Help with identifying a old too chest.

[Strid3r]

Would anyone have any idea what the make or model of the top box would be? The only info I know about it is it was my grandfathers and was given to my dad at some point.



I can't seem to find any identifying marks on it.

I know the bottom box is a craftsman that was built in 1974. It was my father's graduation present at the time. He gave me both of them about 10 years ago when I got into the machinist trade like both my father and grandfather before me.

I'd really like to restore these, but I'm having trouble locating parts for the top box. (New handles and slides)

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

 

[drivesitfar]

STRID: Are you able to post up pictures instead of having us go to a web site? i'm having issues with my laptops so i'm not clicking on links anymore that are not from members I know. you might be a great guy and it might be a great box, but i'll never see it if you don't post up a few images using one of the methods Garage Journal allows. I click on the paperclip that attaches pictures on GJ sort of like an email. if you need help just ask

welcome to the group and pretty sure one or more of us either owns your box or has an idea who made it.

 

[twertsy]

STRID: Are you able to post up pictures instead of having us go to a web site? i'm having issues with my laptops so i'm not clicking on links anymore that are not from members I know. you might be a great guy and it might be a great box, but i'll never see it if you don't post up a few images using one of the methods Garage Journal allows. I click on the paperclip that attaches pictures on GJ sort of like an email. if you need help just ask

welcome to the group and pretty sure one or more of us either owns your box or has an idea who made it.

Ditto here, I don't click on those links, even when posted by someone I DO know..............

 

[Strid3r]

Fixed it so it's an image. Sorry about that.

 

[Maui]

I can't see any image.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strid: still not showing up for me and I heard maybe hosting sites and GJ might have issues and that's why I use the paperclip. I used to use Photobucket until photobucket changed for the worse as far as user friendly and then their free service was a pay service. I would have gladly paid for their free service when it was working ok, but to not work and charge for it wasn't going to happen.

anyway keep trying with the pictures and ask questions if you need help.

thanks for trying.

 

[Strid3r]

Strid: still not showing up for me and I heard maybe hosting sites and GJ might have issues and that's why I use the paperclip. I used to use Photobucket until photobucket changed for the worse as far as user friendly and then their free service was a pay service. I would have gladly paid for their free service when it was working ok, but to not work and charge for it wasn't going to happen.

anyway keep trying with the pictures and ask questions if you need help.

thanks for trying.

That's weird. It's showing up on my end. Wonder why no one else can't see it.

 

[Strid3r]

Tried a different image hosting service. Hopefully it works for everyone now.

 

[mnoeltne]

From the one picture I can see in your first post, the top box looks exactly like one I bought in the early 1980's. I can't recall where I bought it, although I want to say AutoZone, back when it was still called Auto Shack. But it could have just as easily been the local farm and ranch store. I do remember I got it at a clearance price.

It was a generic type box, not a major brand. I still have it. My Dad had it for a while and repainted it, then I got it back when he passed away.

I'll take a pic of mine tonight and post it. I have the bottom roller in the same brand also.

 

[Strid3r]

Here are a few more angles of the top box.





"But it could have just as easily been the local farm and ranch store. I do remember I got it at a clearance price.

It was a generic type box, not a major brand". Ah that could explain why I can't seem to find any branding on it if it's a generic box.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strid: my guess it's a Napa or Remline box from maybe the 50's or early 60's. instead of starting a thread on a little box check out the vintage tool box thread and post several pictures of your box over there. i'm sure you'll see plenty of other boxes on that thread to match and those guys can tell you where to look for date stamps too. also take pictures of the drawer slides so the guys might tell you who made your box.

good luck and thanks for sticking with the process to post up a few pics.

welcome to the group

 

[Strid3r]

Strid: my guess it's a Napa or Remline box from maybe the 50's or early 60's. instead of starting a thread on a little box check out the vintage tool box thread and post several pictures of your box over there. i'm sure you'll see plenty of other boxes on that thread to match and those guys can tell you where to look for date stamps too. also take pictures of the drawer slides so the guys might tell you who made your box.

good luck and thanks for sticking with the process to post up a few pics.

welcome to the group

Ok will do! Thank you for the help!

