The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
bill300d
Well-known member
Wish I could find one of those.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I'd say find an old school lock smith.
Or I can provide an address to ship the box to so you don't go all OCD on no lock...
454ragtop
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maxcarp709
Well-known member
This is a PowerKraft roller chest I scored last week.My neighbor was moving out and had set this out with the trash he was throwing away.It looked Really dirty,like it had been sitting outside for many yrs.The 2 bottom drawers had been banged up,and the lower one would not close all the way.
I got some dish-washing soap,and a sponge and got to work,applying a good deal of elbow grease,and the box cleaned up pretty well.I took all the drawers out and emptied all the junk out and lubed up the slides.After a little work with a hammer and a 2x4 I straightened out the bottom drawer so it would close and latch.After all was done I went to Home Depot and got a drawer lock and installed it,so now it will lock.Now I am looking for a top box to match
THis is after I straghtened out the bottom drawer a bit
I got some dish-washing soap,and a sponge and got to work,applying a good deal of elbow grease,and the box cleaned up pretty well.I took all the drawers out and emptied all the junk out and lubed up the slides.After a little work with a hammer and a 2x4 I straightened out the bottom drawer so it would close and latch.After all was done I went to Home Depot and got a drawer lock and installed it,so now it will lock.Now I am looking for a top box to match
THis is after I straghtened out the bottom drawer a bit
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crewchief888
Well-known member
paulm12
Well-known member
This is a PowerKraft roller chest I scored last week.My neighbor was moving out and had set this out with the trash he was throwing away.It looked Really dirty,like it had been sitting outside for many yrs.The 2 bottom drawers had been banged up,and the lower one would not close all the way.
I got some dish-washing soap,and a sponge and got to work,applying a good deal of elbow grease,and the box cleaned up pretty well.I took all the drawers out and emptied all the junk out and lubed up the slides.After a little work with a hammer and a 2x4 I straightened out the bottom drawer so it would close and latch.After all was done I went to Home Depot and got a drawer lock and installed it,so now it will lock.Now I am looking for a top box to match
THis is after I straghtened out the bottom drawer a bit
that cleaned up real nice
paulm12
Well-known member
picked up this JC Penney roller recently for $40. Was covered in oily sawdust, and I thought had some rust. But it cleaned up well, and the areas I thought were rust were just the oily dust. Included a bunch of hand tools, already sold some to cover the cost. Can't find any makers mark.
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Those are nice, have yet to see one in the flesh, but when I do I will have to make it mine.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Ray bob, it it's just sitting ask if it is available to buy. I'd be all over that puppy given half a chance
maxcarp709
Well-known member
Thanks John and paulm12
I should have taken a before pic,but it looked so bad I did not know if I could make it presentable.I am going to try to scrape some of the latex paint spots off,and work on one of the casters next.I am trying to make a deal for a vintage Proto road box to put on top of it.
Community yard sale this morning, with serious threat of rain. Picked this 9x11-1/2x24 K-23 Snap-on MechaniChest (no drawer slides: late 1930s), along with a small hammer and two wood-handled screwdrivers, for $10.
The "White" emblem is brass, attached slightly off-center with four nuts, so seems a PO addition. I took it off for separate consideration and cleaning. "Snap-on" is embossed on the drop-down cover. Hasp seemed original, but was welded as a repair. The hasp is stamped "Stanley." Could that be original?
Three good drawers weren't repainted, but mostly bare metal. Bottom drawer rusty on bottom, but okay.
Original gray paint hidden under shiny red.
Exterior bottom pitted and rusty, but not rotted out.
The "White" emblem is brass, attached slightly off-center with four nuts, so seems a PO addition. I took it off for separate consideration and cleaning. "Snap-on" is embossed on the drop-down cover. Hasp seemed original, but was welded as a repair. The hasp is stamped "Stanley." Could that be original?
Three good drawers weren't repainted, but mostly bare metal. Bottom drawer rusty on bottom, but okay.
Original gray paint hidden under shiny red.
Exterior bottom pitted and rusty, but not rotted out.
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Sam'sAutoParts
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LesserSon: nice score on that snappy.
Picked this up at the auction with the tools pictured for $75. I don't regret it, it's in good condition. It just needs some cleaning. No key unfortunately, but otherwise complete and unmodified.
Picked this up at the auction with the tools pictured for $75. I don't regret it, it's in good condition. It just needs some cleaning. No key unfortunately, but otherwise complete and unmodified.
Mooreag47
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Sam'sAutoParts
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This must be the week of the great vintage box finds. All great finds!
Outlawmws
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Looks to be a long C Craftsman? and with slides too. nice find! Clean that with WD-40 and see how it comes out!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Son, has that SO been painted? Most I've seen that old aren't red.
Sam nice find! is it std size to hold a 26" top?
Sam nice find! is it std size to hold a 26" top?
