Question for Vintage Beach Tool Box Collectors

pcos · Feb 1, 2011

Question relates to 70's to 80's Beach Cabinets:

Did Beach ever make a pry bar rack / screwdriver rack that would have bolted on the side of the bottom chest?

If yes, does anyone have pictures of one?

Does anyone have a picture of the accessory side shelf of the same vintage (I faintly remember that they did exist)?

Thanks,
Paul - a confirmed Beach collector!

lilredex · Feb 2, 2011

Like these??

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...roller-tool-box-with-shelf-W0QQAdIdZ257012396

http://toronto.lowprice.ca/red_beach_2_piece_tool_box_mississauga_peel_region_35000_9lif

Doesn't look to fold down, as the one I have does. If it stops snowing a bit, I may get into the garage and have a look at it.

Another............if you are looking to acquire one.

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-Beach-Top-Tool-Chest-W0QQAdIdZ257449938

pcos · Feb 2, 2011

Thanks for the reply - the first link shows a top box of the correct vintage. I'm looking for a side mount screwdriver/pry bar rack that would be a correct vintage match IF it existed. I've got the top/bottom/side box set covered, just looking for the little accessories to complete the set - pry bar rack and side shelf.

P
<edit to fix typo>

Gtamazing · Feb 2, 2011

I have that same top box in my garage that I got from a garage sale for $50. I use it for machinist tools and such. However mine is branded Mastercraft.My neibour in a strange coincedence a few weeks later got that matching bottom box from his dead uncle that looks like it has never been used.

PCO6 · Feb 2, 2011

I'm a Beach fan too. :thumbup:

Here's mine that I bought at Canadian Tire in the late 70's. I remember that you could buy drawers and I am pretty sure you could get side tables. I don't remember racks for screwdrivers, prybars, etc. but I may be wrong about that and no doubt there were places other than CTC where you could get accessories.

A few years ago I picked up a pair of Huskey folding side tables. I got them at Home Depot for about $35 each. That's a bit pricey but they bolted right on, work well and look great.

lilredex · Feb 3, 2011

Have same setup (12 on 12) that I bought in 1982. Got a shelf too, at that time but it is a bit different than the one you show..........will get out there today and look.

BTW, like your "Beach" garbage can!!

PCO6 · Feb 3, 2011

I can confirm that that's a Beach accessory that was NOT available (lol). I'm sure you recognize it as an old foot operated kitchen garbage can. It's great for used paper shop towels. I can often use them a second time as things get "dirtier".

pcos · Feb 3, 2011

PCO6 - that side tray looks very close to my dusty memory of an original Beach side tray. The thinner side lip on the tray rings a bell. Did you have to re-drill holes to mount it or did they line right up?

Also - I've never seen the "short" 6 drawer variation of the bottom cabinet, 7 drawer is more common (4 thin with 3 doubles below). Did you swap drawers to get that configuration? (pic 1)

"Tall" would be the 12 drawer version (4 thin 1/2 drawers, 5 thin full width, 2 doubles and 1 extra deep). (pic 2)

Oh - just to add fuel to the fire - does anyone have a 10 drawer side cabinet? I have a 7 drawer which I believe was for the "short" bottom box(pic 3, 4)

P

pcos · Feb 3, 2011

lilredex said:
Got a shelf too, at that time but it is a bit different than the one you show..........will get out there today and look.

Pls post a pic of the tray - would love to see it!

P

lilredex · Feb 3, 2011

OK, here they are. You can see that it folds flat and is held in the "up" position by the hinged member that catches in the bottom lip of the mounting base plate. Holes came drilled to match those, where the handle would ordinarily be mounted.

I have a picture of a side cabinet, but is the seven drawer unit you have. Do they also just hang from those same (handle) holes??

PCO6 · Feb 3, 2011

pcos said:
PCO6 - that side tray looks very close to my dusty memory of an original Beach side tray. The thinner side lip on the tray rings a bell. Did you have to re-drill holes to mount it or did they line right up?

Also - I've never seen the "short" 6 drawer variation of the bottom cabinet, 7 drawer is more common (4 thin with 3 doubles below). Did you swap drawers to get that configuration? (pic 1)

The Husky side shelf bolted right on. I removed the original handle on the box and the holes in the tray lined up. In the fuzzy picture below you can see 2 sets of holes. I think the Husky side trays were designed to fit a few different boxes.

