The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[INSP380]

I’ve been wanting to bring this one home for a while now. It’s been on the shelf in my Dads garage since at least 1973. It belonged to my Grandfather and was his tool box at work. It’s repainted “machine green” like everything else in the shop. It originally set on a shop made riser. I’ve had the riser the last few years and recently discovered they were a match. This box came out of service in about 63 when he got a new wooden chest. I also have that chest. He then took this one home to use as his tackle box. He tried to spray bomb it black, but must have ran out of paint. Hence the difficulty I had matching the pair. I spent some time over the weekend cleaning and removing the black overspray to get back to the “machine green” . You can see the paint is flaking to the original gray finish. Not sure of the brand, but it sure did make a better tackle box. It’s back on the riser and I’m filling it with his tools. I thought the matches and book found in the box were cool, along with a wooden handle screwdriver. Check out the 54 date inside the book…Note: the stain on the riser is also present on the box… Any clue to the manufacture?



Steve

 

[Beerhippie]

Wooden nickels were common in local bars out here back when. If you wanted to buy a buddy a beer or drink but they had already had too many--or weren't present--you could buy wooden nickels and they could later redeem them. I think OLCC outlawed them a few years back, as I sure haven't seen them in a while. Wish I'd kept some, as they were custom-made for each bar--many of which no longer exist.

 

[rocksnstumps]

I’ve been wanting to bring this one home for a while now. It’s been on the shelf in my Dads garage since at least 1973. It belonged to my Grandfather and was his tool box at work. It’s repainted “machine green” like everything else in the shop. It originally set on a shop made riser. I’ve had the riser the last few years and recently discovered they were a match. This box came out of service in about 63 when he got a new wooden chest. I also have that chest. He then took this one home to use as his tackle box. He tried to spray bomb it black, but must have ran out of paint. Hence the difficulty I had matching the pair. I spent some time over the weekend cleaning and removing the black overspray to get back to the “machine green” . You can see the paint is flaking to the original gray finish. Not sure of the brand, but it sure did make a better tackle box. It’s back on the riser and I’m filling it with his tools. I thought the matches and book found in the box were cool, along with a wooden handle screwdriver. Check out the 54 date inside the book…Note: the stain on the riser is also present on the box… Any clue to the manufacture?

Steve

No clue on the manufacturer but that light green color brings back memories of being an intern at a local tissue converting mill long since closed. We had six floors of equipment painted similar and copied the paint spec to many drawings as "Dupont Spotlight Green Enamel" which the local fabricators must have known what was needed since can't recall much else like a number call-out or anything.

 

[INSP380]

No clue on the manufacturer but that light green color brings back memories of being an intern at a local tissue converting mill long since closed. We had six floors of equipment painted similar and copied the paint spec to many drawings as "Dupont Spotlight Green Enamel" which the local fabricators must have known what was needed since can't recall much else like a number call-out or anything.

Couple of old pics from our shop… Everything was “Machine Green” …

 

[d42jeep]

On Friday, we had we had a very enjoyable visit from bmwrd0, finally meeting in person for the first time. After chatting for a while, we did a quick tour of the basement and the messy garage. He then surprised me with some fun items he had brought along, among which was this very cool olive green Duplex cantilever box.
I finally got around to giving it a gentle cleaning yesterday.
The decal is very cool. I brought it down to the basement for a comparison with the Duplex box I found last summer. It turned out to be a little larger.
I temporarily stashed it in the Thorsen area until I figure out what to add to it. It’s a heavy box and built like a tank so it wouldn’t be one to easily move around when loaded. I like it a lot! Thanks again, Aa, and feel free to visit anytime.

-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

It’s a heavy box and built like a tank so it wouldn’t be one to easily move around when loaded.

Wheels! think a wheeled platform or cart.

 

[alinc100]

I’ve been wanting to bring this one home for a while now. It’s been on the shelf in my Dads garage since at least 1973. It belonged to my Grandfather and was his tool box at work. It’s repainted “machine green” like everything else in the shop. It originally set on a shop made riser. I’ve had the riser the last few years and recently discovered they were a match. This box came out of service in about 63 when he got a new wooden chest. I also have that chest. He then took this one home to use as his tackle box. He tried to spray bomb it black, but must have ran out of paint. Hence the difficulty I had matching the pair. I spent some time over the weekend cleaning and removing the black overspray to get back to the “machine green” . You can see the paint is flaking to the original gray finish. Not sure of the brand, but it sure did make a better tackle box. It’s back on the riser and I’m filling it with his tools. I thought the matches and book found in the box were cool, along with a wooden handle screwdriver. Check out the 54 date inside the book…Note: the stain on the riser is also present on the box… Any clue to the manufacture?



Steve

I'd think a quick soak of a paper towel bathed in Simple Green, might loosen the green paint enough to reveal a bit more of the logo/label. I'm leaning towards Waterloo.

