c. 1920's Blue Points Chicago Toolbox Resto

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked this up a few weeks ago. It was found in upstate NY by a curious picker, not really a tools guy, who removed enough of the red gloppy paint off the brass tag to read it and google, which led him to GJ asking questions.

It’s fairly intact and in good structural shape except for a few bumps and dings and a compartment separator that needed straightening. All that’s left of the handle is the metal strip. As you can see, it was missing the D-ring and hardware on the left side, fastened with a bent piece of heavy gauge steel wire.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First thing I did was strip the red paint. I had no designs on trying to save any of the black paint I knew would be desperately lurking underneath, so I went with the heavy artillery. E-Z-STRIP gel, a putty knife, a sanding block, and steel wool.

I thought about removing the brass tag. It would’ve been easy enough to straighten the backs of the split pins and pull them out. But, they were on very tight, I was worried about ruining them, and replacements not looking quite right, and in the end, I decided to work around it.

You can see what I was dealing with. Whoever spraybombed it red, spraybombed it red right over a lot of troubling, cancerous rust.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The rust was well beyond attending to with rags soaked in Metal Rescue, and the finish was well beyond preservation, so I went with the heavy artillery again. A wire wheel, Rustoleum Rust Dissolver Gel Forumla, and a sanding block.

I was happy with how clean I was able to get down to bare steel.

I was excited to find a marking on the latch: “N.L. Co.” over “ROCKPORT”, which has to be a reference to the famous National Lock Company, in Rockport, Illinois, not far from Chicago, and not far from Milwaukee, either. See Pic 5. I don’t know if this is already well-known in the Snap-on/Blue-Point community, but they were supplying the hardware at least, maybe the whole box.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I salvaged a handle off of another Snap-on box with a broken hasp. Believe it or not, it’s a 3/4-inch drive box. The Blue-Points box is much smaller, obviously, but the handle was exactly the same size. The leather was totally roached, dry and desiccated that crumbled just touching it, so I re-clad that. I don’t usually do anything to the structure of the handle itself when I re-handle these, going right over the paper wrapping with the new leather, but this one was a little soft and needed some help. Hence the electrical tape.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

After all that work, the painting was the easiest part, of course. At the risk of tooting my own horn, I have to say, I am pleased with the end result. The brass data plate and the brown leather handle really pop against the black.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

For those who aren't familiar with the history, the Blue Point Tool Company was formed in 1923 by the same guys who formed Snap-on and its distribution arm, the Motor Tools Specialty Company, with which the Blue Point Tool Company shared an address in Chicago. The idea was to expand away from the detachable socket drive tools. Early tools (chisels, punches, and open end wrenches) were made by others, including MTF and Forged Steel Products. Eventually they added Boxockets and other tools. When the Blue Point Tool Company and Snap-on Wrench Company were merged in 1930 to become Snap-on Tools, Incorporated, Blue-Point became a brand of Snap-on. They had already been under the same roof for a few years at that point, when the Racine plant was closed and all Blue-Point operations were moved to Milwaukee. So this dates to the 1920’s.

Snapmom has one (of course!) with a puller set in it, but I think this box was tailor-made for the tools called out on the brass data plate, with open end wrenches in the front, and the other two compartments for chisels, punches, and stubby Boxockets.

 

[Username already in use]

Excellent work per usual. That looks FANTASTIC! Now, to fill it up!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I do have a dilemma. If you look at the 'BEFORE' pic of the data plate (see Pic 1), you can see a little blue inside the "LU" in the "BLUE POINTS" text. Now look at Snapmom's. It has blue in all the relief areas on the brass tag. See Pic 2 & 3.

But I am torn. I like it. It’s a really neat look and a cool nod to the name, obviously, with the blue. (And I think I could do it. I would paint the whole tag, let it dry and cure, and then scrape off the high areas with a fine point pick, or maybe a toothpick dipped in stripper gel, leaving the blue in the relief areas.) But I really like the look of the all brass, too.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Excellent work per usual. That looks FANTASTIC! Now, to fill it up!

