Metal Cabinets vintage or homemade and no name toolboxes. got any to show please do

drivesitfar · Aug 15, 2019

TEX: nice find on the little metal locking bin with metal dividers. i'm not sure how many i've had in the past cause many have went down the road to get bigger bins and cabinets, but I still have 4 in a nice vintage cabinet that slides the bins in and out and you can remove them from that cabinet AND I've got several new ones that have plastic dividers instead of metal, but they are still worthy of storing some of my supplies.

here's a few pics of a few I have. now you'll need to find a few more and maybe you'll find the cabinet with 4 inside it that should fit nicely somewhere in your garage.

LUG: i'm happy to see you are picking up quality LYON vintage cabinets AND I saw you picked up a vintage wood with glass cabinet too. WELL DONE SIR!!

Provincial · Aug 20, 2019

I recently purchased a metal cabinet that I believe was made by Lyon. It has a lock/latch system that is laid out similar to the larger cabinet shown by Pvt. Lugnutz on the previous page. Although my cabinet has a much simpler latch system, the geometry of the system is the same as the larger cabinet, and seems to confirm that the lock turns to place a block on the latch system to prevent it from disengaging.

I am posting photos of my cabinet for comparison.

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 21, 2019

Picked up this badboy at an estate sale for a song...

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dittle fart around · Aug 21, 2019

I found this Union Box at one of those all town garage sales. This was in the little town of Kalama, Washington. Sitting right next the Columbia River about 30 miles north of us.

View media item 95833
Leather handle, cool corner feet, two out of three working clasps real sweet $2 box.

View media item 95834
Most of the label still intact, Union Chest. Inside, nothin but rust.

:beer:

Outlawmws · Aug 21, 2019

Nice find! What song? I may need to start practicing! :evil:

Provincial · Aug 21, 2019

I can[t seem to carry a tune.

Badbob1919 · Aug 21, 2019

Inspired me to go out in the driveway and take blurry dark pictures. Got a whole bunch of these out of Aerojet which is shutting down it’s Rancho Cordova facilities. Some came out of the ‘trim bay’ back in J zone, twhere they trim the energetic material after a pour from one of the vertical mixing plants. Can’t remember the building right now but it’s across the street from the Titan assembly building. The stories they could tell.

macgee · Aug 22, 2019

Badbob1919 post above just reminded me I've have a bunch of airline aluminum cabinets and carts that I never thought of posting here, I just think of steel cabinets for this thread.

I purchased these a couple of years ago from the son of the engineer who designed and built these. A bunch of the trays are embossed with TWA logo's.
The blue airline aisle cart is now an everyday user for me that holds tooling for my mills, I just roll it around next to the mill I'm using, keep the newly milled items safely on the top of cabinet and cart conveniently stores underneath a Lista workbench when not needed.
The foot locking system for the casters is awesome and these cabinets can hold a real amount of weight. Also scored a bunch of extra aluminum and stainless box & trays, I use them everyday with a smile.
Sold the white cart (last pics) to cover the cost of the other cabinets but kept several of the trays. The trays are great for holding & storing all the parts of a rebuild/project, the parts all stay together and keeps the work bench clean.

Hope you like seeing these.

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 22, 2019

Neat carts..... who would have thunk these carts make excellent adds to a shop situation when they were made for the airlines.... I’ll bet they see a pretty penny new.....

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WhoWhatNow · Aug 22, 2019

macgee said:
Badbob1919 post above just reminded me I've have a bunch of airline aluminum cabinets and carts that I never thought of posting here, I just think of steel cabinets for this thread.

I purchased these a couple of years ago from the son of the engineer who designed and built these. A bunch of the trays are embossed with TWA logo's.
The blue airline aisle cart is now an everyday user for me that holds tooling for my mills, I just roll it around next to the mill I'm using, keep the newly milled items safely on the top of cabinet and cart conveniently stores underneath a Lista workbench when not needed.
The foot locking system for the casters is awesome and these cabinets can hold a real amount of weight. Also scored a bunch of extra aluminum and stainless box & trays, I use them everyday with a smile.
Sold the white cart (last pics) to cover the cost of the other cabinets but kept several of the trays. The trays are great for holding & storing all the parts of a rebuild/project, the parts all stay together and keeps the work bench clean.

Hope you like seeing these.

