Craftsman Toolbox Thread

[bagged89s10]

Harbor freight parts bin cases fit perfectly in these drawers.

Or a perfect place for power tools in their cases.

 

[Squashfest81]

Those cabs look great.
Please post up if you find a gold spray match.

 

[jakemac]

I really like the color of the bronze/gold one.
Is there a spray paint close color match?

I haven't found a perfect match for Cman's Power Bronze yet, but some members have used True Value's XO-Rust Bronze (XOP-32). I think it's too rich in color though.

I'm leaning towards Krylon's Satin Caramel Latte (#51250). It's harder to find, but seems to be closer to my eye. But I haven't committed yet.

 

[bagged89s10]

I haven't found a perfect match for Cman's Power Bronze yet, but some members have used True Value's XO-Rust Bronze (XOP-32). I think it's too rich in color though.

I'm leaning towards Krylon's Satin Caramel Latte (#51250). It's harder to find, but seems to be closer to my eye. But I haven't committed yet.

that caramel latte looks pretty close. Some of the other paints are too gold.

 

[DuroChrome]

Thank you for posting all these beautiful old toolboxes, rollaways, chests, etc. So cool! My craftsman tool chest was bought new in 2009 and it isn't as good looking or probably as durable as the old school boxes.

RedLeader, I NEED a bottom to go with my top box like yours. Mine has the crown logo but looks the same. I've been looking but nothing yet.

I know of a similar one available in California...I am seriously thinking of taking a road trip down to get it and maybe do some camping along the way. I need a top box if I head down there!

 

[Ponchoguy]

I don't exactly know what this thread could become but I'd love to see some conversation about these older boxes.









I'm pretty fortunate, my collection is made up of a good share of NOS boxes that sat in storage since early 80s late 70s.

Originally, I was looking for a long Snap On box, something that would be adequate for long items or things that could add up in weight like a decent socket collection. These boxes don't offer either BUT there's more storage real estate square inch wise at a lot less cost.

My dad used a similar box to the red and gray Cman when he was an auto tech way back in the day. That box is still in his home garage.

Anyway, I'd love for some of you to share your older Cman boxes. I know there are a lot of you out there.

I cleaned up/restored a 1960 top and bottom combination back in 2002 that I paid $50 for at an estate sale (I bought more stuff there eventually). I sent photos to Sears back then and I was featured in the Craftsman Club magazine with it and my photo. I also won $50, so the box itself was free .

I like these oldies too....

 

[BradnCali]

I picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a CL ad for a Rock Island vise (for $17) and mentioned that I liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if I was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".

I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, I'd appreciate ideas.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a CL ad for a Rock Island vise (for $17) and mentioned that I liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if I was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".

I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, I'd appreciate ideas.

let me be the first to say YOU ****!

 

[taumac]

i picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a cl ad for a rock island vise (for $17) and mentioned that i liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if i was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".

I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, i'd appreciate ideas.

Are you f@cking kidding me? $20? You don't just ****...... You f@cking ****. LOL

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Tri-fecta on the . . . YOU **** !!!!

Great score on the old Craftsman stack of toolboxes. Like the patina !!

 

[bubinga]

let me be the first to say YOU ****!

yeah he does, that box is nice.

 

[zeet]

I picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a CL ad for a Rock Island vise (for $17) and mentioned that I liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if I was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".

I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, I'd appreciate ideas.

Good Gawd!... Now THAT was a score!!

Uh....yup, You ****!

 

[bagged89s10]

I picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a CL ad for a Rock Island vise (for $17) and mentioned that I liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if I was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".



I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, I'd appreciate ideas.

Yes you ****. $20! Wow.
Awesome!

 

[BradnCali]

Yeah, I felt a little guilty about that buy even though I did offer her more money, but she refused. She was happy that it was going to someone who could appreciate it as it had been her father-in-law's since it was new. It also came with quite a few various old wrenches. I might post those at another time (and another thread).

 

[Red Leader]

Wow, nice! Does your have a date on it? I found a date on mine by looking on the inside of the drawers directly behind where the 'Craftsman' tag was tacked on (thanks for the tip guys!).

Mine is from '57.

 

[bubinga]

Yeah, I felt a little guilty about that buy even though I did offer her more money, but she refused. She was happy that it was going to someone who could appreciate it as it had been her father-in-law's since it was new. It also came with quite a few various old wrenches. I might post those at another time (and another thread).

Yeah, I have had sellers a lot of time, that sreemed happy that it was going to a good home/Owner.

I have felt the same way when l have sold something.
Like the guy that brought my delta sander, he said he appreciated the nice job I did on the Machine,
Guy that sold me a Gerstner 11 drawer, and a bottom till. (one wide/deep drawer, no front panel)
Stated he was glad to see it going to a "good home. ".........."Good Home" .....LOL Like it's a dog..........LOL

 

[HeyPresto]

Hi,
I'm looking for a front cover handle the same as the one on the box in the thread.
It will need shipping to the UK. Can anyone help?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=411121&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1422737510

 

[Ponchoguy]

I picked up this one a couple of months ago for $20. I'd responded to a CL ad for a Rock Island vise (for $17) and mentioned that I liked old tools. She told me she had a "toolbox" if I was interested. I asked what kind but she told me she wasn't sure of the brand "but it had wheels on it".