 

[INSP380]

I'd think a quick soak of a paper towel bathed in Simple Green, might loosen the green paint enough to reveal a bit more of the logo/label. I'm leaning towards Waterloo.

Bingo! I’ve had this sitting the last few days softening up the paint over the decal. I’ve had to work gingerly as to not disrupt the decal. Not knowing what the decal was made out of, I had to slow down…..It’s made by Model Industries, out of Yorkville IL. This company eventually became Rem-Line. I found a few others while digging to comp it with. Last pic is one I found searching to compare.

Steve

 

[Beerhippie]

Picked this today:



Thing is, it is absolutely a Kennedy 520--except for the lock.



The front panel from my 520 fits perfectly:



I also see Sears Craftsman boxes that are identical to this one.

The Lumidor is missing its own front panel.

 

[Cruzan80]

IIRC. The two dimples on the side of the lock means Waterloo made. Lots of companies made 7-drawer boxes that were the same dimensions.

 

[Outlawmws]

IIRC. The two dimples on the side of the lock means Waterloo made. Lots of companies made 7-drawer boxes that were the same dimensions.

Same

 

[Beerhippie]

Cool. I had no idea there would be different manufacturers making essentially the identical chest. Even the drawer slides are the same as Kennedy with the clips. I haven't tried swapping those yet.

 

[Provincial]

I stopped by the Restore in the nearby city today.

I wandered around and discovered that they had expanded the inventory space to a covered outside area. There I found a large Kennedy "hip roof" toolbox in pretty good shape.

Missing the tray.

Oops! It wasn't a Kennedy!

 

[d42jeep]

Do you think the wood divider inside the box is factory? I have a little more modern but prewar S-K box but it doesn’t have anything on the inside. Mine doesn’t have the earlier leather handle either. I had to repaint the exterior because the grey spray bomb offended me.
-Don

 

[senlow]

Here is an interesting Kennedy box that I got a couple of weeks ago. It's a model 294 that is 29" wide. Leave it to Kennedy to make a weird size.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any before pics. When I acquired it, the box was racked so badly that the drawers could not be opened. The lock was missing, the wheels were almost seized, the bottom right corner was damaged, the left rear area of the top was caved in, the top two drawers were bent, and there was a mouse nest in the top drawer.

The good news is that the front cover survived intact and it still has most of the original gray paint. It has a light hammertone texture.

I did a quick cleaning on the outside of the box with dawn and then proceeded to do some body work. The porta power pushed the box back into square pretty quickly. I then removed the drawers and straightened them with hand seamers, and hammer and dolly. Next, I turned my attention to repairing the body of the box. After working the damage to the top and bottom corner, I had to get the porta power out again because my hammer and dolly work threw the box out of square again. I disassembled the wheels and lubed 'em up - good as new. After that, I gave the box a good cleaning with nothing stronger than dawn. I applied a little wax to the paint and here it is.

 

[zanyad]

@senlow, nicely fixed up.

Here is an interesting Kennedy box that I got a couple of weeks ago. It's a model 294 that is 29" wide. Leave it to Kennedy to make a weird size.

I think it may be sized to fit a 28" intermediate chest and 26" machinist chest?

 

[Patrickm82]

Here’s an example @zanyad

 

[zanyad]

Here’s an example @zanyad

Exactly. I was replying to @senlow's comment, "Leave it to Kennedy to make a weird size."

 

[Outlawmws]

Exactly. I was replying to @senlow's comment, "Leave it to Kennedy to make a weird size."

The Kennedy mechanics intermediate and top boxes fit those rollers perfectly.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

YOU.GUYS.ARE.KILLING.ME!

 

[Outlawmws]

YOU.GUYS.ARE.KILLING.ME!

 

[senlow]

@senlow, nicely fixed up.

I think it may be sized to fit a 28" intermediate chest and 26" machinist chest?

This fits on it pretty well. It's 28.5" wide. This box has the original gray wrinkle paint.

 

[JustVicingIt]

Started my Gerstner Resto Project today. Took it apart to start. I'll try to post pics as I go.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here is my complete wartime Ferret set.
-Don

Nice set! I’m slowly starting to acquire various bits to put one of those together myself

 

[JustVicingIt]

Alright, this Gerstner is quite the project. I'm going for an almost complete teardown. There's some veneer lifting on the top and water damage in the main body. Dissassembly was a chore, especially the like 20 split rivets holding things in place.

It's going to be some pic heavy posting so apologies in advance.

Reference shots pre-teardown:

 

[JustVicingIt]

continued:

 

[JustVicingIt]

continued moar:

 

[JustVicingIt]

Alright, teardown started notating by photo which drawers go where:

 

[JustVicingIt]

Most of the metal bits and pieces:





Using a lot of acetone to remove th old green felt:



Taking apart the folding door front/tray for easier sanding. Used a heat gun to loosen the old glue. Thankfully nothing broke when hammering.