Very cool. What do you think the weight rating is on the carts? Something like that would be perfect for my small shop.

edit: I may have answered my own question: They appear to be rated at about 100kg for use on a airliner. They are rated for 9g upward and 10g downward. so if my math is correct:

at max rating:
f = 100kg * (9.91m/s2 * 9g)
f = 8829 N

at 1 g:
8829 N = x kg * 9.81m/s2
x kg = 900 kg or 1984 lbs

That seems like a lot. I wonder if they could really handle close to 2000 pounds of static weight.

macgee · Aug 22, 2019

WhoWhatNow said:
Very cool. What do you think the weight rating is on the carts? Something like that would be perfect for my small shop.

edit: I may have answered my own question: They appear to be rated at about 100kg for use on a airliner. They are rated for 9g upward and 10g downward. so if my math is correct:

at max rating:
f = 100kg * (9.91m/s2 * 9g)
f = 8829 N

at 1 g:
8829 N = x kg * 9.81m/s2
x kg = 900 kg or 1984 lbs

That seems like a lot. I wonder if they could really handle close to 2000 pounds of static weight.

Good question,

Not sure but I have loaded them up with a silly amount of tooling. The drawers are all still working and when loaded the cart feels solid when moving it around the shop.

Nice calc’s And you maybe right about the SWL for the carts, with them being fully loaded with liquor, soft drinks and food and needing to handle turbulence, I’m betting the numbers are high. Have no idea for how long mine will hold up for but there built really well. The doors open and close, locks with ease

The blue one that I kept is in excellent condition. I cleaned it up after the pic were taken, removed all the stickers and grime. I think it was pretty much new when I got it ($50). Looking around online, the ones I see available look really beat and configuration of drawers are not as good for me as this one so I think I got really lucky.

The two small food/liquor cabinets have also worked out really and use them daily with no issues so far

drivesitfar · Aug 22, 2019

Dennis: those multy drawer file cabinets are some of my favorites and as you probably know they don't come cheap unless you stumble on one where the seller is selling a bunch of stuff. nice find.

Mac: I'm impressed on the quality of how these are built and I bet they do and will hold a ton of stuff nicely. what I think I like the best is the braking system. since my driveway isn't flat that would be a blessing for me if i was pulling one out there to work. thanks for sharing.

ALL: speaking of well built old boxes this isn't exactly vintage even though it does have some nice patina, but these old JOB BOXES are a blessing for those of us that have small garages or work off site a lot. I think Greenlee makes a pretty decent one and wondering if any of you have one or a brand that you use and like better.

we had a mystery toolbox that appeared a few years ago in ones and twos and since then I've seen and bought a few more and this is the first one I think that i've seen a label on. i've heard that these were homemade, tin school shop class projects, tractor boxes and so forth and here's another one for our books.

keep up the great work finding, saving and re purposing some well built metal cabinets.

y'sguy · Aug 22, 2019

These are really nice! I have always had these trays or drawers that my Dad had to work out of since he was in the aviation business. They are always the perfect size for parts storage and cleaning. I have taken them on trips in my car, used to carry a toolbox, rags, parts and stuff.

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 22, 2019

Outlaw.. about $80 was the tune... Drives, its amazing how much it holds... and the construction isn’t flimsy at all...

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Outlawmws · Aug 22, 2019

Drives, I've never seen one of these Tin Top boxes with that much paint still on. Does it look original?

There was a post with a tag on one for Butler?

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 23, 2019

Ditto to Outlaw.. that's a super cool box. But teal crinkle finish... good luck finding that …..

drivesitfar · Aug 23, 2019

OUTLAW: it's not in my hand's yet, but from the pics i'm guessing it's original paint.

Dennis: if I do get it i'll wire wheel off the outside of the box and put BLO on it and leave the inside pristine with that cool teal wrinkle.

ALL: hope you all have a great weekend while I scour the airport that is 5 minutes from my house for a few of those carts MAC showed me (us).

cheers

macgee · Aug 23, 2019

drivesitfar said:
ALL: hope you all have a great weekend while I scour the airport that is 5 minutes from my house for a few of those carts MAC showed me (us).

cheers

Drives, I think thats a great idea and if you're lucky you can wheel it out airport full of bottles.

Joking aside, I've recently been told that there's piles of them laying around from older planes that are no longer in use because of size formats that are no longer desired for newer planes or embossed with airline names that are no longer being used (mine are TWA and PamAm). They can be found really, really cheap from right source or $1k from hipster shops.

