The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Tool Pants]

You guys must not have grown up in the 1970s. Fake wood grain was put on just about everything, and a lot of cars.

The micro comment reminds me. I still have the first micro I bought 20 something years ago. Wood grain.

If I was to buy that Craftsman woodie I could put it next to the Sanyo. Or stack it so that the Sanyo is in the middle like an intermediate box.

 

[wreckercologist]

You guys must not have grown up in the 1970s. Fake wood grain was put on just about everything,

No doubt! I remember the Zenith TV we had when I was a kid. The TV console, the TV stand, and the remote were all wood grain! I'm surprised the antenna and the power cord were not as well!

 

[Tool Pants]

I have a wood grain TV. First one I bought, around 1979. 12 inch black and white. It think it cost $69.99. I was a student and that was all I could afford. Still works, but I can no longer watch it due to the switch to digital.

That Craftsman wood grain box is starting to look better....

 

[Tool Pants]

Back from the flea this morning and the Craftsman woodie is still there. But this time when I asked how much the guy said $110 for just the box, or $160 with the tools. So the price went up $10 since last weekend. Maybe next week it will be $120 and $170.

I was thinking of offering $25, but he will not take it. It is in great shape for something 35 plus years old.

That thing does bring back memories of the 1970s, and I like old stuff. Maybe once he gets tired of hauling it to the flea every weekend....

 

[ZRX61]

I just bought an old Kennedy box off craigslist for $5 for no other than reason that it's cool. Now I'm thinking it will be my older boy's first tool box when he's ready.

The logo stylistically looks older than most Kennedys I've seen, so I'm curious if anyone knows how old it is?

That's possibly an Armorers Toolbox by the look of it... Mine is still used in it's original capacity

What are the dimensions on yours? It looks a tad smaller than mine, want to sell it?

 

[darkbuddha]

That's possibly an Armorers Toolbox by the look of it... Mine is still used in it's original capacity


What are the dimensions on yours? It looks a tad smaller than mine, want to sell it?

Cool... looks very similar indeed, but I do think this one might be a bit smaller than yours... it measures 14.25" L x 7.25" W x 9.25" H. As for selling it, I actually considered it when I was going to buy it, but I know that I'd never be able to replace it for what I paid. That said, if the "right" box comes along, I'll drop you a line.

 

[metalhead212121]

Just remember...you asked for it!

The only box I have that's less than twenty years old is a Craftsman rollaway from '94.


Snap Ons...made between '83-85...last one is '77

really like that top box you have. granted I have way tooooo many tool boxes as is.. I recently saw one like that for sale on craigslist. I think he wanted $250 for it.. I was thinking about it and realized that I didn't need it but DAMN THAT THIS WAS COOL!!! Now if the price was lower it would have been a different story.



Dan

 

[Thumper]

man........I soooooo wanted one of those Craftsman competition boxes when I was a kid. I still like 'em.

 

[ZRX61]

Cool... looks very similar indeed, but I do think this one might be a bit smaller than yours... it measures 14.25" L x 7.25" W x 9.25" H. As for selling it, I actually considered it when I was going to buy it, but I know that I'd never be able to replace it for what I paid. That said, if the "right" box comes along, I'll drop you a line.

Yours sounds like the baby brother. Might be able to identify it properly over at this place:
http://www.g503.com/forums/index.php

 

[dieseldodge01]

I think I have most of my vintage boxes in this thread (possibly missed a few), here's on more, it's an old Kennedy (looks like an MBC, who knows?). I'm actually down to just a few vintage boxes, sold most of them, this ones on the chopping block as well.

Kennedy made all of there own boxes. My dad has one with the exact handles on it, its from the middle 60's, it still has the original Kennedy Kits sticker in it. If I am correct the boxes were made at the plant on Sycamore Street in Van Wert, Ohio

Picked this one up with a Kennedy bottom off CL a couple months ago. The guy said he was at least the 2nd owner and he bought it in the mid 70s. Here is a couple pics in the condition I bought it in. I cleaned up the outside a bit since then, but it was in pretty good shape when I got it. Anyone else ever seen a New Britian tool box before?

-Dane

I would love to have a box similar to those made be New Britain. I almost bought a Blackhawk from when they were own by New Britain. It was an early 70's box, all ball bearing slides, but couldn't afford it at the time.

 

[G-Man]

Todays Craigslist score. Vintage Craftsman rollaway. Top box is well used, needs slides repaired and a little elbow grease. Rollaway is in extremely good condition. No rust, smooth drawer slides. Both have working locks with original keys. Picked it up for $75.

