Check out my Duplex machinist tool box

[Tre900]

Hey fellas, been a while but I came across this Duplex Machinist Tool box and couldn't find jack about it on the interweb. We has a few posts on GJ but none for a 7 drawer Kennedy knock off so here's what I think I know:

The two small locks have "Excelsior Stamford Conn."
The center lock has "Duplex Sherman, NY". It also has 461 which I think is the key# for Excelsior.

What I read in a different thread was that The Duplex company was in NY between 1938 and something like 1958ish before it burnt down and some dude bought it and moved it to Arkansas.

If anyone happens to know where I can find a 461 Excelsior Key, let me know. Here's some pics; I picked this up for $25.00 in September 2020.

 

[Tre900]

more pics..

 

[FJ 432]

Well Tre900 for 25 you ****! Nice find.

 

[Tre900]

I know right?! Seems kinda rare at the moment or at least a "survivor" so I'm hoping to see if anyone else in the world has one.

 

[d42jeep]

Interesting find. The box has some Kennedy features including the two spring loaded pins that lock the front cover that I’ve never seen on any other brand. The Waterloo made Craftsman knockoff has a different front cover locking design. Even the unique paint scheme is shown in the Kennedy ad below. I suspect that there may have been a contract for Kennedy to make the actual parts of the box and Duplex then added their finishing touches including branding. Of course, I could be totally wrong.
-Don

 

[TailGunner3000]

That box looks very similar to a Dunlop machinist chest I have. I can't make it out on yours, but the Dunlop box does not have drawer slides.

 

[ghiamonster]

Interestingly that layout and construction looks identical to the Yorktown Industries machinist box that I have, although potentially older. Yorktown was located in Lakewood, NY not far at all from Sherman. They sold their operation to Matco who still has a production facility in Lakewood.