What box did I buy?

I picked up this box today at an antique store for $50. Not sure if that is a good deal or not but it will be perfect as it is on a bench I have. It is very solid, no rust. VERY heavy.

All the drawers slide very well. Looks like they were all lined with green felt at one time.

The price tag said that the box was Kennedy. Not sure. I see no writing, part number, codes of any kind. It appeared to have a name plate at one time near the center latch but it's just holes there now.

The leather handle is pretty roached out but it's comfortable.

Looks like a piss poor restoration was attempted at one time. I may get around to doing a proper one someday but it's fine for me like it is.


Any info on the box?

Looks like a Kennedy.

I have one like it. It is a Kennedy and when I bought mine 35 years ago I think it was a couple hundered bucks. Top of the line back then and now. It is a shame someone painted it red. The whole box should be the same as the drawers.

Redhead, you mind posting a pic of yours? I'd like to see the color and maybe the name plate?

Also, in pictures of these old Kennedy machinist chests, I've not seen one with the socket tray in the main compartment. On mine it is held together by some ghetto screws with nuts on the inside. I'm thinking it is not supposed to be there--can anyone confirm?

expatriated - your box is very similar to my father-in-law's tool box that he gave me last year. There's no mfr. tag on the outside, but there is a little emblem on the inside top lid that says "Kennedy Kits" (or something like that) with a drawing of a person standing to either side of the emblem. No provision for a tool tray, and no ribs in the lid, but the same number and configuration of drawers, same green felt, and identical handle (in just as rough condition) on top.

He put a hand-made name plate on the outside and it's possible he placed it over the original mfr. plate; his old tool box also painted a funky-nasty pinkish-tan color. (You're lucky yours is red.) He worked on aircraft like the old USAF B-36 etc. in the 1950's, so apparently the odd color made his box easy to identify from a distance.

Edited to add: I think the middle locklatch on your box might have been replaced - the one on mine is much larger and fills all three rivet holes. The extra two holes in the front panel on either side of the center locklatch on mine are covered by my FiL's nameplate and his installed lock hasp. The center locklatch on mine originally locked with a key, and sometime in it's history it was disabled, hence the home-made lock hasp. If the locklatch on yours was locked and the key was lost, the original owner may have cut it off and put another on.

All speculation on my part though - someone more knowledgeable may know more.

~Chris

The box you have is a Kennedy machinist box from around the 40s-50s. I think that socket try was fabricated in by previous owner. Nice find just remember its a machinist box just don't throw a bunch of heavy tools in their and it will be good for another 60 plus years.

Sorry I can't get epics because it is in storage. Mine has a hasp in the middle for a pad lock.

rusty65 said:

Nice find just remember its a machinist box just don't throw a bunch of heavy tools in their and it will be good for another 60 plus years.

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Yup. Unfortunately, after my FiL left the maintenance field, this was his regular toolbox, and two of the drawers are in pretty bad shape due to the heavy wrenches & sockets that were thrown in them. I might be able to fix the slides, but I'm not sure.

I don't think these boxes need to be "babied", but they do have their limits.

~Chris

Mine just holds my small, reloading equipment so everything should be fine.

Thanks for all the info, guys!

That one is probably from the 30's, maybe early 40's; square corner top and leather handle get it back then.

No the socket tray was not factory and was scabbed in.

You may be able to get the red paint off without too much damage to the original paint underneath using Simple Green Soaked Paper towels. (give it an hour or so and spry more SG so it does not dry out) use a tooth brush or the like to work off the loosened paint.

ps: The middle latch is not factory replacement. I don't think the originals from back then are available any longer ...

I keep running across these things at estate sales and even at the metal salvage recycler. Maybe I should start picking them up. I did get one and it's great for hobby tools.

The one at the salvage yard had been...modified and was only worth parts.

The socket tray is actually in the way on a box like this. I'll remove it soon. When I get around to it, I'm going to get it as close to original as possible. I really love this thing. It is perfect for my reloading bench. The small drawers hold the little shell holders, de-capping pins, calipers, etc. perfectly.