Another 50's toolbox!

[Outlawmws]

Well it's not exactly Red Leaders 50's garage, and I don't have the incredible bottom he has for his copy of this model 10 drawer top box, but I do have the '56 5 drawer that my kids and I completely refurbished this past summer, and this one is destined to go on top of it after I do whatever I finally decide to do with this new addition.

I found this at an estate sale I managed to preview, at least for the garage and tools, when they advertised it today for 9:00, but didn't specify a date. I went about noon or so and they said "No it's tomorrow, but since you are here what are you looking for?" I said tools and they let me poke around the garage a bit. This was sitting inside the top of a Homak top (left open) and the Homak was on top of a late 50's Kennedy 8 drawer bottom.

I really wanted to get both, but could not justify the bottom as I'm really out of space, and really don't need another box, not even the top I did get. I got it because it is a date match for the bottom roller mentioned above and pictured below.

So here are the "before" pics; I will go after the mess on the outside (and inside) of this box with Simple Green and rubbing compound and see how well it comes out. If I can't stand it, It will get the same Hammertone gray the bottom got.


The good: No significant dents, possibly no dents at all! All the slides work perfectly and are very smooth, and all the drawer locks work except for one on the left side, which is almost certainly and easy fix by adjusting the angle of one metal tab or the other for engagement.

The Bad: That ****** latch the PO pop riveted on. That has to go!

I have the bottom drawer out so I could empty the "secret compartment" (all the stuff that falls out of the drawers and lands inside on the bottom or up the back)

There was a fair amount of stuff but nothing worth much. The most valuable was a couple of sheets of unused sandpaper, and a die grinder 1/4" burr, still in the dip goop.

I really like the extra little try in the top center drawer. It slides front to back and is a neat little addition you don't see on modern boxes.

And the roller I'll put it on, before and after (More pics here in the tool boxes thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49743&page=27 Starting at post 536. (The Kennedy roller was similar to one a few posts above that, but was red not gray, and was all drawers, 8 total...)

 

[SweetD]

Boy that top chest sure looks a lot like my RemLine. A LOT like it...

Dave

 

[Ocho]

Nice score!

 

[muddyjoe15]

Beutifal job on the roller!!!

 

[tlowery04]

so you said you cleaned up an older box this summer, did you take any pictures? I have one I am thinking about re-doing, belonged to my grandfather and it it has the same enameled logo as the nifty box in your pictures. Some day I too shall have the BA Boxes.

 

[Outlawmws]

so you said you cleaned up an older box this summer, did you take any pictures? I have one I am thinking about re-doing, belonged to my grandfather and it it has the same enameled logo as the nifty box in your pictures. Some day I too shall have the BA Boxes.

It is the roller in the last two pics, and the link to more pics is just above it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice score!

Beutifal job on the roller!!!

Thanks guys!

 

[USMCdodge]

nothing better than being the only person in a place like that and seeing a gem like this among the rubble. then you ask how much they want and they say "psh I dont know... 20 bucks?"

 

[Super Sport]

Jealous! One day I will find me a nice vintage Cman box. I'm just going to have to keep looking!

 

[-Brent-]

VERY sharp set-up!

I really like the lines/shape of it. Nice score.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Very nice, very nice.

 

[Outlawmws]

nothing better than being the only person in a place like that and seeing a gem like this among the rubble. then you ask how much they want and they say "psh I dont know... 20 bucks?"

Well, it wasn't quite that good, but he wouldn't bend on the fifty he wanted... I still think its well worth it.

 

[USMCdodge]

agreed. you ****. and what are the chances of finding one to match one you already have??? good find

 

[BobsurUncle]

I absolutely love that box! I've been looking for one exactly like it for a roller I have. That one is the exact match, it even has the same handle design. Hopefully one day I'll get lucky.

Congrats, and ya YOU ****!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, I just noticed something interesting as I tried to pin down production dates.

This top box is only 25 inches wide, but is 12-1/2 inches deep... Compared to the more common almost 27 inch wide X 12 inch foot print of later boxes.

And the bottom roller I have from about '54, is 28 inches wide!

I knew that they made boxes at 25 inches wide in the fifties, I have a 3 drawer roller that holds that size, as well as a 3 drawer tot that I didn't realize was also 25 wide X 12-1/2 inches (it has the same drawer pulls and corners reinforcements on the lid as this "new" 10 drawer box, so same family).

So the 28" 5 drawer roller, while it was Craftsman's "Best Roller" in '54, wasn't ever followed up with a matching top box that I could find...

In '54 all they had was a 3 drawer top like the one I have.

In 57 a 3, a 6 and this 10 drawer top were available.

And by 1960, they had gone to a new box design with full width drawer pulls but still only 25 inches wide, and had reduced the depth to the now std 12 inches...

By 66 the top boxes were 26 inches wide, and stayed that way til at least 73, with the exception of their "best" box and roller setup at a bit over 33" wide.

