The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

beatcad · Mar 22, 2015

i cant say for sure, but i'd guess late 60s to mid 70s.
look closely at the floor of the till(top section)
at the far left approx 1/2 way up there should be a date stamp.
you may need a flashlight and magnifing glass, but that's where it is.

ZRX61 · Mar 22, 2015

A E Numan said:
OK I will try over here. Is this a cantilever tool box or a tackle box, I picked this up at the flea market this morning, it seems to be in great condition for it's age. I'm guessing late 40's to mid 50's? I've never seen on in person so any information is appreciated.

I mistakenly sold mine to my former B-i-L. I will be buying it back at some point....

A E Numan · Mar 22, 2015

Outlawmws said:
I think you hit it quite close. the 49 hand tool catalog shows that as a tool box. by 54, the handle style was used only for one carry box, not the cantilever.

49 catalog page:

Thank you Outlawmws it's so cool to be able to tap in to a group of such knowlegeable people. :thumbup:

bluebolt · Mar 23, 2015

That's a nice early Craftsman A.E.!

crewchief888 · Mar 23, 2015

A E Numan said:
OK I will try over here. Is this a cantilever tool box or a tackle box, I picked this up at the flea market this morning, it seems to be in great condition for it's age. I'm guessing late 40's to mid 50's? I've never seen on in person so any information is appreciated.

looks like a tool box to me :thumbup:

unless you want to put fishing tackle in it :bounce:

taumac · Mar 23, 2015

Deadsquiggles said:
Don't know what it is exactly. Just know it's vintage craftsman. Granddad used it for most of his career As a inside machinist at the shipyard. The black spray paint and rust is from where a coworker got upsets granddad would loan him tools so he tried to run over with a forklift. My granddad worked the metal back into place and sprayed some paint on it. He gave it to me, full of old KAL-USA, old craftsman, proto, and other branded tools, now that I started at the same shipyard as an outside machinist. If anyone can give specifics just from looking, post up or pm me.

I second what Beatcad said.

Looks to be mid 60's to early 70's. I love that era Craftsman and have a 10 drawer myself. Nice story behind yours too. Keep care of that one.

gipp · Mar 24, 2015

I have the one marked A in the catalog. Quite unusual to my mind.View media item 17852

gemnewt · Mar 26, 2015

This one's for mjozefow, You show two boxes in one pic. a smaller one on top of a longer one,
the one on the top is the one I just bought three of. I just posted a question on the forum
"To Rivet Or Not To Rivet, That Is My Question" I'm looking for the smooth head rivets that craftsman used on the small box hardware. Any ideas? Anyone can chime in, didn't mean to exclude anyone.

jakemac · Mar 26, 2015

gemnewt - Your local hardware store should have assortment trays of various hardware fittings. You're looking for "Tubular Rivets" that match the size on the box. You'll need a special tool to roll the sleeve on the rivet down. Basically it's like a punch and an anvil. Similar to setting grommets.

stage20 · Mar 26, 2015

id give double for one of those craftsman boxes new today. wow. they were priced right back then!

Outlawmws · Mar 26, 2015

That box in 1949 was 10.95, probably close to a days wages. factored for inflation it would be $107.99...

But for that particular box, with its sliding trays, I'd go $20 for it in decent shape at a yard sale...

jr3ruffneck · Mar 26, 2015

A 1980 KR562A I found in a barn and saved for 175.00

FJ 432 · Mar 26, 2015

jr3ruffneck said:
A 1980 KR562A I found in a barn and saved for 175.00

That's a you **** price. Good job.

jr3ruffneck · Mar 27, 2015

I was pretty pleased FJ

bluebolt · Mar 27, 2015

Jr3ruffneck, nice "you ****" score!

Bigplum · Mar 28, 2015

that's a great price for a taco box,
especially with the rarely optioned "Anti Gravity feature"

jr3ruffneck · Mar 28, 2015

Sorry bout that bigplum.... the orientation of my camera seems to need to be slightly different than I'm used to when posting on here

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

Here are a couple of my vintage tool boxes. The first one came with no tools but a very interesting(to me anyway)story.
It belonged to a friend of mine's great grandfather and he was cleaning out his cellar and asked members of the family if anyone wanted it.Nobody did so he put it out in a yard sale. I bought it for $70.
Apparently his great grandfather worked for a Peerless auto dealership in Kansas City as the name is painted on the box along with a radiator badge from a Peerless.I'm told the badge is worth about $125 as is but it will stay with the box.
The name of the box manufacturer is on the inside(the box is paper lined from the factory)and the tray dividers are made from an old yardstick.
What really gave me the chills was to read the inscription on the inside of the box lid:" May 30 1918 Homeward bound" A WWI veteran coming back from the war! Oh and it still has the original keys for the lock!

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

Another old box I picked up that was full of tools.I had initially just wanted the box as the tools were pretty rusty but the price was right. Seven dollars for the box and another seven if I took the tools too!
They cleaned up pretty good and some are pretty unique. There are three different socket sets including a set of four point sockets from 3/8ths to 7/8ths and a set of sockets in 7/16ths hex drive.The box was missing the front cover and I bought a piece of 14 gauge steel to make one and it cost me more than the tools! In addition to the sockets there were a bunch of screwdrivers and a couple of old time soldering irons(non-electric) and the largest drift punch I've ever seen! It barely fit in the box.Great for driving out old bearing races from brake drums.

