Bought 2 really old Snap On tool boxes... info?

[PowerDubs]

I found a really cool new store that sells old tools and garage / bar stuff.. (I'll make another thread about it)..

While I was there today, one of the owners says to me, come in the back and check this out.. we just got it in.

He takes me back and shows me what appears to be a quite old, quite greasy tool box roller and top box.

At first I was thinking it seemed..yea, it is old..nice solid handle on the side. he says 'check this out' and he flipped up the front panel and proceeded to roll down what strikes me as a mini industrial garage door.

You guys may have seen this before, but I'm just a guy wrenching in my garage.. I don't know much about all the brands of tools, much less anything snap on.

Long story short, I bought the pair of boxes. I'll pick them up in a few days or so and clean em up a bit.

Can anyone shed some light on them? Age? Are they common? Thanks.

 

[rsanter]

I ve seen those before
I think they are 50s, or at least the bottom one

What did you pay for them

Bob

 

[Packard V8]

Those KR300s were fairly common in the '60s-'70s; there were A, B, C, D iterations, some with three drawers, some with five. Early were grey, later red. You got a good one with the steel door, but only three drawers.

Mine is a later version with an aluminum tambour door.

jack vines

 

[theknurl]

my neighbor has that set but with a full set of drawers in the roll cab

 

[PowerDubs]

You got a good one with the steel door, but only three drawers.

I may be mistaken as I didn't look too closely.. but it appears there are 3 handles across above the 3 draws you see in the main box.

I forget how many drawers are in the top box.

Is there any sort of markings I should look for? The bottom roller has some sort of electrical cord coming through the back of it. I wonder if it had a light in it at some point.

 

[zkling]

Top is a 50's KR-56, 3 long drawers, 3 split drawers, one top.
Bottom is a KR-300 "Roll a bench" it came standard with 3 long drawers, 3 split drawers with an option to later add 3 more long drawers. Yes it had a light and outlet installed from the factory. Yea the front "door" was the locking method for that box, especially if you put tools in the open bottom portion. It kinda ***** because it takes quite a bit of size off the drawers.

Those are like the standard box of the 50's.

They look to be in fair condition, pics ain't the best. Not super rare and not extremely common, but common enough. What did you pay for them if you don't mind my asking? Look like nice boxes, clean them up and enjoy them.

 

[Mr.Ric]

That 300 has the chromed edge guards, an option at the time that's usually not present.

 

[PowerDubs]

That 300 has the chromed edge guards, an option at the time that's usually not present.

In looking at the catalogs on collectingsnapon.com the chrome strips are in all the catalogs up to and including the 1950. The next catalog they have is 1953, which from there on it appears they have red strips.

Upon further inspection of the pictures, the 1950 catalog box which has the chrome strips has red handles. 48 has red handles, 46 and earlier catalogs show the silver handles and silver strips..as early as 1941. It appears this box may be an early one.

 

[Mr.Ric]

The location of the lock is another defining feature

 

[Graham08]

I have the same combo, except the style of the logos is reversed. I have the later style logo on the roll cab, and the earlier style on the top chest.

There were three additional drawers available to go in the bottom of the KR300 as an option. Mine has them, yours does not.

I would guess the roll cab is around 1941-1950 vintage, based on the catalogs at www.collectingsnapon.com, and the top chest is slightly newer.

Here's a pic of my KR300, before I found the top chest:

 

[jeffmoss26]

that is sweet!!

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Nice score. I have the same set up with full drawers that I cut out of another tool box. I have a thread somewhere here on it. There was a light for the top and an electrical box on the side. I will post mine later



heres the light!!!


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-sna...278?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8381e916

 

[Packard V8]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-snap...item3a8381e916

Does anyone believe the above box will go for the $2,000 BIN?

FWIW, I believe on the later KR300 with the aluminum tambour door, the electrics must have been an option, as mine has no sign of them ever having been installed.

jack vines

 

[Graham08]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-snap...item3a8381e916

Does anyone believe the above box will go for the $2,000 BIN?

FWIW, I believe on the later KR300 with the aluminum tambour door, the electrics must have been an option, as mine has no sign of them ever having been installed.

jack vines

Umm...I think the seller's a bit optimistic on the price.

