Flaherty toolbox?

[adam728]

Cleaning and tossing stuff at work today I ran across a tool box. It's stickered "Made By Flaherty Mfg. Company Limited, Hamilton Canada".

Google search, and searching here turns up nothing. I was just wondering how old this thing might be. The "No. 27 Met-L-Chek Kit" is hand painted on the top, which makes me think this thing has been around a while (very neatly done, brush marks can be seen, and it's definitly quite raised from the box surface). Search shows Met-L-Check started in 1952, and the "Industrial Nondestructive Testing LTD" card inside the lid has an old "feel" as well.

Sorry for the horrible pics. My digital camera flipped me the bird tonight and tells me the batteries are dead, even trying several new batteries. Iphone's best attempts here. If I get the camera working I'll post some decent Photobucket pics instead of the small attachements.

Anyone ever hear of Flaherty tool boxes?

 

[Scout Driver]

Never heard of one. But....its a really cool box. Awesome color and labels!

Scott

 

[adam728]

Never heard of one. But....its a really cool box. Awesome color and labels!

Scott

The color is quite a bit darker than the pics show. I did an "autocorrect" when editing the size down, it really helped show the writing better. The color in person is very close to the color of my truck, which is great, because this will probably become the the behind-the-seat box.

 

[arkangel06]

Nice little box there.

 

[Scout Driver]

The color in person is very close to the color of my truck, which is great, because this will probably become the the behind-the-seat box.

Its even better when it matches the pickup!

Scott

 

[bellacapella]

Would you be interested in selling it? I know the family and it would make a nice gift.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks something like a tackle box I had as a kid, different color though. Does it have a cantilever tray when you open it?

 

[49GMC]

I've got one of those tackle boxes!

 

[chrenan]

Bumping this to the top. There is only one thread on this company, seems surprising given the activity on this forum. I picked this Flaherty box up this weekend, seems complete. Does anyone know more about the company or what happened to it? Any guess on the age of the box?

 

[The Cobbler]

found a bit of info

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.ca/2014/05/we-used-to-make-things-in-this-country.html
http://www.lifenews.ca/announcement/1923209-flaherty-joseph-charles-on-may-2

 

[chrenan]

Very cool tidbits!

 

[timbitca]

Wow. Very interesting I didn't know there was another tool box manufacturer in Canada besides Beach.

 

[lbgradwell]

Wow. Very interesting I didn't know there was another tool box manufacturer in Canada besides Beach.

Well, there is SPG International and Gray also make their own boxes now...

But, as I mention in the first link above, there seems to be no information on this company to be found (and I have been looking for a while). I've asked a few old-timers I know from Hamilton and they do not recall the company, so I guess we wait until something turns up!

 

[timbitca]

Well, there is SPG International and Gray also make their own boxes now...

But, as I mention in the first link above, there seems to be no information on this company to be found (and I have been looking for a while). I've asked a few old-timers I know from Hamilton and they do not recall the company, so I guess we wait until something turns up!

Duh... totally forgot about those two. Brainfart on my part I guess

 

[flaherty]

This is my grandfather's company. He passed away about a decade ago. I'm not sure when they stopped manufacturing small products and I'm not sure when they closed down or why. I'm going to make some calls and figure it out. They made a ton of products but I've only been able to get my hands on 2 red standard toolboxes. I don't live in Canada so I never run across them, but I'll buy up any one I see.

 

[Bessy]

Flaherty, if you could tell the forum anything, that would be awesome! I certainly would love to know more about the products that your Grandfather used to produce! This could be a cool thread if some info could be brought to light!

 

[timbitca]

This is my grandfather's company. He passed away about a decade ago. I'm not sure when they stopped manufacturing small products and I'm not sure when they closed down or why. I'm going to make some calls and figure it out. They made a ton of products but I've only been able to get my hands on 2 red standard toolboxes. I don't live in Canada so I never run across them, but I'll buy up any one I see.

Cool! Would love to have more information. If you can find anything out, or some brochures or literature that would even be better. I have an OLD box at home that may or may not be Flaherty now that I think of it but totally unsure as It's been repainted and is in fairly bad shape.

Oh, and post pictures of the stuff you have that they manufactured too!