 

[cgrutt]

Looks alot like a vintage HUOT box that I have up for sale on ebay.

Mine has different drawer and lid configuration but it has same general appearance. I've seen older craftsman boxes with those drawers too and the rectangular impression in steel looks like it could have been for a Craftsman nameplate. Pretty sure Craftsman boxes are all made by subcontractors and wouldn't surprise me if yours and mine were made in same factory.

 

[cgrutt]

Here is a Craftsman. Different color and no impression for nameplate but looks pretty close to yours.

 

[bobcatdan]

I'm going to guess it was a private label box made by either Waterloo or Remline. The spot in the corner is were a badge would have been. I think figuring out who marked their boxes with a rectangular badge in the corner is way to figure out who it is. The fact the three top drawers are the same width can rule out a lot of brands from the past. Wider or narrower center drawer was much more common. Also I would rule out huot. Until I know better, I have never seen a non drop front huot.

 

[7th Kahuna]

I was thinking maybe Waterloo until I saw the handle. I don't know if Waterloo offered different style handles under different contracts, but those don't look like the other Waterloo handles of that style, and approximate age, that I've seen. Take it with a grain of salt however, I'm no expert on Waterloo boxes. Just my two cents.

 

[cgrutt]

Hmm, interesting...

Looks same as the Craftsman and nearly the same as OPs except for name plate.

 

[Cruzan80]

Handles are different. If there is a number in the top left part of the main section of the top, that may provide a clue of manufacture. I know that is where Waterloo marked their dates.

 

[Strid3r]

Handles are different. If there is a number in the top left part of the main section of the top, that may provide a clue of manufacture. I know that is where Waterloo marked their dates.

I looked in the top and there is a marking on the bottom right hand side that said "9 81" and then "model" but no model number or anything.

I'm assuming the 9 81 means it was built in September of 1981?

 

[twertsy]

I looked in the top and there is a marking on the bottom right hand side that said "9 81" and then "model" but no model number or anything.

I'm assuming the 9 81 means it was built in September of 1981?

It's stamped on the tray top right? Not the leftmost tray floor?

 

[Strid3r]

It's stamped on the tray top right? Not the leftmost tray floor?

It's stamped on the tray floor bottom right. Just right of the lock.

 

[Cruzan80]

IIRC, Waterloo stamped theirs inside the lifting tray, on the bottom left (when looking down vertically). So that eliminates one manufacturer.

Just for clarity, you are referring to the number being stamped inside the lifting top part, bottom right when looking down vertically at the toolbox? Or it is cast on the front, without needing to open anything?

 

[Strid3r]

IIRC, Waterloo stamped theirs inside the lifting tray, on the bottom left (when looking down vertically). So that eliminates one manufacturer.

Just for clarity, you are referring to the number being stamped inside the lifting top part, bottom right when looking down vertically at the toolbox? Or it is cast on the front, without needing to open anything?

I open the lid and look down at the tray (where tools would sit) and its on the right side near the front of the box.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Looking at the drawer handles rather than the box handles, could it be a vintage Mastercraft box? Of course, I can't answer the question, 'Who made Mastercraft boxes?'.

 

[smokeyburb]

Hmm, interesting...

Looks same as the Craftsman and nearly the same as OPs except for name plate.

I have a very similar box wearing a Penncraft badge.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[mnoeltne]

Sorry I didn't post back earlier in the week like I said I would. I got home that night and my wife dragged me right back out. Then I was out of town again until last night.

Here are the pics of my box I bought in the early 80's:

As I mentioned in my first post, my Dad re-painted it, including the handles, about 15 years ago. You can see the same drawer layout as the OP has, plus the recessed area where a logo would have been if they had used one.

I also have the matching lower box.

They were just a house brand type of toolbox. Sorry about the mess. We're getting ready to move and have piles of stuff everywhere.