Cool old toolbox.

[galute]

I was cleaning out an old shed of my Dad's and stumbled on this old tool box. I have no clue where it came from but I thought it was cool. It has some old tools in it that have got to be older than me. LOL.







Here are some of the tools that were in it. Check out that little vise. It's about 3 inches long and works great. That lock has a hexagon latch. Never seen one like that.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Jeff Moss is going to be here soon to call dibs on that lock!

Cool find ... but now it's your duty and privledge to preserve the history you now hold.

 

[NHBandit]

Military issue. Very cool old box.

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Yeah, judging by the 'label', it's military. Possibly Navy.

 

[SuperD]

I love the first generation cordless screw gun.

 

[galute]

Jeff Moss is going to be here soon to call dibs on that lock!

Cool find ... but now it's your duty and privledge to preserve the history you now hold.

I'm thinking maybe make a board and hang all the tools on for a wall display in my shop. As for the tool box, I plan on restoring it and using it for a tool kit to take with me on the road. Anyone know where I can find replacement latches for it? The one on the left side is broken.

Here is a little better pic of the lock.

 

[galute]

I love the first generation cordless screw gun.

I remember my dad had another one just like it when I was a kid. I used to play with it all the time. That one is in way to good of shape to be the same one tho.

 

[John in OH]

Love the style and design of that old toolbox! Does anyone still make a box of this style?

 

[Arne73]

The box can be dated between 1943 and 1963 by the lack of a zip code. Postal Zones were established in '43, zip codes were rolled out in '63. There may be someone who can decode the contract number and get within a year or two.
Cool box for sure!

 

[galute]

The box can be dated between 1943 and 1963 by the lack of a zip code. Postal Zones were established in '43, zip codes were rolled out in '63. There may be someone who can decode the contract number and get within a year or two.
Cool box for sure!

Wow. Cool info. Thanks. There is a slight possibility that it was my Grandpa's tool box. My dad cleaned a bunch of stuff out of his old shop when he passed away. Grandpa was a WW2 vet. Sadly, anyone that would have any idea where the box came from is gone now.

 

[nine4gmc]

Really cool box, I have two Simonsen boxes I plan to restore eventually. PS, that lil vise could be worth big bucks.

 

[ZRX61]

PS, that lil vise could be worth big bucks.

Really? Here's mine:

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/229248_1868004712626_5261832_n.jpg

 

[galute]

Really? Here's mine:

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/229248_1868004712626_5261832_n.jpg

Damn! Now look what you did. Now I have to clean mine up and paint it. LOL.
Nice vise. Do you know if that is the correct color for it? No paint at all left on mine.

 

[rogsmart]

Cool toolbox.

One of these recently sold for $127.50 on EBAY.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-SIMONS...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I thought the description from the auction was kind of cool...

From an estate of a former US Air Force Lt. Colonel you are bidding on a military steel TOOL BOX. In used condition with light to normal finish wear/scuffs, the bottom has wear age spots. Solid & sturdy in good shape. Its quite heavy. It has two trays on each side with compartments.

The metal label on the front reads: BOX, TOOL. MECHANICS' - TYPE: II, CLASS A - SIZE: 2, 18 X 101/2 X13 - SPECIFICATION NO. MIL-B-3981 - MFG PART NO. 184-DG - CONTRACT NO. (NOT READABLE) - SIMONSEN MEATL PRODUCTS COMPANY - CHICAGO 51, ILL.

This company made Tool Boxes for the military from WW II thru the Korean War. A nice quality Tool box. They don't make them like this any longer. Thanks for your interest
No mechanical damages. The box is fully operational and functions as intended.

 

[nine4gmc]

I knew the military version of those boxes was higher but wow!

Damn! Now look what you did. Now I have to clean mine up and paint it. LOL.
Nice vise. Do you know if that is the correct color for it? No paint at all left on mine.

Don't touch it yet, what are the markings on it?

 

[Lippyp]

Be careful with those pump action screwdrivers, you can lock them shut and they spring out when you unlock them, the brother of a friend had one pre cordless tools and accidentally shot himself in the left nut with it, the bit actually pierced his testicle and he had to have it removed.

