Grandpas toolbox

[jayrush13]

My Dad is wanting some more room in his Garage and told me he was bringing over some stuff for me to have

I told him a while back i would like my Grandpas old tool box and tools when he wanted to pass it down

My Grandpa was a mechanic from the 50's until the 80's working on military equipment and for the most of that time he used this tool box and its contents

Most of the tools are Craftsman with a good majority being old Probably the originals he purchased with the box

All I am going to do is clean up the tools and box but no repaint

Here are the pics

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[twangnut]

AWESOME! man those are beautiful. You've really got something to be proud of.

 

[WNYflyer]

Nice stuff !

Always nice to have stuff handed down through the family. I am digging those sockets sets in the original boxes. If most of the stuff is Craftsman already I would probably end up trying to replacing the non Craftsman stuff with period correct Craftsman especially with the box being Craftsman. Be cool to have everything within reason Craftsman.

Once again nice stuff and you better thank your dad !

 

[930dreamer]

Nothing better than vintage tools.

 

[Keep]

AWESOME! man those are beautiful. You've really got something to be proud of.

That was my first thought as well. Glad to see someone seeing the worth of those and not marking them as "junk"

Looking forward to seeing the set once you clean it up.

Very cool

 

[countryroad82]

I don't even know if I would clean the tools. I dig the patina and dirt myself. That is awesome that they have stayed together like they have.

 

[jim m]

Very very assume would love to see the sets in the boxes.

I have the same box set that belonged to my great grand father but by the time it made it to me no tools left. I would keep it all together and use them just like he did.


Jim

 

[Vvmvbb]

That's a nice post. I feel like I know the old man a little now.
What's in the metal boxes in pic #3 ?

 

[Ocho]

Very cool! That is something to be proud of.

 

[ZRX61]

Are the rear corners of that bottom box rounded like the front or squared off?

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool that your dad let you have them "early" so to speak.

FYI the roller is mid 50's + or - while the top is sixties. I can tell from the logos.

I would guess the back corners on the roller are rounded. (Mine is)

You can also roughly date a lot of the Craftsman tools by a makers mark as sears moved the contracts from tool MFG to tool MFG. (Most of mine are V (Late 60's/early 70's) with some VV which were later)

on the pics of what's in the small metal boxes.

 

[JASTECH]

Very nice indeed Mr. Rush!
I like all of it too, I have some tools from my Gpa who worked for Hughs. My Dad who is 71 still has many of the lathe tools ect. But enjoy them, a view from the past with his hands and mind abound.

 

[ZRX61]

FYI the roller is mid 50's + or - while the top is sixties. I can tell from the logos.

I would guess the back corners on the roller are rounded. (Mine is)

You can also roughly date a lot of the Craftsman tools by a makers mark as sears moved the contracts from tool MFG to tool MFG. (Most of mine are V (Late 60's/early 70's) with some VV which were later).

My old bottom roller has all 4 corners rounded & that's been dated to '54, it has the same design on the drawer pulls as the top box. The other old roller I picked up yesterday has rounded front & square rear corners & has the same design on the drawers pulls as the lower roller in the pics.

& I can't get the left side, lower drawer slide to release the drawer (in the *new to me* beaten up roller), the others were mullared & the drawers just pulled right out of the cabinet.. Method? poke something in the small round holes in the slides.. or slip a piece of flat metal in from the front of the slide?

 

[Flatland Dave]

Cool collection. I would give my left nut for anything from either of my grandfathers. Both of whom worked in sawmills in Oregon.

I love the old school OSU avatar.

 

[USMCdodge]

Ya man put up some pics of those boxes open. funny how its always an old craftsman box of about this size that gets handed down. my grandpa has one from the 60s and I have one from 2011. Im hoping will get passed down some day.

 

[Outlawmws]

My old bottom roller has all 4 corners rounded & that's been dated to '54, it has the same design on the drawer pulls as the top box. The other old roller I picked up yesterday has rounded front & square rear corners & has the same design on the drawers pulls as the lower roller in the pics.

& I can't get the left side, lower drawer slide to release the drawer (in the *new to me* beaten up roller), the others were mullared & the drawers just pulled right out of the cabinet.. Method? poke something in the small round holes in the slides.. or slip a piece of flat metal in from the front of the slide?

I've seen several different drawer pulls fro the same eras. I'm certain there were multiple manufacturers for the different boxes, and there may have been more than one even for the same model. High on my suspects list for the rollers is Remline, and my 50's ten drawer top is very likely Hout (Based on drawer layout).

