80's Toolbox Identification

[Cgantner5150]

Hey folks, first post here.
I inherited some tool boxes from my uncle years ago. I finally built a garage (22x18) and decided to restore them for use and sentimental reasons. We built a few dirt track oval cars out of these boxes at the house back in the mid 80's.

The top box is a Matco and has the stamping and badge. The lower box has a stamp but no badge. I preserved the stickers and think they came out pretty well. They were rusted and went through a few floods from hurricanes. Stripped them down to metal with a DA and sprayed them with a DeVilbiss FL3 that I used to spray my 86 Vette. I used Rustoleum in a gallon can from HD (not on the Vette - it's pearl white).

I did a search here and it seems to be a Waterloo but nobody has mentioned the stamp with a W as the start. It is stamped "Made in the U.S.A." and "W 11-81". It has 11 drawers - 6 small side by side and 5 large. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[zkling]

Hi, welcome to GJ

Good job on the restore, it is definitaly a waterloo made box. It could have had a number of different names on it, but waterloo is the one that made it. What do the drawer pulls look like?

 

[Cgantner5150]

They are half oval and seem cheap (light weight) compared to the matco pulls.

The drawer with the badge holes has 4 holes. The two outer holes are smaller (like locating pins?).

The drawers are back in and some of the pulls are back on. I'll take a pic in the morning and post it.

 

[Cgantner5150]

Drawer pull pics as promised and the matco sitting on top.

 

[Garage Junky]

As others have said it's definitely a Waterloo made box, i have a few myself. Could have been branded Proto, New Britain or a host of other names as they private labeled for just about everyone. The 11-81 is the manufacture date of Nov, 1981. Not sure what the W stands for - I'm not sure if any of my boxes have a W stamp or not but I think I'll check tonight.

You got a stout, good-looking box there. Glad you restored it to it's former glory!

 

[Cgantner5150]

Called Waterloo Int today and spoke with a nice lady who asked for some pics. She stated that it is one of their boxes and possibly was sold with their name on it (the "W" in the stamping).
Of course they don't have any of the badges available but at least I know what I am looking for now. They do have the slides and spring clips.
Anyone have a line on a 1980's emblem?