Help Needed Identifying A Kennedy Toolbox I Just Picked Up

[RiseAbove]

Just picked up a Kennedy Toolbox from a local ad. Does anybody have any information regarding the model and year it is? I can't find any markings other than the Kennedy signature on the center of the lid when it's open, the Kennedy writing on the locks and the design on the removable front fascia.

It has a leather handle that is pretty worn out and it also has a D Clasp hook on the front cover. I noticed that some of the ones i see have the rectangle handle instead of the D Clasp hook, so not sure if that helps with indentifying it. The box is in nice shape with no dents/dings...it just needs a clean. The green felt liner is still there and the pin locking mechanism works.

I paid $40, was that a decent price? What should I use to clean it? Can the drawers be removed the same way as the old Snap-On friction drawers with the modified hacksaw blase or Snap-On drawer removel tool?

Thanks.

 

[d42jeep]

With the leather handle it was probably made earlier than 1950. They used the same model numbers for quite a while. My guess is that it’s probably postwar since it looks brown.
-Don

 

[RiseAbove]

With the leather handle it was probably made earlier than 1950. They used the same model numbers for quite a while. My guess is that it’s probably postwar since it looks brown.
-Don

Hey Don.

Were the pre war ones a different color? I don't anything about the Kennedy boxes, but i've alway wanted one as i've always liked the design.

I noticed it has the D Clasp hook on the front removable cover, where as most i'm seeing have the rectangle.

BTW, i got the pliers today. Thanks! The nut fit the Vacuum Grips perfectly

 

[d42jeep]

Hey Don.

Were the pre war ones a different color? I don't anything about the Kennedy boxes, but i've alway wanted one as i've always liked the design.

I noticed it has the D Clasp hook on the front removable cover, where as most i'm seeing have the rectangle.

BTW, i got the pliers today. Thanks! The nut fit the Vacuum Grips perfectly

I’m glad they worked out for you. The prewar boxes were brown as well but looked a little different. Here are some early catalog images.
-Don

 

[RiseAbove]

I’m glad they worked out for you. The prewar boxes were brown as well but looked a little different. Here are some early catalog images.
-Don

Great find. Love the old advertising.

Any idea what the 3 circular indentations are for on the fascia? I'm guessing to hold something?

 

[d42jeep]

Probably a combination of strengthening and utility would be my guess. I have two of the metal top handle green smaller ones and two of the larger brown ones with more drawers and side handles.
-Don

 

[Stuart in MN]

$40 seems like a pretty good price to me. I think the divots were places where you could place screws or other small hardware when taking things apart and putting them back together.

For cleaning, start out with mild dish soap and water along with a soft scrub brush (like a nail brush or similar.) Only work up to harsher cleaners if necessary.

 

[RiseAbove]

Probably a combination of strengthening and utility would be my guess. I have two of the metal top handle green smaller ones and two of the larger brown ones with more drawers and side handles.
-Don

Nice collection Don. I partially cleaned mine up, and it is real dark...almost black. Wonder if it's pre-war?

 

[RiseAbove]

$40 seems like a pretty good price to me. I think the divots were places where you could place screws or other small hardware when taking things apart and putting them back together.

For cleaning, start out with mild dish soap and water along with a soft scrub brush (like a nail brush or similar.) Only work up to harsher cleaners if necessary.

Thanks for the advice. How would you remove small paint splatter...i noticed some speckles of paint on the box.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the advice. How would you remove small paint splatter...i noticed some speckles of paint on the box.

Be careful if you use any strong solvents like carb cleaner or lacquer thinner as they will sometimes damage the wrinkle finish. I don’t think they used the little rectangular drawer pulls on the prewar boxes. Check the metal handles on the ‘39 catalog page. Probably just barely postwar. If the spatters are latex paint sometimes goof off will take them off without damaging the original finish. Whatever you use, try it on an inconspicuous spot first.
-Don

 

[larryq]

Very good price for $40. If you need new locks or latches for it, take a look here, I've used them before:

https://hardwareelf.com/locks

 

[bmwrd0]

That matches my Grandfathers Kennedy, which I am pretty sure he bought before the war. Square top corners, leather handle, and brass pulls. Since no one seems to have mentioned it, it is a model 520, probably their bread and butter. $40 is a pretty good price for one.

 

[d42jeep]

I’m curious as to whether your grandfather’s box has the white Kennedy signature on the brown wrinkle finish like RiseAbove’s example? I’m wondering when that signature started?
-Don

 

[DTE]

I came across this one the other day with the tools, Looks similar to the OP' except it has a lock cylinder. I did not know these boxes had a following.

 

[larry_g]

View media item 70287
Looks similar to mine. More pictures at https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5653

The dimples in the front cover are for holding small items that may roll away, imho.


lg
no neat sig line

 

[bmwrd0]

I’m curious as to whether your grandfather’s box has the white Kennedy signature on the brown wrinkle finish like RiseAbove’s example? I’m wondering when that signature started?
-Don

I just looked, it does. You are in the Bay Area, correct? It would have been bought somewhere in Alameda co, as he grew up and worked in Berkley.

 

[d42jeep]

I just looked, it does. You are in the Bay Area, correct? It would have been bought somewhere in Alameda co, as he grew up and worked in Berkley.

