Antique tool kit with custom leather bag. What is it?

[Lump]

This is one of the coolest, most uncommon antique tool kits I have ever found. It is obviously made for a specific set of jobs, and has lots of unique tools inside. The best thing about it is the really cool old leather "bag" with custom features. It is in great shape, with no rips, tears, or damage anywhere. It looks really old to me. What do you think?



See that flap on the end of the "bag?"



The flap opens up to allow custom made tool trays to slide out. Cool, huh?



Inside the main lid of this "bag" are custom made, custom-fitted cans, presumably for holding chemicals like oils and solvents.





Those slide-out tool trays were loaded with interesting and unique looking tools.







Oops. Gotta shut down computer for a few minutes. I have lots more photos of the cool stuff from this old kit. I'll post again later this evening. Cheers!

 

[Alchymist]

I'm gonna wing it - perhaps old time relay maintenance/other specialized electrical tools.

 

[Zeke]

Nah, it's a brain surgeon's bag.

 

[Lump]

Ok, I'm back. More photos now.





The next photo is of one of those tool trays which slide out of the end. It was full of little tools, etc. Lots of light rust on everything, but so far I have resisted any urge to clean any of it.









I took these photos with my cell phone, and I had trouble getting it to focus on the tools individually...it kept focusing on the surrounding stuff. So I held a few of them up to the sky, and it had no choice. LOL.









I think I finally figured out what this specialized kit was for. But I'll wait and see what the rest of you all think before I give my guesses.

 

[LEVE]

I've got two ideas:

1) Typewriter - Teletype Repair
2) Piano Tuning

 

[LXCam]

What is it you ask?

Flipping AWESOME!, that's what it is.


I'm going for a electric motor builders kit and I'm sticking to it, well until someone who actually knows gives it up.

 

[larry_g]

I've got two ideas:

1) Typewriter - Teletype Repair
2) Piano Tuning

I was going to say musical instruments possibly even large pipe organs. Quite a few of those tools look like there for working with springs or piano wire.

I think that the long skinny wrenches with the short eye on the end are for hooking a spring scale on and setting tension or torque.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Outlawmws]

I didn't see a tuning fork (unless Lump held out on us) so I'l go with: 1) Typewriter - Teletype Repair

 

[JusBil]

National Cash Register Field Tech handtool/parts bag.
1950s-60s era.
Tech went to school for 6 months to learn to use it, then went to his assigned branch office in a green Chevy Nova.

 

[RivennHewn]

No maker's stamps on any of the tools?

love those solvent tins

 

[3baygarage]

Sweet find Lump. I'll bet there is someone out there who has to have that once they see it.

 

[disston]

I would put light oil on all those. I know about the problem with cleaning antiques. Most people go too far and take metal (and wood) down to a like new condition thinking they want it to look like it was brand new. Don't do that. Taking all the patina off ruins the value of antiques but with metal tools I think you can oil them to prevent the conversion of good metal to rust. Wipe with a rag. Some of the rust there will come off on the rag but there will be plenty left to show their age.

Don't lnow what this kit was for but it's cool.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

that is so classy

 

[TJM2]

That is one of the coolest finds I've seen in a long while.

The leather is a bit cracked and dry though. Do you guys think it can be brought back to life maybe with some lotion/leather conditioner/oil?

If I had this I would be seriously tempted to put it to use

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Terrific find, Lump.

Would you post a close-up of the tin canister with the lid popped off? It looks like a small torch. Is it a small torch?

It looks like larger tools or perhaps parts may have went into the main compartment, where that little corner piece held the solvent tins. What do you think? That's a lot of empty space.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Btw, I'm going with Grandfather and larger (Township, etc) Clock Repair, even though some of the pieces don't seem to match. ??

 

[Doug Arthurs]

Tools don't look heavy enough for piano tuning so I will go with typewriter repair

 

[Muttly]

Just a guess, but I'd look at old lithography press kits.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

If you need one for the other side...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lea...-w-Side-Metal-Drawers-Tools-A77-/332141461561

 

[driftpin]

Yes I think clock repair, but I don't think it's only for large clocks, I think it could be for mantle clocks & up. That's what I supposed before seeing Private Lugnutz's response.

As I recall, this appears to be similar to a 'Gladstone bag.' A bag from the 19th century, used by someone who needs compartmentalized dividers, such as a doctor, or a clock technician.

Tinol is a Hess soldering paste product, see the 1920 reference, 10-up from the right-hand column bottom:
https://books.google.com/books?id=M...nol lubricant for machine maintenance&f=false

More on Tinol:
https://books.google.com/books?id=R...Q6AEINDAB#v=onepage&q=tinol lubricant&f=false

Btw, I'm going with Grandfather and larger (Township, etc) Clock Repair, even though some of the pieces don't seem to match. ??

