The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

twertsy · Jun 10, 2019

d42jeep said:
I took a look at all of the pictures of the labels on my Thorsen sets and didn’t see any that would be a match to your partial label. Your box may be older than any I have, however.
-Don

Love that Thorsen chest Don. Don't think I've ever seen another. It's doubtful I ever will out here. I can't imagine someone on the East coast had to have a Thorsen chest that badly! Guess one or two might have been drug along on a move though.......

d42jeep · Jun 10, 2019

twertsy said:
Love that Thorsen chest Don. Don't think I've ever seen another. It's doubtful I ever will out here. I can't imagine someone on the East coast had to have a Thorsen chest that badly! Guess one or two might have been drug along on a move though.......

Thanks, Todd. Tin Medic pointed it out to me on eBay. It was made by Huot for Thorsen. I haven’t seen another although they are probably out there somewhere. The Huot catalog image is from 1956.
-Don

FJ 432 · Jun 10, 2019

Spanner said:
Seen this nice little box for 20€ , will sit nicely in the truck.

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Spanner nice find for a tried and true carry box. Those were built like a tank and perfect for a truck box.

bmwrd0 · Jun 10, 2019

d42jeep said:
I took a look at all of the pictures of the labels on my Thorsen sets and didn’t see any that would be a match to your partial label. Your box may be older than any I have, however.
-Don

Yeah, I was familiar with that label, but I can't think of anything with an H in the name for 3/4 sets. I am gonna dig into catalogs I guess. In any case, right now it will be used for Plomb.

(edit) So, looking at this catalog it seems they used at least three different fonts and logo patterns. I have no idea of what colors they used, but looking at my last photo, to the left of the H you can see what could be the cross of a T. This case does not match any earlier or later 3/4 sets they produced, so it could be a wartime case or something entirely different. I am going to assume its Thorsen until some better info comes down the way.

Oldtuleguy · Jun 10, 2019

d42jeep said:
Thanks, Todd. Tin Medic pointed it out to me on eBay. It was made by Huot for Thorsen. I haven’t seen another although they are probably out there somewhere. The Huot catalog image is from 1956.
-Don

From the 56 thorsen catalog

Spanner · Jun 10, 2019

FJ 432 said:
Spanner nice find for a tried and true carry box. Those were built like a tank and perfect for a truck box.

Cheers [emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Oldtuleguy · Jun 10, 2019

An old craftsman box I snagged on offer up. Not much paint left, could be a good fixer upper.

RubiconJK · Jun 10, 2019

Oldtuleguy said:
An old craftsman box I snagged on offer up. Not much paint left, could be a good fixer upper.

For sure!

Private Lugnutz · Jun 13, 2019

Guys,

Within the last few months, someone posted a tool chest somewhere here on GJ, perhaps this thread, with drawers that had holes for pulls. It had a drop down front, a simple handle and a center hasp. Three drawers, no pulls. Just holes. It wasn't marked. It might've been this thread. It went unidentified. Comments were that it looked homemade. Does anyone remember it?

Outlawmws · Jun 13, 2019

This one Lugz?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7239669&postcount=9455

Oldtuleguy · Jun 13, 2019

Looks like it. Matches the description.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 13, 2019

That's it! I'll be back...

EDIT:

I was paging through the 1935 Milwaukee Tool & Forge catalog doing some unrelated research when I spotted this cabinet. I could've sworn I already commented on it, but I can't find a discussion like that on the MTF thread or this thread.

Anyway, not an exact match, but it's pretty danged close. Ed's may be a little later. It may not be an MTF cabinet, but I think there's a strong possibility it was at least the same mfgr.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 13, 2019

Oregon rock crusher said:
Here is one I hope someone can ID.

Ed --- See my post just above this one!! ^^^^^

Oldtuleguy · Jun 13, 2019

Nice spot!

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 13, 2019

Wow Lugz! I can't believe you remembered that unknown box from that far back. Also a nice job tracking down the post Outlaw. Been long enough it took me 10 minutes or so to find that box in the shop. Here are a few fresher pics because I couldn't find my old ones. Milwaukee is not a maker I had considered at all....but it sure looks like it is. Only minor differences in the drawer divider layout. Ed.

Private Lugnutz · Jun 13, 2019

Oregon rock crusher said:
Wow Lugz! I can't believe you remembered that unknown box from that far back.

Probably because I like it so much!

Oldtuleguy · Jun 14, 2019

It is a nice one. Very minimalist and efficient design. The removable drawers are handy to pull out for a job. No knobs so a narrow profile and lower cost.