Yes, red over gray, with grit and grease in the corners and seams between the original gray and the chippy red. I cleaned it this afternoon with mineral spirits, and sanded out the rust blisters and pits in the bottom. Banged a couple dents out of it that were preventing it from closing right.
Might try to get the red off sometime. The whole exterior bottom is bare metal, so I want to prime and paint that, but I'm going to let it rest while I decide whether to strip the whole thing.
Might try to get the red off sometime. The whole exterior bottom is bare metal, so I want to prime and paint that, but I'm going to let it rest while I decide whether to strip the whole thing.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Yeah I checked against my cman top, although the bench I have it on is kinda high so I didn't stack anything on top of it yet. I will most likely sandwich it between a cman top and bottom, just not sure which ones yet.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Sam, good score. Strange, that box looks just like a Mac box I have of the same vintage, couple pics posted earlier here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5161643#post5161643LesserSon: nice score on that snappy.
Picked this up at the auction with the tools pictured for $75. I don't regret it, it's in good condition. It just needs some cleaning. No key unfortunately, but otherwise complete and unmodified.
Does yours have handles on the ends like mine? The drawer handles look like they match.
Jim
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
They could be twins! I actually thought this one was a MAC when I first saw it. The cover was open so it was not until I looked at the tag on the top did I realize it was a Cornwell. Mine has the same handles on the ends, but the cover is not dimpled around the lock. My slides look similar to my older Craftsman I picked last week, little black clips. I should take pictures of the slides.
BlueBomber
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Working in my Dad's garage and walking down memory lane with him and his tools. Here are two of his original tool boxes he bought when he and my Mom got married in 1968.
Zeeman
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I'm not sure if this qualifies as vintage due to age, and a little paint, but here is the first of several Craftsman power tool cases I'm working on.
Sanding
Then primer
Then paint................Then a big bird flew over and went Mr. Stinky on the front before the paint dried. Ouch.
Sanding
Then primer
Then paint................Then a big bird flew over and went Mr. Stinky on the front before the paint dried. Ouch.
That's a shame about the bird. I was walking to work one time, and a bird **** right on my head. Less than a block back to the house, wash off my head, and back into the street, and didn't another bird **** on my head? Back to the house, and now I'm late to work. But I did have a good excuse.
Few weeks ago I saw a Cman box like that in pretty good condition at a flea market. Had a beat up B&D 1/4 drill and a bunch sanding disks shoved in it. Vendor wanted $20 and wouldn't split the box from contents, so I passed. I did like the box.
Few weeks ago I saw a Cman box like that in pretty good condition at a flea market. Had a beat up B&D 1/4 drill and a bunch sanding disks shoved in it. Vendor wanted $20 and wouldn't split the box from contents, so I passed. I did like the box.
Bought this 8x9-1/4x22 Bonney tool box Saturday. It has a sloppy black repaint over the original red crinkle paint on the outside (the texture telegraphs though the black, and is visible where the leaf spring is attached under the hasp. Inside, too, but the original red was not a crinkle, lending support to my idea that at least some crinkle finish was a two-step, and maybe two-product, process. There is a clip on the underside of the lid, and a bypass-style catch for a padlock.
There is no tray, and of the four spot-welded support tabs, one is broken off and gone. The handle is steel, also red with black over it. The hasps are stamped "Worcester T&S", which seems to be better known for doll-size steamer trunks.
"Bonney" is embossed on the lid under the handle in a depressed panel. There are two raised panels simulating straps over the lid, terminating in line above the hasps.
I am guessing this box dates from the 1950s, because similar-sized boxes look quite different in the 1940s catalogs. If anyone knows more about it, I'd appreciate any information. Thinking I will make a few attempts to remove the black paint, and failing that, strip the whole thing to bare metal, and repaint red.
Edit/update: so I'm patrolling the local flea Saturday, and there's my box again! Only this time it says Union. Handle was different, and lid had no recess, but otherwise identical. Looks to me that Bonney sourced my box from Union. Maybe Union sourced hasps from Worcester T&S? Now I have to find that similar Union box again! Should have just bought it.
There is no tray, and of the four spot-welded support tabs, one is broken off and gone. The handle is steel, also red with black over it. The hasps are stamped "Worcester T&S", which seems to be better known for doll-size steamer trunks.
"Bonney" is embossed on the lid under the handle in a depressed panel. There are two raised panels simulating straps over the lid, terminating in line above the hasps.
I am guessing this box dates from the 1950s, because similar-sized boxes look quite different in the 1940s catalogs. If anyone knows more about it, I'd appreciate any information. Thinking I will make a few attempts to remove the black paint, and failing that, strip the whole thing to bare metal, and repaint red.
