kennedy toolboxes?

[BerninicaCO3]

How well are they made?
Saw a used one last night, must be at least 20yrs old.
I think they were regular slides; if I leaned on a drawer it would not move so easily.
Just 18" deep, not the larger 24"-- otoh that'll be easier for me to load into my wagon, and move around (for the next year and a half while I'm still a student).

Wondering whether to spring for it, or hold out for an old snapon, or a mac/ matco.

ALSO wondering if perhaps I can just upgrade the slides, not too expensively?

What would you offer for the below box?

 

[dieseldodge01]

Kennedy are industrial boxes. My grandpa has one that is old, from the 50's-60's. My dad has some older ones, I have one made in the last 10 years. To me they are great quality, made in the USA in Van Wert, Ohio, I have been in the factory.

If the box is too old there is no way to switch out the slides. The side box looks newer and the slides can be changed, main box I can't really tell from the pic. If it is indeed over 20 yrs old, then the friction slides are the best you can do.

As for price no clue, but again can't tell from the pic the shape.

 

[TheGrooveking]

If it was built after 95 you can change the slides from friction to ball bearing, before 95 no can do.

TheGrooveking

 

[alex71]

if it's in good shape, that box is worth $3-400

 

[jonny o]

Love mine.
Got it for $120 delivered, which was a steal. Looks real similar to your potential setup.
Bodyshop kid owned it so it was blasted and painted/cleared.
Mine can't be swapped for roller slides, but I never did mind. Took some elbow grease to clean them up though.

Can be seen here, as well as a couple smaller Kennedy's I found.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60105

 

[Vinko]

I've got the larger of the two you bought for about $80 or so. That was a good deal to me. Alternately, I bought a top cabinet for about $50 and paid $20 for shipping. Now that I see it in detail, I wouldn't have paid over $25 for it. I'm usually more careful.

 

[JASTECH]

I too was guessing 3-400 dollars if the slides are ball bearing or can be upgraded. My SO box is like 27" wide and like you looking for somthing bigger to hold all my tools. Student of Mechanic's?

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[Rickster]

Open one of the drawers and look inside at the drawer sides. If you see a couple of small steel clips where the drawer slide connects through the drawer side, then the drawers are the newer style. Newer style drawer slides clip onto the drawer and the box, can be updated to roller bearings and the drawers can be repostioned. I've had a couple of Kennedy boxes over the years and they are a well constructed toolbox. I'd say one of the most under-rated toolboxes on the market. Here's a pic of the front clip in the drawer.

 

[Packard V8]

A search will give you a week's reading on Kennedy tool boxes. A great feature of this site!

jack vines

 

[Lump]

Kennedy boxes are terrific, very high quality USA-made tool boxes. They have been made in Van Wert, Ohio (half way between Dayton and Toledo...out in a rural town area) since the 1920's, I believe. I have several.

 

[BerninicaCO3]

Hmm. I might double check-- or if the kid's father want to sell some of his redundant snapon sockets, a bulk deal might be good. But I'm thinking that I might get a harbor freight box-- the 13-drawer one is on sale for $380 ($295 after coupons) and already has ball bearing, a similar configuration and, I'm afraid, is better for being new. I'd mentioned how the drawers on this particular kennedy box did not like to slide when I leaned on them a little...

The extra money i can use for solid wrenches, that will stay with me long after my first box is upgraded from

 

[Chris_R/T]

Good stuff, my Kennedy bottom box has been in use since the early 80's and hasn't let me down at all.

 

[c_mccann]

The older ones are a little sticky on the drawers, but well built and well finished. Ball bearing drawers are so nice nowadays, it is tough to not love them over the friction slides. I have a green Kennedy box that was made in the 70's and is a great chest- wouldn't trade out.. I've seen Kennedy chests go from 250-400 on CL..

 

[Rickster]

I would spend more money on that Kennedy pictured before buying the HF model. The Kennedy is a pro box. A lot of times the older boxes just need to have their drawer slides cleaned and possibly straightened.