Not near as much standardization in box foot prints as I thought there would be...

The narrow/deep footprint also explains why this top fit across the Homak front to rear.(I really wasn't paying attention to that bit...)

 

[ndnchf]

Awesome combination! Congrats! That just ooozes cool.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, I went back on Saturday to the estate sale when they were officially open, (So did some of my family separately...) and got some more stuff. On Sat I picked up an old "Fuel and Tool" box that also had a Billings 10" Crescent, two wood handled screw drivers, a Craftsman 3/16" driver and an odd pair of pliers that at first I thought were round tip wire forming but they are not round. they are sort of rounded rectangular. See pics

Today I went back again and they still had the Kennedy 8 drawer, and it had some tools still scatted inside. I was waiting for the guy to come out of the garage (they have been "setting up" stuff for sale for three days...) and he come out and drops this on one of the tarps - $5... (All Proto, including the box...)

And I ask what he wants for the Kennedy and its the same as what I paid on Friday for the Craftsman. "With the remaining tools?" "Yep!" (didn't work that way on Friday... but whatever)

So I agree and bring it all home and sort through the trash, tools and minimal supplies. The tools are on top of the box.

So Now I have two of these rollers, This one in red, and another in wrinkle brown with my top and intermediate on top of it.

Included but not too visible: Two more Protos, 1/2 and 9/16 dist wrenches (partly buried) 2 SAE threading dies, 2 SAE 2 metric, a spark plug chasing tap, and a home brew oil pump priming tool with a universal on the drill end, I assume so it will clear a fire wall. pretty cool!

A couple of tools I need to figure out what they are for.

 

[justafurnaceman]

You **** again! I'm very envious of these old boxes. I need to be more diligent in my searching.

Thanks for sharing and great job on the resto.

 

[Flatintoone]

Great score! To my own surprise, I find I can almost always justify another box. Especially rollers.

Regarding the Remline comment, I have to agree that this Craftsman looks A LOT like my Remline 10-drawer. If it helps, I can't find a date code on it, but the number on the Serial Number tag on the front starts with "59", and there is evidence it was in use in the '60s.

 

[Outlawmws]

Great score! To my own surprise, I find I can almost always justify another box. Especially rollers.

Regarding the Remline comment, I have to agree that this Craftsman looks A LOT like my Remline 10-drawer. If it helps, I can't find a date code on it, but the number on the Serial Number tag on the front starts with "59", and there is evidence it was in use in the '60s.

Well I know for certain the Craftsman versions were made at least in '57, and 3 drawer versions in '54 but the style was gone in '60. No clue what happened in between. (no catalogs...)

I have a RemLine roller similar to these, but it approves 27" wide, not the 25 these are. I agree they do look a lot alike, and Rem Line could very well be the manufacturer. (assuming a third party wasn't making both for RL and CM)

 

[jeffmoss26]

Great stuff you got there! What was the total amount for all those boxes and tools?

 

[NY Old Guy]

That's pretty neat. I think you should repaint the top to match the bottom, just because the bottom looks so nice. Wow, those Proto hex sockets are worth a lot more than 5 bucks, it seems on ebay they usually go for in the neighberhood of $50 especially with a nifty little red metal box like that. I hate to say it but you ****, which oddly enough is a highly sought after compliment. The Kennedy roller is pretty cool as well. Cheers and enjoy!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Great stuff you got there! What was the total amount for all those boxes and tools?

Final tally came to $112.

 

[Arne73]

Great deal at the sale, and really nice work on that C-man roller.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks guys!

Another shot of the Kennedy with the doors closed. other than the bottom couple of inches on the lower door (Mostly dust and grubby fingerprints) the doors and most of the top where the tool box sat, the paint and finish there is nearly factory fresh. I'll be cleaning the grease off and rubbing it all out, and I think that will be about all this one needs, other than some NeverDul on the plated drawer pulls.

 

[kngkong]

Nice haul Outlaw.
Wish I could get some boxes like that for that price.

 

[JimDon]

Dear Mr. Outlaw,
Have I told you lately that You ****.
Oh, and -- you ****!
Sincerely,
JimDon

 

[Outlawmws]

Dear Mr. Outlaw,
Have I told you lately that You ****.
Oh, and -- you ****!
Sincerely,
JimDon

 

[Red Leader]

Beautiful box you've got there Outlaw.

I bet it is going to clean up rather nicely.



Let's just say for the price I paid for mine, I ain't gettin' any 'you ****'s anytime soon

 

[traveled99]

Looks alot like my huot 60's toolbox. I like it

 

[bagsanthony]

those were sweet boxes

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks alot like my huot 60's toolbox. I like it

Someone posted a Huot catalog page (I'm thinking it may have been current?) recently and yes, almost an exact matchup. I would guess (assuming Huot is a Mfg...) that Huot made these for Sears? (Catalog does NOT have the 3 digit prefix for Mfg...)