The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Ricky Joe]

I have the same box. The consensus guess was MBC, sold under a slew of brands including Snap-on and Cornwell, prob. about 1970s. My biggest issue if inability to release the drawer slides. The hacksaw blade trick doesn't seem to work. Have you had any luck?

Let me know your address and I’ll send you a genuine drawer remover tool.

 

[alinc100]

This is posted locally on Facebook Marketplace . I think I am seeing John Shaw and Sons ,Wolverhampton?

General Metal and Holloware

 

[alinc100]

Tried reaching out on this one within 90 minutes of it being listed. Seller never answered. Despite not being mentioned or marked as Snap-On, (and badge missing from front lid) someone was on it pretty quickly.

It's back on FBM again,maybe this time the seller will answer your message: http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/354023389714085/

 

[1982fxr]

I have the same box. The consensus guess was MBC, sold under a slew of brands including Snap-on and Cornwell, prob. about 1970s. My biggest issue if inability to release the drawer slides. The hacksaw blade trick doesn't seem to work. Have you had any luck?

The SNAP-ON slide tool is like 3 bucks. They may or may not charge 14 shipping.

It works great. Old Huots are the only boxes it hasn't worked on for me.

 

[Mintgrun]

I've struggled with homemade removal tools and had to experiment with shaping the end and putting bends in them to make them work. I just googled up the snap-on tool and found a couple images from a GJ thread. I'll post them here, followed by a link to that thread. Photo credit goes to member R6 Racer. Tom

Snap On Drawer Removal Tool

Hi all. I borrowed a friend's Snap On friction slide drawer removal tools (the ones that look like they could be made from a hacksaw blade) and managed to misplace one. I want to but him another to replace it, but the local Snap On salesman (a young guy) doesn't know anything about them or...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[outofbounds]

It's back on FBM again,maybe this time the seller will answer your message: http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/354023389714085/

Reached out again today, and he said it was sold the first time, and relisted in error.

 

[outofbounds]

Picked up this cute little Simonsen Cantilever box today at lunchtime, chock full of unused Craftsman -V- series tools..........However, Mr. Selke did apparently receive the Craftsman engraving tool one Christmas, and discovered that it worked exceptionally well! Sigh.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a really nice Waterloo box at today‘s estate sale. The asking price was quite high but the seller and I negotiated a price that was a little more reasonable.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Tripped into this one on FB Marketplace. $25 and a 20 minute drive. Seller received 30 messages and higher offers while I was in route. Will give it a wipe down and see if a matching top chest makes an appearance in the coming month or two.

 

[Outlawmws]

Good on the Seller that he stuck to his commitment. Many won't/don't.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like an equipment cabinet

 

[Tynee]

Good on the Seller that he stuck to his commitment. Many won't/don't.

I listed a non-running 12 year old truck with 225,000 miles once. I apparently under-priced it at $2k, because my phone blew up. When I told a guy there were already 2 buyers on their way to look at it, he said if I'd cancel on them, he'd pay me $3k tomorrow. I declined.

It's amazing to me how many people will ask you to do shady things to other people, while expecting you to trust them, or expecting you to be honest and trustworthy in their dealings with you.

 

[outofbounds]

Good on the Seller that he stuck to his commitment. Many won't/don't.

Agreed. I wasn't going to wait an hour for anything like that to happen to me, as I've already been on the receiving end a few times prior. Being "in route" sort of discourages that, although this seller didn't seem like the kind of guy who would have screwed me over anyway.

 

[Snaparxon]

Tripped into this one on FB Marketplace. $25 and a 20 minute drive. Seller received 30 messages and higher offers while I was in route. Will give it a wipe down and see if a matching top chest makes an appearance in the coming month or two.

Looks like a KR460

Collecting Snap-on - 1973 Catalog DA p216

 

[MShaw]

The Powr Kraft stack rehab I showed earlier did not have a key for the top box. After someone said Gerstner had the identical lock but would only sell to a Gerstner box owner as it had the Gerstner logo on it I browsed their catalog and they listed the same lock without the logo for general use. So, for $40.00 I had a new lock.