 

[lbgradwell]

+1!
It would be awesome if you can provide any information on your grandpa's company.
I don't see many Flaherty boxes, but the do turn up locally from time to time.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[flaherty]

Hey, sorry I haven't checked this board in forever. I honestly don't know a ton about the company. My grandfather started it in Hamilton, Ontario and they made various steel products. Lots of toolboxes in different sizes, I've found 3 over the years and they're all red. This one is the first I've seen that isn't red. The "Lucky Lou Line" tackleboxes were pretty popular dark green classic fishing tackle boxes. My dad worked there when he was young and I know they made some other household items, mostly pressed or rolled steel. Some plumbing/sewer/manhole covers? If I'm not mistaken, Grandmother died young and Pete Flaherty, my grandfather, sold the company so he could raise their 7 kids. (I know her death triggered some major change like this, but I'd have to ask around the family to confirm.)

 

[lilredex]

More on Flaherty boxes....starts on post #6034

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49743&page=151

 

[B_Bimmer]

Flaherty, any information you can find and post about your family business on here is more than is out there now. I encourage you to do all the digging you can and share. It will increase interest and give people a history making them more likely to preserve your history when they find a product made by your ancestors. Pretty cool family history.

 

[flaherty]

Lilredex Those are some awesome boxes. I gotta find one of those blue ones one day.

I'm trying to collect more of their products. I have an uncle that has a lot of info but I live in Florida and haven't been able to talk to him more. I'll update as I can. Work is crazy for me right now.

 

[LCF]

This company was owned by members of the Flaherty family until it was sold in or about 1990/91. It was operated thereafter for a number a years by a new owner who sold it and it was operated after that by new owners until it went into receivership in the early 2000's I believe.

They made a whole line of steel stamped products from tackle and tool boxes, to hose reels to medicine cabinets to caulking guns. They also produced machined industrial faucets and molasses gates.

Earlier on in the 1920's and 30's they produced car parts including vulcanizsers, window defrosters and such. They also produced film reels and film canisters, bundle buggies and and even some toys I believe. They also produced stamped parts for other industrial operations. During World War II they made bomb tails and military hardware. They continued to make field boxes until the end of operations.

The company started in the US by Louis Charles Flaherty as a distributor for KD Manufacturing. Originating in Baltimore, MD, the intention was to move the firm to Buffalo NY but due to competitive labor and hydro costs it moved to Hamilton Ontario in the early teens. It operated thereafter in Hamilton for almost 90 years.

Louis Charles Flaherty's children took over operation of the company in the early 1950's and ran it for over 40 years successfully. The company was sold as a going concern and I have little knowledge of its demise.

I have many examples of their products and will post some pictures if I can.

 

[lilredex]

Welcome!

We all look forward to any additional information you may have.

 

[ssnutch]

I picked up a nice old Flaherty toolbox a few years ago. In military drab green, about 24" x 14" x 13".
Saw this thread and went and dug it out again. Starting to develop a little rust so probably time for
me to part with it. I live in airbase town ( Trenton ) and always assumed the box came from the base here... Does anyone know if Flaherty did any work for the military?

 

[Shellenda]

Hi - found this in my grandparent’s basement today and was searching for info on it. It is a blue Flaherty toolbox full of nails, screws, fasteners etc. I believe my dad used it for awhile, but that would be over 20 years ago. Would love to know its age, history, etc. We come from a small town near Hamilton and my dad was a cabinetmaker/carpenter.
Thanks for your time and any info you can share!

 

[lilredex]

Welcome to the forum!

That's about all the Flaherty box info. we have to date. We have been waiting for others to report back.

Post a picture of yours, when you can.

 

[Mosephus]

Hi, I have one of these tool boxes. Found it it at a thrift store in Newport News, VA a few years ago. I guess it was missing the storage tray, but it's my first real toolbox. I liked the red color and the old-timey look of it. I've been keeping it in my vehicle for general tools, slowly building up my knowledge and tool set.

This 4th of July weekend, I was cleaning a few of my tools. I wanted to learn a little more about the box itself and found this site. It's been interesting learning about your family and the history of the Flaherty company. It's well made, and still fully functional. Just wanted to share some pics. Dimensions are (19" x 6" x 6-1/4"):

 

[mjlmini79]

Cleaning up an old Meccano set from the late 70s I found this thread thought I offer some other of a flaherty box.