More old craftsman toolbox projects!

[Hellcat6]

Some of you may have seen a post I did about a great old Craftsman toolbox and roller set from the late 40s, early 50s that I restored. For some reason I am really captivated by the style and look of these boxes and have been picking up some smaller pieces to compliment them. Some are really in good condition but in order to make them match the main set and the look I want they will all eventually get done as well. I figure most of these are only a few bucks so it's not like I'm hurting any priceless antiques, just some fun stuff that I will use everyday.

The first picture shows what I have picked up lately. Note the same logo or place for the logo with the same details to all pieces. I have been able to spot most of these in the 1949 or 1954 catalogs. The two small boxes are both 1/4 drive sets, one was a complet set, the gold box was empty. The larger box in the back was for a small power tool of some kind, not sure what I will put in that, it is painted red on the inside. The stackable parts box is pretty cool, picked up 4 of those for about $20 on eBay. I needed something for storage of nuts and bolts so these fit in nicely.

Here is one of the parts storage boxes after a quick repaint and new sticker, also found on eBay. Beats the WalMart plastic piece of **** I was using. The more I look, the more of this old stuff I find!

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Looks like Esoteric buffed that out.

 

[billymade]

Did you reproduce a sticker on your computer or what?

 

[vette-kid]

How are you painting it to get the texture? Or is the metal textured? Pretty cool lookin!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Great work, Hellcat!

 

[Hellcat6]

The replacement stickers can be found on eBay in various sizes and are really very well done. The paint is Rustoleum Hammered Finish, dark bronze is the color I have been using.

 

[Enloe]

Post pics of the others when they are done.
Are you blasting them before you refinish them.
How about a step by step tech post on the restoration of the tool box when you do it. A lot of us guys who are into old cars like the retro look of those boxes and would like to have the older stuff instead of the newer boxes..

 

[Lucky Strike]

Now that is NICE! Good work sir. I'm on the look out for that stuff all the time.

 

[drabe]

I picked up a small 4 drawer box a while back that's similar to yours (my drawers are red plactic). Someone painted it an ugly brown in the past, so I sanded it down and painted it black.



I couldn't tell if it was C-man (it does have the a similar indention for a decal, though I didn't find one under the paint) or some other knock off brand so an 'accurate' restoration wasn't necessary (at least for me).
I'm pinstriping it now, so I'll post more pics when it's done.

I like what you've done with yours though.
If I'd known mine was a 'brand name' I would've done it up like yours.

 

[Hellcat6]

Post pics of the others when they are done.
Are you blasting them before you refinish them.
How about a step by step tech post on the restoration of the tool box when you do it. A lot of us guys who are into old cars like the retro look of those boxes and would like to have the older stuff instead of the newer boxes..

Here is the link to the big box project that I posted earlier: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39071

I did strip that down, mostly by hand, but these small boxes I am just scuffing up and painting over so far. I will strip the two small 1/4 drive boxes.

 

[Hellcat6]

I picked up a small 4 drawer box a while back that's similar to yours (my drawers are red plactic). Someone painted it an ugly brown in the past, so I sanded it down and painted it black.



I couldn't tell if it was C-man (it does have the a similar indention for a decal, though I didn't find one under the paint) or some other knock off brand so an 'accurate' restoration wasn't necessary (at least for me).
I'm pinstriping it now, so I'll post more pics when it's done.

I like what you've done with yours though.
If I'd known mine was a 'brand name' I would've done it up like yours.

Drabe,

Nice work on the box! I believe that was made for use by several big brands, the case is clearly the same design as my Craftsman boxes. Pretty sure I saw one recently that had a Wards sticker on it. Unless they continued to make them for many years, they are pretty old. Mine is found in the 1952 C-man book.

 

[Builder302]

Very nice work!

 

[Bull]

These are great...I've never seen the two bigger kinds at the top of the first pic before. What is that one on the left, that looks like a lunch box?

 

[Hellcat6]

These are great...I've never seen the two bigger kinds at the top of the first pic before. What is that one on the left, that looks like a lunch box?

Hmmm, lunch box might not be a bad idea! It seems to be a box for a smallish power tool from the same era. It is red on the inside and open, no drawers, dividers or anything. I looked at the 50s power tools catalogs and found some for sanders but this is smaller. Frankly not sure what I am going to do with this one after a repaint. Maybe cleaning stuff for one of the Mustangs????

 

[Bull]

I do carry an old school lunchbox sort of like that to work (school.) It gets so much attention, even after years of using it, it's kind of funny.