Thanks for checking. Yeah, Berkeley is just a few blocks away. Where did he work? I’ve been living in the East Bay all my life.
-Don

 

[Jayman17]

Hi I cleaned up a Kennedy box from the 80's last year. All you need to remove the drawers is a standard slotted screwdriver to just pry up the spring steel retainer clips on the slides and the drawer should come right out. I think your box will have the same slides. Also after you clean it you can spray WD40 on the outside of the box and wipe with a soft cloth. This is recommended by Kennedy.
It really helped to renew the paint on mine.

Jay

 

[d42jeep]

I sent an email to Kennedy and it seems likely that your box may have been made around or a bit before 1940. Here is the response I received.
-Don

Hi Don,
Thank you for your inquiry! We don’t have too much historical information history that far back, but my coworker was able to locate the attached flyer. It is from April of 1940 and it appears the white signature was on the inside of the lid instead of the outside. Kennedy started in 1911 and I don’t know if they used the signature at that time. I did find where we started making the hand carries in the early 1930’s, so it may have been about that time. I also asked about the handle, and she was thinking we stopped in the 1950’s, so your date of 1949 is probably correct.

Thank you!

Have a great day!

Lauren Brase / Customer Service Representative
P 419-238-2442 ext 2687 F 419-238-5644
[email protected]
cid:[email protected]
CQT Kennedy LLC / KennedyMFG.com /
1260 Industrial Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891

 

[larryq]

I sent an email to Kennedy and it seems likely that your box may have been made around 1940. Here is the response I received.
-Don

Hi Don,
Thank you for your inquiry! We don’t have too much historical information history that far back, but my coworker was able to locate the attached flyer. It is from April of 1940 and it appears the white signature was on the inside of the lid instead of the outside. Kennedy started in 1911 and I don’t know if they used the signature at that time. I did find where we started making the hand carries in the early 1930’s, so it may have been about that time. I also asked about the handle, and she was thinking we stopped in the 1950’s, so your date of 1949 is probably correct.

Thank you!

Have a great day!

Lauren Brase / Customer Service Representative
P 419-238-2442 ext 2687 F 419-238-5644
[email protected]
cid:[email protected]
CQT Kennedy LLC / KennedyMFG.com /
1260 Industrial Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891

Very nice of Kennedy to go through that trouble, excellent customer service. Wish I could get a 520 now for those 1949 list prices on the flyer!

 

[RiseAbove]

Looks similar to mine. More pictures at https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5653

The dimples in the front cover are for holding small items that may roll away, imho.


lg
no neat sig line

Yeah, that looks like the same era. Square top, d-ring pull on the front.

I sent an email to Kennedy and it seems likely that your box may have been made around or a bit before 1940. Here is the response I received.
-Don

Hi Don,
Thank you for your inquiry! We don’t have too much historical information history that far back, but my coworker was able to locate the attached flyer. It is from April of 1940 and it appears the white signature was on the inside of the lid instead of the outside. Kennedy started in 1911 and I don’t know if they used the signature at that time. I did find where we started making the hand carries in the early 1930’s, so it may have been about that time. I also asked about the handle, and she was thinking we stopped in the 1950’s, so your date of 1949 is probably correct.

Thank you!

Have a great day!

Lauren Brase / Customer Service Representative
P 419-238-2442 ext 2687 F 419-238-5644
[email protected]
cid:[email protected]
CQT Kennedy LLC / KennedyMFG.com /
1260 Industrial Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891

That's awesome Don. I noticed the box on the flyer has the rounded front top panel and the rectangle handle on the front. Maybe this one is a little before that, or maybe it was the same time and they just used both desgins.

That's really cool they replied with information. I'm really liking the Kennedy boxes. I just bought a newer one. I really like the style of them...i think the older boxes look classy with the brown paint and green felt.

 

[d42jeep]

I found the bottom toolbox in the flyer interesting as well. I found this #1021 leather handled cantilever box in December ‘17 and it looks as if they were already making this model in 1940. I had thought it might be a little newer. I can’t bring myself to put any tools into those pristine trays.
-Don

 

[RiseAbove]

I found the bottom toolbox in the flyer interesting as well. I found this #1021 leather handled cantilever box in December ‘17 and it looks as if they were already making this model in 1940. I had thought it might be a little newer. I can’t bring myself to put any tools into those pristine trays.
-Don

That's a nice box! The trays look brand new. I keep an eye out for Kennedy cantilever boxes, but most are beat. Did it come with a little piece of paper with the builders name on it? I just got a newer Kennedy, and it had the piece of paper with the builder name, and advice on oiling the hinges.

 

[d42jeep]

That's a nice box! The trays look brand new. I keep an eye out for Kennedy cantilever boxes, but most are beat. Did it come with a little piece of paper with the builders name on it? I just got a newer Kennedy, and it had the piece of paper with the builder name, and advice on oiling the hinges.

No piece of paper, unfortunately. I must confess to a small weakness for the early cantilever boxes.
-Don

 

[Stevettt]

Any idea what the 3 circular indentations are for on the fascia? I'm guessing to hold something?

I recently pulled all the drawers from a machinist type box and found the same dimples on the inner side walls.
Based on that, I'd guess they serve a structural purpose, adding strength and keeping the double walls separated.

 

[David Jackson]

Does anybody know where I can get a small plastic handle for a Kennedy drawer? I called Kennedy and the lady was very nice, they don't have them any more. There is a new style which she did send me but there is no way to make it work that I know of.