Montgomery Ward rolling chest age/value?

[Tomm Williams]

Hello

I’ve had this great old rolling tool chest of my fathers for over 40 years and wondering if anyone might have a general idea of when it was made and value? The friction glides still work wonderfully even after having been through a flood in 2017. I’m guessing it’s from the ‘60’s but really don’t know.

Cheers

 

[driftpin]

"Ran when parked?"

Can't see much for tools there, you're not making it easy to evaluate. Kinda like looking at a blurry, out-of-focus picture of a 1973 Mercury Comet with what appears to be side-swipe damage completely along one side, sitting on 4 flat tires and wanting 'an evaluation.' I'd say the combination open-end wrenches and whatever other tools there are, are probably worth more than the cabinet/chest.

It's pretty rough, I'd say the time spent to make them clean and painted would be more-than the value of the tins.

If the tools go w/it, I expect they may be worth more-than the chest/base cabinet 'roller.' Open-up the drawers and get some good pictures for us.

As to age, I suspect they may be from the 1960's but I'm no expert. One of the more knowledgeable members like four-cycle could give you an exact year, and the catalog in which they appear. Friction slider trays don't hold much weight, and as you load 'em down, they become more-difficult to open/close.

 

[finn]

The tools look to be modern Chinese HF grade imports, so not much value.

The box is reminiscent of the early to mid sixties. Not much value except to a collector / restorer, and they typically do restorations / refurbishments on boxes they get for free, or close to it.

Would be a nice conversation piece if cleaned up and made functional, but you’re not going to get much more than coffee money as is.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Hello

I’ve had this great old rolling tool chest of my fathers for over 40 years and wondering if anyone might have a general idea of when it was made and value? The friction glides still work wonderfully even after having been through a flood in 2017. I’m guessing it’s from the ‘60’s but really don’t know.

Cheers

That qualifies as a museum piece.
Maybe the Studebaker museum (South Bend, Indiana) would be interested?

 

[manwithtools]

That qualifies as a museum piece.
Maybe the Studebaker museum (South Bend, Indiana) would be interested?

What???

Don't mislead folks with this kind of assessment on a old tool box in not so great shape.

 

[Tomm Williams]

Thanks for the replies so far. As far as the tools contained within, those are my working tools and not at all part of my question. I’m simply curious about the rolling chest and nothing further. I’m not interested in selling it as it was my father’s and goes back to my earliest memories 60 plus years ago.

 

[pima67]

The correct decision. I have a set of Pwer-Kraft/monkey ward open end and box end wrenches made in US. I bought them in the late "60's via the MW catalog store in the small town I lived in at the time. Any Pwer-Kraft tools in the box?

But in your spare time a good refurbishment might be in order.

 

[Tomm Williams]

The correct decision. I have a set of Pwer-Kraft/monkey ward open end and box end wrenches made in US. I bought them in the late "60's via the MW catalog store in the small town I lived in at the time. Any Pwer-Kraft tools in the box?

But in your spare time a good refurbishment might be in order.

No such tools in there unfortunately, probably were at some point as Dad was a penny pincher when I was a child. Bought much better tools for himself as time went on.

 

[pima67]

By the way, MW now Ward still does business via the internet. Only Pwer-Kraft tools are cordless ones.

Originally the tool were not "cheap" ones. Mine are forged and chrome plated just like Craftsman of the day which I also have some.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think the toolbox may be older, mainly based on the logo on the top. It looks more like 1950s to me but I'm just guessing. Taking a closeup photo of the logo and then doing a Google image search may turn up something.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

What???

Don't mislead folks with this kind of assessment on a old tool box in not so great shape.

To Manwithtools
Uhhh…
Disclaimer: “I am not a biologist.”
BTW - if someone paid me for what you think is an endorsement I will give them all their money back.
Old ManWT - are you happy now?
Knee jerk comments like yours can make GF an unpleasant place to visit.
Sorry you are having such a bad day.

 

[finn]

By the way, MW now Ward still does business via the internet. Only Pwer-Kraft tools are cordless ones.

Originally the tool were not "cheap" ones. Mine are forged and chrome plated just like Craftsman of the day which I also have some.

I doubt if the MW you see on the internet can trace any lineage to the original MW.

In bankruptcy cases like the one MW went through over thirty years ago, there’s a total liquidation, including of IP like the name.

Somebody probably bought the name for pennys at the liquidation, then resold it a few times along the way.

