Craftsman Long-C 2d HAND carry box - previously unknown?

[Rileysan]

No doubt some of you may have seen this on eBay. Lord knows there were enough watchers on this during its week-long stay on eBay, but no one pulled the trigger at *gasp* $150 (free shipping).

I knew there was something unusual about this box when I first looked at the photos. After spending some time looking through David Maher's library of digitized Craftsman catalogs, I came to the conclusion this is something that hasn't been seen before. This is a ca. pre-WWII, Craftsman 2-drawer HAND carry tool box. And I don't mean the type you lift with handles on each side - I mean it had a handle on top of the lid - much like those introduced in the 1960s.

I'm not finished searching through the catalogs and would welcome any help this community can provide. In the meantime, I'm going to clean it up and spray it with clear to prevent any more paint from flaking off - which it has started doing from the bottom, up.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Very interesting Brian! I haven't been spending much time on eBay lately so I hadn't seen the listing. Interior paint looks to be in great shape. Congrats!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Brian,

Why are you discounting chest 99 PC 4358?

Unless I'm mistaken, it is built just like that, looks just like that, with a drop down front lid, two deep drawers, one of them divided for sockets, a removeable tray on top, and a cylinder lock and key. Blue crackle finish. Holds 75-100 pieces. No handles on the side, unlike its larger 100-150 piece big brother, the 99 PC 4375. The single handle, for "carrying about" is not shown, because the lid is up, but it's described as an "easy-grip". That's a lot of weight, but I am presuming it is the free-swinging rounded type, leather-clad pressboard, as on the smaller attache style 1/2-inch, 3/8-inch, and combo type socket set boxes, as well as the small, medium, and large hip roof boxes.

The earliest I can go back in catalogs is 1941, where it appears on page 44 with a rectangular Long C decal. If you can go back further, look for the same box, where it probably has your oval Long C decal.

Dimensions are 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 19".

EDIT: The holes on the top look like they are provisioned for the brackets for the free swinging rounded leather handles. Do they match your boxes with those handles?

 

[Rileysan]

Hi Brian,

Why are you discounting chest 99 PC 4358?

Unless I'm mistaken, it is built just like that, looks just like that, with a drop down front lid, two deep drawers, one of them divided for sockets, a removeable tray on top, and a cylinder lock and key. Blue crackle finish. Holds 75-100 pieces. No handles on the side, unlike its larger 100-150 piece big brother, the 99 PC 4375. The single handle, for "carrying about" is not shown, because the lid is up, but it's described as an "easy-grip". That's a lot of weight, but I am presuming it is the free-swinging rounded type, either leather-clad pressboard, as on the smaller attache style 1/2-inch, 3/8-inch, and combo type socket set boxes, as well as the small, medium, and large hip roof boxes, or the formed metal kind found more prevalently in the late 1940's, but seen on the larger attache style 3/4-inch socket set boxes earlier in the decade.

The earliest I can go back in catalogs is 1941, where it appears on page 44 with a rectangular Long C decal. If you can go back further, look for the same box, where it probably has your oval Long C decal.

EDIT: Do the holes on the top look like they are provisioned for the brackets for the free swinging rounded leather handles?

Yes, the holes on top are original and this originally had a free swinging handle - most likely leather.

The box dimensions are dramatically different from those listed with the sets, which is why I think this one got overlooked (I have the aforementioned box, which I will photograph together with this one later). This is the same size as those 2d boxes produced in the 1960s, which had a handle on top.

 

[tin medic]

It is in the June '39 catalog.

 

[Rileysan]

It is in the June '39 catalog.

4375 - I completely missed it.Thanks Lugz and Tin Medic?!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That makes sense. I have the larger of the two drawer chests offered in 39. I always assumed the smaller one was just that..smaller but the same as mine. I never even considered that it may have had a top carrying handle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

4375 - I completely missed it.Thanks Lugz and Tin Medic?!

You're welcome. But I'm pretty sure it's the 4358. The 4375 was taller and bigger with side handles.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

(Look at tin medic sneaking in a Bell System photo bomb...)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I saw that!

 

[Rileysan]

(Look at tin medic sneaking in a Bell System photo bomb...)

You're supposed to see what I meant to say, not what I wrote!!

 

[r_olson_06]

You're supposed to see what I meant to say, not what I wrote!![emoji38]_hitti

Do you have a spot picked out in the Rileysan Cave for it yet? Nice piece BTW.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You're supposed to see what I meant to say, not what I wrote!!

That would makes things so much easier most of the time! (On the other hand, there are times that might get me in some trouble with some guys. On the third rewrite. After the un-toned down versions. Just sayin. )