Old Proto box

[drabe]

Picked up this old Proto box at an estate sale, it's kind of crusty but everything functions fine (may leave it as is).
Any body have an idea how old this is (I'm guessing '60s or '70s)?
Is there a sure fire way to tell?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Interesting box. I'd guess '40s or '50s era.

 

[billymade]

Your box looks similar to a earlier PLOMB toolbox, that I found at the flea.... check it out here! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23260&highlight=vintage+plomb+toolbox

 

[drabe]

Billy, that's a really cool find!
Did you restore your box or leave it as is?

I'm not so much concerned about the value of my box (I only paid $5.00 for it), I just don't want to ruin it by re-painting it. I just love the original patina and in this case I'm not sure how I'd restore the original tag. It'd look goofy if I repainted the box and not the tag, so for now it stays like it is.

 

[Bolster]

Yeah, Billy, what did you ever do with that old toolbox? (Snigger.)

FWIW, that box would almost have to be 1950s or later. The "Proto" name came online in 1948-1949. In the photo it's missing the forward tray. You can get a metal fabricator to bang out a replacement out for you.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

I have a Plomb box like that...so early, overlap period when Proto was directly related to Plomb. Mine has the logo stamped in in large letters.

 

[Tool Pants]

And speaking of overlap....