The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[outofbounds]

I'm not sure if this the right place for this post, but here goes: Picked up this little carry box at a garage sale. I find no markings on it anywhere. I can tell you it smells like old grease and dirt, like it might have been on a farm. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Russ

I had a very similar box with a "stand up" handle, of a large carpenter's length, and I ended up giving it away as it was so heavy and obtrusive, and with the handle you couldn't stack anything on top of it.

Is this box heavy for it's size? For all the world it looks like a little brother to the one I had.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this nifty guy in the basement of an estate sale, along with the contents I filled into it for a sinfully low price. I'm curious of two things.....

I don't see a maker, looks all the world like a Union, but taller than the ones I've found before.

I would characterize the color as being consistent with "war era" but the tray lacks the necessary hole to hint at a GMTK purpose. Maybe this taller iteration served a different use than a "General" Tool Kit, even with the socket tray(s)?

I'm pretty sure the STP sticker isn't original, but it's the perfect addition, amIright?

 

[dangerRuss]

Thanks for your responses, gentlemen.

Outlaw - I was thinking the same thing. Maybe an impact wrench with a space for sockets.

Oob - I would not describe it as heavy, nor is it flimsy or lightweight. Seems appropriate for it's size.

And yes, the STP sticker is cool.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oob
Does it look like it had 4 corner feet and they were knocked off? Or like it never had them? No corner feet is a big postwar tell. Along with the size and the lack of an oiler hole, probably postwar. As for mfgr, Union boxes had flat handles on the trays. Does it have indents in the inside of the lids where the handle tabs were pounded in before they were spot welded? If not, it's definitely not Union.

 

[d42jeep]

A view of the interior of the box would be helpful as well. The tray supports are different from brand to brand.
-Don

 

[harley jim]

This was just posted

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[outofbounds]

A view of the interior of the box would be helpful as well. The tray supports are different from brand to brand.
-Don

Don, Lugz,

A few more pics. Looked high and low, can't find a maker's mark. That said, it is a very stout box, possibly even more so than the similar Union boxes I have. The handles are strictly attached on top of the lid. 30 tabs total (M+F) on the piano hinges. No evidence of any corner "feet", but the outline of the box is reinforced as shown. As I mentioned earlier, all around a bigger box, but a good quality box for sure, IMHO.

 

[Gunfighter556]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box and I am inclined to agree. However, as I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name and product decals in the top box lid. I did come up with an acceptable solution using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. I primed and painted it and my wife was kind enough to do the lettering with her craft stuff. I just need to acquire and apply a few more decals for it to be complete. Your feedback is appreciated.

 

[Tynee]

Gunfighter, I don’t think you need to apologize to anybody over that box. Looks great to me.

 

[JR 42]

That's a whole different level than stickers- looks damn good and is a great tribute.

 

[smokeyburb]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box ... I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name ... using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. Your feedback is appreciated.

That resto tribute is excellent![emoji1360]

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[Spanner]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box and I am inclined to agree. However, as I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name and product decals in the top box lid. I did come up with an acceptable solution using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. I primed and painted it and my wife was kind enough to do the lettering with her craft stuff. I just need to acquire and apply a few more decals for it to be complete. Your feedback is appreciated.

Sweet looking box and a real tribute to your dad.


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[d42jeep]

Don, Lugz,

A few more pics. Looked high and low, can't find a maker's mark. That said, it is a very stout box, possibly even more so than the similar Union boxes I have. The handles are strictly attached on top of the lid. 30 tabs total (M+F) on the piano hinges. No evidence of any corner "feet", but the outline of the box is reinforced as shown. As I mentioned earlier, all around a bigger box, but a good quality box for sure, IMHO.

The tray supports and tray itself looks like a McAleer wartime box but it is too tall and I see no evidence of corner supports. My guess would be a postwar box but the maker remains a mystery. I’ve never seen a postwar box with McAleer markings.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box and I am inclined to agree. However, as I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name and product decals in the top box lid. I did come up with an acceptable solution using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. I primed and painted it and my wife was kind enough to do the lettering with her craft stuff. I just need to acquire and apply a few more decals for it to be complete. Your feedback is appreciated.