Edit/update: so I'm patrolling the local flea Saturday, and there's my box again! Only this time it says Union. Handle was different, and lid had no recess, but otherwise identical. Looks to me that Bonney sourced my box from Union. Maybe Union sourced hasps from Worcester T&S? Now I have to find that similar Union box again! Should have just bought it.
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Username already in use
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LesserSon - That Bonney box is nice!
You could try some acetone and some 0000 steel wool to remove the top layer of black paint. Good luck with it!
You could try some acetone and some 0000 steel wool to remove the top layer of black paint. Good luck with it!
econotrk
Well-known member
LesserSon - That Bonney box is nice!
You could try some acetone and some 0000 steel wool to remove the top layer of black paint. Good luck with it!
Acetone is pretty potent and can affect the existing paint. If you try it and have trouble, try Xylol. Available at the big box stores, doesn't evaporate as quickly as acetone so you have an easier time letting it soak in, and won't harm the paint underneath.
Username already in use
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Acetone is pretty potent and can affect the existing paint. If you try it and have trouble, try Xylol. Available at the big box stores, doesn't evaporate as quickly as acetone so you have an easier time letting it soak in, and won't harm the paint underneath.
I've tried Xylene before with mixed success... is that the same stuff?
joe.striper
Well-known member
OK please help me out. Got this today for free...big old machinist box. Look at v thevdrawer joinery. I've never seen that before. No nails, all dowels.
Last pic is the back of my PT Cruiser.this is a big box. Any info is appreciated.
Last pic is the back of my PT Cruiser.this is a big box. Any info is appreciated.
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econotrk
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I've tried Xylene before with mixed success... is that the same stuff?
It is. May help, may not, always good to have another option in your cleaning arsenal. I use acetone also, some projects the Xylol works better for me.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Pretty sure that isn't actually a machinist chest.
joe.striper
Well-known member
I only say this because it came out of an a abandoned machinist shop and it is full of tool, bolts etc....
Those are probably not dowels.
Have a look at the Knapp joint.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=knap...2&ved=0ahUKEwj14-3Ck_XMAhVnGlIKHSgzCeQQsAQIIg
(That was in reference to Joe Striper's box in his PT Cruiser.)
Have a look at the Knapp joint.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=knap...2&ved=0ahUKEwj14-3Ck_XMAhVnGlIKHSgzCeQQsAQIIg
(That was in reference to Joe Striper's box in his PT Cruiser.)
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joe.striper
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Thanks for the pics. Wow that's impressive work.
joe.striper
Well-known member
Here are pics of the box assembled. May not be a machinist box, perhaps carpenters chest? 2nd drawer down is signed. Here it is with a PB Blaster can and Prentis #23 vise (7" jaws 260#) for reference.
Now to figure out how to get 100 years of mouse piss smell out of it!
Now to figure out how to get 100 years of mouse piss smell out of it!
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Well I think that's a nice piece. Looks like turn-of-the-century retail display. Any kind of dry goods - linens, soaps, hardware. Whatever the maker intended it to hold might be indicated by shadows or rows of fastener holes where the drawers were partitioned. The thickness of the drawer bottoms might indicate the material it was intended to hold.
To deal with the smell, I would remove all the metal hardware. Then clean every crack and crevice thoroughly. I used to use **** n span. You might try ammonia. You do have to consider the old finish.
Let it dry completely. I mean days. Leave all the drawers out of it. I would then seal all the wood with shellac, which is what I think the old finish is. I would NOT use polyurethane. I used to use it on lots of projects, but not so much any more.
To deal with the smell, I would remove all the metal hardware. Then clean every crack and crevice thoroughly. I used to use **** n span. You might try ammonia. You do have to consider the old finish.
Let it dry completely. I mean days. Leave all the drawers out of it. I would then seal all the wood with shellac, which is what I think the old finish is. I would NOT use polyurethane. I used to use it on lots of projects, but not so much any more.
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Jammer1329
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- Jan 6, 2012
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Found this Pressteel box along with a not pictured Kennedy machinists box for $40. Biggest problem is both have a crappy red paint job all over them.
Been trying Simple Green to try to get down to the original olive green, but it's taking off too much of the original. I'm going to have to repaint, and I am trying to decide between something close to the original green with white stripe, or I may try and turn this into a Plomb tool mobile clone. Wish I could source a parts rack for the top. Has holes that make me think it had one originally.
Hopefully soon it'll be a home for my ever growing Plomb collection...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Been trying Simple Green to try to get down to the original olive green, but it's taking off too much of the original. I'm going to have to repaint, and I am trying to decide between something close to the original green with white stripe, or I may try and turn this into a Plomb tool mobile clone. Wish I could source a parts rack for the top. Has holes that make me think it had one originally.
Hopefully soon it'll be a home for my ever growing Plomb collection...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
I had a trailer that was fairly bad, and found cheap fake pine sol in maybe a 1:10 ratio with hot water did a good job, followed with a heavy ozone treatment which was more for the canvas.