There's generally three trolley cart format sizes used on airplanes that dominate the market. Names for these trolley sizes are: KSSU, Atlas and ACE. I think there were older size formats as well and some North A. airlines used customs sizes. Was told that British Air established ACE trolleys size so other airlines couldn't use or steal them which was a huge problem in the industry and expensive. The odd ball size ones have no value in the airline industry.

Always get the one with all the metal trays. Trays are to hard to find and very pricey ($30ea+ship.). I would avoid the trash cart version, they're the cheapest and least useful.

For the GJ members in Atlanta, the Delta Museum have a surplus yard sale every month and sell aisle carts for $25-$75 when they have them. Next one is Sept. 13th.

https://www.deltamuseum.org/events/museum-events/2019/09/13/default-calendar/surplus-sale

Please post pics if anyone scores one.

drivesitfar · Aug 23, 2019

Mac: I passed on the information to a GJ member that I know in Atlanta and I think he actually flies or has flown for Delta so maybe he can find a few for his shop.

funny you say that cause I think I see them every week when I drive by the end of the airport here where they park the old cargo planes so now just to find out WHO OWNS THEM.

thanks for the heads up.

while I have your ear is the cart easy to use the brake with your foot putting it on and taking it off when you have it loaded and maybe on a little slope?

hope you and everybody has a great weekend

macgee · Aug 23, 2019

drivesitfar said:
while I have your ear is the cart easy to use the brake with your foot putting it on and taking it off when you have it loaded and maybe on a little slope?

hope you and everybody has a great weekend

Yes, very easy to unlock & lock and holds firm as long as it works and linkage underneath is not bent, several I could pick from had the same problem but was very easy to fix if you're mechanical

dittle fart around · Aug 25, 2019

Picked up this sweet cabinet less than a mile from home. The lady that had the garage sale said her husband just died and everything was a buck. I asked about the cabinet, she told me one buck, I offered her 10 bucks. A neighbor was keeping track of the sale for her and thanked me for not taking advantage of the lady.

View media item 96320 View media item 96319 View media item 96318
Nice rounded corners, cool feet with casters, vents in back. Top drawer with dividers has drawer slides. Below is one fixed and one adjustable shelf. Nice and thick single sheet steel door with piano hinge. Doehler Metal Furniture Company New York, New York and Plainfield, Connecticut.

View media item 96317

Outlawmws · Aug 25, 2019

Awesome Cabinet DFA! Well worth the ten, or even more!

Private Lugnutz · Aug 26, 2019

Provincial said:
I recently purchased a metal cabinet that I believe was made by Lyon. It has a lock/latch system that is laid out similar to the larger cabinet shown by Pvt. Lugnutz on the previous page. Although my cabinet has a much simpler latch system, the geometry of the system is the same as the larger cabinet, and seems to confirm that the lock turns to place a block on the latch system to prevent it from disengaging.

I am posting photos of my cabinet for comparison.

Thanks, Jock! I am playing catch-up upon my return from vacation.

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 27, 2019

drivesitfar said:
OUTLAW: it's not in my hand's yet, but from the pics i'm guessing it's original paint.

Dennis: if I do get it i'll wire wheel off the outside of the box and put BLO on it and leave the inside pristine with that cool teal wrinkle.

ALL: hope you all have a great weekend while I scour the airport that is 5 minutes from my house for a few of those carts MAC showed me (us).

cheers

sorry Drives... I'm ignorant what BLO is... I suppose I could read backward and learn.. lol :lol_hitti

ptgarcia · Aug 27, 2019

Boiled Linseed Oil

Dennis Leigh Henry · Aug 28, 2019

ptgarcia said:
Boiled Linseed Oil

Thanks...

If I recall correctly, I did something similar to one of my Craftsman boxes (hip style) with Flood Penetrol. Cleaned the box and coated it to "freeze" the look.

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

drivesitfar · Aug 28, 2019

PT: thanks for the assist!! :thumbup:

Dennis: I don't have any BLO toolbox pics to post, but I'll share this big Reed 4c picture cause when the member that restored it for me and traded me more than a few vises for it he asked what color and I requested BLO. he put on about 3 coats of BLO (boiled linseed oil) in the summer Texas sun and it came to me dry and hard and this is the patina after about 4-5 years now.

you can always add a little more BLO to keep the surface rust away or brush off surface rust and add more BLO or some of the guys put BLO on after they wire wheel or pull items out of electrolysis tanks and then they paint over it. some guys put BLO on and bake BLO on the item in their smokers designate to do tools only and not any food items.

your call and I still need to pick up that little box to post up a few pics.

drivesitfar · Aug 29, 2019

ALL: I won't be buying this cause I can't make space for it, but thought it was worth mentioning cause it's part of my (our) past.

i'd obviously upgrade the POS vise sitting on it, but i think this cabinet is COOL.