 

[Spareparts]

It is called a "Yankee Screwdriver" the bits should still be available, get it cleaned up and they are really useful for both drilling and driving.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Really cool! I also have a small vise like that:

 

[galute]

I knew the military version of those boxes was higher but wow!



Don't touch it yet, what are the markings on it?

I didn't look for any markings. I will today and let you know what I find.

 

[galute]

Really cool! I also have a small vise like that:

Really cool. Any idea what their intended use was? Jewelers maybe?

 

[Kevin54]

I also have a small vise like that but mine is like Jeff's with the table mount ears. But mine has one of the ears broke off. Cool little vise though.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have picked up a bunch of those little vises over the years and they were all made in the 50's-60's and were made in Japan.

 

[trainman1385]

Wow I have two of those boxes, they are like new and i got them from my grandpa when I was a kid. I use one for a tackle box and the other one is empty waiting assignment

 

[Rickster55]

I've got one also. Very cool box. Waiting for time and opportunity to restore it.

 

[ZRX61]

Damn! Now look what you did. Now I have to clean mine up and paint it. LOL.
Nice vise. Do you know if that is the correct color for it? No paint at all left on mine.

It's pretty close to what was on it.. & I happened to be painting others the same time so thats what it got

https://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/208106_1800163176630_1721905_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/222598_1845396107425_6538285_n.jpg

Next for that color will be my 2 Columbian 604 1/2's

 

[santagary]

Look like a 50's fishing tackle box to me???

 

[galute]

Look like a 50's fishing tackle box to me???

That was my first thought too. But after a closer look it's not. The tag show's it to be a military tool box.

 

[jeffmoss26]

It could very well be a jeweler's vise. I got it for a few bucks at an antique store.

 

[willymakeit]

You can use modern bits in the Yankee by filing a apex shaft round and then filing the required notch in the shaft. I still use them occasionaly. Have 5 or6 of them in different sizes.

 

[zenon52]

That Yankee screwdriver - we had a family hardware store in town up to a few years ago and they carried the bits in different sizes for the different size drivers. Also carried a countersink bit. Tool boxes were defiantly Govt Issue. Remember seeing that style all over the air field used by the civilian mechanics.

 

[Roobuster]

I'm thinking maybe make a board and hang all the tools on for a wall display in my shop. As for the tool box, I plan on restoring it and using it for a tool kit to take with me on the road. Anyone know where I can find replacement latches for it? The one on the left side is broken.

Here is a little better pic of the lock.

galute, did you have any luck finding a replacement latch? I also have one of these boxes with a broken latch and want to restore it. Thanks in advance.

 

[retDAC]

The box can be dated between 1943 and 1963 by the lack of a zip code. Postal Zones were established in '43, zip codes were rolled out in '63. There may be someone who can decode the contract number and get within a year or two.
Cool box for sure!

It doesn't have a Federal Stock Number (FSN) which makes it definitely prior to 1953. Most likely it was made in WWII.

As Arne said, would help if we had the contract number.

 

[bgarrett]

show the deep offset wrenches

 

[brownbagg]

i threw one oof those tool box away couple years ago, they have no practical use, just too big and bulky. you have to fight to get it to clamp shut. they was more design to transport tools from one place to another like by plane or truck than they was to work out of. they really **** as a toolbox. mine was mint shape, my dad had in vietnam. he was a sheet metal mechanic

 

[cochenee]

I am also looking for Simonsen replacement or equal latches.

 

[Spareparts]

that paint wes a hammered type finish, Rustoleum paint still has Hammered paint, might have to blend
the paint to get the desired color, but it is possible, nice box.

 

[nadogail]

Kennedy Kits were rather common, i bought a used one from an Air Force mechanic in the late 1950's; i stupidly left it behind when i moved in 1969.

 

[Codyboy]

Look like a 50's fishing tackle box to me???

My wife has a tackle box that looks similar but the lid only opens to one side and just trays on one side.
Same blue color to.
I'll have to look at the label when I get home , if I remember.