Kennedy Boxes. Ideas on value?

[DUDave]

A nice older gentleman has these four Kennedy boxes (two of the top boxes).
He wants to sell, but doesn't know a fair price. This is the only picture he has and I have not seen them. Thoughts on a fair price? Any idea about the year and models? I don't know about condition and what not. Assuming the drawers work and little rust what do you folks think. Many thanks. I would like to be fair with an offer. Guy lives about an hour away and told him I would make the drive in a couple of day.

 

[larry_g]

Are you a machinist or a mechanic? I would be in at $250-$400 being one who uses machine tools. To the mechanic they are not going to be as valuable as they do not hold mechanics tools as well as one designed for the job. So value to you may depend on what you intend to store in them.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Fordman7795]

There's a similar to your set up on our local craigs list for $60 bucks...for 9 months. It's gone now, sold or given up.

Kennedy bottom box, mid box and top box for $60? I'll take 100 please.

Considering there is another top box included it might take $350 to buy it. Anything less is a good deal.

 

[DUDave]

I just thought the boxes looked vintage and cool. I get by with my current box for tools. This would be more for gun cleaning tools and misc items in shop. I would like to look at them for rust, operable slides and so forth. I felt bad; the man sounded elderly. He has listed on our local version of a Craig's list, but doesn't have a price. Wants to sell, but won't put a number on it. Just said make a fair offer. I don't know what's fair - to both of us. Thanks for the help. You guys and this sight has really helped me out on many things.

 

[zkling]

I can't think of any box that holds its value less than a Kennedy.
If you're not a machinist you're going to really really dislike that top box and the tiny little 3/4"+- drawers.

Very true.

I He has listed on our local version of a Craig's list, but doesn't have a price. Wants to sell, but won't put a number on it. Just said make a fair offer.

I hate dealing with people like that. If you want an auction, go to ebay. Without seeing in person I'd start in the low $300's. If really nice and no major problems the mid $400's wouldn't be absurd. In my experience though, when people play the make offer game, they are in no hurry to sell and have a greatly inflated sense of value of their item. Best of luck.

 

[FXDawg]

When I was 19 (a long f'n time ago) there was a cabinet maker in the shop next ours. This guys mom was his book keeper or whatever and she drove a 1972 caddy sedan deville that her husband won in a local carnival raffel. Well after 13 years she got a new car and the dealer wouldn't even make an offer on it for trade in. So I was chatting with the guy about his mom's new car and he told me the whole story Ann's asked if I wanted to buy it. I said eh I couldn't afford it and he encouraged me to make an offer. I waffled a bit and finally said, "I don't know 200?" He said "200? Done, I'll pull ask the paperwork together." I ended up in a fully loaded caddy with 40k miles for 200 bucks. It even had the original tires! I replaced those and drove that car for a few years before it the a rod and I scraped it. It only got like 8 miles to the gallon... I drove it to the scrap yard with the ac on. Lol

 

[Fordman7795]

When I was 19 (a long f'n time ago) there was a cabinet maker in the shop next ours. This guys mom was his book keeper or whatever and she drove a 1972 caddy sedan deville that her husband won in a local carnival raffel. Well after 13 years she got a new car and the dealer wouldn't even make an offer on it for trade in. So I was chatting with the guy about his mom's new car and he told me the whole story Ann's asked if I wanted to buy it. I said eh I couldn't afford it and he encouraged me to make an offer. I waffled a bit and finally said, "I don't know 200?" He said "200? Done, I'll pull ask the paperwork together." I ended up in a fully loaded caddy

You win some you lose some. Most of the time when they wont put a price on it they want too much. Just the other day i went to look at a chain saw for sale on craigslist that said to make an offer. It was one size bigger than my current saw that i paid $175 for. I finally got him to name a price and that was $50 higher than a brand new one.

 

[justanengineer]

Agreed that it depends on who/where you are. On a machinist's site youd see asking prices ~$5-600. On others or at auction you might be lucky to get $150 with it decently full of tools.

+1 on ducksface's comments about Kennedy design, its not for everyone. Small delicate tools sure, its a tin jewelry box, but dont expect to overload it with hand tools.

 

[FXDawg]

If it were me and I wanted them, I'd come up with a number I would feel happy getting the boxes for and offer that. worst that can happen is he says "no way" gets insulted and walks away. If he gets insulted it is his own fault. Next thing is he could counter and it that sounds good you get the boxes for a little more that what would make you grim all the way home. and the best possible thing is the guys says "sure, take em away!" You have absolutely nothing to lose. Watch a few episodes of pawn starts to get you in the right frame of mind! LOL He says a lot that he really wants some things but, only at the right price and lets them walk if the owner want more than that. You are the bird in the hand my friend. You walk away and they could sit in his shop for another year. Unless of course you REALLY want them, and will feel regret the rest of your life thinking about those Kennedy boxes that got away... there is no price you can put on that...

 

[lostmind]

If you want them to use , $300
If you want them to sell and make money , $200
It takes a while to sell that style.
A lot of retired machinists , most had Kennedy boxes
I wouldn't leave the yard without a starting price.