Looking at a new (old) toolbox combo

[sonnyboy]

My neighbor has an old Craftsman toolbox chest/roller combo he wants to sell me. I kinda like it too. It looks very similar to the combo on here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44917&highlight=toolbox+restoration

The biggest difference I see between the one on the other thread and the one my neighbor has, is that there is a pull down cover over the drawers of each of the boxes, and the top only has 3 drawers (rather than the 10 the one in the other thread has). Like this:

http://www.laurelleaffarm.com/pages/antique-tools/machinist-toolbox.htm


I have seen some guys on here telling how they got boxes like these for like 20 bucks, but this set will be quite a bit more than that.

So.... a few questions: Are these boxes worth paying much for in that type of condition? Dare I ask how much?

Are they good for regular (weekend hobby) use. The rest of my home toolboxes are C-man ball bearing and quiet glide, and at work I have Kennedy machinist boxes. Will I be frustrated using these 60+ year old boxes compared to my newer ones?

How much time and money can I expect to be invoved in a quick refurb (clean and lube) vs. a full resto (not a professional resto, just strip, repair, and as good as an amatuer can do with decent spray paint)

Lastly, could someone post a couple links to other toolboxes of similar era being restored or websites devoted to tool box restorations? I searched a little bit, but I didn't have much luck finding what I was looking for. Maybe a veteran GJ'r would know where to look better than a newbie like me.

Thanks,
-SB

 

[spongerich]

If they're in nice shape, $100 wouldn't be out of line. I regularly see them sell at auction for between $100-$150. There was a slightly newer set on CL the other day for $50 and they were gone in 30 min.

A quick refurb is probably going to take 4-5 hours (depending on condition of course). Cost should be < $20. You'll need some fine steel wool, WD-40, de-greaser, rags, some polishing compound and/or cleaner wax, and a 55 gal drum of elbow grease.