Regarding the bottom cabinet, I bought a short one thinking I'd never fill a tall one. I was wrong, I've bought MANY additional cabinets since then. The short cabinets were sold at CTC with three 4" drawers and a large open space in the bottom for storage. They sold 2" and 4" drawers separately. I added two 2" drawers and a 4" drawer. You still see cabinets with only the three 4" drawers and the bottom left open. I may be wrong but I think the tall bottom cabinets were sold with all drawers included.

PCO6 · Feb 3, 2011

lilredex said:
OK, here they are. You can see that it folds flat and is held in the "up" position by the hinged member that catches in the bottom lip of the mounting base plate. Holes came drilled to match those, where the handle would ordinarily be mounted.

That looks like what I remember the Beach side trays to be. :thumbup:

pcos · Feb 4, 2011

lilredex said:
OK, here they are. You can see that it folds flat and is held in the "up" position by the hinged member that catches in the bottom lip of the mounting base plate. Holes came drilled to match those, where the handle would ordinarily be mounted.

That's it! I remember the one I used was bent at the support point because someone dropped a large chunk of steel on it. Now I have to find one! (more money on Beach boxes, yeah!)

lilredex said:
Do they also just hang from those same (handle) holes?

The side box has a folded lip that hangs off the main bottom box - standard method. I had to go look to confirm - there are holes that would line up with the handle holes, both sides (right or left mount).

Great historical pics, thanks!

Paul

pcos · Feb 4, 2011

PCO6 said:
You still see cabinets with only the three 4" drawers and the bottom left open. I may be wrong but I think the tall bottom cabinets were sold with all drawers included.

Bottoms must have come w/o a full drawer set as well - my tall bottom only had the extra deep drawer in the top position, clear space below. I actually scavenged drawers from a short CTC bottom box to complete my tall cabinet.

P

PCO6 · Feb 4, 2011

pcos said:
Bottoms must have come w/o a full drawer set as well - my tall bottom only had the extra deep drawer in the top position, clear space below. I actually scavenged drawers from a short CTC bottom box to complete my tall cabinet.

P

So that's why I see so many drawerless Beach roller cabinets. :lol:

I have often thought of picking up a short 3 draw cabinet to use as a service cart. It would have good storage in the bottom and with a pair of side trays it would be quite versatile.

If you come across a Beach intermediate cabinet don't buy it for the drawers. Lilredex and I have both found out that the drawers aren't as wide as the regular cabinet drawers.

BTW- what does pcos stand for? I suspect it's your initials ... and don't feel you have to out yourself ... Paul. PCO6 stands for my old lacrosse team and my sweater number. I use it on a number of lacrosse forums too.

dxdexter · Feb 4, 2011

Here are the roller cabinet sections taken from both a 1971 and a 1980 Gray Tools catalog. Beach was the supplier at the time. It shows some of the available configurations and accessories.

dxdexter · Feb 4, 2011

Here's mine purchased new in the early 1980's

PCO6 · Feb 4, 2011

dxdexter said:
Here are the roller cabinet sections taken from both a 1971 and a 1980 Gray Tools catalog. Beach was the supplier at the time. It shows some of the available configurations and accessories.

GREAT STUFF! That clarifies a lot of things. ... and I like your box - another original owner. :thumbup:

pcos · Feb 4, 2011

PCO6 said:
BTW- what does pcos stand for? I suspect it's your initials ... and don't feel you have to out yourself ... Paul. PCO6 stands for my old lacrosse team and my sweater number. I use it on a number of lacrosse forums too.

It's my name truncated - I'm lazy! I've never had anyone have an ID even close before yours - at first I thought I had double posted.

P

pcos · Feb 4, 2011

dxdexter said:
Here are the roller cabinet sections taken from both a 1971 and a 1980 Gray Tools catalog.

WOW! I'll say many thanks for all of us. I'm going to print a copy and keep it in the top box manual slot (in the lid)!

I was curious about earlier Gray boxes - never knew they were Beach as well. I was hoping to make an offer on this item (see attached pic 5) - Kijiji St Catherines, ON - but I'm now shopping for a new car battery instead!

I hope one of us here gets to purchase it - the double bottom box on the right is certainly old Beach goodness. Maybe next time

Paul

pcos · Feb 4, 2011

Speaking of some extra drawers . . .

http://stcatharines.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-MASTERCRAFT-TOOL-BOX-W0QQAdIdZ258568917

Cheap if you need them.

P

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