I think the electrical stuff was an option on the earlier stuff, too. Mine just has a blank plate that's painted the same color as the box, so I'm assuming it's original.

 

[WWIIjeep]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-snap...item3a8381e916

Does anyone believe the above box will go for the $2,000 BIN?

The listing is gone. What was it?

FWIW, I believe on the later KR300 with the aluminum tambour door, the electrics must have been an option, as mine has no sign of them ever having been installed.

AFAIK, from the 1950s onward, the Rolla-Bench was available with or without electrics.

For certain they were available both ways from 1953 onward. I'm looking at the listing in an original copy of the 1953 catalog ("U") and it lists the Rolla-Bench as follows:

KR-300B Standard Rolla-Bench. With light fixture and electric wiring....baked-on red enamel finish.

KRH-300 Special Red Rolla-Bench. Without light and wiring...

KGH-300 Special Grey Rolla-Bench. Without light and wiring...

KWH-300 Special White Rolla-Bench. Without light and wiring...

Earlier (1940s) Rolla-Benches appear to have the electrics standard, with no option for not having the electrics.

I agree with the others who have said the OP's box is from the 1940s, and may well be a K-300 instead of the KR-300 series.

 

[2oolhound]

The listing is still there, use the 1st link posted in #12 of this thread.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-sna...278?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8381e916

 

[WWIIjeep]

The listing is still there, use the 1st link posted in #12 of this thread.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-sna...278?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8381e916

Thanks.

Yeah, that's a bit optimistic. Although I think examples with the light still in place and working are a bit rare.

 

[PowerDubs]

I agree with the others who have said the OP's box is from the 1940s, and may well be a K-300 instead of the KR-300 series.

Is there a difference between a K and KR?, other than the year? If not, why would they change the designation?


From what I can tell, regardless of the year, these bottom boxes are worth about $200-$300 depending on condition. Given that, and the fact that it is missing the light.. I may just sand and paint in colors of my choosing instead of worrying about 'ruining' something unique. Of course I will give it a good degreasing and scrubbing first, but there are soo many other colors rather than red that would look good on this.

I gotta say it is still pretty cool to find and randomly purchase a toolbox from 65-70 years ago.

 

[PowerDubs]

I just looked at the Ebay ad. If I am not mistaken, his is a later box than mine. From the catalog pictures, the light normally mounts on the back wall and comes up and over. Mine has 2 holes in the back that are threaded where it used to mount.

Other than the year, they are pretty much the same lower box. His auction is asking $1600.. which yea has some tools, but those tools don't look like anything I'd spend much money on anyway.. a couple wrenches are cool and I see a puller.. but other than that? (disclaimer- virtually everything I work on is metric)

He is asking crackhead prices IMO. Which just happens to be why this is my first Snap On item. I haven't paid any attention to them whatsoever in my 30+ years of fixing stuff as they really seem to be overpriced and live off the name..

Maybe back in the early years they were superior to whatever else was around.. but now I am off topic..

 

[WWIIjeep]

Is there a difference between a K and KR?, other than the year? If not, why would they change the designation?

I imagine there's some difference, although I don't know that series of boxes well enough to know exactly what, or to tell it from your photos. I have one myself, and have never been able to confirm whether it's an early 40s or a late 40s vintage.

From what I can tell, regardless of the year, these bottom boxes are worth about $200-$300 depending on condition. Given that, and the fact that it is missing the light.. I may just sand and paint in colors of my choosing instead of worrying about 'ruining' something unique. Of course I will give it a good degreasing and scrubbing first, but there are soo many other colors rather than red that would look good on this.

If it turns out to be an early 40s model, you'd probably be better off leaving it original and just cleaning it, because those are rarer than later models. An early model in good original condition, even without the light, is likely worth quite a bit more than a later model in similar condition, and value to a collector would be more affected (downward) by repainting or a color change.

Otherwise, I'd say do what you want, and whatever color you want.

 

[PowerDubs]

Pics of yours?

 

[WWIIjeep]

Pics of yours?

This is the only one I've got on the computer right now:



Has the optional KR-431 3-drawer lower section, first available around 1953, I think, but the cabinet itself is probably older.

Handle on the side is either a complete replacement or had the back piece added on for reinforcement.

Top box is 80s Proto.

 

[PowerDubs]

I was going to mention the side handle difference.