Rileysan · Jun 14, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
That's it! I'll be back...

EDIT:

I was paging through the 1935 Milwaukee Tool & Forge catalog doing some unrelated research when I spotted this cabinet. I could've sworn I already commented on it, but I can't find a discussion like that on the MTF thread or this thread.

Anyway, not an exact match, but it's pretty danged close. Ed's may be a little later. It may not be an MTF cabinet, but I think there's a strong possibility it was at least the same mfgr.

This is why I love this site. Great job, Lugz!

Private Lugnutz · Jun 14, 2019

Oregon rock crusher said:
Only minor differences in the drawer divider layout.

VERY minor, Ed. The quad drawer divider and the rounded socket trays are now more rectangular, but they're still located in the same exact place in the drawer. That's it. If I had to guess I would say slightly later than catalog. Early 40's.

Oldtuleguy said:
Very minimalist and efficient design. The removable drawers are handy to pull out for a job. No knobs so a narrow profile and lower cost.

'Zackly. And no pulls means fewer things to go bad, break, etc. One handle on top, no side handles. Drop front is hinged so it doesn't go missing. My kind of box.

Rileysan said:
Great job, Lugz!

Thanks, Brian. Happens to all of us from time to time. An image gets stuck in your head for one reason or another and then, ping, there it is again. As I get older I just wish these happened more often than disappearing down the Black Hole! :lol:

ConductorChris · Jun 14, 2019

I picked up this odd shaped tool box this weekend. I have not had a chance to clean it up yet, but it only has a little bit of grease in the bottom. Hardly any scratches. Does anyone know how old this might be or who made it.

tdg1x07 · Jun 14, 2019

Oldtuleguy said:
An old craftsman box I snagged on offer up. Not much paint left, could be a good fixer upper.

My great-grandad had one just like that. Very nice find.

tdg1x07 · Jun 14, 2019

ConductorChris said:
I picked up this odd shaped tool box this weekend. I have not had a chance to clean it up yet, but it only has a little bit of grease in the bottom. Hardly any scratches. Does anyone know how old this might be or who made it.

Very neat box. Paint does look mint. No idea how old it is, but good find.

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 15, 2019

While looking for the Milwaukee Tool Cabinet above to get some fresh pics I came across this crown top Craftsman box which is neat because of the contents. The torch set is fitted in the box and complete with most if not all of the original Craftsman branded items inside. I bought it along with a fully functional acetylene generator a few years back and nearly had forgotten about it. Ed.

JoCoSawdust · Jun 15, 2019

That's a nice set up for that gas torch

Outlawmws · Jun 15, 2019

Somebody was well organized!

WNYflyer · Jun 15, 2019

ConductorChris said:
I picked up this odd shaped tool box this weekend. I have not had a chance to clean it up yet, but it only has a little bit of grease in the bottom. Hardly any scratches. Does anyone know how old this might be or who made it.

Cool box and in great shape. Can't tell you how old or who made it but it looks very similar to some of the "Plymouth Trouble Shooting Contest" boxes back in the day. You may want to google those and perhaps you can get an idea on age and make from those.

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 15, 2019

I found that Craftsman torch kit with the fitted box in a Sears tool catalog once and thought I had saved the page...but I'm not finding it again now. Seems like it was only out for a year or two in the late 50's with the crown box but I might be off a bit. Ed.

Rileysan · Jun 15, 2019

Oregon rock crusher said:
I found that Craftsman torch kit with the fitted box in a Sears tool catalog once and thought I had saved the page...but I'm not finding it again now. Seems like it was only out for a year or two in the late 50's with the crown box but I might be off a bit. Ed.

I found it on the first try! Then again, I spend endless hours looking through Craftsman catalogs trying to figure out tool box history.

From the 1970 catalog (I didn't bother to look in any others).

Brian

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 15, 2019

Thanks for finding it Brian....guess I was about a decade off. Shouldn't shoot from the hip I guess. About the only thing with a printing date in it was the little welding book in the catalog cut you posted. Ed.

twertsy · Jun 15, 2019

Private Lugnutz said:
VERY minor, Ed. The quad drawer divider and the rounded socket trays are now more rectangular, but they're still located in the same exact place in the drawer. That's it. If I had to guess I would say slightly later than catalog. Early 40's.

'Zackly. And no pulls means fewer things to go bad, break, etc. One handle on top, no side handles. Drop front is hinged so it doesn't go missing. My kind of box.

