The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks for the education on the wall cabinets Rileysan. I'm surprised they first showed up that early.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes, that certainly helps narrow down the 1948-1952 range I had reported on the 'Heritage Love' thread (one of those threads that still languishes with inactivity due to its location up in the General Discussion section) after my wall cabinet find last year, linked here.

 

[bmwrd0]

Over the last few weeks, I picked up two boxes that I have no real interest in but wanted what was in them. And they were cheap enough that I was cool with this.

I found this on half price day at an estate sale, and it had the little sliding drawer in it. So, I ponied up the 12.50 and lugged it home. It isn't in bad shape, except it is missing the top! You can't see it as it has been painted over, but it has the Heritage badge, it is straight but it is missing a few handles. I will eventually swap out some of the drawers with mine, which is pretty beat up, and keep the pulls. There was a bit of good stuff in there, mostly good switches and things like that.
Also, picked this up for $25:

(The local college football teams colors are orange and black, so I guess the old owner was a fan?) I need another machinists chest like I need another hole in my head, but when it's filled like this:

It is hard to pass. Snap-on ratchet, Fleet socket set with RHFT rat, a full set of Craftsman metric... mostly newer stuff, but I will flip it.

 

[Outlawmws]

BMW, you could make that 10 drawer with the missing top into either a Mid box, OR build it into a bench or rolling unit... Just Sayin'

Another possibility is a truck box built in unit.

 

[Rileysan]

I was fortunate enough to have picked this up a couple weeks ago. At least two other GJ members have been aware of it for more than a month (both BMWRD0 and Smokeshow made a point of telling me about it). I didn't have time to drive more than an hour to pick it up so I never called. After 4 weeks, the seller dropped the price to $75 and I couldn't ignore it any longer!

Wartime Craftsman open top machinists' chest (catalog no. E 6542)

The entire frame is made from plywood and was covered in "genuine Fabrikoid" (1943) and "Fabricoid" (1944), which is just a fancy word for fake leather. The drawers are sheet metal and covered in felt.

This specific model was advertised in 1943-44 only and I suspect it was born out of the lack of available materials during the war. By 1945, the plywood frame box disappears from the catalogs altogether.

This box has been well taken care of and other than the paint splatter, I couldn't have found a better example!

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Fantastic condition. That fabricoid must be tuff!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Great pickup Brian! First time I've ever seen one of these.

On another subject, I read yesterday a recent comment where you said you have the entire Craftsman catalog catalog (is that redundant?) on DVD. Mind if I ask where you came by that?

 

[txlonghorn1989]

BMW, you could make that 10 drawer with the missing top into either a Mid box, OR build it into a bench or rolling unit... Just Sayin'

Another possibility is a truck box built in unit.

That would be one heck of a middie Outlaw! I like the idea!!

Nice finds bmw! There are often times I wish I lived closer to parts of the country where you find stuff like this and it is often available to buy at 50% off on the 2nd day of estate sales! ;-)

 

[bmwrd0]

It's mostly a matter of looking and having time. I wish I lived in an area with a good weekly swap meet like I did growing up.

 

[Rileysan]

Great pickup Brian! First time I've ever seen one of these.

On another subject, I read yesterday a recent comment where you said you have the entire Craftsman catalog catalog (is that redundant?) on DVD. Mind if I ask where you came by that?

Hi! It was sold by a Craftsman collector who spent a great deal of time and money to buy and scan every catalog from 1927-2013. He sold them on eBay but eventually pulled them because of criticism over his price. They are no longer available.

Brian

 

[1964 Jim]

This is my favorite old tool box I have. My Grandpa made this out of old Canada dry ginger ale and Morton salt crates in the 50's. He was a machinist and kept all of his drill bits and files in it. I enjoy seeing it every day.

 

[Outlawmws]

This is my favorite old tool box I have. My Grandpa made this out of old Canada dry ginger ale and Morton salt crates in the 50's. He was a machinist and kept all of his drill bits and files in it. I enjoy seeing it every day.

That is an awesome box and and awesome family heirloom Jim!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

This is my favorite old tool box I have. My Grandpa made this out of old Canada dry ginger ale and Morton salt crates in the 50's. He was a machinist and kept all of his drill bits and files in it. I enjoy seeing it every day.

One of the coolest boxes on this thread! The family background makes it priceless.

 

[Rileysan]

Adding to my list of never-ending projects is this unusual cabinet:

Huot Model 400 "Tuldex".

Huot describes is as "... the most modern and advanced method of tool-indexing and care available today". I'll let you read the rest of the marketing fluff. It's quite interesting! I have a limited number of digital catalogs (1956, 71, 80, & 85) and found the ad in the 1956 catalog. However, it does not appear in the 1971 or newer catalogs, so I think it was short-lived.

Smokeshow called me about it while we were at opposite ends of the Portland Swap meet. After his description, I asked him to buy it for me, which he did ($50). Hours later, I had a hell of a time locating the vendor amongst the thousands of other vendors but once I found it, I was stoked!

It will make a nice addition to the rest of my Huot collection, including the matching stack in the final photo.

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I like the ad. "For the highly complex cars of today". If they only knew.

 

[6pony6]

What is this thing?


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[thehorse13]

What is this thing?


