Packard V8
Well-known member
A 1976 Snap-on KRA61 makes it to a new career in retirement
Naturally, I don't NEED another top box, but I never liked the way the KRA59 wasn't as wide as the top of the KRA300C. So, on craigslist, there is this old Snap-on top box for sale, "asking $100." It was halfway to Idaho, so I hadn't made the trip to look at it.
To digress, yesterday I was ferrying a bunny rabbit to a new home. This escaped domestic rabbit had taken up residence in our yard. He/She was kind of cute, hopping around the edges of the yard. When two of our grandnieces were visiting, the bunny was the highlight of their stay.
Unfortunately, like so many of us, when he had it made, he fell into bad habits. First, he ate all the neighbor's petunias. That was a misdemeanor, but when he started on my wife's hostas, that was a felony. I caught him, put him in bunny jail and got up with a couple we knew who used to keep rabbits. She said they were out of the rabbit habit, but after a sales job on how he would be abandoned in the country and eaten by coyotes, she agreed to take him. The bunny rescue was halfway out toward the KRA61
Since I was out that direction anyhow, I called and went to see it. Sitting out under a tree (he swore it had been covered all winter) the box needed a rescue; especially when I saw the "International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers" label.
The guy claimed he was the second owner and had used it on the back of a mobile welding truck. That explained why the left end had a lot of surface rust. Salt spray in the winter around here is a killer. Still, it wasn't a bad old box and wasn't totally trashed like most service truck boxes.
Also, the slides were well-lubed; always a good sign on a used box. It even had what I assume are the original drawer liners. That those have survived indicates it had decent care. Even had one well-worn original key still with it.
I pointed out the dings, the rust, that it was thirty-five years old; how all the young guys want the shiny new chrome from Harbor Freight/Home Depot. "I don't need it, but I'll give you $50 for it." He was happy with that and I was happy to have another box which had been a good union member.
All the stickers, except for the union label, will come off, a hit with a Scotchbrite pad and it will be good for another thirty-five years on top of the KRA300C. But then, where is the KRA59 gonna sit?
jack vines
Naturally, I don't NEED another top box, but I never liked the way the KRA59 wasn't as wide as the top of the KRA300C. So, on craigslist, there is this old Snap-on top box for sale, "asking $100." It was halfway to Idaho, so I hadn't made the trip to look at it.
To digress, yesterday I was ferrying a bunny rabbit to a new home. This escaped domestic rabbit had taken up residence in our yard. He/She was kind of cute, hopping around the edges of the yard. When two of our grandnieces were visiting, the bunny was the highlight of their stay.
Unfortunately, like so many of us, when he had it made, he fell into bad habits. First, he ate all the neighbor's petunias. That was a misdemeanor, but when he started on my wife's hostas, that was a felony. I caught him, put him in bunny jail and got up with a couple we knew who used to keep rabbits. She said they were out of the rabbit habit, but after a sales job on how he would be abandoned in the country and eaten by coyotes, she agreed to take him. The bunny rescue was halfway out toward the KRA61
Since I was out that direction anyhow, I called and went to see it. Sitting out under a tree (he swore it had been covered all winter) the box needed a rescue; especially when I saw the "International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers" label.
The guy claimed he was the second owner and had used it on the back of a mobile welding truck. That explained why the left end had a lot of surface rust. Salt spray in the winter around here is a killer. Still, it wasn't a bad old box and wasn't totally trashed like most service truck boxes.
Also, the slides were well-lubed; always a good sign on a used box. It even had what I assume are the original drawer liners. That those have survived indicates it had decent care. Even had one well-worn original key still with it.
I pointed out the dings, the rust, that it was thirty-five years old; how all the young guys want the shiny new chrome from Harbor Freight/Home Depot. "I don't need it, but I'll give you $50 for it." He was happy with that and I was happy to have another box which had been a good union member.
All the stickers, except for the union label, will come off, a hit with a Scotchbrite pad and it will be good for another thirty-five years on top of the KRA300C. But then, where is the KRA59 gonna sit?
jack vines
Last edited:
Good score!
