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Cool Herbrand toolbox

StupidHippie

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Aug 29, 2009
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Niagara Falls Canada
I dragged this one home today...the curved top just called out to me somehow. The Herbrand logo sez Freemont Ohio...so does that make it pre 1960?

The paint is a little tired but the color is pretty groovy. It's a well built box and will be a good place to store my vintage stuff. Was it worth the $40?

Rob
 

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Bull

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I am LOVING these less-often-found tool boxes that are popping up on here. First the Wizard unit a couple days ago and now this one. That is one SWEET box and worth $40 and then some!
 

Tool Pants

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Oct 4, 2008
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San Jose CA
I like that very much. Never heard of Herbrand until about 10 plus years ago. A plumber friend showed me some Herbrand stuff. His name is Herb, and his long gone father said the tools were named after him.

Since then I have collected a few Herbrand pieces.

I saved these ebay pictures of wooden boxes. I think they came from a hardware store.

Your box has to be before the move to South Carolina, as it does not have Fremont, Ohio. Like my third picture.
 

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Hiball

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Missery
Sweet looking box, by appearance $40 bucks was a bargain. I dig the Wooden box posted below also.
 

superautobacs

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Oct 31, 2008
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Vancouver, BC
Definitely worth that price. :thumbup:

It reminds me of my vintage Craftsman tool chest with the piano-hinged front face, rounded lid, similar krinkle-finished paint colour, drawer handles, etc.
 

Joe Mamma

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May 31, 2009
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339
StupidHippie, nice score. I have a Cornwell box that is almost identical to yours. I got it from fatfillup: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42246

Here are pics of mine:

IMG_2114.jpg


IMG_2116.jpg


IMG_2117.jpg


IMG_2119.jpg


Please let me know if you can figure out how to release the slides to get the drawers out completely. fatfillup and I couldn't figure out how to do it.

So I contacted Cornwell, and their old toolbox expert said he had never seen anything as old as mine! He suggested I contact Waterloo. I contacted Waterloo and they had no idea either. But they did tell me that it wasn't one of their boxes.

Waterloo suggested I contact Remline or Kennedy. I ran out of energy at that point, and didn't (yet).

Joe Mamma
 

Packard V8

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Mar 16, 2009
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Spokane, WA
Please let me know if you can figure out how to release the slides to get the drawers out completely

Some of the older boxes have a spring steel strip spot welded inside the slides. I bent the tip of a small screwdriver into a C-shape to reach down beside the slide and depress the spring steel strip enough to get by the detent.

thnx, jack vines
 
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S

StupidHippie

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Niagara Falls Canada
Joe Mamma...my toolbox looks -very- similar. Same slides and hardware but the top of mine curves in both directions...a little more rounded. What was the original finish of your toolbox? Mine is a wrinkle paint very similar to an early MGB dashboard.

I'll take a close look at the slides tomorrow and report back.

Rob
 

Joe Mamma

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Joe Mamma...my toolbox looks -very- similar. Same slides and hardware but the top of mine curves in both directions...a little more rounded. What was the original finish of your toolbox? Mine is a wrinkle paint very similar to an early MGB dashboard.

I'll take a close look at the slides tomorrow and report back.

Rob

Thanks. I feel like my toolbox found his long lost brother.

I think the original finish is smooth, and the red color that you see.

Does your drawer on the second level down (the highest full-width drawer) have the same sectioned inside that mine does?

I guess the tote that fits in the top section was original equipment with these. I had no idea until I saw yours.

Joe Mamma
 

Uncle Buck

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Kansas
Man, that is a killer box. I would give my eye teeth to get my mitts on one like that! God forbid, leave it as is, no repaint etc.
 
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Snappy

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Nov 26, 2008
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S.E. PA
Way cool box ! Did you get it from an auction ? According to Alloy-Artifacts,
Herbrand was independent until 1961.
 

philw

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Mar 26, 2007
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724
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Ohio
Great Box!!
It looks to be an MC-5 which was listed as a new model in 1948. I doubt if they made this style any later then the mid 50's but that's a guess.
I have one similar but it's only 2 drawer. I had to repaint mine because there was nothing left of the finish.
I think you got a good deal. The finish looks to be in great shape and it's hard to find toolbox's that old that look that good.
 
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StupidHippie

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Location
Niagara Falls Canada
Thanks all for the support and information! I'll leave the box as is...no painting or alterations. It will be for my vintage mechanics tools and odd stuff.

JoeMamma: I stuck a flashlight along the drawer glides and could see it's a pressed steel tab on both the glide and the box....similar to the new boxes but the steel in these old boxes is much heavier. A hacksaw blade -might- do it but I'd bend an old narrow screwdriver to fit the job. Good luck getting the drawers out. I gave up.

The box doesn't have those neat dividers in your second drawer...and there are no scars or tell tales that anything was ever there...even tools. Check pic below to see the condition of the drawers. I'll have to get some liners before I fill this one up.

Snappy: It came from the 'Tools of the Trade' tool sale in Pickering Ontario. It's a twice a year event...a gymnasium filled with guys selling only tools. :)

Rob
 

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Joe Mamma

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Packard V8 & StupidHippie, thanks for the information on the drawer removal. I've tried before with a hacksaw blade and feeler gauge. But, I'll try again.