Looks fantastic and it's a great tribute. Well done.

 

[r_olson_06]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box and I am inclined to agree. However, as I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name and product decals in the top box lid. I did come up with an acceptable solution using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. I primed and painted it and my wife was kind enough to do the lettering with her craft stuff. I just need to acquire and apply a few more decals for it to be complete. Your feedback is appreciated.

Very well done and welcome to the forum from a fellow South Dakotain.

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[Outlawmws]

Nothing wrong with honoring your father's history. Great looking job.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box...

Not me, unless they're ugly, anachronistic, or overwhelming. I think a few small, well-placed, and period-correct stickers actually enhance the appearance of a vintage box, and, like patina, often give it that look of authenticity collectors desire. The CRAFTSMAN wall chest I found last year, for example, with a Speed Shop sticker and an off-color joke sticker, shown in the Heritage Love thread linked here. Or the Staten Island car dealership stickers on the Huot box I posted a few weeks ago on this thread, linked here. Ironically, what I normally despise are fake or reproduction stickers. They have to be very well-done to not detract from a vintage box. And yours are excellent!

My guess would be a postwar box but the maker remains a mystery.

Agreed. And it's not a Union.

 

[David Jackson]

The Proto boxes are from 1973



The Union is from the late 1930's





The Gerstner is from the late 1950's

How do you see these photos?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Probably can't anymore, DJ, but whenever you see a recent post that seems like its referring to photos you can't see, "quote" button the post, and you will see the URL - usually to a hosting site that often experiences problems here, copy the URL, and paste and go in your browser.

 

[Shelbylex]

Great job, Gunfighter!
Great way to honor your father for generations to come!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Box looks great! Nothing wrong with a few cool stickers...

 

[Gunfighter556]

Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement. This project is quite the labor of love for my Father. Except now I have caught the bug and want to find another vintage toolbox to do a restoration on for my wife's tools...lol

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Its alot of work but the end result is well worth it!

 

[y'sguy]

I know many of the folks on here despise any stickers on a vintage tool box and I am inclined to agree. However, as I am doing a restoration of my Fathers old box I found it fitting to put his business name and product decals in the top box lid. I did come up with an acceptable solution using a 12 x 24 inch sheet of 22 gauge steel and magnets. I primed and painted it and my wife was kind enough to do the lettering with her craft stuff. I just need to acquire and apply a few more decals for it to be complete. Your feedback is appreciated.

Excellent job. Well worth the effort I say!

 

[Old Radar]

Damn you people! (I'm talking to you, Lugz!) Until a couple of days ago I had never even heard of Duplex Tool Boxes. Now I've spent $50 on a #1243 and the tote is MIA!

On the up side, except for the missing tote, it's in really good condition. No rust and once again, the PO laid down some thin carpeting that protected the drawers--although he did use some weird orangy-brown gummy stuff to keep it from moving around. I'm sure it was guaranteed to come up easily when needed, but after nearly six decades, not so much...

Also on the up side, all the drawers slide so smoothly I had to do a double take to make sure they weren't ball bearing slides!

I did a not-so-quick cleanup with WD-40 to get most of the grime off--the remnants of a sticker below the Duplex name plate really gave me trouble. I had to resort to Goo Gone and a razor blade followed by a session of polishing compound. The marks that remain are apparently where the sticker was pulled off and took some paint with it.

The drawer fronts didn't clean up as well as I had hoped. There are faint shadows and spidery marks where the stains were. But otherwise the drawers are in great shape, so I don't really want to paint them.

This thing is really a beast! 1966 was the first year the #1243 was offered and the '66 catalog on archive.org claims 71 pounds. My scale without the tote registered 65 pounds. I honestly don't think the side handles are stout enough to move this box with any tools in it.


Pre-purchase

As purchased--with carpet drawer liners

Carpet removed

Drawer fronts, cover and sticker cleaned

Notice the reflection!

Guess which side was down!

 

[outofbounds]

Damn you people! (I'm talking to you, Lugz!) Until a couple of days ago I had never even heard of Duplex Tool Boxes. Now I've spent $50 on a #1243 and the tote is MIA!

