Craftsman Toolbox Thread

[taumac]

I love this thread. Here's my collection in its current state.
The brown middle machinist is a Kennedy. The right was a brown crown top machinist painted hammertone. The rest are original

9 drawer I just got.

The 7 drawer bottom is a craftsman brown industrial series painted to match my others.

I also have these 2 at my dads.

 

[taumac]

I will have to take some new pictures. I am now up to:

Heritage logo-2 bottoms and one top

Grey/red drawers- 8 bottoms, 6 tops

Red/black drawers-2 bottoms, 1 top

DAMN..... going to bluebolts house to do alittle shopping


Have a good one, Gerard

 

[pokey459]

What year is that 12 drawer bottom from? It is slightly different than all the others I've seen. Early to mid 90's? Friction slides?

not as old as i thought, 2-97.
the grey bottom is 89
i have another red/black roller that is from 02.
they kind of run together in my head?

 

[mtwaterguy]

Here's a pic of the top and bottom set I bought new back in 1972. I purchased the mid box from a member here a couple of years ago.

 

[s2kattracks]

Trying to get ahold of seller of this box.

 

[s2kattracks]

Trying to get ahold of seller of this box.

Darn it sold....

 

[taumac]

Darn it sold....

That *****... Keep a eye out there will be others. Half of mine I found when I wasn't even looking. It's like they found me. LOL


Have a good one, Gerard

 

[zkling]

Darn it sold....

I wouldn't be too upset if I was you. That was a pretty small set and the price wasn't THAT great. As taumac said, keep an eye out.

 

[lenscap]

Here is my humble contribution to this thread...
This was a Saturday morning yard sale find, I had no intention of stopping but...
Had to take "all the junk in it"
Serious question, it looks like @#$%, but "patina" is in, I was thinking of sanding and repainting body in hammertone pewter with black drawers.
Also, where would I look for a manufacture date on this? Has an early fifties look.

 

[zeet]

2 of my older Craftsman Boxes.

They both look to be in great shape but I'm lovin' that lower box...

 

[taumac]

Here is my humble contribution to this thread...
This was a Saturday morning yard sale find, I had no intention of stopping but...
Had to take "all the junk in it"
Serious question, it looks like @#$%, but "patina" is in, I was thinking of sanding and repainting body in hammertone pewter with black drawers.
Also, where would I look for a manufacture date on this? Has an early fifties look.

That's a nice box. I really like it. I like the patina it has but that all depends on the look your going for. I like a uniform look for my garage so I painted all my boxes but that's my personal preference. I would clean it up lube up the slides and decide another day. The date I believe might be behind that logo on the roller and the chest might be in top compartment.


Have a good one, Gerard

 

[taumac]

Here's a pic of the top and bottom set I bought new back in 1972. I purchased the mid box from a member here a couple of years ago.

Wow, I can't wait to find the intermediate box for collection.


Have a good one, Gerard

 

[taumac]

I wouldn't be too upset if I was you. That was a pretty small set and the price wasn't THAT great. As taumac said, keep an eye out.

I would agree on that's a smaller set although that's about biggest chest you'll find typically on those sets. I have a love hate relationship with the garage area on those 3 drawers bottoms. Sometimes it's great to store bulky stuff and sometimes I wish I had more drawers.


Have a good one, Gerard

 

[StangSpace]

I have been wanting to post my Craftsman box for a bit now and finally found the time. I have no idea how you guys are so fortunate to find these great boxes. This is the only one I have came across and the only reason I did was because my buddy got it and he felt it was too far gone for him to restore. It was pretty beat up when I got it. I had to replace almost all the sheet metal on the lower 12 inches. This has been my only restoration project and I am happy with the out come. If anyone can please tell me what year they believe it is. I have not been able to nail down an exact year and there is no date stamp behind the Craftsman label. Thanks. Here are the before and afters. I built it into my steel work bench.

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[zkling]

Fantastic job StangSpace!!! What is the larger teal-ish box you have in the background? I like the color.

 

[taumac]

Stangspace, the is a awesome transformation. Well done sir

Have a good one Gerard

 

[StangSpace]

Fantastic job StangSpace!!! What is the larger teal-ish box you have in the background? I like the color.

That is a Matco box that my wife and I inherited from her dad. It is a 91 or 92 model.

There is another Craftsman box ontop of it so I should be OK to post this picture here.

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Stangspace, the is a awesome transformation. Well done sir

Have a good one Gerard

Thank you! It took a lot longer to restore that I hoped and I was really wanting to put it to use as quick as possible.

On a side note, I thought I have posted on GJ way more than twice. I have been lurking for a long time. This is a great site to get lost in and find all sorts of ideas for the garage.

 

[FJ 432]

A couple of my restored ones.

 

[Cope]

That is a Matco box that my wife and I inherited from her dad. It is a 91 or 92 model.

There is another Craftsman box ontop of it so I should be OK to post this picture here.