 

[outofbounds]

Nice little $25 Huot Top Chest w/Lift out tray

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[Tynee]

Marketplace listing in Berea, KY for a Snap-On mid box. KRA-461A from 1978, according to the photo of the stamp. Asking price is listed at $200. Looks pretty clean and straight from the photos. Seller lists the width at 40" is that correct?

Edited to add: 1978 catalogue on Collecting Snap-On shows these at 31" wide. Most here probably already knew that.

Not mine, no affiliation:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/961423164439705/

 

[k p]

These are my Beach boxes, I've had the top/bottom set for many years and I absolutely love them. I just acquired the wider bottom box, which definitely needs a good scrub and maybe a new coat of paint. I've only ever come across two of these wide bottom boxes for sale and I missed the first one by minutes. I got really lucky and snagged this one before anyone else could get it. The plan is to replace the bottom box with this wide one, which will be a very nice upgrade.

 

[Username already in use]

@k p

ALL

THOSE

DRAWERS!

Very nice!

 

[alinc100]

These are my Beach boxes, I've had the top/bottom set for many years and I absolutely love them. I just acquired the wider bottom box, which definitely needs a good scrub and maybe a new coat of paint. I've only ever come across two of these wide bottom boxes for sale and I missed the first one by minutes. I got really lucky and snagged this one before anyone else could get it. The plan is to replace the bottom box with this wide one, which will be a very nice upgrade.



Congrats on the "new" Beach Box . I've personally seen 3 here in the wilds of Detroit, 2 are currently in my garage and the 1st ever one, never made it off my truck before a co-worker HAD to have it. I've seen others on FB/Kijiji but tapped out on space/money /time when those have appeared

 

[beatcad]

I picked this up this morning. Not great but not bad. I always liked Rem Line but never could find one. I'll probably just clean this one up. It came with the upper key, the registration card(unfilled out) and the pad/mat between the top and bottom box was part of the orig cardboard box it came in.

 

[beatcad]

Last weekend I got this Waterloo mid box

 

[Username already in use]

@beatcad nice scores. That Waterloo box would look nice between those Remline boxes, if it fits.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Oof. I just can't help myself sometimes.
I found this Craftsman stack on marketplace last Thursday. I procrastinated in sending a message because I need to build a pole barn before I buy more boxes!
It kept nagging at me and I messaged them on Saturday. I was told at that time that the sale was 'pending' to another person.
I looked again last night and it was still listed. I sent another message today...
A short trip and $35 later. Should mate well with the Craftsman 2D top box that I have in the basement.

I would love one of those old, old Craftsman boxes like this, but it's hard enough finding the old red and grey boxes here in Atlanta.

 

[outofbounds]

Not my listing, but a fairly reasonable deal for some old "fixer-uppers". I have to believe that the 2 drawer riser is a fairly rare bird. https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...ghtspeed_banner&referralCode=messenger_banner

 

[1982fxr]

I have 5 of those old snap on intermediate 2 drawers. I love em.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Not my listing, but a fairly reasonable deal for some old "fixer-uppers". I have to believe that the 2 drawer riser is a fairly rare bird. https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...ghtspeed_banner&referralCode=messenger_banner

Someone had some extra paint!

 

[wtn1271]

Picked up this Snap On stack earlier this year, pretty sure I didn't post it already, I believe the top is a KR56 and the bottom is a KR351. I have started to clean it up in order to hopefully sell it and make some room on the garage. I can find no numbers stamped anywhere on either box. Figure late 1940's or early 50's. Wondering if the drawer pulls can help pinpoint manufacturer date. Also has a shallow tray that sits on the edge of a drawer in the bottom box. Any help with further identification appreciated.

 

[Tynee]

If I remember right, there are a couple different variations on that Snap-On logo that can help you narrow down its age as well, right? I can’t remember where I’ve seen the details on that though. Perhaps somewhere on CollectingSnapOn.com?

