Is this a diamond in the rough?

[Evan(CA)]

It's been listed forever and the seller has steadily dropped the price to it's current 20 bucks. I don't need another piece of junk around the house and wouldn't want to do a restoration unless it was profitable. Seller claims it's a 1940's Craftsman box. If it really is that old it seems like a great candidate to restore for only 20 bucks if you're into that kind of thing. Not my idea of fun so if someone wants it I can probably help you out with shipping. So is this worth anything?

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/tls/4193796412.html

 

[Packard V8]

It's more rough than diamond. Missing the carry handle, front cover, bottom drawer knobs, I wouldn't pay more than $5-10.

jack vines

 

[zkling]

I'd be curious as to what all it contains. IDK, it might be a good project. Looks like pretty light rust, but as Jack said, missing top handle, 2 drawer pulls, front cover. I'd pass unless you were looking for a way to kill time.

 

[crewchief888]

the contents might be hiding a hidden treasure,

but i'd have to see it in person before i decided

 

[bran1har]

dont buy it, **** heap

 

[uniballer]

I'd but it, us bag and body shop spoon in top. no telling what else. If you buy it, keep the contents, I will buy the box for 20!

 

[jakemac]

It would make a good parts box, to restore one in equal or better condition if you can get it cheaper.

 

[nicksnothereman]

It's been listed forever and the seller has steadily dropped the price to it's current 20 bucks. I don't need another piece of junk around the house and wouldn't want to do a restoration unless it was profitable. Seller claims it's a 1940's Craftsman box. If it really is that old it seems like a great candidate to restore for only 20 bucks if you're into that kind of thing. Not my idea of fun so if someone wants it I can probably help you out with shipping. So is this worth anything?

It's a piece of something but "junk" isn't the word I'd use.

I know I know people want to flip vintage stuff after 'restoring it'. Total waste of time in most cases when it comes to things like this. Maybe snap on stuff judging the people on here buying just about anything with their logo even if it's broke halfway to hell but not craftsman.

 

[lauver]

Evan,

I'm going to disagree with all the nay-sayers above and argue that this chest is a bargain. Who cares if the top handle and the front cover is missing? Not needed. The misssing drawer pulls can be replaced or improvised. All it needs is a good scrub and a quick lube of the drawer slides. We're talking a few hours of work tops and good to go.

And what do you have when your done? A perfect bench top machinests chest with lots of small shallow drawers... perfect for your precision mic's and calipers, rules, precision screwdrivers, miniture hooks & picks, allen wrenches, ignition wrenches, feeler guages & sparkplug guages, miniture electronics pliers, punches, scribes, awls, etc, etc. And the best part, it has a small foot print that doesn't take up much space on your work bench yet organizes all your handy "smalls".

Any tools or usable hardware in the chest are just icing on the cake.

What are you waiting for?

 

[383 240z]

Heck the spoon is worth $10. Keith

 

[KF5LCH]

I'd give $20 for it in a heartbeat. As other have stated the contents are worth the asking price alone.

 

[justanengineer]

Its a Kennedy 520 in Cman trim, not worth $20 if it was nice. Unless you find something valuable in it, pass.

 

[bobcatdan]

I'm not saying don't buy it, but it is the same as a kennedy and there are so many of those out there for cheap in great shape, it is hard not to trip over one.

 

[Bigplum]

It's $20 , buy it , I would , I tend to value odd things like that against eating fast food , a pizza and a drink would cost the same over here and then ends up in the toilet.I'd rather go hungry and buy tools

 

[-Brent-]

I'd give you 5 bucks for the Cman tag on the front of it.

 

[basspro]

Id buy it, its sweet!

 

[nine4gmc]

Buy it, I'd bet you wasted $20 on worse...

 

[zkling]

Evan,

I'm going to disagree with all the nay-sayers above and argue that this chest is a bargain. Who cares if the top handle and the front cover is missing? Not needed. The misssing drawer pulls can be replaced or improvised. All it needs is a good scrub and a quick lube of the drawer slides. We're talking a few hours of work tops and good to go.

What if he wanted to use it as a portable box. I think the 520 boxes make good portable boxes. The killer for me is the missing front cover cause without that the drawers won't stay closed if you pick it up.

 

[Zeke]

By the looks of what's in it, I don't think there's any value beyond the box itself. I've been known to be critical of old tools and garage items in poor condition. I do have that box in a late '50's version and I've had since new. I was 15 or so when I got it.

For a long time it was the box I took to the kart track. Didn't need a lot of tools and no large ones for karts except the axle nuts. So, it's a little beat up at this point, but not as bad as that thing. I doubt the lid will close and latch.

 

[383 240z]

I get a laugh out of all the guys who say that they are tripping over Kennedy 520's for $30. I would be willing to give $50 for a decent working but ugly one. I could use 3-4 of them and I cant find any. Keith

 

[Alchymist]

I get a laugh out of all the guys who say that they are tripping over Kennedy 520's for $30. I would be willing to give $50 for a decent working but ugly one. I could use 3-4 of them and I cant find any. Keith

Got 6 or 7 of them in the garage right now ....and I wouldn't take $100 for any one!