Thanks, Brian. Happens to all of us from time to time. An image gets stuck in your head for one reason or another and then, ping, there it is again. As I get older I just wish these happened more often than disappearing down the Black Hole! [emoji38]

I'm confused........1935 MTF catalog??? MTF was gone and in Ohio as Lectrolite in 1932.

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Private Lugnutz · Jun 15, 2019

twertsy said:
I'm confused........1935 MTF catalog??? MTF was gone and in Ohio as Lectrolite in 1932.

I took the image from the undated catalog. (The same cabinet appears in the MTF cat dated 1927 on page 2.) I was part of the conversation that dated this one to 1929-30, now that I look at it again, I just saved it incorrectly with the filename "1935 MTF" for some reason.

jeffmoss26 · Jun 16, 2019

Oregon rock crusher said:
While looking for the Milwaukee Tool Cabinet above to get some fresh pics I came across this crown top Craftsman box which is neat because of the contents. The torch set is fitted in the box and complete with most if not all of the original Craftsman branded items inside. I bought it along with a fully functional acetylene generator a few years back and nearly had forgotten about it. Ed.

That is sweeeeet!

y'sguy · Jun 16, 2019

Years ago I had pics posted on this thread of my two Blackhawk boxes. They were lost sometime during the photobucket phiasco and I can't seem to find them anywhere else

However I am now restoring both and that thread can be found here if you want to stop on by and offer any advice. :beer:

Private Lugnutz · Jun 18, 2019

Oregon rock crusher/Ed:
Newbie just showed up here on MTF thread, first post, and said he found a Tru-Fit cabinet filled with tools! If you go to the Antique and Vintage Tools Society Facebook page and scroll down a little, not too far, you can see the pics, about ten (10) of them. It's YOUR cabinet - with the MTF decal on it! Link here.

Provincial · Jun 18, 2019

Ed, you have the box. Now you have to fill it! At least there won't be the competition from us locals, like there is for Plomb and such. :lol_hitti

bmwrd0 · Jun 18, 2019

Ed, I have some MTF stuff you can have, get you started.

Oregon rock crusher · Jun 18, 2019

jeffmoss26 said:
That is sweeeeet!

Thanks Jeff...it was just an interesting box until Lugz ID'd it....then it was really sweeeeet!

Private Lugnutz said:
Oregon rock crusher/Ed:
Newbie just showed up here on MTF thread, first post, and said he found a Tru-Fit cabinet filled with tools! If you go to the Antique and Vintage Tools Society Facebook page and scroll down a little, not too far, you can see the pics, about ten (10) of them. It's YOUR cabinet - with the MTF decal on it! Link here.

Thanks Lugz, I was just going through that thread getting up to date and with the help of your link I found the pics and WOW! He really did find the mother load of MTF there. Same drawer layout on both boxes as well. I'm not sure where that decal is located but I'll be sure to scour my box again for signs of it. Thats pretty neat seeing that all together.

Provincial said:
Ed, you have the box. Now you have to fill it! At least there won't be the competition from us locals, like there is for Plomb and such.

You're probably right Jock....I think Tru-Fit has kind of flown under the radar around here so far. I'm pretty sure I have a few MTF tools already but taking inventory might take a while. At least I know where to keep them now.

Ed.

That sound great Aaron....maybe I'll see you in Brooks this weekend! I will be there for sure. Ed.

zkling · Jun 22, 2019

Picked this up the other day as an impulse purchase, can't afford a Hazet. Not sure when it was made. Any info would be appreicated. Both sides slide down, and the trays slide out both sides.

Garant 91 550 trolley.

Stuart in MN · Jun 22, 2019

The Hoffman group website says the Garant brand was launched in 1973. https://www.hoffmann-group.com/US/en/hus/company/group/history I looked around the website a bit and wasn't able to find any trolley like that one, but there were a lot of pages so I didn't go very far. I did find some smaller tool boxes.

Matt XYZ · Jun 22, 2019

zkling said:
Picked this up the other day as an impulse purchase, can't afford a Hazet. Not sure when it was made. Any info would be appreicated. Both sides slide down, and the trays slide out both sides.

Garant 91 550 trolley.

I'm pretty sure it's made in Germany. I see those in shops a lot and find the design interesting. German toolbox rollaways "Werkzeugwagen or Werkstattwagen" are transitioning to the US style with drawers.

Yours is in great condition. How do you like it from a function standpoint?

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