Help identifying this tool box?

[djonesmetal]

Just picked up this old box and can’t seem to figure out the maker/company. It’s heavy duty and very well made. Measures approximately 24 x 11.75 x 10.5” tall.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David

 

[four.cycle]

maker/company

Duro Chrome / Duro Metal Products Co., 2649 N. Kildare Ave., Chicago, IL 60639 / see also Indestro / est. 1917, closed 1990 / patent 1749300 May 4 1930 Edward Henry Peterson and William H. Odlum & 1751657 May 25 1930 & 1902878 Mar 28 1933 & RE19341 Oct 16 1934 Edward Henry Peterson and Norris F. McNaught & D119441 Mar 12 1940 William A. Sandy / http://alloy-artifacts.org/duro-indestro.html / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=270 / https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/indestro-duro-metal/ https://www.datamp.org/patents/search/displayIndex.php?source=xrefCompany288 /

it looks like it COULD BE a model 9908 but the dimensions are not correct.

see Duro Chrome catalogs at International Tool Catalog LIbrary

 

[djonesmetal]

Thanks for the info. I tried to find any tool box made by Duro Chrome and could not.

Also, the decal is not really centered on the box, kinda like the owner just put it there themselves?

I’m just a curious fellow.

 

[RTM]

Also, the decal is not really centered on the box, kinda like the owner just put it there themselves?

You gotta remember that when this box was built, it wasn't a machine placing that water slide decal. It was Dave, and he might be having a bad day. Or maybe Earl, who was relocated from the press break for some reason, and his sense of pride of workmanship ended at the frame, labels were just frou frou stuff. Who knows, but yours is close to center and plumb, so bonus compared to some out there.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I believe if you survey most of the senior members here, you will quickly learn that decals on the insides of tool boxes are never applied dead-center or level.

 

[four.cycle]

If you want to re-do it, you can get a guy at "Jim's Engine Decals" to make you up a new sticker. They're about $5 or $6 bucks a pop for smaller sizes. Artwork below. You might find these already made up on ebay.

 

[d42jeep]

I sent Jim the dimensions of this Duro decal and he reproduced it as a sticker.


-Don

 

[djonesmetal]

You gotta remember that when this box was built, it wasn't a machine placing that water slide decal. It was Dave, and he might be having a bad day. Or maybe Earl, who was relocated from the press break for some reason, and his sense of pride of workmanship ended at the frame, labels were just frou frou stuff. Who knows, but yours is close to center and plumb, so bonus compared to some out there.

Very good point! Why didn’t I think of that…. It’s a bit strange that when I search for Duro Metal Products or Duro Chrome tool boxes nothing comes up but wrenches and socket sets.

Also is this box 40s?

Thanks for all the info.

 

[RTM]

It’s a bit strange that when I search for Duro Metal Products or Duro Chrome tool boxes nothing comes up

Maybe because the decal comes off, and all the unnamed ones with no special defining features are Duro?

The catalogs linked in post #2 do have tool boxes in them, seem to be later in the book.

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep - I knew you had a clean copy of that one.

@djonesmetal -

Also is this box 40s?

Quite possibly. It's an odd box: top box with 2 drawers. Doesn't show up in many places. I think it's this one:

1947 Duro Chrome catalog pp 26 showing box model 9908

The 9908 does not appear in the 1940 catalog or price list
The 9908 does appear in the 1951 catalog No. 35, showing dimensions different from yours: 21¾" x 12" x 12"
If I blow the image from the 1951 catalog way up and squint, I can kinda-sorta see their
"The chest is streamlined with a locking hinged front cover" (as described in the 1951 catalog) rounded corners, but then we're at that point of "artists rendition", so it's anyone's guess.

1951 Duro Chrome catalog No. 35 pp 21 9908 box detail

This 1948 magazine advertisement shows a similar box, but unfortunately not enough detail to really make a call:

1948 Motor Age Duro-Chrome 4499 ratchet ad pp 171

Best WAG: early 1940s - early 1950s