Both have similar drawer pulls in shape, but with different line patterns.

The usual slide release for these is pushing down on a tab inside through the holes, at almost full out position (full out seems to get the tab caught, and you can't release it)

What you are doing is pushing down a sprung out strip of metal that catches on a hook stamped on the inside of the slide. same deal on the box rail end.

Thinking about it you might pull back a half inch from full extension, put pressure on that tab, and then slide out, letting the push tool slide with it.

 

[richfinn]

Your Grandpa has inspired me to add a hanging clip to my vacuum gauge, cool box

 

[ZRX61]

The usual slide release for these is pushing down on a tab inside through the holes, at almost full out position (full out seems to get the tab caught, and you can't release it)

What you are doing is pushing down a sprung out strip of metal that catches on a hook stamped on the inside of the slide. same deal on the box rail end.

Thinking about it you might pull back a half inch from full extension, put pressure on that tab, and then slide out, letting the push tool slide with it.

Yup, was familiar with that method, it's not working for some reason No biggie tho, I'd faff about with it some more

 

[jayrush13]

I will get some more detailed pics of the contents later today

Thanks for all the kind words I am very excited to have it and am going to hopefully pass it down to my son when he is old enough to appreciate and take care of them

 

[softailgarage]

Very nice. I always think of my dad when using the tools he left me. I would restore the bottom cabinet and maybe the top, leave the tools as they are.

 

[Outlawmws]

What is the odd looking ratchet the last pic? (I'm assuming its a ratchet...) Kind of reverse Micky Mouse ears...

 

[jeffmoss26]

Very nice stuff. I got a bunch of tools from my grandpa recently too, going to save them for my grandkids one day!

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I have the remains of my GREAT grandfather's tools ..he died in 1940 ..no box . just some wrenches

 

[w1im]

My father has my grandfather's Kennedy toolbox and my great grandfather's toolbox which is oak with brass hardware. They were both machinists and still full of the original tools. I hope that one day I will end up with them.

One recommendation; resist the urge to reorganize the tools. Keep your granfather's separate from yours so you will always know what was his. It will also keep the vintage toolbox complete with the original tools.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I agree about reorganizing. If that is the way he had the tools organized in the box, I would definately leave them that way. How a guy organizes his tools in his box is unique to that person. Keeping them the same way would make it all the more special to me.

I would also leave the tools and the inside of the box the way it is. I would restore the outside if the box as close to original as possible, but that's it.

That's just me though, they are your grandfather's tools so do what you like and enjoy!

 

[Outlawmws]

His dad has had the tools for some time so it's probably a safe bet they are not as G'pa had them anyway.

Clean them, clean the boxes, shoot for the apparent organization that you can decipher, but I would not get too **** retentive about preserving the jumble. Interesting that he had cardboard in some drawers as drawer liner. I'd save that as best you can.

Then use them. G'pa would have wanted you to. I"m not saying to thrash then out of existence,but don't be afraid to use them.

(I have a roll top desk in its original finish from the 1880's; one of the first ever manufactured. I still use it. I don't beat it, but museum piece or not, I'm not going to put it under glass...)

 

[jayrush13]

I don't even know if I would clean the tools. I dig the patina and dirt myself. That is awesome that they have stayed together like they have.

I am just going to clean off some of the rust that has gotten on some of the sockets there got some moisture in a couple drawers a while back so there is some surface rust

Very very assume would love to see the sets in the boxes.

I have the same box set that belonged to my great grand father but by the time it made it to me no tools left. I would keep it all together and use them just like he did.


Jim

View media item 16833 swivel sockets with one newer replacement

View media item 16837 Dunlap box with ignition tools

View media item 16838 both boxes look a lot alike one Craftsman one Dunlap

View media item 16834small SK socket set with a Plomb ratchet I think this set my Dad put in there when he got it at a Swap meet

View media item 16835Small Craftsman socket set couldn't get a good pic of this

View media item 16836 Mixed socket set Might be another one my Dad put in there

Are the rear corners of that bottom box rounded like the front or squared off?

Cool that your dad let you have them "early" so to speak.

FYI the roller is mid 50's + or - while the top is sixties. I can tell from the logos.

I would guess the back corners on the roller are rounded. (Mine is)

You can also roughly date a lot of the Craftsman tools by a makers mark as sears moved the contracts from tool MFG to tool MFG. (Most of mine are V (Late 60's/early 70's) with some VV which were later)

on the pics of what's in the small metal boxes.