 

[finn]

By the way, MW now Ward still does business via the internet. Only Pwer-Kraft tools are cordless ones.

Originally the tool were not "cheap" ones. Mine are forged and chrome plated just like Craftsman of the day which I also have some.

My old PowerKraft combination wrenches are still my favorites, although I don’t use them much in deference to my memories.

I think I still have a blue handled slotted screwdriver, too.

 

[cody1325]

By the way, MW now Ward still does business via the internet. Only Pwer-Kraft tools are cordless ones.

Originally the tool were not "cheap" ones. Mine are forged and chrome plated just like Craftsman of the day which I also have some.

My "Two Speed Reciprocating Saw" cost the equivalent of around $450 or so for a pretty basic, kinda underpowered saw--and the $45-ish or so it was then was what my folks were bringing in a week 60 years ago. Meanwhile, that can buy a couple of Milwaukee corded Sawzalls; or a nice cordless one with some big batteries.

But, 60 years later, the darn thing "just still works". Need to tear into it, clean it real well, and replace the cord.

 

[manwithtools]

To Manwithtools
Uhhh…
Disclaimer: “I am not a biologist.”
BTW - if someone paid me for what you think is an endorsement I will give them all their money back.
Old ManWT - are you happy now?
Knee jerk comments like yours can make GF an unpleasant place to visit.
Sorry you are having such a bad day.

Username sure checks out...

 

[pima67]

From the web site:

In 2008 the "Montgomery Ward" brand was acquired by Colony Brands Inc., a family-owned direct-mail business that strives to continue the heritage, traditions and values of the brand that were inspired by the founder, Aaron Montgomery Ward.

Yea a lot of old brand were sold by greed owners rather than figure out how to make a go of it.
The crushing blow selling Louisville sluggers to "feriners". Really bad when Smithfield hams was sold.

 

[Tomm Williams]

I think the toolbox may be older, mainly based on the logo on the top. It looks more like 1950s to me but I'm just guessing. Taking a closeup photo of the logo and then doing a Google image search may turn up something.

It is not out of the question that he obtained it in the 50’s as he was working as a mechanic for a Ford dealership during that decade. I was born in 1960 and can recall him having it very early on. Although it is quite ugly, every single drawer opens smoothly, every hinge is quiet and the casters roll around just fine. Not bad for a unit that has not been pampered whatsoever.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It would probably clean up pretty well with some elbow grease. The grime on drawer fronts probably has acted as protection all these years.

I just watched this video a couple days ago of a fellow cleaning up an old Craftsman box that was a lot crustier, and it came out pretty good.

 

[Stuart in MN]

This site has a bunch of old Sears and Wards catalogs online: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ If you scroll down to the 1956 Wards Spring and Summer catalog, click on that link, then when the catalog opens scroll down to page 811 there's a tool box and chest that looks very similar to yours, in the same colors. The illustration doesn't so that logo on the top, I don't know if that's from a different year or if they just left it out of the illustration.

A little further down the page there's a 1962 catalog, the toolbox shown there was a copper tone color and by then they were labeling everything Powr-Kraft, so I think yours is from sometime in the 1950s.

 

[yatg]

Its a nice style and looks like it has locking cover features.
Pre 80s boxes have heavier steel and are generally better than what you could buy today in the same size.
If you were trying to sell it, you'd be lucky to get 100 for it.
Average Joe doesn't want a small toolbox.
I think it would look great semi-restored (cleaned, de-dent, maybe repaint)
Then you could use it as a statement piece or fill it with specific hobby tools, like firearms or sewing .

 

[Tomm Williams]

This site has a bunch of old Sears and Wards catalogs online: https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ If you scroll down to the 1956 Wards Spring and Summer catalog, click on that link, then when the catalog opens scroll down to page 811 there's a tool box and chest that looks very similar to yours, in the same colors. The illustration doesn't so that logo on the top, I don't know if that's from a different year or if they just left it out of the illustration.

A little further down the page there's a 1962 catalog, the toolbox shown there was a copper tone color and by then they were labeling everything Powr-Kraft, so I think yours is from sometime in the 1950s.

I think you found it ! 1956 ! 70 years old.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Just as old as me, I turned 70 yesterday.

Toolboxes didn't change much from one year to the next, so yours isn't necessarily from that year exactly, but it's at least from that general time period.

I don't know if Wards did it, but it's possible there's a date code stamped on the back somewhere.