 

[y'sguy]

Here's the one I grew up with and inherited recently from my Dad when he passed away. His buddies at the Hanger where he worked used to razz him about "here come the ice cream man" Then another mechanic bought one just like it.
It has been repainted once by my dad years ago, So I'll probably just keep it that way. It has a lot of his old stuff in it. Snap-on, Blue point. Stainless top with rounded corners and a small Wilton vise. I've never seen another like it but they must be out there. I love it. Most people think it would get dirty but it is high gloss and cleans up well. Check out the way the handles on the end slide in and out.
I also have a Blackhawk Top Box I acquired at another time on a post over here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=969540#post969540

​

 

[y'sguy]

Here's my "sort of matching" Blackhawk top box

 

[ZRX61]

I'm a bit closer to getting the vintage Craftsman box I mentioned. I've now actually seen it! No pics yet, but it's a bluish hammertone finish by the look of things & has rounded corners.

Apparently I will be the 3rd owner. The 2nd owner got it from the 1st back in the 60's & it was apparently old then.

It has the very old style *Craftsman* logo.

 

[selohssa]

Here's the one I grew up with and inherited recently from my Dad when he passed away. His buddies at the Hanger where he worked used to razz him about "here come the ice cream man" Then another mechanic bought one just like it.



I LOVE that set up. That is what I had in mind when I joined this site. The fact that it is white makes it even better in my mind.

 

[lauver]

y'sguy,

Love your Blackhawk boxes. Very nice and very unique.

Quick question: In the 12th photo from the top (wrench drawer), what are the long pattern double boxend wrenches with round beams? They are outstanding!

 

[larry_g]

Here is my 1948 KR-377 Snap-On box.

Do the boxes of this vintage have a model and Date code? I have what appears to be the same box but could find no numbers on it. I figured mine might be a KR377A.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[y'sguy]

y'sguy,

Love your Blackhawk boxes. Very nice and very unique.

Quick question: In the 12th photo from the top (wrench drawer), what are the long pattern double boxend wrenches with round beams? They are outstanding!

I looked over the tools in the drawer and put them in sets. The ones you speak of are all Blue point except for an identical size and version of the largest one is a Snap-On.
Thanks for looking.

 

[lauver]

y'sguy,

Those boxend wrenches are nice looking and an interesting pattern. Based on the date codes, the Snap-on example looks to be 1968 vintage, while the Blue-Point example looks to be older, maybe 1956 (can't quite make out the entire date code). What is your take on the BP date code?

 

[Scout Driver]

y'sguy, Those round-beam, Blue Point wrenches with the double box ends are very cool!

Scott

 

[cglasgow]

Here are some of mine. The first is my roll-around. Top box is Proto, bottom box is Kennedy. I don't know anything about them (estate sale).

The red small box was my only box for many years -- lived in the trunk of the car. Bought new ca. 1983. The black box is brand new but it had the look I wanted (plus it was the only metal box HD had and I needed a box right then. Couldn't bear the thought of one of those plastic things). Red box now houses my plumbing tools, black has electrical.

The last two photos are not really a toolbox, but they're tools in a box so I'll vote they count. They are my Granddad's Craftsman breaker bar set. I don't know how old they are except they're older than me! Looks like maybe there was once green wrinkle paint on the box....

 

[deathbound]

Here are mine:

1st is a Kennedy box I got from a close friend of the family(same person I got the Marquette jack from in a previous thread). It measures 20-1/8"Wx8-1/2"Dx13-1/8"H & has 7 drawers. Any info on the model &/or year of manufacture would be helpful. The man I got this from has since passed away-he was an aircraft mechanic from the 40's til around the early 70's.

2nd is a Craftsman top/bottom roller I bought new around 1982.

3rd is a Craftsman model 6500 with 4 ribs on the front....next post.

4th is a Craftsman model 6500 with 5 ribs on the front....next post.

The 2 model 6500's have slightly different badges-any info on this would be helpful.


6500's on the next post

 

[deathbound]

The 2 model 6500's.....1 I stickered up around 1980.

 

[y'sguy]

y'sguy,

Love your Blackhawk boxes. Very nice and very unique.

Quick question: In the 12th photo from the top (wrench drawer), what are the long pattern double boxend wrenches with round beams? They are outstanding!

Lauver, I took a look at the two wrenches again and they (to my untrained eye) seem to be identical? with tiny differences in the lettering style, USA - "B" or "8". The codes are: Snap-On XDH 3032 USA 8. Blue-point is XD-3032 USA the letter or numeral after that is distorted but looks like it could have been an 8? or a backwards 6?. Thanks for loooking I'm curious as to what you can tell me on these I don't know a thing about these codes and you guys obviously do!

 

[lauver]

y'sguy,

There is a chart somewhere on GJ with the snap-on/blue-point date codes (they are the same). If you can't find it, PM me with your email address and I will send you a copy of the codes in a very useful format.

 

[ZRX61]

My latest find...

As found:

24 hours later:

 

[deathbound]

My latest find...

As found:

24 hours later:

Looks nice, was that on the L.A. craigslist?

