So, it's Von Dutch's tool box... Old news to many, but I still love staring at it. It sold for many thousands of dollars at auction a few years ago - way more than it's wor...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
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So, it's Von Dutch's tool box... Old news to many, but I still love staring at it. It sold for many thousands of dollars at auction a few years ago - way more than it's wor...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
Very neat. It's interesting to see how talented people express themselves.
I haven't seen this before so thanks for showing.
Very neat. It's interesting to see how talented people express themselves.
I haven't seen this before so thanks for showing.
Jweldie83
Well-known member
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
Fantastic! I love his t-shirts and hats!!!!
Fantastic! I love his t-shirts and hats!!!!
APEowner
Well-known member
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have particularly liked Von Dutch (or, to be fair, He, I) but I've always admired how he seemed to put a marvelous artistic spin on everything he did. It's as if the man had so much talent that it leaked out on to everything he touched.
This box shows his quirky sense of humor but what stands out to me is how it's got a whole bunch of different sized asymmetrical elements and yet it's visually balanced.
I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have particularly liked Von Dutch (or, to be fair, He, I) but I've always admired how he seemed to put a marvelous artistic spin on everything he did. It's as if the man had so much talent that it leaked out on to everything he touched.
This box shows his quirky sense of humor but what stands out to me is how it's got a whole bunch of different sized asymmetrical elements and yet it's visually balanced.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
Thanks for posting, I love it.
Thanks for posting, I love it.RatchetMan
Well-known member
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- Sep 23, 2011
- Messages
- 199
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
Wait a minute, that thing is not 7 feet long and doesn't have 4 outlet plugs. He must have just been a shade tree mechanic......
Wait a minute, that thing is not 7 feet long and doesn't have 4 outlet plugs. He must have just been a shade tree mechanic......
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
I'd have to guess that was intentional. Made - up technical jargon and deliberate misspellings were common in Von Dutch's work.
By the standards of the day, Howard was fairly well educated. A lot of his illiterate curmudgeon shtick was a well designed put on, according to people who actually knew him.
Dude couldn't spell equipment
I'd have to guess that was intentional. Made - up technical jargon and deliberate misspellings were common in Von Dutch's work.
By the standards of the day, Howard was fairly well educated. A lot of his illiterate curmudgeon shtick was a well designed put on, according to people who actually knew him.
marty_p
Well-known member
There's nothing like a cool storage spot for your 'Munke Wrenches!'
What an interesting sense of humor!
What an interesting sense of humor!
Attackcammel
Active member
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- Feb 26, 2013
- Messages
- 41
There's nothing like a cool storage spot for your 'Munke Wrenches!'
What an interesting sense of humor!
I read that and was like hmmmm that's a brand I never Heard of
Makes more sense now hahaha
ooba tooba
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Another old tool chest.http://www.finewoodworking.com/woodworking-plans/article/the-ho-studley-tool-chest.aspx
Builder302
Well-known member
Good to see this, I like the way he trimmed most of his tools, engine turning, labeling, and pin striping them. Talented guy, wish more of his work was still around.
Mr onetwo
Well-known member
Thanks for the very cool post!
rfc86
Well-known member
That is sweet!
More of this chest and ones like it:
https://www.google.com/search?q=H.O...AS80YG4Ag&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1
Quick vid of it:
the Von Dutch pin stripping box sold for $270k or so it seems:
https://www.google.com/search?q=von...es&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&spell=1
Scout Driver
Well-known member
Very cool!
Scott
Scott
Hyster Gareth
Well-known member
Very nice set up and great history. What was the final price realised for the tool box?
Re: Von Dutch\'s Tool Box
Pat Ganahl (former editor of Hot Rod mag and free-agent kustom kulture historian) wrote a pretty excellent book on Von Dutch. Recommended read if you're interested in Kenneth Howard and not just the trucker-hat logo hype.
Most don't know it, but Dutch's dad was an accomplished graphic designer and sign painter. His portfolio included the famous Western Exterminators logo.
Interesting.
Pat Ganahl (former editor of Hot Rod mag and free-agent kustom kulture historian) wrote a pretty excellent book on Von Dutch. Recommended read if you're interested in Kenneth Howard and not just the trucker-hat logo hype.
Most don't know it, but Dutch's dad was an accomplished graphic designer and sign painter. His portfolio included the famous Western Exterminators logo.
j p smith
Well-known member
mstewarts post says it was 270k
LOL. I hope the buyer didn't jump on that thinking it was actually owned by Dutch.
My guess is that box belonged to Dan Brucker, as it's pretty likely Dutch himself never would have had the means to buy a (then) new Snap-On tool box.
Dutch lived in a compound owned by the Brucker family (at a small local airport northeast of L.A.) for at least a few years, from the early 80's until shortly before he died (1992 or 3). During that time most if not all of the Brucker's shop "ecquipment" got lettered / striped or otherwise given the Von Dutch treatment.
