I'm The Sexauer System Man

[Private Lugnutz]

Admit it, you thought this was going to be an X-rated thread! Nope, just this 1930’s or 40’s brown crinkle finish Kennedy toolbox that I picked up at a flea market this morning.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Only this one is plastered with "Sexauer Standardized Repair Service System" decals....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

And even more coolass decals on the inside! Not as **** - pun intended, as a Kennedy automotive or aircraft mechanics kit, but, pretty effin’ cool if I do say so myself.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

So, I’m no plumber, but even I have heard of J.A. Sexauer Manufacturing Company in NYC. I think they may still be in business. They sold everything from parts to tools to service. I’m not exactly sure when they started, but I think at least as early as 1900. I know that they were well-established by 1923, at least enough to donate “a repair kit” as the First Place Prize for the Backward Race at the Fairfield County, Connecticut Master Plumbers Outing!

They copyrighted and trademarkrd the term “Sexauer Standardized Repair Service” in 1931. They also trademarked “Mule Kick” for their porcelain cleaning polish that same year.

And lo and behold, here is a newspaper excerpt from 1938 advertising the service and the polish – and showing a fully-loaded Kennedy kit packed with parts and tools!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Ironically, I have a J.A. Sexauer tool somewhere around here in the Lugzsonian. It’s a metal pistol grip hack saw frame that I reported in the 2014 Garage Sale thread.

3baygarage saw one of these boxes with an exorbitant price tag at a flea market back in 2017 and shared some pics on the 2017 Garage Sale thread, linked here. I got a little luckier!

I'm waiting for him to show up!

 

[d42jeep]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Lugz,
That’s an *** Kicking box!
-Don

 

[ganymede]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

That is damn nice.
I have a set of those Palmer patent pliers Woody posted recently but mine are made for Sexauer.
I wonder what other cool stuff they sold.

 

[Roberts210]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I can just see the guy carrying that into the customer's house, tipping his hat and saying, "Dr. Sexauer at your cervix Ma'am".

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Wow! That box was worth it for the visuals alone.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Thanks, guys!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I can just see the guy carrying that into the customer's house, tipping his hat and saying, "Dr. Sexauer at your cervix Ma'am".

 

[^&right]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

That's nothing. I've got one of these passed down from my grandparents. My how times have changed! Sits on a shelf in my shop. Way too cool to use now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pl...AOSweHteFS9x:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!46706!US!-1

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Nice find. Another item/manufacturer I never heard of before.

 

[RubiconJK]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Super cool!

 

[Lassen Forge]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I can just see the guy carrying that into the customer's house, tipping his hat and saying, "Dr. Sexauer at your cervix Ma'am".

"I'm here to check your plumbing... Can I clear your pipes?"

 

[woody 73]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Good House keeping approved too...

 

[gpw_42]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Well, now the Nantucket reference on the 2020 GS thread makes a LOT more sense! Nice score, Lugz, that's a cool-*ss box, but not as nice as your EGW knife!

...Once upon a time, I had way too much of the Dice-man's routine committed to memory...Speaking of which, it was Corny day today at my flea, but I'll save that for other spots.

 

[bonneyman]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I'm bettin that would be one HEAVY box when full of tools.

Nice lines, though. I like it, too.

 

[3baygarage]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

Wow that’s awesome Lugz. Congrats on your find.

It seems to have more graphics on it than the other one. I was bummed when those guys wanted upwards of 100 dollars for it, when all their other stuff was dirt cheap.

Guess you need to fill it with Sexauer tools now.

Lugz,
That’s an *** Kicking box!
-Don

Well said!

Good House keeping approved too...

That’s interesting. The other box had Saturday Evening Post.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

"I'm here to check your plumbing... Can I clear your pipes?"

Haha. It must have been so much fun to carry that around for real. The lines just write themselves!

I'm bettin that would be one HEAVY box when full of tools.

...and 1,423 parts! I do like the way each little compartment is numbered. I bet there was a little booklet that had a little numbered map/layout in it showing them where everything was. After a couple weeks, of course, they wouldn't need it.

Guess you need to fill it with Sexauer tools now.

That's where they will go. But I have to say, except for the hack saw frame in 2014, I don't think I've ever found another J.A. Sexauer tool in the wild.

Good House keeping approved too...

The other box had Saturday Evening Post.

Did you see the 1938 newspaper ad upthread? It mentions the Saturday Evening Post. I found hundreds of them. All of the ad examples that mentioned Good Housekeeping were snippet-only views. They both must have got some kind of kickback for their endorsement.

It seems to have more graphics on it than the other one.

I saw that. Very similar though. I remembered the one you saw as soon as I spotted this one, before I even bought it.

I was bummed when those guys wanted upwards of 100 dollars for it,

This guy was a liquidator and basically dumping it. It was closer to free. He was trying to talk me into, saying I could use it for fishing, and that I could remove the old stickers! Just goes to show, different strokes and all that.

