The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

[Ryan]

Or add a Montezuma slant front top box and have a great tool cart!

Before I moved, I sold my two smaller Lista boxes. They are just so damned heavy that it made more sense to get rid of them rather than figure out how to get them moved safely. I couldn't bring myself to sell my bigger main Lista box though... My whole life is in those drawers. But those smaller boxes were always legs to a main workbench.

And I need to replace those two Lista boxes as well as the before mentioned workbench and don't want to spend a lot of money doing it. I was gonna do a couple of Husky boxes or something similar just to get by and then this thing came up so cheap that I couldn't say no. Hell, it might be cool to pair the Lista with a couple of vintage snap on boxes anyway....

 

[DAustin]

Maybe for a torque wrench ?

Now that I've been thinking about it-
A couple of packs of cigarettes, a lighter, a few bottles of Fireball, a box of condoms, and your favorite Hot Wheels car.

 

[Beerhippie]

$150 toolbox

Oh, yeah, you do ****!

 

[senlow]

@Ryan, your Snappy box cleaned up beautifully. The color is remarkably close to the color of that silly looking German, air cooled, rear engined car (yes, I love 911s) in the near background. The brightwork on the corners is one of my favorite features on that Snappy box.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Cleaned up pretty nicely with just some simple Green.






Slides are a little stiffer than I would like, so need to get some paraffin wax… otherwise, just add liners and this $150 toolbox is ready to go.

I’d really like to find another similar box to add to this one and build a workbench out of em…

You have earned a "you ****"

It's very hard to find a box that old in that good of shape, especially a roller box that old.

 

[Ryan]

Thanks fellas. I started loading it up… those shallow drawers are difficult, but it’s gonna work just fine if I can find another box to go with it.

 

[CGarage]

Thanks fellas. I started loading it up… those shallow drawers are difficult, but it’s gonna work just fine if I can find another box to go with it.

Interestingly, Snap-On in this era sold a kit to combine two of these boxes into a bench. The kits are probably long gone, but you may find one for sale as such.

It’s a great box, enjoy it.

 

[Leviton]

Anyone recognize this partial label?
Box is 19" x 7" x 9" tall.

 

[Cruzan80]

Brazil tools (SK brand). I had a very similar toolbox, complete with a riveted name badge as well (mine was SK waterslide decal though).

 

[Leviton]

Brazil tools (SK brand). I had a very similar toolbox, complete with a riveted name badge as well (mine was SK waterslide decal though).

Thanks for the identification. Was the name badge on yours the same size and shape?

 

[Cruzan80]

No, mine was more square-ish, still rectangular but 2 lines of text. Same silver plate riveted on (and a rope handle, as the leather apparently died before I got it).

 

[Shelbylex]

Spent the better part of 2-3 years looking for a KR1000 that didn't cost me over $2,000. I found this on Marketplace for $650, a 87 KR1000. IMHO the grandfather to the Epiq beauties sold today. Will be cleaning this up over the long weekend.

Congratulations!!!
I love how it has a lot of relatively shallow drawers - that's tons of useful space!!!
Please post the picture once you clean it up!

 

[tool_scrounge]

Cleaned up pretty nicely with just some simple Green.



Slides are a little stiffer than I would like, so need to get some paraffin wax… otherwise, just add liners and this $150 toolbox is ready to go.

I’d really like to find another similar box to add to this one and build a workbench out of em…

Nice find! I see them in So Cal for around $250 but they are never in that nice of condition. For some unknown reason, that model is usually seen around here quite beat up.

 

[Snaparxon]

Your wish...

From the 1986 catalog....for those long extensions. Not what I would have guessed, prybar or torque wrench makes more sense.

 

[INSP380]

Ok Gang, here is the next one up for consideration. Found this beauty at an estate sale over the weekend. No name, 21” x 8-1/4”. This box is as close to N.O.S as I’ve ever seen. Very well made, thick gauge steel and the paint finish is what drew me to it (that and I thought it may be a SK, NOT) Very tight texture, but not a wrinkle. Very lightly sprayed in some areas, almost transparent. Mostly due to little QC when built. Any ideas who made it?

Steve

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Any ideas who made it?

