Long term review, Kennedy 29x20 roll around
I say long term test review because I don't really know how old this box really is. This is not a typical review where someone buys a new products, uses it 2 days and says "Man this works great! I'm giving it 5 stars!"
This is at least 14 years old and probably closer to 25. I do know it was purchased new by IBM and used in a bank check sorter room to help them service their IBM check sorters. These check sorters are mechanical monsters, requiring basic wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers and a whole host of machine specific special tools. It was there when I joined IBM in 1997 and when the bank decided to go with NCR check sorters in 2003, I was downsized and got this box as part of the severance.
My next job was as an industrial maintenance mechanic. I added one of my own Kennedy machinists boxes on top of it in those days and that sufficed for a couple of years but I outgrew it and got one of those 42" stainless steel boxes from Sams Club. I used the Kennedy in my garage until I got a new maintenance job in a bakery. That shop was tiny and there was no room for the 42" so I used this Kennedy. The production floor was crowded and I'm not one to lug every tool I have in a bag when I can roll the box around to the problem. The small size is a real asset.
Its old enough to still have the friction slides. They all work perfectly after all these years. The original lock still works as well.
The push handle and vise are my own add ons.
The standard and metric wrenches reside in the same organizer. It really saves lots of space when space is at a premium.
The bottom space was useful in the IBM days for storing bulky items, however if I were buying a new one, I would opt for the 2 extra drawers in this area. The bottom lip is the only area where rust is appearing.
It still has the original casters. In terms of being rolled around, this has a lot more miles on it than most boxes.
One thing you see a lot of in the world of industrial maintenance is the guys will make a frame similiar to the one on the bottom of this cabinet, add some quality oversized casters, remove the cheapie casters that came with their box and set the box onto the frame. Some floors are so horribly rough that this modification is mandatory. But in most cases it is a great way to beef up a rubbish box.
Yeah, the Kennedy boxes are smallish, 60" is as big a box as they make and the styling is a little bland. But if long term durability trumps style and size then you owe it to yourself to look at the Kennedys.
The durability to price ratio is good too. Even the 60"ers can be had for less than $5,000.
I say long term test review because I don't really know how old this box really is. This is not a typical review where someone buys a new products, uses it 2 days and says "Man this works great! I'm giving it 5 stars!"
This is at least 14 years old and probably closer to 25. I do know it was purchased new by IBM and used in a bank check sorter room to help them service their IBM check sorters. These check sorters are mechanical monsters, requiring basic wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers and a whole host of machine specific special tools. It was there when I joined IBM in 1997 and when the bank decided to go with NCR check sorters in 2003, I was downsized and got this box as part of the severance.
My next job was as an industrial maintenance mechanic. I added one of my own Kennedy machinists boxes on top of it in those days and that sufficed for a couple of years but I outgrew it and got one of those 42" stainless steel boxes from Sams Club. I used the Kennedy in my garage until I got a new maintenance job in a bakery. That shop was tiny and there was no room for the 42" so I used this Kennedy. The production floor was crowded and I'm not one to lug every tool I have in a bag when I can roll the box around to the problem. The small size is a real asset.
Its old enough to still have the friction slides. They all work perfectly after all these years. The original lock still works as well.
The push handle and vise are my own add ons.
The standard and metric wrenches reside in the same organizer. It really saves lots of space when space is at a premium.
The bottom space was useful in the IBM days for storing bulky items, however if I were buying a new one, I would opt for the 2 extra drawers in this area. The bottom lip is the only area where rust is appearing.
It still has the original casters. In terms of being rolled around, this has a lot more miles on it than most boxes.
One thing you see a lot of in the world of industrial maintenance is the guys will make a frame similiar to the one on the bottom of this cabinet, add some quality oversized casters, remove the cheapie casters that came with their box and set the box onto the frame. Some floors are so horribly rough that this modification is mandatory. But in most cases it is a great way to beef up a rubbish box.
Yeah, the Kennedy boxes are smallish, 60" is as big a box as they make and the styling is a little bland. But if long term durability trumps style and size then you owe it to yourself to look at the Kennedys.
The durability to price ratio is good too. Even the 60"ers can be had for less than $5,000.
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