Thanks. I've got several pieces to put in there! But looking forward to finding more!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

One more BEFORE and AFTER look

 

[snapmom]

Very nice. A odd thing, the puller tools are stamped "Blue Point Chicago"

 

[ChefRex]

Thank you for the history lesson, fine work.
I picked up an early Blue Point DBE last weekend, need to look at it a little closer.

 

[senlow]

I do have a dilemma. If you look at the 'BEFORE' pic of the data plate (see Pic 1), you can see a little blue inside the "LU" in the "BLUE POINTS" text. Now look at Snapmom's. It has blue in all the relief areas on the brass tag. See Pic 2 & 3.

But I am torn. I like it. It’s a really neat look and a cool nod to the name, obviously, with the blue. (And I think I could do it. I would paint the whole tag, let it dry and cure, and then scrape off the high areas with a fine point pick, or maybe a toothpick dipped in stripper gel, leaving the blue in the relief areas.) But I really like the look of the all brass, too.

I like what you did with the blue in the name and arrows only. I believe that the tarnished relief areas are a good contrast to the brass and blue.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

looks good as is. Nice job!

 

[Farmer J.]

Nicely done on the 'black box' Lugz.
I think the brass tag looks fine as it is. Probably did originally have blue infill but your box retains some patina in the shape of it and the plain brass tag fits with that used and worn look.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for the compliments, All, and thanks for the input on the tag, too. I think I may try to recreate the original look. If I don't like it, I can always strip it back to the bare brass again.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Fantastic work Lugz! I've had good luck using paint pens to fill in reliefs on machine tags. I feel like I can control them better than I can a brush.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. I just tried one I bought at a Michael's. Oil based. The kind you shake and then press the tip to release the paint. It wasn't fine enough! Not for my hand anyway. Haha. So I dropped back to my original idea.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Done! I used an extra fine grain sanding block, with many light, even strokes. It didn't come out perfect, but that's okay. It looks slightly worn. I'm definitely keeping it like this.

 

[misterbill]

Perfect Lugz.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Bill. I was psyched.

 

[snapmom]

Looks like a old one would.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Wow. That looks fantastic!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, JoCo. Thanks, snapmom - your box was a great model!

Incidentally, I didn't mention this yet, but I am thinking that long scroll at the bottom of the brass plate is meant for an owner's name or initials. Blackhawk, Fleet, and others did this.

 

[Shelbylex]

Lugz, this looks fantastic!!! Great job! (As always)

 

[snapmom]

I think the scroll is for a name too, appears on late 20s boxes, have only seen a name on maybe one

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I always wondered about that. None of mine have a name on them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Are you talking about Snap-on boxes? Because I have only seen one other early toolbox with a Blue-Point brass plate and it was a 30's PRB-6A Roll-Cab. If you guys have other early Blue-Point boxes, I'd like to see them. I'm curious what size/type.

 

[snapmom]

Yes, Snap on boxes, the BP puller box is the only early BP metal label I can remember seeing

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for confirming. And yes, definitely the same idea on the name scroll.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Mine are all snap on. The scrolls are all unengraved, but you would think someone had their name put on one! I see snapmom has one above with a name.

 

[akasrick]

For those who aren't familiar with the history, the Blue Point Tool Company was formed in 1923 by the same guys who formed Snap-on and its distribution arm, the Motor Tools Specialty Company, with which the Blue Point Tool Company shared an address in Chicago. The idea was to expand away from the detachable socket drive tools. Early tools (chisels, punches, and open end wrenches) were made by others, including MTF and Forged Steel Products. Eventually they added Boxockets and other tools. When the Blue Point Tool Company and Snap-on Wrench Company were merged in 1930 to become Snap-on Tools, Incorporated, Blue-Point became a brand of Snap-on. They had already been under the same roof for a few years at that point, when the Racine plant was closed and all Blue-Point operations were moved to Milwaukee. So this dates to the 1920’s.

