Craftsman toolbox

[cretin]

Hey everybody,
A friend just got this Craftsman toolbox for me. He came to help me move my damaged lift for defrost removal after my garage fire. He saw that the hand tools that I’ve replaced are just in the boxes they came in on the floor of my shed, and took pity on me, and got this toolbox. Haha.

Anyway, the drawers are locked. I figured out how the lock works, however, there is nothing there to control the locks. I was wondering if someone may be able to help me date this box, and figure out what I’m missing.

There are two spring loaded lock on the sides as opposed to the bar in the back that I’m normally familiar with. It looks like there should be some kind of bar that would push the locks up. Was that something that may have be actuated by the cabinet doors? Or the cabinet lock? Or open the cabinet and actuate it by hand?

The lock for the cabinet is also missing, and it looks like someone screwed in a piece of wood with a slot in it to work with whatever lock they had, so I’m not sure how the factory setup worked there either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.










Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[cretin]

As far as dating it, what I've found so far is that the logo thats on it was used from 1950-1964.

Haven't found anything on the locking yet though.

 

[cretin]

or actually, now I'm thinking that the cabinet is supposed to be the sigle slide up door, and someone has changed it to the double door.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That logo was used from 45-58 or thereabouts. Based on the drawer pulls, I'd put your box around 53-58. That might not be exact but it's pretty close. Look inside the drawer behind the logo. There should be AMD embossing there. Late 55 and later generally has a two digit date embossed in with it. That box originally had a pull down "garage door" to cover the bulk storage area in the bottom of the chest. When in the upright position, that door would push back on the locking mechanism, releasing the drawers. Try pushing up on that crescent shaped device in your pic (simultaneously on both sides) to see if that releases your drawers.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think so.

 

[cretin]

That logo was used from 45-58 or thereabouts. Based on the drawer pulls, I'd put your box around 53-58. That might not be exact but it's pretty close. Look inside the drawer behind the logo. There should be AMD embossing there. Late 55 and later generally has a two digit date embossed in with it. That box originally had a pull down "garage door" to cover the bulk storage area in the bottom of the chest. When in the upright position, that door would push back on the locking mechanism, releasing the drawers. Try pushing up on that crescent shaped device in your pic (simultaneously on both sides) to see if that releases your drawers.

I figured out the locks, I hadn't considered at first that someone swapped out the lower door.
There is nothing behind the logo, but thanks for the info!

I'll probably just rig it so that it stays unlocked. I don't need to lock it in my own garage.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I am same way. If it is in my garage I figure locking it is not necessary as the garage is locked.

 

[cretin]

Does anyone know a source for a reproduction badge with this logo?
I want to restore this toolbox and I would like to replace the badge if it's available somewhere.

 

[cretin]

If nobody knows of a reproduction badge, are there people that would be interested in them if I were to have them made?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They pop up on ebay