To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Help identifying this tool box

V

vizmark

Active member
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
33
Location
Eureka, CA
Can anyone help me identify this tool box?
I got it from a 95 year old neighbor. It has a leather handle, but no other markings. It’s not a Kennedy or Plomb.

If you have guesses, through them out there.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1520.jpeg
    IMG_1520.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 99
  • IMG_1521.jpeg
    IMG_1521.jpeg
    994.7 KB · Views: 93
  • IMG_1522.jpeg
    IMG_1522.jpeg
    1 MB · Views: 89
  • IMG_1523.jpeg
    IMG_1523.jpeg
    971.1 KB · Views: 93
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
F

four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,579
Location
Tacoma, Washington

Attachments

  • 1949 Hardware Age Mayes Simonsen Stevens Upson ad pp 327.jpg
    1949 Hardware Age Mayes Simonsen Stevens Upson ad pp 327.jpg
    754.1 KB · Views: 76
  • 1954 Hardware Age A.B.S. Allen Misener Simonsen ad pp 855.jpg
    1954 Hardware Age A.B.S. Allen Misener Simonsen ad pp 855.jpg
    742.3 KB · Views: 74
P

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,477
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
I'm not saying it's not a Simonsen - but it has very unusual features. Simonsen made a variety of cantilevered boxes, hip roof and no hip roof (like yours), with a number and wide variety of trays and configurations, but the big ones had folding lids with a very distinctive asymmetric design, where the clasping lid and the shorter lid met in a very distinctive sharp angle shape. That one doesn't have it. Also, and this is really what caught my eye first - I have never seen any Simonsen with side carry handles! I could be wrong. Again, I'm not saying it's not a Simonsen. But if it is a Simonsen, it would be a very unusual Simonsen that is not very common or well-known. (LOVE the two-man side carry handles!)

EDIT: Here's the lids difference I am talking about...
EDIT: Added another side shot that shows it even better, and on an earlier box, without the later rounded edges, for a better comparison.
 

Attachments

  • Simonsen vs Other.jpg
    Simonsen vs Other.jpg
    76.6 KB · Views: 44
  • resto box 004.jpg
    resto box 004.jpg
    122.4 KB · Views: 57
Last edited:
O

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,125
Location
The Badlands
I'm wondering if those side handles were added later by a PO. as we al know these cantilevers, start heavy, and get a lot heavier, so turning it into a 2 man pickup makes sense. I saw screws on one end, and you usually see factory handles riveted on.
 
P

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,477
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
OP
I just noticed how looooong your box is! I have several hip roof cantilevered toolboxes, but the biggest is 20", a Sexauer, made by Kennedy, and it's a whopper. The Type II US Air Corps flight line spec boxes that Simonsen and Kennedy made famous during WWII were 18". I have seen Kennedy and Simonsen ads offering them in XL sizes (21" and 22" respectively), but I don't recall seeing one in person. 24 inches is an extremely long cantilevered box! It's no wonder it has side handles.

I'm no closer to positively ID'ing it, but here's a smaller Park box (#1780) in a 1952 ad next to yours.
 

Attachments

  • Park 1780 (1952) and Mystery Box.jpg
    Park 1780 (1952) and Mystery Box.jpg
    146 KB · Views: 43
C

cochenee

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2025
Messages
6
Notice the side handles welded (not riveted) and the quality of that welding. I would bet it’s an add-on.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
J

jd_1138

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
17,042
Location
NE Ohio
Can anyone ID this box I got in an estate sale? Looks like it could be a Snap On. It's in nice shape just needs a light cleaning.

IMG_8582.jpeg
IMG_8578.jpeg
 
R

RTM

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
13,082
Location
SF Bay Area
More modern boxes should have info stamped on back bottom left side as you face the front. Might be faintly stamped, painted over, hard to see, or maybe too old, prior to stamping.
 
P

PFSard

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Messages
2,422
Location
Mesa, AZ
jd_1138 said:
Can anyone ID this box I got in an estate sale? Looks like it could be a Snap On. It's in nice shape just needs a light cleaning
Click to expand...
Shine a light on the back of the box. My Snap-On box has info stamped into the metal. Was hard for me to see/read without illumination.
 
B

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,670
Location
Far NE Oregon
RTM said:
More modern boxes should have info stamped on back bottom left side as you face the front. Might be faintly stamped, painted over, hard to see, or maybe too old, prior to stamping.
Click to expand...
Now, just how the hell are you supposed to read what's on the back side if you're standing in front?
 
R

RTM

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
13,082
Location
SF Bay Area
Beerhippie said:
Now, just how the hell are you supposed to read what's on the back side if you're standing in front?
Click to expand...
What, you didn't get the freakishly long arms and legs, the longer neck, or the XRay vision as part of the Borg assimilation? Some of us got the package deal .
 
B

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,670
Location
Far NE Oregon
RTM said:
What, you didn't get the freakishly long arms and legs, the longer neck, or the XRay vision as part of the Borg assimilation? Some of us got the package deal .
Click to expand...
An inspection camera on at least one finger per hand would come in right... handy. Commercial kitchen appliances always place the data plate where it's utterly inaccessible without tearing the kitchen apart.

BTW: I tried to get assimilated. Turns out, it's now a subscription service with a high buy-in. No more "You will be assimilated!"--now it's "You can't afford to join!"

I hear they were bought out by private equity a few years ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom