Flea Market Find & Questions

[Psiber]

I’ve been lurking on here for a while and finally have something to add and some questions. A few weeks ago my son and I were at the flea market. On our way out one of the last places I stopped to look at some tools, mostly Chinese junk, but I noticed he had a top box. The closer I looked at it I realized it was very similar to my little KRA53 that I bought new off the Snap-On truck in 1984, but bigger. There was no badge on it and it had a very bad spray bomb paint job. I didn’t have much cash, but figured I would be good if I could get him down to $50. So, I asked the man the price and he said $15. I couldn’t hand over the cash quick enough. Funny thing is he was more concerned about leaving Craftsman sockets in the piles o’**** in the drawers. Of course later I thought I should have haggled a bit, but I think I did okay. Once I scraped some of the paint off the back I confirmed it is a KRA59B with a 1974 date.

I have a few questions for the Snap-On experts:

- What would be the appropriate badge design for that era and where might I find a replacement? (I’ve tried eBay)

- Is a replacement front handle for the lid available from SO. I looked at the web site and they don’t list that handle for the KRA59 as available, but I’m having a hard time believing that the handle is that specific to this model that there is not a replacement. Anyone know if another handle will fit?

-Are drawer slides covered under warranty? One of the stop tabs is broken so the drawer pulls all the way out. I notice they sell replacements, but free is always better.



I plan on stripping and painting the whole thing. Unfortunately the paint is just too nasty to salvage (they painted over the remains of stickers). I’ll post photos of my progress once I get to it.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Packard V8]

That's a nice mid-sized top box. I have one and like it a lot, so I'll buy them all day long at $15.

Voice of experience here - I've got eight or so older Snap-on boxes. Lesson learned is restoration and repaint will reward one with pride of ownership, but not resale value. As I've said before, I've repainted cars which were less work than a tool box. Getting all the parts you need, old paint off; especially back in the corners, the dings worked out, mudded, sanded, primed, sanded, painted, finished sanded, are a solid week of work. Figure your hourly wage and you could have bought a brand new box.

Bottom line, if you love body work, love old boxes, then invest a week in your $15 beater. Just don't expect to make any money on the end product. BTDT.

jack vines

 

[PhilR1957]

What a Great Find...

 

[The Rider]

$15 is a great price! Looks a lot like my '76, which I'm also in the process of stripping & painting:

Note there are two lid handles.

There's a badge just like mine on ebay right now, but it costs more than you paid for the box - lol!

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-SNAP-TOOLBO...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f02be4d05#ht_1921wt_1137

 

[eborcim]

Nice find.

 

[cowboy73]

Wow great deal for $15.

 

[mrholeshot]

It's official............ You ****!!

 

[Underdog]

This will get you close maybe.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/part...up_id=8026&test=Tool+Chest;$0.00;KRA59D;34471

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Bottom line, if you love body work, love old boxes, then invest a week in your $15 beater. Just don't expect to make any money on the end product. BTDT.

jack vines

Yep, Jack nailed it. As long as you're planning on redoing it for yourself, you won't mind putting the time in it. You'd go hungry if you bought them to redo then re-sell for a profit!

 

[woody 73]

Welcome to the GJ,I think you did fantastic at $15.00 dollars...When jack (packard)speaks ,I have learned to follow his leads, he has given me a good education.

You have a very keen eye keep showing us those great deals .

 

[Junkman]

I came across a box like this recently, and the owner was looking for $475 for it. Granted, it had excellent paint and looked almost like new, but I thought that the price was on the high side. What is your idea of value? I have a number in mind, but he refused my offer, so I can either up my offer or pass on this one.