Door for Craftsman machinist’s box

[Bamacruiser98]

Yet another machinist’s box found its way Into my life, not complaining bc they’re fun to restore and still seem to hold value. This latest one is a craftsman. It’s missing the front door, anyone know where I might locate one? I’m not sure on the exact model yet but I’m having trouble finding any online unfortunately. I’d like to see other photos so if I end up having to build one, which is the most likely scenario, I’ll know how it’s supposed to look. I can’t imagine being lucky enough to find a door. It was tough running down three drawers for the Union I restored months back. I did get this one sanded down and stained today. Going to clean up the hardware tonight. The badge is toast but I think I can repaint it. Thanks for any hits on a replacement door.

 

[RTM]

Good Luck.

Custom made is your best bet if you are in a hurry.

Gerstner will make you a door to your dimensions, but it's pricey.

In my 20+ years of buying vintage tools, I have only found one front flap loose, for a Kennedy, and of course I bought it. Never found a wooden one, and not for lack of looking. I have a leatherette Gerstner that someone pried the front cover open to access it didn't give me all the pieces when he sold it. I'm torn between making my own and buying one from Gerstner.

Edit: oh yeah, the link for Gerstner

Custom Replacement Front Lid

Custom Replacement Front Lid

gerstnerusa.com

 

[leg17]

Tool Box Ted may be some help in identifying the maker.

'The' Guide for Wooden Machinist Tool Chests

'The' Guide for 20th Century Wooden Machinist Tool Chests This site was originally a Google Old Style, launched in Sept. of 2014. It used to be for the Pre-1960 Machinist Tool Chests and Cases. Google Sites had stipulated that it be converted to their New Site format prior to 9/1/2021. On July 18th

sites.google.com

 

[geneg]

Yet another machinist’s box found its way Into my life, not complaining bc they’re fun to restore and still seem to hold value. This latest one is a craftsman. It’s missing the front door, anyone know where I might locate one? I’m not sure on the exact model yet but I’m having trouble finding any online unfortunately. I’d like to see other photos so if I end up having to build one, which is the most likely scenario, I’ll know how it’s supposed to look. I can’t imagine being lucky enough to find a door. It was tough running down three drawers for the Union I restored months back. I did get this one sanded down and stained today. Going to clean up the hardware tonight. The badge is toast but I think I can repaint it. Thanks for any hits on a replacement door.

Your Craftsman is also a Union. Use that box's panel as guidance.

 

[RTM]

Here are boxes posted in Lugz' thread that have the cover

Mine showing the back

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

X2.....looks great! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk Looks even better on the PC.

www.garagejournal.com

and the front

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

X2.....looks great! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk Looks even better on the PC.

www.garagejournal.com

alinc's

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

X2.....looks great! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk Looks even better on the PC.

www.garagejournal.com

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

X2.....looks great! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk Looks even better on the PC.

www.garagejournal.com

Lugz's w donor door

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

Anyone near Oak Lawn Ill? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/184973576008564/

www.garagejournal.com

RedVise's

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

Anyone near Oak Lawn Ill? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/184973576008564/

www.garagejournal.com

 

[The Cobbler]

should be fairly easy to replicate that front with router & bit, and a table saw . looks like a raised panel similar to a kitchen cabinet face .
quarter sawn whit oak would be the material by the looks of it .

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I’m not sure on the exact model yet but I’m having trouble finding any online unfortunately.

It's a Union Model F-20, from their "Union Steel Chest Corporation" period (1933-1951), made between 1945 and 1949. My box, which you can see at any of the links that @RTM posted above, is a Model B-20, from the same era and time period. The F-20 was a closed-top style box, the B-20 was an open-top style box. The number and configuration (size, placement) of the drawers were the same, as were the formed sheet metal pulls. But I don't know if the dimensions were the same. In other words, I don't know if the drop-front panel ("door") is interchangeable between the B-20 and the F-20.

I cannibalized the drop-front panel (and a few other pieces) now on mine from a second box I found that was in even more incomplete and worse condition than the first. If you live in a good flea/yard/estate sale area, it's very possible to buy a couple beaters and put together a decent box. I see several of these every year in various conditions.

The Craftsman model number for their Union-made open-top style hardwood machinists' chest was 99 PC06535. You can see it in the 1948 catalog on IA/ITCL.

There is no closed-top style hardwood machinists' chest in the 1948 Craftsman catalog, and I don't recall seeing one in earlier catalogs, so I don't know the Craftsman model number.

Reference:

'The' Guide for Wooden Machinist Tool Chests - Pg 42 - Union Chest & Case Spec's

Oct. 1, 2021 - Added picture of 2 lid latches at each end of Style BBB

sites.google.com

 

[toolboxted]

I have an older oak F-20 front panel that is just flat, from the Company days. It doesn't have the rectangular relief nor the lock. If there's any trading interest, let me know.