 

[ZRX61]

Nope, guy I used to work with got it used decades ago & he was the 2nd owner. He was having a clean out at home & needed space. Asked If I wanted "an old tool box" months back & I finally got around to picking it up on Thursday.

 

[ZRX61]

This appears to be the original color

It seems to have started out the blue/green shade then spent a bit of time red before its current black covering everything.

The mechanism for locking the drawers is identical to my Craftsman. The drawer handles are different, but they are the same as the handle on the end of my box. Those things are supposed to move up & down. The part that controls the locking system is the lower door which lifts those latches when it's pushed back into the bottom cabinet. It's the curved part seen here:

In your pic they latches are up so I guess the lower door is in place?

 

[ZRX61]

Now it has a top...Still needs sanding/varnishing & fastening together...

 

[Tool Pants]

I saw this Cornwell at the flea this morning. $40 for everything. I checked the box out and it was originally red. Draws worked. Both stays for the lid were missing. Lock was missing. Minor surface rust in some areas. No big dents.

I asked how much for just the box, and he said $15. As I walked away it was $30 for everything. I would not pay $5 for the tools inside.

I made my rounds and as I was leaving I went by again for the picture. If it were not for the missing stays I might have bought it. Plus I was not in the mood to be sanding and painting.

 

[Bryan Burns]

This was finished in July 1979.

That's creative - a roll top tool chest. Very nice. Did you make it yourself?

 

[Weeburn]

First off, this is my first post on this forum, just found it today (accidentally while searching for a new toolbox and verifying that Montezuma makes some quality boxes - long story lol). I love this thread

Anyways, when I first decided I was gonna work on cars, my dad offered me my grandad's toolbox to use at work. My grandad had a 3-car garage, shaped like an L that was mostly a shop, with only room for one car. I asked him about the box, all he said was "it's an old craftsman, it's decent size, you can have it if you want". It had been out there collecting dust since he had passed years ago.

Got it, cleaned it out, and the coolest part was finding a page cut out of a sears catalog from 1978 or 79 in the bottom drawer, that had this exact box combo circled in pen, so I can only assume this box is from 78-79 (and it has the rust on the bottom to prove it).

I've been using it for over 3 years now professionally, with no problems, and I'm just now reaching the point where I'm out of room and need to expand, and this will become my home box (never ever gonna sell it, worth more than any $$$)

Only pic I have of it, but I'll take more once I retire it from daily work duty

 

[Ramblur]

Just scored this one for free from a guy in our RV park.
A well built box with felt lined draws and some aircraft history,enjoy.
I'll probably clean it up and redo the hammertone finish or at least
thats the plan right now.

 

[marksd1]

My first restoration: Craftsman box

I have a few boxes that I want to restore, particularly a '66 SO to go with my '66 F250. I thought I would start with something a bit easier. Bought this for 10 bucks (full) at a G-sale. It was bleached out and rusty, but the integrity was good. I think it came out well.

 

[POS Racing]

My Huot it was originally my Grandfathers. (BTW Those are magnets not sticker )

 

[anodyne33]

First off, this is my first post on this forum, just found it today (accidentally while searching for a new toolbox and verifying that Montezuma makes some quality boxes - long story lol). I love this thread

Anyways, when I first decided I was gonna work on cars, my dad offered me my grandad's toolbox to use at work. My grandad had a 3-car garage, shaped like an L that was mostly a shop, with only room for one car. I asked him about the box, all he said was "it's an old craftsman, it's decent size, you can have it if you want". It had been out there collecting dust since he had passed years ago.

Got it, cleaned it out, and the coolest part was finding a page cut out of a sears catalog from 1978 or 79 in the bottom drawer, that had this exact box combo circled in pen, so I can only assume this box is from 78-79 (and it has the rust on the bottom to prove it).

I've been using it for over 3 years now professionally, with no problems, and I'm just now reaching the point where I'm out of room and need to expand, and this will become my home box (never ever gonna sell it, worth more than any $$$)

Only pic I have of it, but I'll take more once I retire it from daily work duty

Great story. I have a tiny little tool box that was always in my grandfather's car as long as I can remember, and it's not going anywhere. I've seen similar boxes on here that people have identified as a tackle box. I may have to get a picture up sometime.

 

[MOPARHOUND!]

My Huot it was originally my Grandfathers. (BTW Those are magnets not sticker )

Cool, a Huot, don't see one of those everyday. Would you happen to have a clear shot of one of the drawer pull handles?

Thanks.

 

[POS Racing]

Cool, a Huot, don't see one of those everyday. Would you happen to have a clear shot of one of the drawer pull handles?

Thanks.

Sure!

There is also a postcard in the lid showing a couple of pictures of Huot boxes. Sorry about the poor cell phone camera quality.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Heres my old machinest box or at least thats what I call it. My grandfather was a machinest and this is his old box. It is wood body with the green metal drawers. The green paint is a krinkle fnish like an old Kennedy.

Looks more like a blue-print cabinet.