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Thank you! It took a lot longer to restore that I hoped and I was really wanting to put it to use as quick as possible.

On a side note, I thought I have posted on GJ way more than twice. I have been lurking for a long time. This is a great site to get lost in and find all sorts of ideas for the garage.

Matco did not make a box that large between 1990-1993. I think it must be a later box. Very nice resto.

 

[StangSpace]

Matco did not make a box that large between 1990-1993. I think it must be a later box. Very nice resto.

It has been a few years since I had to find the date on it. The box actually is a 93. It is model number MB1900 dated 3-29-93.

I do really want to try and nail down a good year on that Craftsman box though. All the threads I found have had the pictures removed and I am trying to go through the vintage toolboxes thread but it is massive.

 

[oak_park]

Saw this at a sale for $75.00, I passed on it.

 

[taumac]

That's something don't see everyday. Cool little set.

 

[bluebolt]

For $75 I would have been all over that, looks clean.

 

[lbgradwell]

Mine...

 

[taumac]

[/QUOTE]

That's badass.... I never seen that set up before. I got to find one of those.

 

[lbgradwell]

That's badass.... I never seen that set up before. I got to find one of those.

You'll probably have to move to Canada!

 

[zkling]

Another Canadian only Beach made set, very nice lbgradwell. Somewhere I have a Beach catalog saved that has those middle boxes.

 

[lbgradwell]

Another Canadian only Beach made set, very nice lbgradwell. Somewhere I have a Beach catalog saved that has those middle boxes.

Yep, a 209 on top of a 201...

 

[FJ 432]

Taumac

Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222054...age=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

 

[taumac]

Taumac

Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/222054...age=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

Thanks for the link. That's alittle out of my price range I'm looking to spend. Although I've seen prices of vintage boxes going up.

Have a good one Gerard

 

[taumac]

Yep, a 209 on top of a 201...

Interesting. That's good info to know. I had no idea they made them.

Have a good one Gerard

 

[zkling]

.......

 

[FTWingRiders]

Love the old craftsman... Picked this up for $25 with the tools included.








It included this ratchet.. Never saw one like this, not sure how old but it works real smooth and has a good weight to it.

 

[jakemac]

That ratchet was only produced between 1959 and 1966.
(Edited to reflect correct info)

 

[lbgradwell]

That ratchet was only produced between 1960 and 1963.

Hmmm. What makes you think so?

They still appear in the 1966 catalogue...

 

[jakemac]

The drawing shows up in the '66 catalog, but it's missing from the '64 and '65 catalogs as far as I know. I think the person that put the catalog together used old drawings. It was common practice to reuse drawings when possible. In this case I feel confident that they got it wrong.

In 1964, the Long Lever was introduced to replace the Butterfly selector and was still in use when the quick release was added in late '67/early '68. It remained into the 80's, I believe. There may have been some NOS Butterflies in distribution in '64/'65, but it should have dried up by '66 except in isolated areas. It should not have appeared in the 1966 catalog, but it did.

I like it, it adds style. I wish it had stayed around longer.

EDIT -
Nevermind. I just realised that all this is incorrect info. (see post below)

 

[lbgradwell]

...but it's missing from the '64 and '65 catalogs as far as I know.

It's also in the undated Hand Tools catalogue with a 1964 copyright. I don't know whether this should be the 1964 or 1965 catalogue, but if it's 1964, I've never seen a 1965 and vice versa.

That would mean that a ratchet no longer in production appeared in two subsequent catalogues up to 3 years after production ceased and I just can't buy that!

 

[Dajn]

Here are my two. The one on the right is way older and I had the bright idea of spray painting parts of it black. Someday I will make it right. I bought both of them used and they work great. Bottoms with roller wheels and a top box on each. Have exactly $200 into it.

 

[jakemac]

That ratchet was only produced between 1960 and 1963.

Hmmm. What makes you think so?

They still appear in the 1966 catalogue...

It's also in the undated Hand Tools catalogue with a 1964 copyright. I don't know whether this should be the 1964 or 1965 catalogue, but if it's 1964, I've never seen a 1965 and vice versa.

That would mean that a ratchet no longer in production appeared in two subsequent catalogues up to 3 years after production ceased and I just can't buy that!

Upon further consideration of the topic, I've come to the conclusion that ....... I'm and idiot. View media item 38281
It finally dawned on me that I had been confusing the dates for the Butterfly selector with the Speeder Ratchet (w/butterfly selector) in my avatar. And then doubled down on my faulty memory. The Speeder Ratchet was only made from 1960 to 1963.

lbg - You are correct that the Butterfly selector was in use from 1959 to 1966. In 1967 it was replaced with the Long Lever selector in preparation for adding the quick release in 1968. The QR would have impeded the Butterfly selector so it needed to go.

Thank you for correcting me and pointing out the error of my ways.

 

[lbgradwell]

Thank you for correcting me and pointing out the error of my ways.

Happens to us all...