Here's one currently on eBay, with more intact stickers on the outside, and more of the box liners remaining, but no advertising on the inside, and it's from the late 50's or even 60's judging by the style of the Kennedy box and the metal handle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

...that's a cool-*ss box, but not as nice as your EGW knife!

Technically, no. But only a knife guy would know that!

Between the box and the Bell truck, my heart was already racing. Seeing the knife, on a table filled with junk and bric-a-brac and a lady behind it, made me have to think about where I put my little nitro bottle! Haha.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I'm bettin that would be one HEAVY box when full of tools.

They can be. Mine has a homebuilt trolley it rolls around on, and I get nervous lifting it by that old leather wrapped handle just to get my hands under it to lift it. I'm guessing about a hundred and change...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: I'm the sexauer system man

I get nervous lifting it by that old leather wrapped handle just to get my hands under it to lift it.

Know the feeling well. I have several prewar or WWII-era boxes with leather-clad handles and I don't use the handles even when they're empty. Have you ever seen the metal strap inside of one? It's very thin gauge.

 

[hermetic]

I though it might be a kit for vulcanizing condoms.........................I'll get me coat!

 

[1930artdeco]

I have one that my grandfather used while he was in the Navy. At least that is what I was told.

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have one that my grandfather used while he was in the Navy. At least that is what I was told.

Hi Mike. By "one" I am assuming you are referring to a Kennedy hip-roof cantilevered tool-box, not a Kennedy hip-roof cantilevered tool-box provisioned as a "Sexauer System of Standardized Repair Service" Kit used by Sexauer plumbers making house calls in the 30's through the 60's. It's very possible your grandfather used a Kennedy hip-roof in WWII. The US Army, Army Air Forces (Air Corps), and Navy all used these type Kennedy toolboxes, and most of them had leather handles. (Late in 1945 they started introducing steel handles.) They were OD green, though. The crinkle brown is earlier. And they didn't have the "Sexauer", "Mule-Kick", and "Good Housekeeping" stickers all over them! I have a Kennedy WWII box. Don has one with "N.A.F." (Naval Air Facility) embossed on it. To be fair and complete, the Army, Air Corps, and Navy also bought the same style boxes from Simonsen.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Super nice find Lugz. I do love the graphics on that old warrior. Perfect patina. Here is the only Sexauer item I've come across so far...no where near as cool. Ed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Ed. "Handy Andy" is their other (besides "Mule-Kick") famous trademark.

 

[pelletman]

Just ran across these in my dad's stuff..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very cool, pelletman! I dig the sandaled lady with the sword.

More modern versions of those 'Handy Andy' boxes is probably the Sexauer product I see most often at flea markets.

 

[damon18]

Spectacular box, and history Lugz!

 

[1930artdeco]

Lugs...Sorry but yes the non-stickered version.

Mike

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice. They are great boxes. And hey, it was your grampa's! Can't beat that. If you want to post a pic, go ahead. I will be able to tell you if it's wartime or not.

 

[tym]

Admit it, you thought this was going to be an X-rated thread!

I mean, I knew you'd go to extremes for a good find, BUT MANG...!

 

[Plombob]

I have one of those Bell trucks. I played with it as a kid. It has a Y-shaped arm for a winch. You slide the roof back and the arm mounts to the floor. There is a trailer that holds telephone poles too. I don't suppose you got those too?

 

[southalabama]

Lugz. I live long enough to make it to the jersey shore I’ll tag along to a flea market with you.

The local flea markets sell cheap Chinese goods, incense, bongs, puppies and harbor freight tools for more than harbor freight.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have one of those Bell trucks. I played with it as a kid. It has a Y-shaped arm for a winch. You slide the roof back and the arm mounts to the floor. There is a trailer that holds telephone poles too. I don't suppose you got those too?

The winch and spool is inside, Bob, but it was missing the Y tow frame and the trailer. Believe it or not, there's a reproduction market out there for the accessories. We were talking about it on the Bell System tools thread, where I posted more photos of it. There's a link in the Index in the stickie.

Lugz. I live long enough to make it to the jersey shore I’ll tag along to a flea market with you.

Okay but you'll have to wear a blindfold on the road to get there and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

 

[ganymede]

.... Okay but you'll have to wear a blindfold on the road to get there and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

When I cajole some one to take me to the good flea up here they always get pissed because I disappear for 1 1/2 hrs. When we bump into each other finally I act like its no big deal.
" How'd you make out? "

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up a pretty nifty and well-built J.A. SEXAUER multi-driver at the flea market this morning. The shank pulls out of that short knurled shaft. The blades - two slot and a cross-recess - fold out from there. Nice fluted, bulbous, composite handle. Appears to be later than the age of my box. But I'll probably keep it in there anyway.

 

[r0ckh0und]

Cool box. We have some parts shelving at work from the same era.