The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[JoCoSawdust]

Example of an AMD date stamp

 

[Outlawmws]

Bagged, that is an early SK box! Nice find!

And What JoCo said on the date stamping.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Hello,

This is my first post and wanted to show my uncle's toolbox and ask a question.

I have his Powr Kraft 7-Drawer machinist's toolbox that uses an Excelsior lock (Key KY78) Interestingly, the key I have is stamped "BOSS" and does lock/unlock properly. This toolbox was c1950's. Has anyone seen a key stamped like this?

Thank you for your time and expertise.

Regards,
K.T. Morimoto

we have a board of old luggage keys like these at work. I see them daily One of those things you just keep in stock from years gone by.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

any sk toolbox collectors out there? picked this up just to grab some vintage craftsman sockets. haven’t even cleaned out the rest of the misc tools.

Nice box. Decal looks good too.

 

[d42jeep]

any sk toolbox collectors out there? picked this up just to grab some vintage craftsman sockets. haven’t even cleaned out the rest of the misc tools.

That is a very nice S-K carry box. I would guess that it dates from ‘41 to ‘44 based on the decal and leather handle. Here is mine with a metal handle that I think was made around 1945.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Well damn. No date. If it were date stamped there would be a two digit number over on the left side of the "oval" as you're reading it right side up. Initially the AMD boxes weren't date stamped. The earliest dated AMD product I've seen (or know of) is 55. The first time your eight drawer chest shows up in a catalog is 55. The box itself ran through 59 however in 59 the catalog shows it with a Crown logo. I've found that whenever there's a change from one year to the next, the change generally happens sometime in the year previous to the catalog update. For instance, I know of a AMD top chest that has the Crown logo but it's dated 58 (contrary to the 58 catalog image showing a Heritage logo). I have a gray and red top chest that falls into that same category, box has a 69 catalog characteristic yet it's dated June of 68. I'm interested to know if anyone else on this thread has an 8d bottom chest that DOES have a date stamp. As I said previously, the embossing on mine is covered up by the flange of a factory drawer divider. I think rileysan and Smokeshow both have 8ds? Your chest positively falls between 55 and 58, If we can find a dated box like that I'd tend to believe yours falls early-55 and at some point during that year they started in with the date stamps. Of course if anyone ever shows up with a 54 AMD date stamp, that theory is blown to hell. On a side note, that 8d roller seems to have replaced the 5d Pressteel(??)-made DeLuxe roller cabinet (of which Outlaw as a fine example of) as Sears' premier bottom chest. Please forgive my long-windedness, I tend to overthink this stuff.

1955 catalog image

Thanks JoCo! Not long winded at all. I enjoy learning this stuff. 1955 date would make me and this cabinet the same age. :0)

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Just picked this one up for a coupla' bucks!
Whatcha' think?

Very cool and unique box! Question for the brain trust (I believe it's been covered upthread but not sure): Did Advertising Metal Display evolve into Remline?

Not sure Smoke but hopefully somebody that does will come along. When I first found GJ I read every post in this thread and I seem to recall it being discussed. That box here looks entirely too much like a Heritage chest for it to be a coincidence.

The handles on the inside of this box in particular are nearly identical to my Bonney 4 drawer roller bottom as well.

 

[RedVise]

Body Shop crusty ! But I love the big slide hammer, needed when cars were made out of steel !

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2106783439616821/

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

BAGGED: I have that SK box, but mine has a metal handle and yours leather. i think the SK experts said mine was about WWII age so yours is definitely older. you might post it on the SK thread and OTG or JEEP or LUG might have a date for you unless you just want to pass it on and aren't concerned how old it is.

ALL: here's my SK carry box with the tools that I think were bought with it.

 

[Swinklea83]

First off I am new here. And I purchased my first ever tool box the other day.. bought this gem minus the decals for 120 bucks.im sure there are alot of you with considerable knowledge can someone point me in the right direction for lock replacement as I login on my phone and it's very hard to search the site.

 

[ConductorChris]

Nice set Swinklea83. Welcome to the forum

 

[drivesitfar]

Swinkle: until the snap on guys show up with a better answer I'd call Snap on cause they probably have an actual replacement lock to sell you and I for maybe not an arm and a leg or if it's too expensive then try to find another option. i too want to welcome you to the forum.