Yes they are rounded I will have to ask My Grandpa next time I see Him when he bought them Hes 87 and still Sharp as a tack and very independent still drives and every thing Hope i get the good aging genes from him

Cool collection. I would give my left nut for anything from either of my grandfathers. Both of whom worked in sawmills in Oregon.

I love the old school OSU avatar.

GO BEAVS

Very nice. I always think of my dad when using the tools he left me. I would restore the bottom cabinet and maybe the top, leave the tools as they are.

Sorry no restore just maybe sand down and paint one spot on the back with some rust so it does not get any worse

My Dad said it got repainted once from my Grandpas coworkers as a surprise when he went on Vacation I guess it was looking a little beat up they thought

What is the odd looking ratchet the last pic? (I'm assuming its a ratchet...) Kind of reverse Micky Mouse ears...

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View media item 16841 Not really sure its some kind of torque wrench with a permanently attached 8 point socket its also set to 10 ft lbs it says My Dad bought it at a swap meet for a buck or two just because it was weird and he left it in here

My father has my grandfather's Kennedy toolbox and my great grandfather's toolbox which is oak with brass hardware. They were both machinists and still full of the original tools. I hope that one day I will end up with them.

One recommendation; resist the urge to reorganize the tools. Keep your granfather's separate from yours so you will always know what was his. It will also keep the vintage toolbox complete with the original tools.

His dad has had the tools for some time so it's probably a safe bet they are not as G'pa had them anyway.

Clean them, clean the boxes, shoot for the apparent organization that you can decipher, but I would not get too **** retentive about preserving the jumble. Interesting that he had cardboard in some drawers as drawer liner. I'd save that as best you can.

Then use them. G'pa would have wanted you to. I"m not saying to thrash then out of existence,but don't be afraid to use them.

(I have a roll top desk in its original finish from the 1880's; one of the first ever manufactured. I still use it. I don't beat it, but museum piece or not, I'm not going to put it under glass...)

My Dad has added some old Craftsman stuff he gotten but didn't really mess with to much in there he has 3 other big roll cabs with a bunch of tools so this was only a sentimental piece

I also plan to use them for some lighter duty work No rusted bolts or cheater bars but its nice to use some of the tools my Grandpa used to make a living for so many years

 

[jayrush13]

This is one of the ratchets that came in it but it needs a rebuild kit will I be able to find one

sorry the pics came out fuzzy

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[Drebs]

ive had ratchets rebuilt at sears but their never the same. *****.
awesome box and tools by the way

 

[Outlawmws]

The logos on the first two boxes are again from the fifties (edit: and late 40's ), and that ties in with the Dunlap branding (another Sears Sub Craftsman brand, like Companion and just plan "Sears" tools)

Since the trademark inception, Craftsman was always top of the line. Only later did they bring out the Craftsman "Pro" lines.

All those little tool boxes for the kits are very cool. and the "Micky Mouse" torque wrench is very interesting. Odd that it has a socket for a square fastener.

No clue on the ratchet rebuild kit, but sometimes other rebuild kits will also work. However more often than not, just a strip-down, cleaning and reassembly with a light grease will fix them up. Usually they stop working well due to dirt, grunge and congealed grease.

Hint: do the disassembly inside a gallon baggie, so if a spring goes Sproing! it doesn't disappear.

 

[Flatintoone]

Couple of things:
User Franklee and I both discovered that there is no rebuild kit for that 1950s Craftsman ratchet. He, however, and another user developed a workaround solution. Outlaw's advice is right on, though-more than half of the "bad" old ratchets I've come across just needed a cleaning and re-lube.

About your ignition tools box, a few months back I bought a "half NOS" Dunlap ignition set (the wrenches were still stapled to the backing card) in an identical metal case. My research indicated that the tools included and the metal case dated it to the late 1940s. The Dunlap brand was introduced in 1941, and the ignition sets moved to rolls by 1950.

 

[Outlawmws]

Flatintoone is right about when Dunlap started but the Craftsman emblems you have were not in use in the early 40's. I did find the Dunlap set, case and all with the impressions, in the '49 catalog, so late 40's at least. It was after the war that the RP style tools showed up, AFAIK, as no one would have been retooling with all the wartime scarcity of metals, except for war essential work.

Not sure exactly how much earlier in the 40's the new emblems started being used. The Long C Craftsman was used for most, if not all of the war years, and in the catalogs at least, well beyond.