perfectly. Pop rivets hold the stay in place.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Acquisitions of the day. The Craftsman Gray and Reds seem scarce in my area. Really wanting a Gray/Red stack

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Acquisitions of the day. The Craftsman Gray and Reds seem scarce in my area. Really wanting a Gray/Red stack

More nice finds JoCo. You are really on a roll!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

More nice finds JoCo. You are really on a roll!

Thanks. This is addicting.

 

[LNKMK8]

Found this old Powrkraft box at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. Paid a whole $7.50 for it. It cleaned up pretty nicely.

 

[d42jeep]

Found this old Powrkraft box at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. Paid a whole $7.50 for it. It cleaned up pretty nicely.

Great box! That would be a nice addition to the Powr-Kraft thread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387224&highlight=Powr-Kraft
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

LNKMK8 , this is great! Never saw one like this. And given the price - YOU ****!

Are there handles on the sides?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Acquisitions of the day. The Craftsman Gray and Reds seem scarce in my area. Really wanting a Gray/Red stack

Maybe if I see a box in your area I like, you could pick it up for me and we could work out a trade...?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Maybe if I see a box in your area I like, you could pick it up for me and we could work out a trade...?

Sure. Always helps to be able to expand our hunting grounds.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Found this old Powrkraft box at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. Paid a whole $7.50 for it. It cleaned up pretty nicely.

Great looking box! I like the colors. Nice to see something other than red now and then.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: i'm not entirely sure these are vintage, but they are more than a few years old. these old PILL CARTS showed up and they are built out of aluminum and roll around pretty easily on these commercial type casters. some have aluminum drawers and some of the drawers have aluminum trays with plastic bins. i'll show more pics if anybody asks, but i was able to grab a few extra drawers too that I might make some nice cabinets from them when I have the talent to.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

ALL: i'm not entirely sure these are vintage, but they are more than a few years old. these old PILL CARTS showed up and they are built out of aluminum and roll around pretty easily on these commercial type casters. some have aluminum drawers and some of the drawers have aluminum trays with plastic bins. i'll show more pics if anybody asks, but i was able to grab a few extra drawers too that I might make some nice cabinets from them when I have the talent to.

Drives,
Nice haul! I had a chance to pick up a medical earlier this year for $30 each. I was planning on using one as a mobile base for my Dewalt planer. I didn't want to deal with rush hour traffic that particular evening. Of course, someone bought them all the next day. They came back on CL at $175 each. Not sure that guy ever sold any. I like your thinking with the extra drawers too.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tex: next time you might want to make a bit more effort chasing down an almost free medical cart cause these are usually built very well and they are not cheap either. I think the guy I bought mine from said they were $2500 each new which I don't doubt cause they are high quality aluminum and everything moves nicely.

I hope I get time to make something with the drawers or at least pass them on to somebody that will.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Neat little Wizard carry box.

drives: Love the medical carts. I used to have a couple but left them behind in a move years ago. Damned near bomb-proof.

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Neat little Wizard carry box.

drives: Love the medical carts. I used to have a couple but left them behind in a move years ago. Damned near bomb-proof.

Oh man, I love that. Sweet box! Do you have pics of the interior?

 

[zkling]

Thanks, would anyone know the model of this box or possibly the years this model was manufactured. I have looked on Snap-On website but I cannot see it listed.

Kra63, no longer in production. Extremely popular in Europe and Asia for mobile and pit boxes. 1990-early 2ks IIRC, it should be stamped on the back.

 

[Joe Mamma]

Hi Guys, this is my first post on here and my first Snap-On box. I bought the box used and made the frame for it to make it into a tool cart until such time that I get a roller cab. In Europe it’s not as easy to get Snap-On on boxes and I believe this particular box is pretty rare.

Thanks, would anyone know the model of this box or possibly the years this model was manufactured. I have looked on Snap-On website but I cannot see it listed.

Spanner, I think your Snap-On toolbox is a KRA63A or KRA63B. I think they are really the same thing.

I am not sure of the years it was sold, but KRA63A is listed in Snap-On catalog # 400 (with a printed United States copyright date of 1997) and KRA63B is listed in catalog # 600 (with a printed United States copyright date of 2001).

The specifications in the respective catalog descriptions show some VERY small differences between the KRA63A and KRA63B. For example, KRA63A has a height of 20 3/4” and KRA63B has a height of 20 13/16”.

The retail price of the KRA63B was $995.00 in 2002.

I attached some pdf copies of the descriptions and pictures from Snap-On catalog # 400 and catalog # 600. I also attached a few pages of the Dealer price sheet (suggested prices that customers pay the dealers) which was effective November 2002. The catalog descriptions also list the various clips you used to be able to get for the toolbox. The price sheet attachment has the cover page (so you can see the date) and the prices for the clips in addition to the toolbox price.

Also, here is a link to an old garagejournal.com thread with additional information, including information on the clip system from toolclip.com.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220003

Let me know if you want any other information. I am happy to help and it is nice to see that the box went to a good home (judging from your pictures).

* I was not able to attach the pdf documents because the file sizes were too large. Feel free to send me you email address and I will send you the 3 attachments.

Joe Mamma