How to tell Craftsman Tool box years?

[Rummel]

I FREAKING LOVE VINTAGE TOOL BOXES!!!
I have some older ones, but I want a few more.
Some of you may have seen my pictures:

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg"/></a>

I still don't really know what these are, but I would like to pick up a few more, just want to have kind of an idea of what I am looking at.

Anybody want to try and give me an idea about these and maybe some examples of others?

Thanks!

 

[dumper]

search the web for images of Sears Craftsman name tags. There is a site that shows them, and the years they were produced.

 

[jakemac]

Look at the carry handle for a rough age guide. If I remember correctly, the progression from oldest to newest is :

Leather wrap
Metal
Plastic (mounts on the outside)
Plastic (mounts on the inside)

Combine that with the label and you can put it in a date range. Your first box is from the 50's, the second box is from the 70's (give or take).

Someone with more knowledge can help to put some better dates in there.

 

[softailgarage]

There's only been 1 type of Craftsman toolbox that I've seen with a date stamp and that was a '71 10 drawer Commercial box I restored 2 years ago. Usually I have to search the Craftsman Catalogs for a picture and then it's just a rough idea.

 

[Flatintoone]

This is a '69.
Oval logo: '40s-50s
Crown logo: '59-77
V-logo: '59-77
Rectangular "Sears Craftsman": '70s-80s

These dates are approximate, YMMV, etc

 

[Rummel]

This is a '69.
Oval logo: '40s-50s
Crown logo: '59-77
V-logo: '59-77
Rectangular "Sears Craftsman": '70s-80s

These dates are approximate, YMMV, etc

Okay so the black one would around '70s-'80s and the red is '40s-'50s. Correct?
And by the V-logo, you are reffering to the one on your box?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

This oughtta help. Got it from GJ of course.

 

[Flatintoone]

Okay so the black one would around '70s-'80s and the red is '40s-'50s. Correct?
And by the V-logo, you are reffering to the one on your box?

Yes, and yes. See the above post for other details. My dates may not be exactly correct, and I'm sure the different logos were phased in over time.

 

[ganymede]

Yes, and yes. See the above post for other details. My dates may not be exactly correct, and I'm sure the different logos were phased in over time.

Yup.
There was a lot of overlapping too.
Even with all the catalogs you probably can't get an exact year of mfg.

 

[bonneyman]

Down and dirty time line for 6500 series boxes:
Aluminum handle = 50's
Plastic-coated steel handle = 60's
Plastic handle = 70's
Switch from stamped metal Craftsman badge to plastic decal = 80's

This guys restoration is nice and informative

http://blog.thejamesmachine.com/2011/09/06/craftsman-toolbox-restoration-part-1/

Here's a trio of 6500 boxes I refurbed.

 

[zkling]

You can't find an exact year on small carry boxes as they weren't stamped like the larger boxes with drawers. About the best you can do is narrow it down to a few years range based on design features and badge style, as members have highlighted above for you.

 

[Rummel]

Alright! Thanks guys!!

 

[DanO.]

I FREAKING LOVE VINTAGE TOOL BOXES!!!
I have some older ones, but I want a few more.
Some of you may have seen my pictures:

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo Toolchest_zpsd46c516e.jpeg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1056.photobucket.com/user/TS_Rummel/media/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t375/TS_Rummel/CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo CraftsmanToolBox_zps2988b09f.jpeg"/></a>

I still don't really know what these are, but I would like to pick up a few more, just want to have kind of an idea of what I am looking at.

Anybody want to try and give me an idea about these and maybe some examples of others?

Thanks!

I honestly don’t know how to post here. I just registered today. Any help
would be appreciated.

Has anyone scrapped a box or something (or know how I could find one) that would have this logo I could buy?
I wiped over it by accident with a rag that had a harsh chemical on, and it took off the white paint on the lettering.

My wife is not happy with me. It was from a family member.

It took the white coloring right off.