Even more acetone:

 

[JustVicingIt]

Currently have drawers sanded and working on the main body. No photos yet. I'm thinking I may give the body a wood bleach treatment as there is water staining etc and sanding won't remove all that. I'm not going for a perfect resto though so not sure yet. I like old stuff to wear it's war wounds well.

Once all the prep is done I'll be ordering some small parts like new felt etc. Not sure if I'll have the larger hardware re-nickeled or just cleaned up in my workshop. I'd have to send those bits out for th nickeling as it's just not my jam. I;ll play the hardware refinishing by ear though.

Thanks for attending my Ted-Talk.

 

[Beerhippie]

Currently have drawers sanded and working on the main body. No photos yet. I'm thinking I may give the body a wood bleach treatment as there is water staining etc and sanding won't remove all that. I'm not going for a perfect resto though so not sure yet. I like old stuff to wear it's war wounds well.

Once all the prep is done I'll be ordering some small parts like new felt etc. Not sure if I'll have the larger hardware re-nickeled or just cleaned up in my workshop. I'd have to send those bits out for th nickeling as it's just not my jam. I;ll play the hardware refinishing by ear though.

Thanks for attending my Ted-Talk.

GO FOR IT!

 

[alinc100]

Most of the metal bits and pieces:





Using a lot of acetone to remove th old green felt:



Taking apart the folding door front/tray for easier sanding. Used a heat gun to loosen the old glue. Thankfully nothing broke when hammering.





Even more acetone:

Looking great so far. personally( just my opinion you didn't ask or pay for) I wouldn't strip/refinish the drawer fronts. I'd wax 'em and refelt them. The outer shell, yes I'd strip, use wood bleach/oxalic acid to remove the black stains. One tip for removing old felt ,use hot water. The glue is most likely hide glue, felt will pop right out. Only takes 30 seconds or so so no worries of water damage.

 

[RTM]

One tip for removing old felt ,use hot water. The glue is most likely hide glue, felt will pop right out. Only takes 30 seconds or so so no worries of water damage.

A wall paper steamer kicks a$$ for this job

 

[Patrickm82]

I second the hot water for the glue!!

 

[JustVicingIt]

Looking great so far. personally( just my opinion you didn't ask or pay for) I wouldn't strip/refinish the drawer fronts. I'd wax 'em and refelt them. The outer shell, yes I'd strip, use wood bleach/oxalic acid to remove the black stains. One tip for removing old felt ,use hot water. The glue is most likely hide glue, felt will pop right out. Only takes 30 seconds or so so no worries of water damage.

Thanks for the input, yeah they are already stripped and sanded and ready for new finish so no going back on that, though I did consider leaving them as is as they don't wear as hard, but I wanted a more uniform refinish. Oxalic acid is on the menu as well. The felt is all gone too, I considered the hot water for the felt, but considering I was going to resand it all, I opted to just tackle it with the acetone instead and it worked a treat.

I need to reglue a bunch of stuff so it'll be needles with hide glue all over it as well as some minor wood glue ups with damaged pieces especially by the finger joints. I'll post more pics of that process soon-ish. I'm sitting on maybe dissasembling it entirely as there is laminate seperation on the bottom and back piece, but I may be able to address that in situ.

I've decided to just polish up the metal bits and not re-nickel. Easier process and less money invested. I'm also going to repair the old leather handle. I'll use some filler and then leather paint to freshen it up and make it uniform.

All replacement parts were ordered as well. Went with the optional blue felt Gerstner has. Just like it better than the traditional green.

 

[JustVicingIt]

Next phase started.

Started the wire wheel cleaning on the various metal components. I'll do a finer clean on the nooks and crannies after handling them on the bigger machine. Not sure how much I'll polish to a shine.



Drawers and other parts sanded. I'm going to use a more modern oil finish like rubio with a tint instead of poly or shellac.



The carcass I'm considering how far into dissasembly I want to go. I feel like it would be helpful for repairs, but with all that finger jointed and joinery, and it's pretty solid even with that damage, I may end up breaking it more than I'd want. I'm leaning towards leaving it be and gluing it up in place and clamping where it's needed.

 

[JustVicingIt]

Said **** it and opted to send it and just glue up the carcass as is. No need to complicate it.

 

[INSP380]

Started on the hardware today, I’m liking the looks of this one …

 

[JustVicingIt]

Carcass sanded ready for oxalic acid treatment. Need to use some hide glue to fix some of the veneer before that happens.

 

[Beerhippie]

Carcass sanded ready for oxalic acid treatment. Need to use some hide glue to fix some of the veneer before that happens.

Oxalic acid bleach first, then hide glue. Hide glue is softened by water.

You can brush the acid bleach on so as to keep things relatively dry. It also removes rust stains better than anything else I've used.