I found this somewhere else and wondering if it might have been something to go around and over the nice Texaco workbench?

tym · Aug 29, 2019

Dennis Leigh Henry said:
Thanks...

If I recall correctly, I did something similar to one of my Craftsman boxes (hip style) with Flood Penetrol. Cleaned the box and coated it to "freeze" the look.

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Whatever you do, don't ball up BLO soaked rags and toss them in the garbage.

drivesitfar · Aug 29, 2019

Tym:

ALL: I suppose we can't say that enough that stained rags CAN SELF COMBUST and start a fire. even the owner of GJ was guilty of throwing some old BLO rags in a plastic garbage can in his Atomic garage a year or two ago and it nearly burnt down.

Heavymetal · Sep 3, 2019

Check this dude out. I got it on our state surplus auction site. Its from a medical school ,there were 2,other one had drawer labels with what sounded like Dr office exam stuff. Its super clean and made heavy.

Heavymetal · Sep 3, 2019

If any you folks in or near Il. The site is awsome,lots of good stuff,IBIDS.il

ChicagoK · Sep 7, 2019

I've got lots of different units, you can say I'm addicted to drawers! Like shelves too, but not much of a cabinet guy... Have way too many now to use, or fit in my work space - Lot's of Equipto & Lyon. So I guess will sell some? BUT I'm showing you what I think are really "SPECIAL" just recently rescued 5 of them from 60+ yr old shop on Chicago's South Side, Cermak Rd -- These are All Hand made - 24" deep Welded ! & weight 250lbs each ! some drawers came full with 1 1/2" - 3" taper shank drills (some with 4 flutes)

drivesitfar · Sep 13, 2019

HeavyMetal: medical cabinets are built to last that is for certain. most of the newer ones are made of aluminum too which make them a find if you can find them without having to spend a fortune.

Chicago: nice looking old box and welcome to GJ. it's not really a place to sell your stuff, but as you get to know the guys here i'm sure more than one or two deals will happen especially if you can keep finding cool stuff like that.

LUG: i'm not sure if this is the same or similar to your Lyon box you found, but this seller is trying to sell it for more than a few benji's and i'm sorry to say i might have too many cabinets at the moment so it won't be coming home with me even if it was free until i get rid of a storage unit full of stuff.

Private Lugnutz · Sep 13, 2019

drivesitfar said:
LUG: i'm not sure if this is the same or similar to your Lyon box you found,

Not the same. That one is smaller with less shelves, perforated sides, two doors, and it looks like an order station with that slanted top. On a positive note, it clearly has the same door design and latching operation, lending more credibility to the idea that the vacant holes on mine were added on later for a second locking mechanism. THANKS.

drivesitfar · Sep 13, 2019

Lug: yep after posting it I realized that yours was a floor model and this one hangs, but happy you liked to see what the lock might have been like on yours.

ALL: i'm posting up an interesting wood cabinet i saw (not mine) that might get a few ooh's and ahh's over on the wood cabinet thread.

anybody else have metal cabinets they want to share pictures and thoughts of here even if you don't own it (yet) please do.

Provincial · Sep 22, 2019

Friday I found an Equipto drawer unit at an estate sale. It has 18 drawers, each 3-1/8" high by 5-1/4" wide and the unit is 12" deep. The unit is 34-1/8" wide by 13-5/8" high. It came with about a dozen dividers and cost me $10.00.

drivesitfar · Sep 22, 2019

Provi: I won't say you overpaid so nice find. :lol_hitti

I've got one similar to that and it's got about 400 pounds of nuts, bolts and washers are inside it. i'm sure you'll find a good use for it.

macgee · Sep 22, 2019

Provincial said:
Friday I found an Equipto drawer unit at an estate sale. It has 18 drawers, each 3-1/8" high by 5-1/4" wide and the unit is 12" deep. The unit is 34-1/8" wide by 13-5/8" high. It came with about a dozen dividers and cost me $10.00.

You totally overpaid!

Rick B. · Sep 23, 2019

I found this Simmonds metal cabinet about a month ago and mounted one of my blocks on it. It only has one shelf inside it but I may add another.

View media item 97324

Metal Cabinets vintage or homemade and no name toolboxes. got any to show please do

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