The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[outofbounds]

In the mean time, I'm delighted to cross another unicorn off my list!

Brian

Awesome stack, Brian, and in primo condition too!

I'm curious......was the seller aware of what he had there?

 

[Rileysan]

Awesome stack, Brian, and in primo condition too!

I'm curious......was the seller aware of what he had there?

Yes, he was. He's a member of the Pacific Northwest Tool Collectors club and had done his homework before listing it. Even so, his price was reasonable at $350 so I sent him an email and he called me back the next day, where we discussed this set, and tools in general. It was a very pleasant and easy transaction!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Today's adventure took me on a ~350 mile round trip to Seattle, where I picked up this beautiful 1967 Craftsman "Super Duty" rolling cabinet and top chest. Super Duty was advertised for one year only and was the predecessor to the "Craftsman Commercial" line of tool boxes from ca. 1968 to 1977.





I can only speculate as to their reasons for changing the marketing name from Super Duty to Craftsman Commercial, but it's hard to imagine the name didn't get the attention of Ford Motor Company, which had been using that name on their pickup trucks for some time. If anyone is aware of specifics related to the name change, I'd love to hear it!



In the mean time, I'm delighted to cross another unicorn off my list!



Brian

That thing is so minty! I think if the seller had priced it at $500 you would still have got a great deal! I hate to tell you that this clashes with your heritage theme room. You better let me help you with that [emoji23][emoji106]


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[bmwrd0]

I picked up this little guy today, and little it is. Along with being very minty!


It measures just 7x14x4 1/2, has no supports for a tray. I am not exactly sure what it was for, just general tools or if it was for something specific. But, it is now how to all my misc. Walden tools.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Very nice Brian!! I suspect it will live next to your Commercial stack?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I can only speculate as to their reasons for changing the marketing name from Super Duty to Craftsman Commercial, but it's hard to imagine the name didn't get the attention of Ford Motor Company, which had been using that name on their pickup trucks for some time. If anyone is aware of specifics related to the name change, I'd love to hear it!

I cannot.

But I can add... Not to be confused with the "Super Duty" line of hammers that Simonds of Fitchburg, Mass. trademarked in 1928 and produced throughout the 30's and into the 40's! Unless you have a quirky mind and think it would be neat to put Simonds Super Duty hammers in one of those drawers, just because.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Heres one I picked up at an auction. Paid up a bit, but I cant pass up on these boxes with the fold down front., even if I dont know a brand. Had a mashup of tools in it and got er for $35. Any ideas on a brand? I know its had a paint job on it, but has 2 holes for a badge on front cover. My next step might be to measure spacing of holes and compare to some SK or Craftsman badges I have laying around to try and match up.

 

[Outlawmws]

That lid shape is very distinctive - I would think that to be a dead giveaway, once recognized.

 

[dodge610]

Heres one I picked up at an auction. Paid up a bit, but I cant pass up on these boxes with the fold down front., even if I dont know a brand. Had a mashup of tools in it and got er for $35. Any ideas on a brand? I know its had a paint job on it, but has 2 holes for a badge on front cover. My next step might be to measure spacing of holes and compare to some SK or Craftsman badges I have laying around to try and match up.

I have bee looking feverishly at vintage boxes for that lid design havent found it yet. I had one like that and decided to let it go for another one i liked better. Will not come to me what brand it was.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Heres one I picked up at an auction. Paid up a bit, but I cant pass up on these boxes with the fold down front., even if I dont know a brand. Had a mashup of tools in it and got er for $35. Any ideas on a brand? I know its had a paint job on it, but has 2 holes for a badge on front cover. My next step might be to measure spacing of holes and compare to some SK or Craftsman badges I have laying around to try and match up.

I want to say new Britain on this one? Rileysan has a New Britain top chest that I have seen but I wasn’t paying attention to the box as much as the contents ??


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[Gunfighter556]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

 

[Outlawmws]

That looks Great GF!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wow that is a big improvement!

 

[duckenit]

I have a couple tool boxes I picked up recently that I'm going to restore. They've been poorly repainted a couple of times. Top box, from what I've found, Snapon KR 56 from 1948 or 50. It looks like it's 2 tone red and black ?
The bottom, which I'm currently working on, is an OTC. I'm having a hard time finding information on this one. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[1982fxr]

I have a couple tool boxes I picked up recently that I'm going to restore. They've been poorly repainted a couple of times. Top box, from what I've found, Snapon KR 56 from 1948 or 50. It looks like it's 2 tone red and black ?
The bottom, which I'm currently working on, is an OTC. I'm having a hard time finding information on this one. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

That bottom cabinet rocks

 

[1982fxr]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

That is sharp

 

[Old Radar]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

A truly outstanding job! You've set the bar very high for the rest of us.

 

[Shelbylex]

Gunfighter556, you did a wonderful restoration!!! Bravo!

Duckenit, I passed on the OTC chest when I bought my Blackhawk Red Rover a while ago. It was grey. The guy wanted 50 (if you are really interested, PM me - I might have the e-mail left somewhere in case he still has it)

 

[Blackwolfe]

Very nice restoration gunfighter. I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I have a couple tool boxes I picked up recently that I'm going to restore. They've been poorly repainted a couple of times. Top box, from what I've found, Snapon KR 56 from 1948 or 50. It looks like it's 2 tone red and black ?
The bottom, which I'm currently working on, is an OTC. I'm having a hard time finding information on this one. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

That Snap On should be all Snap On Orangish red. The badge is black.