Outlawmws · Mar 28, 2015

Both boxes are very cool Safari, but the WWI Peerless box is just awesome!

jeffmoss26 · Mar 28, 2015

Yeah, those are very cool. The inscription gave me the chills too!

taumac · Mar 28, 2015

WOW, if that box could tell stories.

FJ 432 · Mar 28, 2015

Holy **** Safari. Those are super cool!!!

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

Thanks to all for the kind words. If you don't mind I will post a couple of others in my accumulation.It may take a couple of posts so please bear with me.
First up is an old Craftsman set I bought at a second hand store.According to AA(Alloy Artifacts)this stamping was used up until about 1948.The set is complete except for the 11/16ths socket which is cracked.Cost was $60. It currently resides in the back of my 1955 Pontiac Safari wagon which is my daily driver in the warm weather.
Next is a set of Indestro tools purchased at a yard sale for $6.

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

Some more:An old tool box in the shape of a Model T Ford hood. Had a bunch of Ford tools in it.Bought at a yard sale for $5.
An old tool chest that was given to me by a friend.Looks like Gerstner hardware but no maker's name. Love the impressions of the old tools(didn't come with it)on the bottom of the drawer.

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

And last but surely not least the Rex Wrench Co tool box.I have included a picture of the handle that is missing from it that I found on the AA website.If I cannot find one (highly unlikely)then I will make one.Looks to be a fairly simple job on a lathe.
There is also one socket that is broken but it isn't a big deal.Interesting how they worked(see AA website for details)and rather than having sizes stamped on they used numbers with a corresponding chart.Paid $15 at a flea market for them.

jpickar · Mar 28, 2015

safariknut said:
And last but surely not least the Rex Wrench Co tool box.I have included a picture of the handle that is missing from it that I found on the AA website.If I cannot find one (highly unlikely)then I will make one.Looks to be a fairly simple job on a lathe.
There is also one socket that is broken but it isn't a big deal.Interesting how they worked(see AA website for details)and rather than having sizes stamped on they used numbers with a corresponding chart.Paid $15 at a flea market for them.

All way cool safarinut! Really. The tool box from WWI is priceless!! That is special. I give you a YOU **** for having and keeping those boxes!! Way COOL!

John

safariknut · Mar 28, 2015

Actually I have a lot more tool boxes.Some of them I buy and paint up to look like vintage sign painter's kits and auction them off at various charity auctions.I also have several wooden machinists' tool boxes that I use to store some of my vintage knife collection.I don't restore them per se but usually just give them a good cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap and if needed re-line them with new felt.A couple I have had to make new face plates and age them to match the boxes.
Probably the wildest box I have is a salesman's display box from Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis Missouri from about 1940.I cannot find pics of it at the moment but will dig it out tomorrow and post them.

Lucky 13 · Mar 29, 2015

This is a set I bought at a estate auction last weekend. I cleaned out the bottom box and cleaned the boxes up a little. The top is branded Napa and the bottom is branded Napa / New Britain. The old boxes have plenty of character and I plan to leave them as is.

zkling · Mar 29, 2015

I really like the badge on the Napa box.

rmalkow2 · Mar 29, 2015

Lucky13
Really nice old NAPA set. Good Score.

rodsnratfinks · Mar 30, 2015

Any of you guys ever try to rebuild ball bearing slides on an early bb slide box? My Mac has Accuride slides, the same as was used on the KRL 1000/KR 660, from what I understand. I tried to get my slides warrantied through Mac and they sent me very low quality replacements. If I can't find replacements on par with the originals, I figure I might as well try to cannibalize some of my bad slides for parts to rehabilitate the better ones. They all still slide very smooth, but the bushings/detents are long gone and some of them are hyperextending and dropping balls. Thoughts?

airborne_j · Mar 30, 2015

Picked up the set on the right this weekend. With a little bit of cleaning and greasing I should be set with tool storage.

Can anyone tell me what vintage or era? I'm quite curious.

vintage nut · Mar 30, 2015

Very nice!

you can never have too many tools

bluebolt · Mar 30, 2015

rodsnratfinks said:
Any of you guys ever try to rebuild ball bearing slides on an early bb slide box? My Mac has Accuride slides, the same as was used on the KRL 1000/KR 660, from what I understand. I tried to get my slides warrantied through Mac and they sent me very low quality replacements. If I can't find replacements on par with the originals, I figure I might as well try to cannibalize some of my bad slides for parts to rehabilitate the better ones. They all still slide very smooth, but the bushings/detents are long gone and some of them are hyperextending and dropping balls. Thoughts?

Post up some pics, measurements and any numbers on them. I have a bunch of NOS slides but don't know what they go to.

safariknut · Mar 30, 2015

Here are a few of my vintage tool boxes I've turned into paint boxes.

safariknut · Mar 30, 2015

A few more

safariknut · Mar 30, 2015

Last batch for now

jpickar · Mar 30, 2015

safariknut said:
Last batch for now

Those are cool!

John

rodsnratfinks · Mar 30, 2015

bluebolt said:
Post up some pics, measurements and any numbers on them. I have a bunch of NOS slides but don't know what they go to.

Thanks! Let me know if you need more pictures. Every little bit helps.

The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Attachments

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member