I think the #'s for your box are stamped on it someplace, but I can't remember where at the moment.

 

[bmwrd0]

Swinkle, from the pics, it looks like both locks are there. In that case, they should have a number on them that you can call Snap-on with to get replacements. Also, these are just barrel locks and any locksmith or hardware store will have them.

Nice set by the way. I have the same lower and it is nowhere near as nice.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Good deal for 120

 

[jeffmoss26]

If you just need keys, a good locksmith should be able to do it for around 10 bucks for a key made to the code.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

First off I am new here. And I purchased my first ever tool box the other day.. bought this gem minus the decals for 120 bucks.im sure there are alot of you with considerable knowledge can someone point me in the right direction for lock replacement as I login on my phone and it's very hard to search the site.

That looks good to me.
I just got (about a month ago now), a top box and a bottom roller also. My set cost $500. I thought about it as each piece was $250. which was fine for the model and condition, etc.
So I think you did fine for $120. That's only $60. for each one.

On an older box I got years ago, it came with a lock but no key. It was locked open so that the door could not close all the way. Since I had access I took the lock out (just a wrench at the back ... I already had the tools ) and drove that over to the local locksmith who made a key for it. Reinstalled the lock and everything works fine.

Go to an older, experienced locksmith who has a wall of blank key options and real tools, not someone piloting a computer/machine. You might try that first before calling Snap-on just because it's faster. You should be done the same or next day. I do like the idea of calling Snap-on though and seeing if they will make you an official copy.

The date should be visible on the back towards the lower center. There you might find the model number, "Snap-on USA" and a year like "72" or something like that. It might be hard to see if the box has been resprayed. My top box had the stamping near the bottom edge of the left-hand side panel. Mine is a different model and older though.

If they're not destroyed they clean up pretty easily and work very well.
A set like what you found is very nice and a great starting point/foundation.

 

[GalaxyRat]

Kennedy CS-16 and a Craftsman 30"

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Swinklea83]

Thanks everyone I will look into getting a replacement key for bottom box. Unfortunately i have to get whole new lock for top box as i was told it's broken.

 

[twertsy]

That is a very nice S-K carry box. I would guess that it dates from ‘41 to ‘44 based on the decal and leather handle. Here is mine with a metal handle that I think was made around 1945.
-Don

That box appears to be an exact twin to my Firestone labeled box I found earlier this year. That would place it into the late 40's. Doesn't mean they didn't make them for a longer period of time earlier though.

 

[outofbounds]

Found deep in the damp corner of a hoarder's basement..... Can anyone help or direct in dating this Union Serviceman's Carry Tool Box? Seems to bear only a paper label with a barely legible Model No. 7434_ ? There might be an embossed logo of some kind on the other lid, but I'll need to do more forensics to reveal it.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Just picked up this gem for $25 at an estate sale. Anyone have any info on it? Any idea what it may be worth?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

How wide is it? And how tall is it? I may be interested if you're looking to flip it. I found a red Duplex-made Snap-on cantilevered box last year that I wanted to put most of my vintage Snap-on collection in, but it won't hold the long handles (speeder, breaker, etc), and I was going to strip it and re-paint it OD or grey. That box is perfect vintage for my collection. EDIT: Late 1930's into 1940's. It's no later than 1948 or so.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I'll send you a PM.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Just picked up this gem for $25 at an estate sale. Anyone have any info on it? Any idea what it may be worth?

40s snap on ferret master set box. I have a few, 50 to 150 usually.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Lugz, definately not later than 48

 

[bmwrd0]

I don't think it is pre-war, as that would have an oval label like this one:

 

[GalaxyRat]

I finished up my Kennedy CS-16, just started electrolysis on the Craftsman.

Kennedy CS-16 and a Craftsman 30"

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[outofbounds]

As a sidebar to the general thread, I'm curious to know what the prevailing winds are on toolbox restoration vs. minimal cleanup and left more-or-less as found. 50/50? or is one approach more popular than the other. Welcoming all insight, expert or otherwise.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

As a sidebar to the general thread, I'm curious to know what the prevailing winds are on toolbox restoration vs. minimal cleanup and left more-or-less as found. 50/50? or is one approach more popular than the other. Welcoming all insight, expert or otherwise.

