Need help identifying this tool box

[TJT]

**UPDATED - ALMOST COMPLETE - SEE POST 31**

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I bought this tool box as a project for my son and I to have together. We're eager to get going, but I'd like to find out what brand, model and year this box is. The guy I bought it from thought it may have been a SnapOn box, but it's obviously not. Someone at some point put a SnapOn sticker on it, but as you can see in the picture, there's another sticker under it.

From looking through the forums, Google, etc. I thought it might be a Huot Model 100 or a series close to it. However, the Huot logo and indent on the front panel is not present and the drawers have different handles than what I've found.

Thanks,
TonyT.

 

[USMCdodge]

can you get a better picture of what it says on the lid above the SO sticker? i see the word professional. could be proto professional?

 

[TJT]

Thank you! I have been so focused on the stickers, I never even noticed the trace of writing there. We're going out to the garage to disassemble now, I'll take some better pics and search for some type of identifying labels and such.

 

[fordbroncodave]

the drawer pulls look like old style snap on drawer pulls. definitely an oddball toolbox for sure which may bring rarity to the subject.

skim through collectingsnapon.com in the toolbox sections and take a look.

 

[Lump]

You may even want to try and preserve that old original lettering in just that one spot, if it proves to be an uncommon brand tool box. Some people love those little bits of "provenance" to prove the history of old items.

 

[bobcatdan]

98% sure it is a Huot. I have what must be an older veriosn as my drawer pulls are different, but the drawer arrangment is the same, as for the spilt drop front. I'm kinda working on restoring mine, but she is a lot rougher then I thought so progress is slow. Nice box

 

[Even 11]

98% sure it is a Huot. I have what must be an older veriosn as my drawer pulls are different, but the drawer arrangment is the same, as for the spilt drop front. I'm kinda working on restoring mine, but she is a lot rougher then I thought so progress is slow. Nice box

101% certain its a Huot. Nice heavy duty box, The deep drawer on the right and the folding till cover are the giveaways. Should have a oval indent for the sticker emblem on the lower right side of the front cover? Search Huot on here and you will find a match.

-Dane

 

[TJT]

Thanks for the tips.
There is no indention on the front, top or sides.

We sprayed the box with a light coat of WD40 to clean the grime and the Snap-On sticker came off fairly easy revealing a sticker with the name PARA MOUNT. After a web search, it appears PARA MOUNT is a tool company that sells, services and repairs tools in the Farmingdale, NY area and has been in business for over 50 years. Makes sense, since I bought the box out of Babylon, NY. And extra score since the previous owner bought tools and was extended credit from a PARA MOUNT salesman.

Pics of the drawers and slides

Pull and lock

My son and I looked through the collectingsnapon.com website and none of the boxes have the same drawer configuration, though there are several with very similar drawer pulls. LIKE THIS

We did find the card of a PARA MOUNT tool salesman and a payment booklet that dates back to January 1992. It starts with an amount carried over from '91 and goes up and down until August. It had the tool salesman's name on the receipt and a card and also had the name of who I assume was the tool box owner. It was great explaining how the credit extended to mechanics from the tool trucks works. This particular guy made weekly $20 payments, twice the listed minimum for the balance he carried. The receipts are readable, but soaked in (and reek of) oil. I may try laminating them for a keepsake of our experience.

Tomorrow I plan to take all the slides to work with me and put them in the parts washer for a few minutes. Then in the evening we will give the box and drawers a good wash with soap and water.

 

[Lump]

Pretty good detective work there, TJT! You might want to also spray some of that WD40 lightly onto the lettering we saw in your earlier photo, to see if it gets any clearer.

Since Even 11 pointed out some clues that made him pretty sure it was a Huot, and you found the Paramount Tools name, I wouldn't be surprised if Huot made this box for Paramount. Many tool companies didn't actually manufacture their own boxes.

Nice father-son project!

 

[TJT]

Pretty good detective work there, TJT! You might want to also spray some of that WD40 lightly onto the lettering we saw in your earlier photo, to see if it gets any clearer.

Since Even 11 pointed out some clues that made him pretty sure it was a Huot, and you found the Paramount Tools name, I wouldn't be surprised if Huot made this box for Paramount. Many tool companies didn't actually manufacture their own boxes.

Nice father-son project!

Thanks!

I tried to make out what it says there, but I haven't a clue. Maybe if someone were more knowledgeable on tool related brands, they would have a better idea.