 

[wtn1271]

I've found some charts showing the various emblems and font styles but nothing about actual time frames. Several folks have commented that the boxes are late 40's or early 50's which is close enough, more of a curiosity than anything else. Might have to keep them and use it for our 1951 F1.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This stack is from 53 I think. Recently added another mid section.

 

[1982fxr]

One thing about old SNAP-ON tops and rollers. When myself or others post up boxes it's common to have someone throw an exact year on it, for what seem to me to be regular style boxes.

I'm talking mainly 40s thru 60s. Wouldn't almost every regular box have had multi year runs though?

And nobody seems real sure about badge specifics on years. I have a decent collection but my knowledge is like 3/10.

Just trying to learn...

 

[1982fxr]

This stack is from 53 I think. Recently added another mid section.

Good example ^^^^ those old ones don't have dates right?

Were there really that many one year only boxes that it can be narrowed down through catalogs (or whatever else)?

Did they really change models that often?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The family of the gentleman who bought the stack new said they thought he bought it in 53. The slanted logo I think went away in 49 or so, so what they told me seems plausible.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

From 55 to 58 they had the chrome logo with spot welded handles. That's when snap on started making their own boxes (kr, Kenosha red). The handles then ran the length of the drawers and the chrome logo continued up to 70. The date stamps started around 1955 56. This little k53 is from 56, the k500 64.

 

[Graeme]

This is my newly acquired beach/autopro/Gray set.
I have an autopro branded 6 drawer top box too.
It could probably do with a repaint but there are 2 things I'm struggling with.
I have to order the paint, which means I need to know a ral or bs paint code that will match well. I really like the colour so don't want to end up more orange.
Does anyone know what works? I can't find anywhere local I can go and look at charts.
Secondly, the handle rivets.
Sorting out proper semi tubular rivets is looking tricky and by the time I've bought tooling too, it may get expensive.
I'm going to try and do it properly though. I want to practice before drilling the old ones out though, does anyone know the diameter and length of rivet used?
I'd no can't sort proper rivets I have 2 choices. Pop rivets, or rivnuts and slotted screws. If I need to go with one of those, which would you choose?

 

[Username already in use]

@Graeme i can’t answer any of your questions, but that is on sweet Beach/Gray box. Maybe hit it with a clay bar and some polish and see how it comes out. It’s only original once.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Great looking stack. I really like the Beach-made boxes.

Personally, I'd leave it alone. Stripping, sanding, painting, properly reattaching hardware.....LOTS of work and that stack wouldn't warrant it from me. To each his own though. Reattaching the hardware properly isn't that difficult to source or execute and isn't that much when compared to how crappy pop rivets, rivnuts, etc look (again, to each his own).

I use Hanson Rivet and Supply (pic with contact info attached). If you get a cheap digital caliper, you can measure the thickness of drawer pull along with the thickness of the metal you're attaching it to. Call Hanson with that info, along with the diameter of the rivet you need and they'll hook you up. Rivets aren't that expensive but you'll need to buy the setting tools as well. There's a few different routes you can take with that, the Hanson rep can walk you through it.

With all the work involved with disassembling that for a repaint, it's worth the investment to put it back together correctly. Best of luck and let's see it when you're done.

NOTE: The rivets in the picture are NOT the size you need for those drawer pulls.

 

[lilredex]

I'd leave them as is. Replacing those rivets will be a PITA and it will never look right. Sunrise red is what I use. Found some in quart cans too, but was at Walmart, Watertown N.Y.

 

[Graeme]

I think the pictures flatter it. It's worse in real life. I'll take some better ones.

I've heard sunrise red is a good match, but it's but available in the UK
Cardinal red and cherry red are, but not easily.

I can get good enamel paint, but need to order it by code.

If I paint it, I may even brush it.
I just restored a 1950s velocette and I coach painted that. It's better than most home done spray jobs!

I could probably sort the rivet situation, I'd just need to remove one first. But at that point, I'm committed!