Mac Tools Toolbox chest & top box, approx age & value

[csapp05]

Hello, I have a vintage Mac Tools Toolbox chest and upper top box that I've known since I was a child, I'm guessing early 80's is the time frame. Growing up with them I assumed they were a matched pair, but now I have inherited them, I noticed a few key differences. The bottom chest has a Mac Tools plaque and I'm assuming the extruded type handles. The top box has a similar Mac logo but Mac letters are separated from the tools, and the handles are definitely Mac branded! Also the color is different, the chest is more red and the top box has an orangish tint. Any help is appreciated, unfortunately I don't have room to keep them.

Overall shape I'd say is fair to good, they were used professionally for at least 20 years, all drawers function, it rolls, etc. My dad before he passed tracked down the Mac Tools truck and bought some drawer slides for both, but they ended up being the wrong type!

 

[senlow]

The bottom box is mid '80s or later. The top box is early to mid '70s. The drawer handles help to identify the era.

• Early Mac boxes had formed steel drawer handles.
• Mac then changed to die cast handles. I think this occurred in the early '70s, but I cannot be positive. These handles have the name "MAC" above "TOOLS" with a recessed oval background that is painted black.
• Around 1977-1979 Mac changed the logo on the handles. These handles have the name "MAC" beside "TOOLS" with a recessed rectangular background that is painted black.
• In the mid '80s they changed to a single extruded aluminum handle that is almost the full length of the drawer.

 

[driftpin]

You might try checking in at your local community college where they have an industrial arts program, or A & P aviation maintenance program, a mechanics' program, and offer to donate the set to them for a charitable tax deduction. The staff might know of a promising student who is financially-challenged but is a standout student. The stack could go to him/her as a reward for being an exceptional student.

As to value, I expect $400-500 for a private sale is what I expect the stack would go-for. Surely there are sellers with shekels over their eyes, who would want $3,000 for the set. Those are the same people who are advertising the same thing, a year later, for the same price, on social media.

A tax deduction valuation if you donate the stack as I said might be $1,000.

 

[cgrutt]

Sorry about your dad. They seem to be in decent shape I had/have similar versions of both boxes. I'd say $400-$500 for the set would be a fair price. Just as point of reference I had two of those lower boxes with slightly different configuration and believe I sold them about 8 years ago for $250 each. I currently have the MATCO version of that top box along with a matching bottom (same size as your bottom) and purchased them about 10 years ago for $185 (for the set). I happen to love the style of that top box but it's an older style so have to find right buyer. The problem today is you can walk into a Harbor Freight and buy a functionally equivalent set with modern slides for not much more so really need to find buyer looking for old USA boxes. Good luck.

 

[senlow]

Sorry about your dad. They seem to be in decent shape I had/have similar versions of both boxes. I'd say $400-$500 for the set would be a fair price. Just as point of reference I had two of those lower boxes with slightly different configuration and believe I sold them about 8 years ago for $250 each. I currently have the MATCO version of that top box along with a matching bottom (same size as your bottom) and purchased them about 10 years ago for $185 (for the set). I happen to love the style of that top box but it's an older style so have to find right buyer. The problem today is you can walk into a Harbor Freight and buy a functionally equivalent set with modern slides for not much more so really need to find buyer looking for old USA boxes. Good luck.

If I remember right, by the time Matco split from Mac, the drawers on the top box were flush with the front of the box. The drawers on the earlier top boxes were recessed about 3/4" so that the drawer handles were flush with the front of the box. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

 

[cgrutt]

If I remember right, by the time Matco split from Mac, the drawers on the top box were flush with the front of the box. The drawers on the earlier top boxes were recessed about 3/4" so that the drawer handles were flush with the front of the box. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Yes I believe the drawers on my box are flush with front I'll have to check tomorrow.

ETA confirmed drawers are flush with front of cabinet.



This is bottom of that set FWIW.

 

[Beerhippie]

For the difference in color, I'd write that off to aging. Red enamel paints will mostly turn orangish with age.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Both look to be in pretty good shape, especially the roller.

 

[csapp05]

Thanks for all the replies, I filled my 24ft enclosed trailer to empty the garage, and trying to sort what to keep, sell, trade etc! I wasn't sure if one or both were older than I thought, or maybe be a collectible year/style. I now have 4 generations of tools, boxes, parts etc! Again thanks for helping me!