 

[fitz11]

I get a laugh out of all the guys who say that they are tripping over Kennedy 520's for $30. I would be willing to give $50 for a decent working but ugly one. I could use 3-4 of them and I cant find any. Keith

There was a nice one here that just sold for $14. I was too late or it would be mine.

 

[G_P]

Go look at it and make an offer. I would say its worth $20 possibly more depending on if there is anything good hidden in the drawers.

 

[bobcatdan]

I get a laugh out of all the guys who say that they are tripping over Kennedy 520's for $30. I would be willing to give $50 for a decent working but ugly one. I could use 3-4 of them and I cant find any. Keith

520 are like classic 78's. There is always at least one for sale with in 50 miles of me and prices range from being crazy cheap to stupid high. I got my 520 for free, 100% complete and good used shape.

 

[whyNick?]

It puzzles me why people put so little effort into their CL pictures. If you latched the top, pushed the drawers in evenly, and cleaned the mouse nest out of the bottom that thing wouldn't look nearly as rough as it does in the first picture. I'd still give $20 for it though.

 

[Honda guy]

I buy old Cman boxes like that at the flea market for 5 or 6 bucks, and sell them on CL for about $10-$20 each. Not much of a profit but it helps pay for my flea market/tool habit.

 

[zkling]

It puzzles me why people put so little effort into their CL pictures. If you latched the top, pushed the drawers in evenly, and cleaned the mouse nest out of the bottom that thing wouldn't look nearly as rough as it does in the first picture. I'd still give $20 for it though.

Hold on Nick, you are asking a lot there now.

 

[Farmall450]

Buy it, I'd bet you wasted $20 on worse...

Agreed.

 

[NUTTSGT]

For 20 bucks I'd probably buy it if it was close enough.

Since it has no front or handle, I think it would be great to use as garage office organizer. Note pads in one drawer, pen/pencils in one, sharpies in another, calculator and rulers stuck in one more.

 

[kingofdogs1950]

I own four Kennedy 520s. The one I bought last year for $10 that was missing the front cover and was pretty dirty but no rust. It was full of tools of all kinds. I made out like a bandit on the deal.
Prices on the 520 are all over the map. Kinda depends on where you live and how many come up for sale.

Mark

 

[thundermug]

There are a lot of those out there. Wait for one that isn't missing parts, at least. Unless you have extra time and you're itching for a restoration project. $20, a few hours, and you've got a useful box. Cleaning optional.

 

[Danglerb]

I helped an old guy clean out a storage unit after his son died. Came to look and the old guy was having a hard time so I carried stuff to trash and helped him go through boxes for half a day. One of my regrets is that I passed on an almost mint looking 520 for $20 or $40 I forget. At the time I didn't see how any of my stuff would fit in it well. Passed on several since in the same price range, but none that nice.

IMHO there is no reason to buy a 520 that needs "anything" unless its dirt cheap. Its nice and vintage and all, but modern tools don't fit in the selection of drawers all the well. Its a machinists box for his measuring stuff.

*** Biggest regret though is that I didn't notice some other guy took the Ideal crimpers I found out of my pile of stuff. I was actually moderated POed when I got home and found it wasn't in the pile I paid for assuming it was in it.

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Haha, looks like a challenge for any would be restorer. This would be a very good test for your rust removal techniques lol.

However if it's lasted this long, it's likely to be of sturdy construction, more than I can say for the modern toolboxes.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Alchymist]

Another challenge, & it's not $20!
http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/4177959721.html

 

[bobcatdan]

^ that guy is nuts. I think the reason 520 prices have no rhyme or reason to them, the 520 brand new is kinda spendy for what it is. I bet crack heads look up a new one and see, whoa, these are close to $300 or something new, I bet I get $150 for it. Another large chunk have never heard of kennedy and don't know it is a good box and throw it up for sale for dirt cheap.

 

[Outlawmws]

Another challenge, & it's not $20!
http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/4177959721.html

^ that guy is nuts. I think the reason 520 prices have no rhyme or reason to them, the 520 brand new is kinda spendy for what it is. I bet crack heads look up a new one and see, whoa, these are close to $300 or something new, I bet I get $150 for it. Another large chunk have never heard of kennedy and don't know it is a good box and throw it up for sale for dirt cheap.

Look again: That's not a metal K box, its wood, and unless the structure is compromised, he will probably get his price...

 

[nine4gmc]

I'd be all over that $85 wood box.

 

[zkling]

Look again: That's not a metal K box, its wood, and unless the structure is compromised, he will probably get his price...

Is it metal encased wood? The drawer faces look too smooth to be wood (lack of grain structure). Anyone recognize the maker?

 

[nine4gmc]

I think you may be right Z.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the dark cover is that thin leather like cover they used to use for boxes sometimes. Some were actually covered with leather (I have a box like that - not a machinists box though) Old Box cameras got that treatment a lot....

And I saved the pics of the $85 Harrisburg chest for posterity:

Drawer fronts are definitely grime covered wood IMO.

I suspect by the oval that this was made for Sears (Craftsman)