I agree. This box is definitely a Huot, Model 100 perhaps, I too think it's been manufactured for another company. The pulls are unlike any Huots I have found online, the handles on the side are similar and the drawer layout is spot on. I think the handle on the front may have been added after the key was lost. It looks exactly like the ones from some Mac boxes I've seen online and when removing it today, the holes and rivets were not of factory quality.

 

[TJT]

No luck yet. We're still surfing the internet and haven't found the model and brand this box was sold under. I just picked it up this afternoon from a shop that handled the media blasting (plastic), so I'm going to send off an email to Huot and see if anyone on the receiving end can help.

Progress.. (I'll make a thread when we're done) GALLERY HERE

 

[Cougar67]

I've got an old Snap On box like the one in the link you posted. It's in nearly the same condition yours was. How much did the shop charge to sandblast yours and do you have to neutralize or wash the chest before painting it?

 

[USMCdodge]

good job getting to the bottom of this! I am also curious so to how much the blast costed?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'm thinking Huot too, though that's just a guess. Whatever it is, looks very old and very rare. I've never come across a box like this myself.

 

[DRhodes]

Looks very nice. I agree with the above. In all of my tool dealings I have never seen a box like this. Nice find.

 

[MAD]

It could have been made by MBC (Metal Box and Cabinet). The drawers look similar to this one I have.

 

[TJT]

101% certain its a Huot. Nice heavy duty box, The deep drawer on the right and the folding till cover are the giveaways. Should have a oval indent for the sticker emblem on the lower right side of the front cover? Search Huot on here and you will find a match.

-Dane

I sent an inquiry to Huot with a link to all my photos and got this reply:

Mr. *****,

Yes, it does have a lot of similarities to a style we made, but its not. The
drawer fronts and end handles made us suspicious but the slides confirmed
that it definitely was not made by Huot.

Nevertheless this looks like a fun project for a father and son...Good luck!

HUOT MFG. COMPANY

It could have been made by MBC (Metal Box and Cabinet). The drawers look similar to this one I have.

Thanks, looking into it.

I've got an old Snap On box like the one in the link you posted. It's in nearly the same condition yours was. How much did the shop charge to sandblast yours and do you have to neutralize or wash the chest before painting it?

good job getting to the bottom of this! I am also curious so to how much the blast costed?

The guy I bought it from on Ebay was certain it was a SnapOn box, but I didn't buy it cause of the brand specificly so that doesnt bother me. I got a great deal on it, it was the $100 shipping from New York that made it expensive.

The plastic media blasting was done by The Stripping Shop in Peoria, AZ. It was just over an hour. Total after AZ tax was $120 and the work is perfect. It just needs some body work from the shipping damage, and some sanding. Then I think it will be ready for powder coat, or paint, havent decided yet.

I'm letting my son pick the colors. His choices change daily, so we'll see what he says when it's time. Today it was the box in black and the drawers similar to Ford's Grabber Blue. The insides of the drawers and top of the pulls will be bedlined with Raptor Liner. And the handles on the side and front of the box are going to be re-plated in chrome, maybe black-chrome.

 

[TJT]

It could have been made by MBC (Metal Box and Cabinet). The drawers look similar to this one I have.

Would you mind taking a couple pics of the drawer slides? I made a call to Edsal Manufacturing, who seems to have bought MBC, very pleasant on the phone, but not exactly interested in helping me identify the box.

Here's mine:

 

[FJ 432]

I would be interested in how you take out that nasty bruise on the top right corner.

I like your son's color choice blue but I would consider reversing and painting the box blue with Powdercoated flat black drawers and handles.

Fun project. Good luck.

 

[fordbroncodave]

It could have been made by MBC (Metal Box and Cabinet). The drawers look similar to this one I have.

that is totally a snap on box in your picture

 

[TJT]

I would be interested in how you take out that nasty bruise on the top right corner.

I like your son's color choice blue but I would consider reversing and painting the box blue with Powdercoated flat black drawers and handles.

Fun project. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestion.

The metal is nice and thick, so it may not be too difficult to take that buise out. If you notice in the picture below, the bottom box part of that bruise is somewhat straight. Thats was after a couple hard hits with a body hammer when I brought the box home from media blasting.

 

[FJ 432]

Nice job. That came out well. My main concern is the matching corner of your lid. I have no body experience and I thought that tool boxes were a great way to teach myself.

I have a Canadian Snap On box where it looks like it was dropped and hit a corner like yours. The problem I'm facing is that my box is out of square and I don't know if I can over come that damage.