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the Eprey Link gives it away; There was a partial label on one of the parts trays:

ps: Been through too many clock/watch repair guys piles to think clock, as I don't see a single gear or movement that they invariably collect...

 

[3baygarage]

Nice work guys.

 

[leg17]

I've got two ideas:

1) Typewriter - Teletype Repair
2) Piano Tuning

Exactly what I would have guessed.

 

[woody 73]

Growing up around watch tools and a few clock tools nothing from the pictures come to mind.

Lump the set is ultra cool and I think you might enjoy the following tip.

If you get the chance and a little free time call around your area your local shoe repair shops (if they are all not dead by now), and ask if they can take your leather bag in for a shoe maker (if they are still alive) they used to bring old leather items back to life (in the old days at least). It is worth a try and if you are lucky and find someone pay to have the leather bag restored. If not stop in a hardware store or leather goods place and buy their products and do the work yourself.

 

[bmwrd0]

Hey! I have one of those bags too!

Nothing was in it, and it is newer (trays aren't metal) but I use it for AC electrical stuff and light repair around the house or at friends.

 

[jumbojak]

Time machine repair. Too easy...

 

[Outlawmws]

One of those would be outstandingly cool for my Coleman repair kit! Have to keep my eyes open!

 

[Lump]

I think the Eprey Link gives it away; There was a partial label on one of the parts trays:

ps: Been through too many clock/watch repair guys piles to think clock, as I don't see a single gear or movement that they invariably collect...

Outlaw, I'm a little confused. Where did those photos of the yellow labels come from? And, what is "Eprey?" Sorry, but I don't see those things in my photos. What am I overlooking?

 

[Outlawmws]

Eprey = Ebay. Someone posted a link to an auction of an identical, or close to it, bag and that label was on one of the parts boxes. So that one at least was for typewriter repair. I suspect yours was also.

 

[Outlawmws]

Also the colors are messed up as I enhanced the shot by enlarging and making the print more readable by brightening it and adding contrast. with some mid-tone adjustment. Brute force, but you can at least see whats written. The original was a mess...

 

[T_Curlee]

Typewriter repair kit.

I found 2 different web sites (worthpoint.com and pinterest.com) with photos calling it a typewriter repair kit.

Did any of the small parts have a type face on the end? The photo of the partial label from ebay had the word (I think) 'platen', which could be used in a typewriter.

 

[tym]

Growing up around watch tools and a few clock tools nothing from the pictures come to mind.

Agree. I've collected (and done light repairs) on watches and clocks for a decade plus and none of those tools jump out at me. There also would need to be a hand puller, smaller screwdrivers, maybe a mainspring winder, etc.

 

[bareass172]

Did you guys overlook the guy who posted in this thread explaining that it was for cash register repairmen?
He seemed pretty certain about it...

National Cash Register Field Tech handtool/parts bag.
1950s-60s era.
Tech went to school for 6 months to learn to use it, then went to his assigned branch office in a green Chevy Nova.

Incredibly cool though!

 

[Lump]

Ok, I think that's enough time letting folks guess.

Inside the main body of this case, I found some old tins of ink and ribbons. So I do think it is for type writer repair. However, it also has some cranks in there which I have seen with cash registers. Moreover, when you think about it, I'll bet the same guy who fixed type writers may very well have also worked on adding machines and cash registers. It just makes sense, doesn't it?

I intend to clean this kit up and sell it to someone who can appreciate more than I can. Originally I planned to just keep it and enjoy it as a conversation piece. However, I have made up my mind to get my 454 Chevelle back on the road, and need to raise a little cash to do so.

 

[JusBil]

Ok, I think that's enough time letting folks guess.

Inside the main body of this case, I found some old tins of ink and ribbons. So I do think it is for type writer repair. However, it also has some cranks in there which I have seen with cash registers. Moreover, when you think about it, I'll bet the same guy who fixed type writers may very well have also worked on adding machines and cash registers. It just makes sense, doesn't it?

NOT for ALL the tea in china. Completely different animals.

Do yourself and the world a real big favor, DON'T play with the solvent cans.
More NCR service men died of Cancer than I care to recall. Platen cleaner would gag a maggot. Typebar cleaner will soften a platten, so you cover the platten with aluminum foil. BOTH eat human skin, tough, use the cleaning brush carefully.

Ribbons could be reinked a few times, and NCR service men spent hours winding them back & forth in the process to distribute the ink. You didn't want the customer calling the branch to complain a gob of ink smeared 3 miles of ledger on a 26 drawer machine.