For me, depends on condition. If original paint is good but maybe faded or showing some patina, I'm likely to leave as-is. If the paint is pretty worn, there's rust, etc, I'll do a resto on it. See threads in my signature.

 

[Outlawmws]

What 67G said. No concrete rule, but the worse condition, the more likely it's better to paint. On the other hand, if really rare and the rust is controllable, an Evaporust bath and then conditioning the paint may be the best. a lot of personal preference...

I just did an early 1920's Camp stove (Same concept) and after the E-bath, realized there was maybe 10% of the paint actually left.... I repainted... had it had 60-70% I'd have tried BLO...

 

[bmwrd0]

If it is just rust, no paint left at all, then I would restore. But if I can clean it up at all, then it just gets cleaned.

 

[outofbounds]

Thanks Galaxy. Does the brand of the box, or the style of the box ever play into the decision also? Or is that relatively in material?

 

[outofbounds]

BmWard I wonder what your take would be on the union brand service man’s box that I posted just a little bit up from here… The paint generally looks pretty darn good and I think most the rust could come away with some TSP. I’ve seen that type of box called a tombstone box. I think that one’s pretty old given the simple metal handles

 

[outofbounds]

Thanks Outlaw!

 

[Smokeshow69]

If it is just rust, no paint left at all, then I would restore. But if I can clean it up at all, then it just gets cleaned.

Yes! X2


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Can anyone help or direct in dating this Union Serviceman's Carry Tool Box?

It's almost certainly immediate postwar through late 40's, not much later.

A number of us here, including myself, d42jeep, and Username already in use, have several of these style boxes from WWII, including Union made. (Other mfgrs include Hamilton Metal Products and E.J. McAleer.) They are the box that all the wartime GMTK's (~110 pieces, 65 lbs) were carried in. At first glance, except for the bluegreen finish, your Union has all the signs of a WWII box, including the feet (corner supports), which you don't normally see on postwar civilian boxes. But wartime Union boxes only had 33 hinge elements. Is there a hole in the removeable tray for the push-bottom oiler spout to poke through? That was typically dropped postwar as well.

I have a question though. If you're not already familiar with all this, why are you calling it a Serviceman's Carry Tool Box? Is that actually on the label somewhere? If so, that's pretty cool. It would reflect Union's immediate postwar marketing plan.

On your other questions, I wholeheartedly agree with everything everyone else has said. My inclination is to always preserve, if possible. If not, then restore. Making the decision is sometimes hard on the "'tweener" boxes. Not too far gone, but not great either. When I decide to restore, my philosophy is a little unique in that I don't like to restore to mint/NOS condition (which almost never matches the condition of the tools), I like to restore to well-used, well-maintained condition, and I go so far as to add wear and tear and patina with techniques. You can see a Hamilton WWII box, as well as a Plomb and a Snap-on that I refinished this way in a GJ thread I have on that subject linked here.

EDIT: In fact, if you click on that link and go to Page 2 and the last post, you will see a Williams Bantam (3/8-inch drive) socket set box that is a good example of a dilemma box. The lid is in very good condition for a 70+ year old box, and the original decal is excellent, but the bottom is roached.

 

[outofbounds]

Terrific insights mr Lugz. I’ve glad to have found this journal. If I’m not careful I might get swallowed whole into the black hole that has such a grip on you folks! I can assure you that I don’t already “know” really anything about these items, particularly their historical context. I am dumbfounded by your comment about the hole in the tray… Because lo and behold upon inspection, there it was. For now I’ll call it a good six dollars to have carried that box out with mostly junk but a complete SK line wrench set, an array of wizard sockets and related components, a wards master chisel set, and some miscellaneous ****. Heading to a sale this morning that promises a complete house and garage. Second day of sale, hopefully everybody bought the new stuff and left the old for me

 

[outofbounds]

Lugz,I assure you that the moniker of a serviceman’s carry toolbox was simply a off-the-cuff remark to describe it as a portable box of sorts, versus something more stationary. Nothing in the label to suggest that Description. I’ll take that as a lesson learned to be a little bit more careful as to how I am characterizing things in the interest of accuracy

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ah, I understand now! 'Serviceman' as in someone servicing a piece of equipment, not someone who served in the military. I wasn't scrutinizing your terminology, which was actually more apt than you intended it!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an interior shot of my wartime Union toolbox.
-Don