 

[Cougar67]

Thanks for the reply re cost of blasting. I'll probably do it too. I'll probably use a 2 part aerosol epoxy primer I got from Eastwood and either safety red or sunrise red rattle can. I have good results with spray paint if I make sure the item is warm and I soak the rattle can in hot water first. It "flows" better.

I googled toolbox and measurements (I think mine's 26 x 14 x 12 -measure yours) and in an image search I found several identical and even found an old catalog page for mine. It helped me identify the model. Maybe you can try a google search and find your box's twin. Also try the completed auctions on eBay.

 

[TJT]

I googled toolbox and measurements (I think mine's 26 x 14 x 12 -measure yours) and in an image search I found several identical and even found an old catalog page for mine. It helped me identify the model. Maybe you can try a google search and find your box's twin. Also try the completed auctions on eBay.

HERE is a link to the eBay auction I bought it on. Note, the seller was obviously sure it was a SnapOn box. I assured him I would not hold him to it since there were no identifying markings other than the old sticker shown in the picture.
I am 100% satisfied with the purchase.

 

[TJT]

Nice job. That came out well. My main concern is the matching corner of your lid. I have no body experience and I thought that tool boxes were a great way to teach myself.

Thanks, I have reached out on one of my local Jeep club forums for suggestions of who I can take it to for the metal work. We're not looking for perfect, we just want it back to useable and ready for paint.

This is probably the scariest part cause we're beyond spending more than we expected. However, in the end it will be worth it.

 

[TJT]

UPDATE

Dropped the box off today the body shop that did the work on my wrangler recently. They quoted me $200 for the metal work on the top portion of the box. I'm getting pretty deep into this box, but I keep telling myself it's going to last another 50 years, so onward we go.

Should be done next week and then the box and drawers will be dropped off for powder coating. This week our color of choice is 2012 Jeep color called DOZER YELLOW..

Preferred Collision Shop
8355 East Raintree Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 991-3001​

No pics to share so I'll leave some pics of their work on my Jeep to keep this thread interesting.

 

[geologist]

Sure, you're probably taking a bath on that box, but you're making a lasting memory with your son that will live on long after you're dead and gone, trust me on that (lost my Dad in October).

"Big Steve" 1950-2011

 

[TJT]

Sure, you're probably taking a bath on that box, but you're making a lasting memory with your son that will live on long after you're dead and gone, trust me on that (lost my Dad in October

Your absolutely right, that's exactly how I see it.

The box is still at the body shop. I don't know when it will be done, just kinda hoping they'll get to it soon.

Searching Google, I found a thread on JockeyJournal of some members suggesting a local chrome and polishing shop, so I figured I would give him a shot. I was originally going to have the handles Chromed, but it really wasn't possible without taking the handles apart so Fernando suggested I just have them polished instead. Turned out great, only cost me $20 and they were ready for pickup the next day. (Fernando's Metal Polishing (623) 581-2897)

I was considering having the drawers chromed, but yikes - way too much money..

I didn't notice before, but the handles are made by Nielson Hardware.

Still have no idea who made this box.

Before:

After:

 

[TJT]

The drawers are at powder coat and should be done this week.

The main part of the box is still at the body shop.

We have decided on white for the box and drawers.

 

[geologist]

This project is coming together nicely. I think having white drawers will be a nice way to change things up a bit. You can get white drawer liner (the same type foam type people use for tool boxes) for a dollar a roll at DollarTree. Walmart also has it in several different colors, but I think it's about $4 a roll there.

 

[TJT]

Just a few simple things to do and the box will be complete.

Picked up the box this afternoon from powder coat and it looks great. Really glad we went with white, the polished parts pop and the black accents will go nicely with it. The body work didn't turn out perfect and you have to work at it to get the top to open, but we are extremely happy with the results and those small quirks remind us of the age.

We still do not know the manufacture or model, but that's okay. Looking online it appears to share many characteristics of several brands. We also noticed where the tall (upper right) drawer is, there are mounts inside that will allow three smaller drawers (like the other side.)

Still left to do:

• Get the tumbler keyed
• Paint the drawer pulls black
• Figure out some way to hold the top open without tipping back

Current pics:

 

[RedVise]

Great Project !! Nice results for you and your son !

Brian L.

 

[onebad90lx]

that really looks nice, very impressive. I buy alot of old vintage boxes and there seems to be alot of out there with no identifying marks on them. I do know if that was snap on it would have the model number stamped in it somewhere. Its pretty safe to say though its american made! This has me thinking that I would like to restore one of mine now!