I have a couple old Craftsman toolboxes that I want to clean up and paint like what you are doing. So, for most, you are not stripping them, just a scuff and paint? What about broken latches, have you found a source for those?

As for the Mustangs, I'm a GM guy, but even I can appreciate the vintage Blue Oval iron!

 

[Hellcat6]

Bull,
The big box project in the other thread was cleaned, stripped, primed and painted. The small parts boxes were in good shape and those were a scuff and paint job. Have not had any boxes yet with broken latches and don't have a source. I use these boxes so I think if I did have a broken latch I would find some donor **** box and swap them out for another set that wasn't broken and looked reasonably close. It's not like anyone is going to give you **** for that at next weekend's big toolbox show!

Share some pics of the boxes you are going to do, would love to see them.

 

[Bull]

I'm not sure I've seen your other thread. Let me go check it out.

The boxes I have aren't as cool as yours, because I believe they are newer and more common in style. Just basic tool boxes with the removable top trays. But I will grab some pics tomorrow. Should I post them in here, or in my own thread so as not to clutter up yours?

Oh, and hey, if there WAS a vintage toolbox show, I'd go!

Bull,
The big box project in the other thread was cleaned, stripped, primed and painted. The small parts boxes were in good shape and those were a scuff and paint job. Have not had any boxes yet with broken latches and don't have a source. I use these boxes so I think if I did have a broken latch I would find some donor **** box and swap them out for another set that wasn't broken and looked reasonably close. It's not like anyone is going to give you **** for that at next weekend's big toolbox show!

Share some pics of the boxes you are going to do, would love to see them.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Oh, and hey, if there WAS a vintage toolbox show, I'd go!

Me too!

 

[Bull]

Me too!

Glad I'm not the only one.

Pics of the shiny $10k brand new bling bling boxes leave me limp. I get excited over the vintage stuff no matter what brand it is, though!

 

[Hellcat6]

Bull, post here if you have pics. A link to the original big project is further up in one of my posts in this thread.

Just like car shows, the toolbox shows would eventually be ruined by all the new import **** with loud sound systems!

 

[Bull]

Ok, I went and read the other thread. One of my new favorites...that box looks awesome.

 

[Bull]

Here are the Craftsman boxes I have that I'd like to freshen up. You can see a few have latches that look like Godzilla ripped off.

I did take pics of the insides/trays, but don't want to flood the thread with boring pics of average boxes.

I also have two other tool boxes that I was going to post pics of in here, but this is a Craftsman thread and they are not Craftsman boxes. One is a stainless steel (I think) box dated 1943 (very cool) and one is of unknown manufacture. Can't find any stamping.

 

[stevejh82]

I have some craftsman commercial boxes, and I think they are under appreciated. Kind of like a a special edition from an era long gone away. Yours is different than mine, nice to see different ones, if you want I'll post some pics.

 

[Bull]

Yes, I do want

This one I have is from my uncle. I had never seen the "Commercial" badge until I got this piece.

I have some craftsman commercial boxes, and I think they are under appreciated. Kind of like a a special edition from an era long gone away. Yours is different than mine, nice to see different ones, if you want I'll post some pics.

 

[Hellcat6]

I like that Craftsman Commercial box as well, have never seen them. All of the latches seem to be the same, time to hit the flea markets looking for organ donors. Any ideas on how to dublicate the mounting pins?

 

[stevejh82]

The more I look at the box you posted it seems that the hand boxes are similar. The one I have measures 24" x 9 1/2" x 9 1/2".

The chest measures 33 1/2" wide. The date code on the chest is 1975, I don't know about the hand box.

 

[Bull]

That chest is nice...I wonder what distinguishes the Commercial line from the regular line? Do you know?

I'll take some measurements of my box and compare to yours.

BTW, great wall of vintage Craftsman chests...I like 'em!

 

[stevejh82]

Thanks, I don't know why they are different, if at all. I would assume gauge of steel, but honestly I have no clue

 

[Bull]

Gauge of steel seems logical, yes.

So, based on the avatar and the boxes, I'm now guessing you are a diehard Craftsman fan?

BTW, what grit sandpaper would be good to use to prep one of my boxes for paint...220?

 

[stevejh82]

Lets just say I come from a long line of craftsman fans, and they have always been the tools that I have been able to afford.

 

[powercraft]

Hello
Here is a pamphlet that came in a box I got at an estate sale. The box is dated 3-69. The commercial boxes are shown on the back cover. It says they are almost twice as heavy as the regular box. Also points out heavy duty slides and castors etc. Would love to have an old commercial craftsman box.