It's hard for me to see what's going on because the inside of the sliders are dirty. But surprisingly, the drawers all work very well. They just need to be cleaned and lubed. I originally had some slight problems with the bottom drawer. But that was because there was some junk wedged behind and underneath it.

StupidHippie, thank you also for the information and picture on the plain drawer, where I have dividers. I think the previous owner of mine put the dividers in himself. I don't know who he was, but I think he was quite the little handyman. If anyone thinks I am wrong and that my dividers are factory installed, please let me know.

Joe Mamma
 

ears

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lorton VA
Packard V8 & StupidHippie, thanks for the information on the drawer removal. I've tried before with a hacksaw blade and feeler gauge. But, I'll try again.

It's hard for me to see what's going on because the inside of the sliders are dirty. But surprisingly, the drawers all work very well. They just need to be cleaned and lubed. I originally had some slight problems with the bottom drawer. But that was because there was some junk wedged behind and underneath it.

StupidHippie, thank you also for the information and picture on the plain drawer, where I have dividers. I think the previous owner of mine put the dividers in himself. I don't know who he was, but I think he was quite the little handyman. If anyone thinks I am wrong and that my dividers are factory installed, please let me know.

Joe Mamma



Here's a pic of the handle on my box you asked for, it is identical to yours I assume made by the same company.

DSCN1273.jpg


And the reason I am posting in this thread. Here is how to get the drawers out.

This is the stop for the slides, not the drawer, it is close to the front of the box. It is not the greatest picture but this is more of a hook that the "spring tab" can go behind.

DSCN1275.jpg


This is the "spring tab" on the slides that catches behind this hook to keep the slide from coming out.

DSCN1276.jpg



You need to take something with a little curve on the end, the thing in the middle on edge is a letter opener, it worked very nicely. Pull the drawer all the way out, then push the slide back in about a half inch. Slide your curved doohickey in so it covers the gap in the hook and lets the tab ride up and over and pull the slide out.

DSCN1279.jpg



Here is why you need to take the drawers out with the slides still attached. The hook that keeps the drawer attached to the slide is all the way at the back of the drawer. Those two little spot welds you see in front of the tab are where the inside tab is attached facing the opposite way. You will never be able to get something all the way to the back of the drawer and then curved up and over that hook without ripping the slide off the drawer. It is a piece of cake from the backside though.


DSCN1277.jpg



Just to confuse matters, here is an old Craftsman box with the identical handle. Smaller box but built very similar just lighter metal.

DSCN1280.jpg


Much easier to take the drawers out as well. Stick a punch in the hole and depress the tab then slide the drawer out.

DSCN1281.jpg



Doesn't use a hook either just a little raised bump.

DSCN1282.jpg




And for Krusty if you read this, I appreciate the scan :beer: only now you got me thinking I need to strip this thing down and do a repaint, new stickers etc. Just didn't want to bump an old thread.
 

Joe Mamma

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May 31, 2009
Messages
339
ears, you are The Man! Thanks for posting those pictures. I checked the sliders on my box and I'm pretty sure it's the exact same design as yours. What Packard V8 said in an earlier post in this thread makes sense now.

I'm going to spend some time taking apart everything, and thoroughly cleaning and lubing the slides too.

Joe Mamma
 

Even 11

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Dec 7, 2009
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Location
Colorado
Bump up an oldie!! Here's my new britain Twin to the others shown here. and maybe a clue as to its origin. it came to me with a Kennedy key. I'll let the pics do the talking.

-Dane
 

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Bull

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First New Britain box I have ever seen, and I am loving it. Nice score, Dane :)
 

NissanTechWill

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Nov 2, 2012
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181
Location
Raleigh, NC
Sorry to bump this thread, but I just picked up a MAC toolbox that is IDENTICAL to the boxes pictured here, except for the craftsman!

Glad I found this, as I have been trying in vain to get the drawers out!

-Will
 

Av8rtrav

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2022
Messages
22
Resurrecting an old post. Was told my box might be Herbrand box. I can't find any markings. Hopefully I'll be able to use this thread to remove the drawers. They are awful terrible to try and open and close. No brand markings anywhere. (Top box). Hope I can restore it some day and make the drawers easier to slide.IMG_20220711_091408.jpg
 

KnurledNut

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Jan 28, 2011
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8,173
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n/a
Resurrecting an old post. Was told my box might be Herbrand box. I can't find any markings. Hopefully I'll be able to use this thread to remove the drawers. They are awful terrible to try and open and close. No brand markings anywhere. (Top box). Hope I can restore it some day and make the drawers easier to slide.IMG_20220711_091408.jpg


Im thinking that is a Huot.
They did that blue and gray scheme.

1658685017842.png
 
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tdbroome

New member
Joined
Aug 14, 2024
Messages
1
I dragged this one home today...the curved top just called out to me somehow. The Herbrand logo sez Freemont Ohio...so does that make it pre 1960?

The paint is a little tired but the color is pretty groovy. It's a well built box and will be a good place to store my vintage stuff. Was it worth the $40?

Rob
I have this same box chest and bottom cabinet. It was my dad's and I was trying to find out about what year it was made
 
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