I decided to keep the patina and stickers on it and just cleaned out the rats nest and washed it up real well. It's missing one of the friction slides so if anyone has suggestions for replacements, I'd appreciate ideas.

Try Waterloo Industries, it may be one of theirs....

 

[bluebolt]

Here's my 1957 Craftsman top box I picked up for $85 last week at the Pate Auto Swap Meet. Appears to have come out of a woodworkers shop is in NICE condition. I haven't even cleaned it up yet!

 

[MShaw]

Here's mine. The top box is like the one above except the exterior paint was really beat up when I traded for it in 1974. I painted it with what I had, a dark brown spray can.

The riser was bought new in the 1990s.

The base box was traded for in 1987. It was used at the time. I checked the manufacture date stamp. 1982

 

[bagged89s10]

I just grabbed this one about an hour ago. Missing 2 rivets on the hinges but an easy fix. Anyone know if I can get smooth head rivets/rivet gun thats not really expensive? Also what color hammered paint would match this guy. I think a quick sand and spray paint is in order for this one.

Does anyone know if these things are stamped with a date or model number and if so where I need to look? I believe it's from the 1950s.








Also found a blue point wrench inside.

 

[AdrianBoomer]

I can't find any info on this box. I know it is not fancy but I picked it up today for $20 with a bunch of old Greenfield tap and dies. A date of Man. would rock from you experts!

 

[jakemac]

Sometime in the 1940's.

 

[A E Numan]

I don't know how old it is but that looks like a nice tool box. I'm going to guess late 1940's

 

[zkling]

That's awesome! Does it have drawer slides? If so it is a mid 1940's +/- a year or two.

 

[AdrianBoomer]

That's awesome! Does it have drawer slides? If so it is a mid 1940's +/- a year or two.

Yes, it does have Drawer slides and they feel really nice. I have not figured out,however, how to remove the drawers to clean out from behind them.

 

[zkling]

Drawer slides put in the mid 40's. The predecessor to that box, started in the late 30's but did not have drawer slides. You need a shim tool to remove the drawers/slides. Similar to the snap on slide tool.

 

[drivesitfar]

AB: i'd say early 40's for your long C craftsman tool box. I've got 2 of them and one has a time card from 1944 inside it. nice box and i don't think you paid too much, but if you think you did just PM me and i'll let you keep the dies and tools and give you $20 for your box.

cheers

 

[bagged89s10]

So I sold the cantilever box and just picked up these 2 the other day.

 

[bluebolt]

Sears Parts Direct does carry a few parts for these boxes. For Waterloo made boxes try putting 706 in front of the catalog number, don't include the beginning "9" and add a 0 to the end. For example 9-65065 becomes 706.650650

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/cra...el-706650650/0247/0708000/00012198/00001.html

 

[bagged89s10]

I'm looking for a Craftsman toolbox key LL68 for my 1975 red/gray rolling chest. Got these 2 rollers and the top box for $225


I also picked up a brother to my 1950s box for $40 the other day.



This one just has 2 handles per drawer versus the other that has 1 handle per drawer. Anyone know of the year the double handle ones were made?


Also here is my other best full of different craftsman boxes.


And a small 6500 box I bought.

 

[safariknut]

While cleaning up(out)my shop today I came across this little gem I bought at a yard sale awhile back.Don't hold too many tools but it's cute.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a small toolbox like that, I think it was from their Christmas ornament line in the late 90s. I use it for pocket knives in my dresser.

 

[c2sedan]

Bought these in the mid to late eighties. Not sure if that makes them vintage or not but they have been around a while.

/http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/c2sedan/Toolbox%20open.jpg?1436126874958&1436126877344&1436126882559

 

[c2sedan]

Not sure why the second photo didn't work.

 

[taumac]

Not sure why the second photo didn't work.

Interesting... Was it a special edition or anniversary set? Did you find the date stamps?

 

[c2sedan]

Interesting... Was it a special edition or anniversary set? Did you find the date stamps?

No, in fact I bought the three pieces over a couple years. The only other complete set I have ever seen was the display set at the store. I did come across a top box advertised for sale a month or so ago.

 

[bluebolt]

C2sedan, is that a Made In Canada Maple Flag sticker I see on all three? Would explain why us "50 staters" haven't seen it before.

 

[c2sedan]

There you go.
Good eye bluebolt.
Also, in the opposite top corner of each box is a clear sticker with gold lettering reading "Professional Series", hard to see in the pics.

 

[zkling]

Not sure why the second photo didn't work.

Very cool. Those are Beach made boxes for Craftsman Canada. They produced some neat boxes compared to the US offerings IMHO.