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Did you pick this up from an auction house in Loudon County, VA? I could have sworn that I saw this rig on a recent online auction.

 

[Outlawmws]

I like the ad. "For the highly complex cars of today". If they only knew.

Compared to the old Model T's they were "highly complex"

 

[6pony6]

Did you pick this up from an auction house in Loudon County, VA? I could have sworn that I saw this rig on a recent online auction.

No. I came across it on my local marketplace. I didn’t even go look at it.


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[txlonghorn1989]

It's mostly a matter of looking and having time. I wish I lived in an area with a good weekly swap meet like I did growing up.

I'm retired. I have the time and I look. One thing is I don't go to garage and estate sales if they're not advertising tools that interest me. Not that many advertise tools at all and vises are even rarer. Although the homeowner type vises show up often enough but are of no interest.

 

[tombell572]

Brian, that Craftsman box is great. Union Chest Company up in Rochester and then LeRoy, NY made Craftsman boxes through the 1950's. Might be one of theirs'. Some additional information here: https://sites.google.com/site/theguideforwoodmachinistchests/pg-31---union.

Tom B.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fowl: did you pick up the top and/or bottom boxes or were you asking as more of a curious question?

I found the label that I thought was Napa and it is Waterloo on another small toolbox I own in case you are still thinking about buying that one you found. here's a picture of it that I think has a similar label.

good luck and hope the weather is as nice down on the coast as its been up here.

 

[Dibiase77]

Picked up this Kennedy kk-19 for $5 earlier at a yard sale and decided to go back and grab this top box for $10. No marking on it that I have seen. Any one have any ideas?
Thanks

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[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like a little snap on box

 

[Dibiase77]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking as well. The owner wanted $50 with the tools and $20 without. She kept the tools.

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[Dibiase77]

Sorry $10. Not twenty.

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[JUNK-MAN]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking as well. The owner wanted $50 with the tools and $20 without. She kept the tools.

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Good deal. Thats a kra53. I have 2.

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[Shelbylex]

You **** on KRA 53 for $10

 

[Dibiase77]

Thanks for the model number. The emblem is missing and the lady didn't know what she had. She thought the tools were worth way more than the box. I do have to admit that the only reason I went back and got it is because the drawers slide really really well and it felt well built.

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[Dibiase77]

You **** on KRA 53 for $10

It will replace my little kobalt top box. Only have the kobalt and an old plastic popular mechanics 3 drawer toolbox with tools in it. Since my "garage" is my laundry room I'm limited on space. Knowing what it is now I would have paid a lot more for it. I'm not a fan of snap on tools to be honest. They are quality for sure but I'm a Proto man. But the snap on boxes always look really good even super rusty and beat up though.

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[Dibiase77]

Plus I live in Erie, PA. Home of the cheapest people in America. when it comes to buying anything a lot of people go super cheap. Bottom line is more important than quality around here. Me personally I can't afford new tools due to recovering from a dodgeball injury(no I'm not joking) but I buy quality used tools that are top of the line.

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[Spanner]

I found this for sale for 50€ without the tools and Im thinking of purchasing it for a restoration project. Can anyone tell me the model please?


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[Dibiase77]

I read on I believe this topic about snap on replacement keys. If anyone knows the website or company name that would be greatly appreciated. Search function isn't working too well for me and there is 10,000+ posts. It would be quite an undertaking to go through them all again.

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[JoCoSawdust]

Any locksmith worth his salt can cut you a couple of keys for your lock if you take the tumbler to him. More often than not that's what I do for mine.

Here's a lock with keys for sale on eBay now. Not sure if it's the style you need :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Snap-on-...968145?hash=item338d7acfd1:g:OBcAAOxyUylTTwF9

There's a lot of options out there for you.

 

[Dibiase77]

Any locksmith worth his salt can cut you a couple of keys for your lock if you take the tumbler to him. More often than not that's what I do for mine.

Here's a lock with keys for sale on eBay now. Not sure if it's the style you need :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Snap-on-...968145?hash=item338d7acfd1:g:OBcAAOxyUylTTwF9

There's a lot of options out there for you.

Yeah I figured the locksmith would do it. The question I should have asked is were the original keys marked snap on? If they weren't locksmith is the way I'm going to go. Or I may try doing it myself on my dad's key cutting machine.

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[Oldtuleguy]

I think if there is a number on the lock snap on can make a key. Here is my kr53. Got it cheap, but had rust holes and top hinge broken . Welded up rust holes and replaced hinge, krinkle coated it black. Still needs a lock.

 

[Dibiase77]

Same model I picked up yesterday. There is a number on the lock. 2779 I believe. Thought about keeping it but Father's day is around the corner. Here's another question. How do I find a period correct replacement snap on tag for it? It was built in '77. I saw a the same box on eBay but it had a different emblem than yours it was a blue square with snap on in script. I definitely like the style of your boxes emblem better.

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[Oldtuleguy]

Usually have year and model stamped on those somewhere

 

[Shelbylex]

Dibiase77: you can call SO and they will will connect you to a company which makes keys for those locks for around 9$ delivered if you give them a code. Unfortunately blanks are not SO

 

[Shelbylex]

Spanner, this is KRA 58. I have an older version from 1963 (KRA 58B) . Stamp and date is usually on left side left lower corner if I remember correctly.