Thanks for the part # on the 3 drawer add on.. time to begin that search I guess.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I paid 350.00 for mine packed with PLVMB, Snap on, Cornwell and Blue Point

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81562


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78115

 

[PowerDubs]

Brought them home today.

The date code on the top box is '54. The bottom box doesn't appear to be marked, which isn't surprising from what I've read about earlier units.

My garage is a 'working garage'..which means stuff gets used, greasy and dirty.. so while will clean these boxes up a little... they won't get a full restore nor will they stay spotless.

These must have been used in a diesel shop, I swear the bottom box has a solid 1/4 of black grease in it.

Here is the bottom box as I bought it. I intend on getting up tomorrow and cleaning it up a little before I wrench on the car I am currently working on.

 

[PowerDubs]

Good morning guys,

Does anyone know how to remove the drawers?

I'd like to remove them to clean the slides more thoroughly.

 

[shephd]

Try
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61136

 

[Mr.Ric]

long feeler or modified hacksaw blade.

 

[p0lar]

Not to threadjack, because I actually would love to have one of those boxes myself, but would anyone mind telling me the make/model of the SO box in these photos? There's also a Mac box that's part of the sale which looks decent (apart from its aesthetics), but I really need a good lower box with drawers like the SO.

Thanks, and again - sorry for the light threadjack!

 

[crewchief888]

Not to threadjack, because I actually would love to have one of those boxes myself, but would anyone mind telling me the make/model of the SO box in these photos? There's also a Mac box that's part of the sale which looks decent (apart from its aesthetics), but I really need a good lower box with drawers like the SO.

Thanks, and again - sorry for the light threadjack!

model & date code should be stamped on the back on the SO roller

 

[p0lar]

model & date code should be stamped on the back on the SO roller

Thanks! I suppose now is also a good time to ask if it's actually a real SO box...

 

[zkling]

Just a side note, but I love when people try and apologize in efforts to justify their actions.

The top is a mac, economizer 2000 I think.
Bottom is kinda the standard 7 drawer 27" wide snap on bottom. KRA380B or latter letter designation. Looks to be a mid to late to even early 90's model. How much are they asking for the pair? They look to be in nice condition.

Brought them home today.

The date code on the top box is '54. The bottom box doesn't appear to be marked, which isn't surprising from what I've read about earlier units.

Very nice, looks much better in your pics. Where is the top?
Would you mind sharing what they set you back? I am just curious.

 

[PowerDubs]

I cleaned up the bottom today as it was too greasy to put in the garage as it was. The top will be a project for another day.

 

[zkling]

Looks great, No open shots?

 

[crewchief888]

looks like it cleaned up pretty good

 

[Junkman]

I have the same box, however, someone took almost all the drawers and slides out of it. All they left in it were the small upper drawers, and the next 3 mail drawers. I have been hunting for a number of years for drawers and slides, but to no avail.

 

[zkling]

I have the same box, however, someone took almost all the drawers and slides out of it. All they left in it were the small upper drawers, and the next 3 mail drawers. I have been hunting for a number of years for drawers and slides, but to no avail.

So yours has 6 drawers total? If so, I don't think someone took them out, it probably came that way. They came with the option to later (or initially from the factory at extra $) add the bottom 3 most drawers. Post a pic.

 

[Junkman]

Here is the box that is missing the 5 lower drawers. I also have another box that is missing one drawer. I have never understood what happens to the missing drawers. The only thing that I can think of is that it gets damaged, and removed for repair, and never gets repaired or put back into the box. I have bought the boxes cheap, since they were missing drawers, thinking that it wouldn't be that difficult to find drawers, but I was mistaken.

 

[crewchief888]

FWIW, I believe on the later KR300 with the aluminum tambour door, the electrics must have been an option, as mine has no sign of them ever having been installed.

jack vines

I think the electrical stuff was an option on the earlier stuff, too. Mine just has a blank plate that's painted the same color as the box, so I'm assuming it's original.

heres pics of my '76 kra300e

doesnt look like it ever had the outlet cover removed, or had the optional lower drawers

 

[Rustang]

Can anyone help me identify the vintage of my late dad's Roll-a-bench? I can't find reference to the die cast logo to identify the year. Thanks!



https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/12095262_10153579763526183_4270528103523831070_o.jpg