Radar,
I recently came to understand, by way of catalog disclaimer, my 1940s Snap-On K-55W chest didn't come with a tote tray, rather it was an optional extra, sold separately. Perhaps the same holds true for Duplex?

 

[Old Radar]

radar,
i recently came to understand, by way of catalog disclaimer, my 1940s snap-on k-55w chest didn't come with a tote tray, rather it was an optional extra, sold separately. Perhaps the same holds true for duplex?

Possibly, but the way I read this 1966 catalog from archive.org, it was included.

 

[smschriefer]

I've been searching for a 10 drawer Craftsman heritage box for 10+ years. I finally got one! I overpaid and I'm good with that. I just don't find them for sale in my area. Now I have a large assortment of old Craftsman boxes and chests. The red ones will be restored as will the black one. The 10 drawer will go on top of the 8 drawer chest. The Crown logo may go to a new home in exchange for another Heritage. I'm still debating. On to the pictures...

 

[FJ 432]

I've been searching for a 10 drawer Craftsman heritage box for 10+ years. I finally got one!

Congratulations on finding your box. Took me awhile to find my 10 drawer.

You have a nice collection!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I've been searching for a 10 drawer Craftsman heritage box for 10+ years. I finally got one! I overpaid and I'm good with that. I just don't find them for sale in my area. Now I have a large assortment of old Craftsman boxes and chests. The red ones will be restored as will the black one. The 10 drawer will go on top of the 8 drawer chest. The Crown logo may go to a new home in exchange for another Heritage. I'm still debating. On to the pictures...

Newport News! You beat me to that one!! Congrats and I'm happy it went to another member here. Looks like it's in great shape! EDIT: On a side note, other than the Commercial top chest does that guy have anything else worth getting excited about? Looks like he's cleaning house.

 

[damon18]

Most of the boxes I get are from the 70's and 80's but ended up with this much older Kennedy. Marked "PAT'D 9-16-16" and KENNEDY on the main latch. Too bad it's missing it's removable tray or I'd try a restoration on it.

I didn't understand what was up with the handle, just a piece of flat steel that seems way to light for the box, but figured out it is what's left of a leather grip handle.

Is this scrap metal or a valuable artifact?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Never mind. Senior moment + 3 beers = dumb reply.

 

[RTM]

Damon Yes, probably the remnants of the original handle, or a quick replacement. Is there a key number on the lock?

 

[smschriefer]

There is a ton of stuff that is being sold. It is the estate of a bus mechanic. I saw a Craftsman 1hp block grinder, many pebble finished Proto wrenches, lots of wrenches, etc. There is just a ton of stuff that is being sold. Did you see they will have an open house to sell it tomorrow at Seaford Transfer in Yorktown?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

No I didn't hear about the sale. I see they changed their MP ad to show more stuff. That's an area I'll be working around next week, only reason I didn't dive on that 10d Heritage. I knew it wouldn't last long.

 

[smschriefer]

I live close to the sale site. If you are in the area and are still interested in swapping chests, you can see mine in the second picture I posted.

 

[Provincial]

They quit making that model of Kennedy about mid-WWII. Yours can't be any newer than that.

 

[damon18]

Damon Yes, probably the remnants of the original handle, or a quick replacement. Is there a key number on the lock?

Where would it be?
Also, I don't have a key, looks like it would be a very small key, are they available?


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[d42jeep]

Most of the boxes I get are from the 70's and 80's but ended up with this much older Kennedy. Marked "PAT'D 9-16-16" and KENNEDY on the main latch. Too bad it's missing it's removable tray or I'd try a restoration on it.

I didn't understand what was up with the handle, just a piece of flat steel that seems way to light for the box, but figured out it is what's left of a leather grip handle.

Is this scrap metal or a valuable artifact?

Valuable artifact. Mine is similar and has the tray but is different in the bottom of the box. They are pretty early.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Where would it be?
Also, I don't have a key, looks like it would be a very small key, are they available?

Usually stamped on that face. Sometimes available on eBay. I bought a Gerstner key to fit a Kennedy square edged box a while back, KY64.