Has all the characteristics (# of hinge elements, style of feet/corner supports, and tray supports) of an unmarked E.J. McAleer. That is a wartime 41-B-1840 GMTK box, if you didnt know. Searches on this thread on that FSN and "McAleer" will take you to others, marked and unmarked.

 

[INSP380]

Has all the characteristics (# of hinge elements, style of feet/corner supports, and tray supports) of an unmarked E.J. McAleer. That is a wartime 41-B-1840 GMTK box, if you didnt know. Searches on this thread on that FSN and "McAleer" will take you to others, marked and unmarked.

Outstanding!! Thank you.. I had a feeling it was wartime, but had no idea where to start looking. This ones a bit out of my element. Looks like my collection had turned another corner.

Steve

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There were very few mfgrs (Union, Hamilton, and Waterloo, in addition to McAleer) and they all have distinguishing features. One oddity, is the finish. What you're describing as a "light texture", which almost looks like a powder-coating, is not typical. If it's original, could be postwar, late 40s. Or repainted maybe. Either way, very nice box.

 

[INSP380]

There were very few mfgrs (Union, Hamilton, and Waterloo, in addition to McAleer) and they all have distinguishing features. One oddity, is the finish. What you're describing as a "light texture", which almost looks like a powder-coating, is not typical. If it's original, could be postwar, late 40s. Or repainted maybe. Either way, very nice box.

Here’s a few more of the finish… I can say with almost 99% certainty it has not been re-painted. This guy was a pipefitter and everything he had was beat to death. Of the four boxes I bought, I believe he bought them to resell in his hoarding years. I’m getting excited about this box, It’s clearly never had a tool in it.

Steve

 

[d42jeep]

I have had several wartime McAleer boxes both marked and unmarked. It is my opinion that your box has been repainted since I have never seen one with that finish. All of mine have what I would call a smooth olive paint job.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What you're describing as a "light texture", which almost looks like a powder-coating, is not typical. If it's original, could be postwar, late 40s. Or repainted

I can say with almost 99% certainty it has not been re-painted.

It is my opinion that your box has been repainted

The two ways that all these can be true at the same time, Steve, is (a) it's factory, but not wartime, something they tried on the commercial market, and in such small quantities it could evade rabid wartime GMTK box collectors, or (b) the PO did a very professional repaint, stripping down to bare steel, and applying that dark and powdercoated OD finish in a way that would exhibit to you or any subsequent owner as factory.

 

[INSP380]

The two ways that all these can be true at the same time, Steve, is (a) it's factory, but not wartime, something they tried on the commercial market, and in such small quantities it could evade rabid wartime GMTK box collectors, or (b) the PO did a very professional repaint, stripping down to bare steel, and applying that dark and powdercoated OD finish in a way that would exhibit to you or any subsequent owner as factory.

IMHO both you and Jeep are the experts here. I respect your comments! I’m very happy just knowing some of the history on it. I now have a MFG and a number… and a lotta comps on design. Having the box in front of me I can say I see spray patterns that eliminate a powder coat. When I got the box it was covered in grease and oil. Most likely from being stored in a bad environment. Gun to my head, I’d say orig paint, post war… But still, I’m pleased. It now finds a spot between my 520G and this ******* Snap-On badged chest on the shelf. None of them are going anyplace soon, hopefully time is on my side to find more history. Thank you guys, on me.

BTW… that hinge paint tells a story too. Painted pre assembly… weird!

Steve.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Gun to my head, I’d say orig paint, post war…

It's a toss up for me. I've seen GMTK style boxes with that kind of finish - deep dark OD, and that texture, but they all had natural steel (unpainted) handles, and no corner support/feet, characteristic of the 50s, when this style box was commercially popularized. Not made by McAleer, though, or any other wartime mfgr. Usually Park, Duplex or Kennedy. In the end, it doesn't really matter.

 

[esben57]

I really want one of these. I’ve never seen one before.

I've had one, posted somewhere on here. Was given it and unseized all the compartments. Branded KEEN Tools Sheffield.
Not very stable and heavy when full, there is a knack to opening which seldom works. Awkward to find anything in the lower drawers as the uppers get in the way. Very good at biting ankles.
Ok to look at design though. Should have castors.