SIPCO Tool Case

Provincial · Sep 30, 2018

Schartow Iron Products Co. ("Sipco Products") produced wooden tool chests and cases in Racine, Wisconsin. This is a #235-20 "Metal Armored, Open Front Style Chest" which is 20 inches wide, 9 inches deep, and 12 inches high.

It has a wooden frame which is covered with sheet steel. The corners have stylish reinforcements, and there are ornate reinforcements for the back panel as well. Someone has painted all but the drawers with a gloss blue paint. I believe the original finish was some sort of black.

The drawers have been relined with blue felt. Someone was using this case for craft work and there are all sorts of craft tools inside, including exacto knives, needle files, and an extensive inventory of Dremel stones and bits.

All the drawers fit and slide well. The handle needs a new leather cover. I thought it was worth the $25.00.

disston · Sep 30, 2018

Nice find. Such tools always come in handy no mater what sort of work you may be trying to concentrate on. Those little things are useful.

RTM · Apr 19, 2025

Provincial said:
Schartow Iron Products Co. ("Sipco Products") produced wooden tool chests and cases in Racine, Wisconsin. This is a #235-20 "Metal Armored, Open Front Style Chest" which is 20 inches wide, 9 inches deep, and 12 inches high.

It has a wooden frame which is covered with sheet steel. The corners have stylish reinforcements, and there are ornate reinforcements for the back panel as well.

Hey, do you mind looking at a chest I’ve had for a few years, and see if a couple of features match your SIPCO? Where did you find the numbering you quoted?

Your handle brackets don’t match mine. The lock on mine looks much older than the one beerhippie just posted

The knobs are very unique, and shall we say cheap?

My corner protectors are kinda big and bulbous.

Thanks

alinc100 · Apr 19, 2025

Here is a possible replacement handle. https://brettunsvillage.com/tools-h...case-handles/spring-steel-reinforced-handles/

RTM · Apr 19, 2025

alinc100 said:
Here is a possible replacement handle. https://brettunsvillage.com/tools-h...case-handles/spring-steel-reinforced-handles/

Hehe, that's the one I got Lugz turned on to. I have two in house already.

alinc100 · Apr 19, 2025

RTM said:
Hey, do you mind looking at a chest I’ve had for a few years, and see if a couple of features match your SIPCO? Where did you find the numbering you quoted?

Your handle brackets don’t match mine. The lock on mine looks much older than the one beerhippie just posted

four.cycle · Apr 19, 2025

There is a bit of information on the company in the first link here:
Schartow / Schartow Iron Products Co., Racine, WI / "Sipco" tool storage systems / https://www.flickr.com/groups/1043203@N21/discuss/72157625690694781/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/sipco-tool-case.403227/ / https://mycompanies.fandom.com/wiki/Schartow_Iron_Products_Company /

Private Lugnutz · Apr 19, 2025

RTM said:
Hehe, that's the one I got Lugz turned on to.

Who, me?

(Scroll down for the rest of the story.)

alinc100 · Apr 20, 2025

In the spirit of GJ and multiples of 3 ,this came available on Facebook Marketplace. It's 90 miles away and "pending" or else I'd be posting further photos after I obtained it. Totally willing to make the 180 mile round trip for their asking price.

Beerhippie · Apr 20, 2025

Here's the Shartow Iron Products Co. chest I picked up on Friday:

SIPCO #234-20, DOM 1938-1948--which seems to be the period that SIPCO was in business.

That is almost certainly the original paint--unless some did a very thorough strip and paint. The fittings were all brass-plated steel. The rust appears to have been applied later.

The case and front panel are three-ply plywood clad in steel. Drawer faces are oak. Drawer sides and back are pine and the bottom is three-ply wood.

It's getting a fresh paint job as I type.

Beerhippie · Apr 20, 2025

It came out OK. The one masking mistake is on a corner that will never be seen in its new home--but I'll probably fix it when the paint is fully cured.

alinc100 · Apr 24, 2025

Some new information has come to light. Might have to rethink what we've learned:
Post in thread 'The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...olboxes-of-garage-journal.49743/post-11155182

Private Lugnutz · Apr 24, 2025

Looks like @Beerhippie will be shopping for a rattle can of Neon Green !

Beerhippie · Apr 24, 2025

Private Lugnutz said:
Looks like @Beerhippie will be shopping for a rattle can of Neon Green !

Nope. Mine's still a genuine SIPCO.

Private Lugnutz · Apr 24, 2025

I was just joking (on a positive note, one would never lose that Green-Case Co. chest in the dark!

), but I apparently lost the bead on whose box is being re-identified, sorry.

Beerhippie · Apr 24, 2025

Private Lugnutz said:
I was just joking (on a positive note, one would never lose that Green-Case Co. chest in the dark! ), but I apparently lost the bead on whose box is being re-identified, sorry.

It was @RTM 's--IIRC.

RTM · Apr 24, 2025

Beerhippie said:
It was @RTM 's--IIRC.

Yup, that was mine. I don't think I'm taking it back to green, even tho beerhippie's looks awful green in the before image

Beerhippie said:
Here's the Shartow Iron Products Co. chest I picked up on Friday:

Beerhippie · Apr 24, 2025

RTM said:
Yup, that was mine. I don't think I'm taking it back to green, even tho beerhippie's looks awful green in the before image

Yes, I'd call that an "awful green"--actually, more of an olive green. I left the original paint on the bottom of the case should someone in the future want to restore it.

Beerhippie · May 4, 2025

I've added some missing parts to the ol' SIPCO.

The E-bay key showed up a week or so back:

It even fits and works:

The handle I ordered from BrettunsVillage.Com arrived today.

It certainly doesn't resemble the original, but will work--if I can figure out how to get it onto both D-rings.

There we go! I fiddled with it for a while--the SS core is stiff as all get-out--and finally spread one of the D-rings using the "two wrenches trick" (see YouTube under breaking padlock hasps), which is very controllable and does as little damage as possible (I'll still have to do touch-up on the paint), then bent it back on with a pair of Channellocks. Kinda makes me wonder why they bothered with the fancy straps and buckles.

This is the first time I've had the gumption to actually lock the front cover--even 'though I have a key, there's always the chance--but the key and lock work just fine.

Back home on my desk, helping to organize and functioning as a flat horizontal surface for displaying other widgets:

TFL--

SIPCO Tool Case

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