How old is this tool box?

[Sevenhills1952]

About 40 years ago I bought this wooden (oak?) tool box from newspaper ad. I'm thinking it's a machinists tool box, but ironically when I asked the lady's late husband's name it was a fellow who did maintenance work at a department store my mother worked at during WWII. Mom was 18, the guy was middle aged then. I'm thinking it would have to be at least 90 yo., the guy had it when Mom worked there and it was old then. It was filled with odd tools and it was $30.
Bottom covers drawers and locks, felt lined center, top has a square mirror tilted at an angle in top (why the mirror). Drawers are green felt lined. It's in really good shape, I should clean it.

Sent from my SM-S205DL using Tapatalk

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Late 40s to mid 50s. That's a sweet looking box, made for Sears by Union. If you ever get tired of looking at it, please let me know!

 

[Al Borland]

Machinist/toolmaker's box, like a Gerstner. Usually holds measuring stuff like mics and gages. Mirror is for getting stuff out of your eye, allegedly

 

[RTM]

There is a nifty thread on Union boxes, and their Craftsman brethren here. Lots of resources, Lugz did great work on the history, as always.

Late 1940's Union (Craftsman) Machinist Chest

The last thing I need is another project, but I couldn’t resist this Union machinists’ chest, picked up at my flea market this morning. Here are some additional BEFORE photos… As you can see from the branding on the center clasp, this is from the Union Steel Chest Corporation era...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[RTM]

And then coincidentally, right below this is the Craftsman toolbox thread.

Craftsman Toolbox Thread

I don't exactly know what this thread could become but I'd love to see some conversation about these older boxes. I'm pretty fortunate, my collection is made up of a good share of NOS boxes that sat in storage since early 80s late 70s. Originally, I was looking for a long Snap On...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Sevenhills1952]

What's odd is my 94 yo Mom remembered the maintenance guy well and remembered him carrying it around the store when he worked there WWII era.
It's certainly possible he had a similar one then and he got this later. Why he used machinist box for maintenance is beyond me. His widow also gave me other things he had. I insisted on paying more, she refused.
Store was J.R. Millner, his name was Stockton Terry.

Sent from my SM-S205DL using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Holy smokes that looks like it was made yesterday! Sears got the boxes from Union with those sheet metal formed pulls from 1945 to 1949. Not to impugn your mother's memory, but I think the earliest instance of that Heritage logo decal is 1946. That's close enough for "era" for me.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

I have to agree, those in the know. Mom was talking about it years ago when I first got it, as I say maybe the worker had another similar one. It's all a mystery to me.

Sent from my SM-S205DL using Tapatalk

 

[toolboxted]

Your chest was actually manufactured by Union Steel Chest Corp., LeRoy, NY for Sears Craftsman. Union called it a B-20. Sears sold them in 1946 – 1949. Checkout the following site……toolboxted
https://sites.google.com/site/theguideforwoodmachinistchests/