Snapmom has one (of course!) with a puller set in it, but I think this box was tailor-made for the tools called out on the brass data plate, with open end wrenches in the front, and the other two compartments for chisels, punches, and stubby Boxockets.

Hopefully room was there for one of these,
"Other tools" answers my question about this.
Says Blue - Point
BH132A
on one cheek, the other
Warning
Wear Goggles
Not pictured bottom one side of head.
USA possibly 2710
other side
S

Thanks
akasrick

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sweet hammer!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hopefully room was there for one of these,
"Other tools" answers my question about this.
Says Blue-Point
BH132A
on one cheek, the other
Warning
Wear Goggles

That is a sweet hammer, and I do believe it would fit. The box is 13"W x 7"D x 5"H.

But, I have to admit to being wrong - or at least overly ambitious, about my take on the original purpose of the box. It only appears in three catalogs - "E" (1928), "F" (also 1928) and "G" (1929). And in all three appearances, it is exclusively associated with gear pullers. It is even named Metal Case GP-10. If not for it only appearing with the various gear pullers, I might be tempted to read that as General Purpose, but no.

I knew that snapmom's box had a gear puller in it. (You can see it upthread.) But it seemed an odd fit to me for a puller with the shape of the partitions. Even the way Motor Tool Specialty chose to show the case in the catalog, opened, with various parts (screw with yoke, various hooks, etc) seemingly haphazardly loaded in such a way that you don't even see the partitions. You wouldn't even know there were partitions looking at it in the catalog. But I believe the long compartment in the front is for the screw and maybe the retaining band. The other two compartments are for the yoke and various types of hooks.

Although I am definitely going to keep dwarf Boxockets, open end wrenches, chisels, punches, and "other tools" in it! And none the wiser except us.

Not to be a bummer, but your hammer is probably much newer than the box with the safety warning. Probably 70's. But I would just put that cheek face down!

 

[akasrick]

Sweet hammer!

Thx!
It currently being used for driving wood wedges.

That is a sweet hammer, and I do believe it would fit. The box is 13"W x 7"D x 5"H.

But, I have to admit to being wrong - or at least overly ambitious, about my take on the original purpose of the box. It only appears in three catalogs - "E" (1928), "F" (also 1928) and "G" (1929). And in all three appearances, it is exclusively associated with gear pullers. It is even named Metal Case GP-10. If not for it only appearing with the various gear pullers, I might be tempted to read that as General Purpose, but no.

I knew that snapmom's box had a gear puller in it. (You can see it upthread.) But it seemed an odd fit to me for a puller with the shape of the partitions. Even the way Motor Tool Specialty chose to show the case in the catalog, opened, with various parts (screw with yoke, various hooks, etc) seemingly haphazardly loaded in such a way that you don't even see the partitions. You wouldn't even know there were partitions looking at it in the catalog. But I believe the long compartment in the front is for the screw and maybe the retaining band. The other two compartments are for the yoke and various types of hooks.

Although I am definitely going to keep dwarf Boxockets, open end wrenches, chisels, punches, and "other tools" in it! And none the wiser except us.

Not to be a bummer, but your hammer is probably much newer than the box with the safety warning. Probably 70's. But I would just put that cheek face down!

It measures all of 10 1/4 inches.
I believe the last automotive duty this has seen was a neighbor cold chiseling a lug nut off his truck.
I'll scrape some chisels.

akasrick

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I favor so called "toolbox pattern" hammers with extra short handles. I have a few 20-, 24- and even a 2-lb ballpein with handles shorter than a typical 1-lber.

 

[snapmom]

box contents, also a Blue Points hammer

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...a Blue Points hammer

Green with envy!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very nice!

 

[Kent_B]

Count me as another that finds your history lessons really interesting. I'm also in agreement that the brass plaque looks great as you did it.