I picked up this OTC last summer.

 

[WagonHo!]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

Beautiful resto!
What are the years of the boxes?

 

[ConductorChris]

What do you all use to refresh the paint on a box? I've repainted in the past but I have a decent box I just want to clean up. Soap (degreaser) and water then a wax job?

 

[Gunfighter556]

Beautiful resto!
What are the years of the boxes?

Top is a 65, Bottom is a 61

 

[FJ 432]

Top is a 65, Bottom is a 61

Great Job. Yours forever.

 

[RedVise]

Any info on the brand of this blue top box ?
Seller reports no brand name on it.Was going to put it on a blue rolling cabinet from another seller.
Was thinking Huot but I dont think so after some comparisons.
Waiting to hear from seller if there is a brand name on the blue roller.

Thanks Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Any info on the brand of this blue top box ?
Seller reports no brand name on it.Was going to put it on a blue rolling cabinet from another seller.
Was thinking Huot but I dont think so after some comparisons.
Waiting to hear from seller if there is a brand name on the blue roller.

Thanks Brian

I believe the blue box was made by Duplex - possibly pre-Proto acquisition.

 

[wmb67]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

Fantastic!

 

[Outlawmws]

What do you all use to refresh the paint on a box? I've repainted in the past but I have a decent box I just want to clean up. Soap (degreaser) and water then a wax job?

Dawn Dish soap is well thought of followed by (as needed) automotive rubbing compound, buffing, then a good paste wax and polish.

I've been getting stellar results with Greze-Off(R) lately. if you have really resistant stuff, you might give that a shot.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

At long last I have finally finished the restoration of my Fathers old stack. Thanks to all on this forum for the suggestions and encouragement. Special thanks to lafester for selling me the middle box to replace the original that my teenage self destroyed years ago. One last replacement item to look for, the hanging side cabinet that went missing after I left home for the service.

Great job! Classy looking stack.

 

[ConductorChris]

Dawn Dish soap is well thought of followed by (as needed) automotive rubbing compound, buffing, then a good paste wax and polish.

I've been getting stellar results with Greze-Off(R) lately. if you have really resistant stuff, you might give that a shot.

Thanks Outlawmws
I'll certainly give those a try!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks Outlawmws

I'll certainly give those a try!

I have been using this method as well! When I am cleaning the boxes I put the dish soap in a bucket of hot water. This really helps lift the grease


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[Private Lugnutz]

If only to break the 'five-days-without-a-post' slump on this thread, I will leave this flea market LEFT BEHIND box here for posterity. It was a deep, extremely heavy duty box, with a heavy duty swing handle, several well-planned compartments, a nifty locking hasp feature, and a little metal holder for an ID card on the side (see Pics 1, 2 & 3). But the real story on this one is the provenance. My interest was purely academic. Quite literally. Like most everything else during WWII, academia was involved in the war effort, including our Ivy League institutions. I was able to track this box down in the War Supply Contracts books (see Pic 5) from the information on the sticker on the side (see Pic 4). Princeton had a few "research" contracts with the Army and several with the Navy, including the one this box was made for in early 1945. It hadn't traveled very far. The flea market was less than 20 minutes away from the school. The only reason it's not in the Lugzsonian was the asking price, which just wasn't reasonable.

 

[bmwrd0]

Princeton? Well, they are no Berkeley, thats for sure! Cool find, nonetheless.

(my great-grandfather was a prof. at Berkeley and during WWII the army extensively consuted him on the time and tides of the Nile. So at least one WWII connection for the school!)

 

[toolboxted]

Thanks for the post. That’s great that you could track down the War Supply Contracts number history. Congrats. Very interesting……Ted

 

[Gunfighter556]

Just thought I would throw this one up. A buddy and I went to an estate sale recently and he purchased this really cool kit with all the contents. A dedicated kit to replace snaps. I think it is a really awesome piece of history before we became a throw away society.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool find! I think the second one that has surfaced? Lugz IIR?

I'd love to find one of those; I could fill it even if empty of snaps...

 

[Rileysan]

I moved my newly acquired Craftsman Super Duty stack into my basement tool room, which has displaced my HUOT stack. I set a MATCO side chest on to it, but I'm not sure I like it.

 

[Outlawmws]

I assume you mean the side box - can it go on the left side? That would give you more space at the drill press...

Or pull out the DP, move the stack over and place the DP on the right end?

 

[outofbounds]

I moved my newly acquired Craftsman Super Duty stack into my basement tool room, which has displaced my HUOT stack. I set a MATCO side chest on to it, but I'm not sure I like it.

Magnificent stack!

 

[r0ckh0und]

In the past I have typically carried my tools around in a 5 gallon bucket but a recent job change had me looking for a roller and a stacker for my tools at work. I spend a lot of time at garage sales, estate sales and flea markets anyway so it was just a matter of time before I found something. These Kennedy boxes popped up on Marketplace a couple of days ago at a bargain price and not to far from home. As a bonus they came with a variety of files, punches and chisels, not to mention a Cornwell torque wrench.