It's also been noted elsewhere that during the time Dutch worked for motorcycle collector / dealer Budd Ekins, Dutch was pretty well known for painting on the insides of broken-down motorcycle crates. When the shop guys needed a crate to ship out a bike, they would re-assemble the broken down pieces, Von Dutch artwork and all.
That explains all the paintings that have mysteriously appeared out of nowhere over the last 15 - 20 years.
OP
The box was bought by Bruckner. He then had Dutch paint it up for him, but never took it back... It was Dan's way of giving Kenneth a tool box without him feeling like a charity case. Which worked out for both as Dan made a lot of money off the box after Kenneth died obviously...
Source: I visited Von Dutch on Bruckner's property with my dad a few years before he died... At the time, he was mostly just making knives and scrolling on guns and what not... He was using this very box.
Craptain
Well-known member
No. he said the Pin Striping box sold for 270k. The auctioneer says it sold for more.
Source RMAuctions:
I couldn't find any info on the selling price for the Snap On box.
j p smith
Well-known member
Just reread the post, my apoligies. It did say his paint box. Jeff
Mcstiff
Member
(1) pipe flares - rivet ecquipment - planes -
(2) hammers - crow foot wrenches -
(3) soldering equipment - hack saws -
rfloz
Active member
It's around. He painted (and signed) this Triumph 650 gas tank around 1967-67. I sold the bike, but kept the tank. It resides in our home library.
Sorry about the poor picture.
No. It's not for sale.
Attachments
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d.mcfarland
Well-known member
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What goes where?? It's clearly listed at the top of the bottom box...
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What goes where?? It's clearly listed at the top of the bottom box...
OP
Amitygravel
Well-known member
I knew Von Dutch was a pretty accomplished gunsmith.
This is the first I've heard of him making any knives.
Does anyone know of photos or existing pieces ?
This is the first I've heard of him making any knives.
Does anyone know of photos or existing pieces ?
djjsr
Well-known member
A while back, I saw a kid wearing a Von Dutch T-shirt. When I said that I wished I could stripe like Dutch, the kid looked at me like I was from Mars. He had no idea who Von Dutch was. I'm guessing that somebody else owns the name now and you can find the T-shirts at a shopping mall?
So I was right, then. Even taking the long way around.
I knew the Bruckers, being principle caretakers and patrons of Howard for many years, held a large collection of his artwork / knives / guns / BS. And have done well for themselves selling it off. IMO they deserve it for taking care of the guy for so long.
As far as the Von Dutch name and logo - from what I understand, the Bruckers and the people Howard was staying with when he died, I guess, turned the rights to that over to his family (his ex-wife Sheila and two daughters) who in turn licensed the trademark to a third party who is or was responsible for the trucker hats and t-shirts.
Robt. Williams has been quoted as saying Dutch has, in death, done a much better job of providing for his family than he did when he was alive.
Kind of harsh, but it is what it is I guess.
OP
That's not exactly how it went down... at least according to the Bruckners, x-wife, and daughters... There have been lawsuits filed and dropped and filed again against the current curators of the Von Dutch trademark. I've lost track at where it stands now and if anyone still feels cheated.
Before the "Von Dutch" re-branding came to be known as a high end fashion brand, I was hired by the "clothing company" to build their website. I did that as well as some other design work and consultation. About half way through, ownership of the project changed hands and I was never paid for my work - about $15k worth.
I fought for a while... raised hell even... but eventually gave in to the idea that I was spending too much time on it and moved on... bitterly... Some of you from the HAMB might remember the "Son Of A *****" shirts we gave away shortly afterwards. Those were an inside joke of sorts and something I think Kenneth would have very much approved of.
Von Dutch wasn't what anyone would describe as a GREAT guy. He was very flawed. But he laid a foundation for a lot of very good guys to make a living... and for that, I'll always be appreciative.
An acquaintance of mine, not a close friend, just somebody I know, is a freelance writer, and was trying to piece together a zine article playing off the popularity of the Von Dutch logo (and I guess nutswing off Ganahl's book which had then just come out). Like an article you'd see in GQ or Maxim mag.
We spoke about it at length, with him telling me about people he was able to interview including a person who identified herself as Shelia, ex-wife of Kenneth Howard / Von Dutch.
At that time there was no mention of lawsuits or any hard feelings about the merchandising rights. I'm aware of how things get squirrely when even modest amounts of money start getting thrown around, so I'm not surprised.
I don't know if the article was or will be published, or if it was even finished.
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LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I read that and was like hmmmm that's a brand I never Heard of
Makes more sense now hahaha
Mark I
Well-known member
bobemmerich
Well-known member
And here I thought that Von Dutch was just a fashion statement worn by kids today....
NOT!
They have NO CLUE who the guy was....
NOT!
They have NO CLUE who the guy was....
hydramatic
Well-known member
like it.