Cars were Kentucky green as I recall, with a silver wreath with NCR on the door with NCR inside the wreath.

Cranks are for ledger tapes & ribbons. Ribbons are for the receipt and ledger tapes.

The bag you have with 3 drawers is for multidrawer registers. There was at least one other bag in the car. Every month you laid all the tools out in order on the table and the Branch Manager, who never worked on a register, verified your tool bags. Then you got chewed out if any tool had ink residue. White shirts & ties too, and you got chewed out for inking a shirt.

Company Policy was that no NCR car was allowed to park in the first 4 rows near the store, and Branch Managers called stores to verify you parked well away and carried all your tools in.

The better bags had 2 buckle straps as well as the hasp locking system.

You ain't lived till you crawl around a snow covered parking lot reassembling your tool bag because the damn lock busted.
Pay sucked too, and night callouts to burger places with 26 drawer machines caused National to loose a lot of register mechanics. You got to take the car home though, as long as the Manager approved your off street parking.

 

[softailgarage]

Wow, I don't know why but JusBil is kinda spooky, pops up outa nowhere on an odd thread like this. Cool as hell, but a little strange. Tell us more Bil, how long and when were you a NCR guy?

 

[Outlawmws]

Did you guys overlook the guy who posted in this thread explaining that it was for cash register repairmen?
He seemed pretty certain about it...

Yes I did. I also saw the other Eprey one with parts bins pretty clearly marked for typewriters.

I could see the same case and parts bins/solvent cans being used for both trades however.

I agree, unlikely the same guy doing it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Agree. I've collected (and done light repairs) on watches and clocks for a decade plus and none of those tools jump out at me. There also would need to be a hand puller, smaller screwdrivers, maybe a mainspring winder, etc.

Thanks, tym. Duly noted.

Did you guys overlook the guy who posted in this thread explaining that it was for cash register repairmen?
He seemed pretty certain about it...

Incredibly cool though!

I remembered the green Chevy Nova part! That must've been why they made them park four blocks away!

...and the Branch Manager, who never worked on a register,

It's these asides that gives JusBil's posts as much authenticity as humor.

Yes I did. I also saw the other Eprey one with parts bins pretty clearly marked for typewriters...I could see the same case and parts bins/solvent cans being used for both trades however.

But I don't actually see the word "typewriter" on the parts list, Outlaw. If it's there and I am missing it, please point it out. I see the following:

School Machine
Shop over...
Electric type...
Shop over..
Portable Type...
Shop...
Blowout
Platens

The implications for the words that are cut off are heavy, I agree. Especially those following "Electric" and "Portable".

But JusBil, a former NCR servicemen, said that the bag he is identifying as an NCR service bag had similar components - ribbons, typebars, and platens - because of the ledger and receipt part of the cash register.

The "School Machine ..." reference is particularly intriguing, since it looks like you got your bag on your way out of the school door.

I'm not saying I disagree with you.

But I'd be interested in JusBil scrutinizing that list to see if he recognizes it as something they stuck inside the NCR bags.

EDIT: At least one of the tools (first "sky" shot) has a part number on it. Looks like ST-85. Perhaps Lump can verify that and see if any others do. That might help.

JusBil,

Here is that eBay link Old Lewfoot provided upthread.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lea...al-Drawers-Tools-A77-/332141461561?rmvSB=true

Some of the compartments in that bag have some tools and parts in them. There's no knowing if they are original, but they could be. Do you recognize any of those as NCR service? That would tie the list to NCR.

 

[crguy]

Eprey = Ebay. Someone posted a link to an auction of an identical, or close to it, bag and that label was on one of the parts boxes. So that one at least was for typewriter repair. I suspect yours was also.

Just because somebody posted one on Ebay and called it a typewriter repair bag doesn't prove a thing.

I see misidentified tools, etc. on Ebay ALL the time.

My money is on Bills' identification.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just because somebody posted one on Ebay and called it a typewriter repair bag doesn't prove a thing...[ ]...My money is on Bills' identification.

Mine is too, but just to clarify the situation, and to be fair to Outlaw, who is clearly not a gullible eBay newbie, the eBay seller DID NOT identify the bag as a typewriter repair bag, and Outlaw did not say that it was identified by the eBay seller as a typewriter repair bag.

Outlaw is identifying it as a typewriter repair bag based on some of the legible words on a fragment of a parts/check list that was taped to the lid of one of the tin stowage bins shown in one of the photographs accompanying the bag in the eBay sale.

If you follow the link Old Slewfoot originally provided, which I just provided again in my post just above yours, you can see the original eBay ad.

Outlaw posted the parts/check list fragment above.

And I made an attempt at transcribing it above.