Old wooden tool box

[CTyankee]

Picked this up today at a local church tag sale. I certainly wasn't the first person there, so I was surprised when I came across it. And for the asking price of 5 dollars, I didn't bother haggling. The box measures about 18 x 8 x 6 inches and is all dovetailed. The pictures of the contents didn't come out very well, but I'll try an post them again after I clean the stuff up. Except for the chisels, probably nothing I'll ever use, but it was impossible to pass up.(thanks to all you here).

 

[CTyankee]

Pics of some of the tools. Still looking for marks on box.

Small 6 in Trimont pipe wrench I have soaking..seems like the jaw(s) were made to pivot?

Looks like a promotional putty knife...haven't found any info on it

Neat hand saw with 2 blades..no markings that I can find

25 ft cloth tape measure..no info yet

2 ft metal folding rule..made in Germany

Crescent wrench....Peck Stow and Wilcox...age?

Got some marked files and chisels and some whatsits....will post later

 

[nine4gmc]

Nice old box, don't you love digging through years of accumulation?!?! Good Save

 

[jjjrmx5]

Keep soaking that Trimo in Evaporust or vinegar.

I have a tiny Trimo 8"er that took some time to free up.

Once cleaned and lubed they work like a champ.


Works the same as any pipe wrench.
Bottom jaw has a metal peen over pin so like mine I want to believe that in some way they were replaceable/repairable.
Replacing the top jaw just meant buying a new removable jaw and slapping it in.

 

[Outlawmws]

Keep soaking that Trimo in Evaporust or vinegar.

I have a tiny Trimo 8"er that took some time to free up.

Once cleaned and lubed they work like a champ.


Works the same as any pipe wrench.
Bottom jaw has a metal peen over pin so like mine I want to believe that in some way they were replaceable/repairable.
Replacing the top jaw just meant buying a new removable jaw and slapping it in.

This ^^^^

Up til just a couple of years ago, OSH stocked replacement jaws/parts for Ridgid pipe wrenches. Now, you can only get parts from Reed (interchangeable with Ridgid)

 

[Outlawmws]

And don't you **** CT... (Well done!)

 

[zkling]

That is super sweet. I would love to talk to the craftsman that built and used that box. If that box itself could talk I bet it would tell some interesting stories.

For $5 YOU **** for sure.

 

[ZRX61]

Lot of desirable/collectable tools there

 

[jeffmoss26]

That's awesome!

 

[rick carpenter]

Great score CT, you'll find more uses for the pipe wrench than you think.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Crescent wrench....Peck Stow and Wilcox...age?

Maybe 1930s. What writing or logo is on the other side of it?

 

[bindernut]

Throw everything back in the box. I'll double your $$ & pay you to ship it to at Louis! Looks awesome!!

 

[msgtsmithret]

Man that is a cool find! I'm drooling on the keyboard.

 

[CTyankee]

Thanks for the comments and feedback...

Maybe 1930s. What writing or logo is on the other side of it?

The other side says -8 in. angle adjustment and has PEXTO printed inside an oval.

Here's a few more tools I found marks on.
The fine file I believe says Disston on it.

The chisel says W Butcher - cast steel with a picture of an arrow...the other side I can't make out.

The rough file says HELLER NUCUT with a picture of a horse and a number I can't make out..

My favorite piece is what I believe is a homemade plumb bob...neat to know I'm probably the first to unwind it since it's previous owner coiled it up for the last time god knows when.

Got some more stuff I haven't sorted through yet I'll post later.

The box is in need of some attention..I mis-spoke when I said it was dovetailed. It's more of a finger joint...I'm wondering if it is indeed homemade, or a manufactured piece. More to come on this.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

OMG I would have gave $5.00 just for the box.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Just me, I would clean with mineral spirits, then lightly sand it or use scotch brite pad. (red or even gray)
Don't try to get it perfect you understand. Just lightly.
Then a light coat of shellac made from flakes, let dry, lightly knock down the dust nibs with a grey scotch brite pad.
Light coat of johnson paste wax, is opitional. If you find it's too glossy with the wax, reduce the sheen with grey or white scotch brite pad.
You won't be able to tell it was "refinished"

 

[xfrk]

Other side of the chisel says Sheffield, England.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Other side of the chisel says Sheffield, England.

I have several Marples brand chisels that were made in Sheffield, England.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

I have several Marples brand chisels that were made in Sheffield, England.

those were the good ones, Iwrin (sp?) brought them out.

 

[WWIIjeep]

The chisel says W Butcher - cast steel with a picture of an arrow...the other side I can't make out.

Here's information about W. Butcher:

http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUK/Butcher/history/hReview/02-History-Butcher.asp

Here's information about Marples:

http://www.marples.co.uk/page2.html

No relation between the companies except that they were located in the same place. Sheffield was a noted steel processing and manufacturing center in England and many companies that produced edge tools were located there.

 

[lbgradwell]

An excellent buy!

The rough file says HELLER NUCUT with a picture of a horse and a number I can't make out..

I believe the "numbers" are letters saying "PATENTED".

 

[Cougar67]

The plumb bob appears to be an old fashioned window sash weight and the cord appears to be sash cord. It does look like he was using it as a plumb bob. They were once free and plentiful.

I've heard that apprentice carpenters were required to make a nice tool box as a final test of their skill before striking out on their own.