Older C-man tool chest question

[mtnwkr]

I've had this older heavy duty 12 drawer top box for a while, bought a newer 6 drawer bottom bb box to set it on till I found a bottom to match. Then found this other 9 drawer bottom on craigslist for a good deal and picked it up thinking it would match the top but it doesn't. Wondering if you all could tell me where it falls in the c-man line-up? The drawer trim is different, kind of concave, and the C-man logo is smaller. Does this indicate a lesser model? I thought Id like having more drawers but after starting to move some tools in all those 2" deep drawers are kind of useless. Also, the top drawer is a work surface. I thought I could just flip it over and have a drawer but thats not the case. Wish I had a chest with all 3" and a couple 6" drawers. Thinking I might put this bottom cabinet back on craigslist and keep using the new 6 drawer BB chest.
Just thinking out loud... What do you all think?

 

[zkling]

I use to have (went to a friend) the same 12D top box but mine had the fold down front cover. Not a real sturdy box IMHO. They are early to mid 90's IIRC.

I think the rounded vs concave drawer pull covers indicate age. I'm pretty sure the concave, seemed thicker, were earlier than the convex. Something ~early 90's was the switch over. All of those boxes should be stamped date and COO. The bottom boxes are stamped on the bottom frame rail on the front. The top box is stamped on the bottom of the top compartment, left hand side. I personally like the thin drawers. To me the 12top and 9 bottom like you have is the ultimate setup giving the most in^2 storage per floor space taken up. All 3 of those boxes were made by Waterloo for Sears.

Why don't you like the 2" deep drawers? If you have the room I'd keep one box as the bottom for your 12D top and then use the other one as a tool cart. Maybe put a wood top on it for a work surface. Just my 2¢

 

[mtnwkr]

Ahh.. Didn't know that the dates were stamped on. The top is a 98, the bottom a 92. Thanks for that tip! I feel that the top box is sturdier than the bottom. I notice the rear lip of the draws is rolled on the top and not on the bottom cabinet.

 

[rob1200]

I have two of those Craftsman cabinets (Waterloo, made in USA, with concave drawer trim). Mine have a standard top drawer instead of the work surface. They are stamped 1994 and 1996.

I really like these cabinets. No ball bearings, but very solidly built. The drawer heights work for my needs.

 

[zkling]

Ahh.. Didn't know that the dates were stamped on. The top is a 98, the bottom a 92. Thanks for that tip! I feel that the top box is sturdier than the bottom. I notice the rear lip of the draws is rolled on the top and not on the bottom cabinet.

IDK I like the layout of the 12D top, but it seemed the larger drawers were pretty flimsy due to them being 16" deep. Here is mine. IIRC the top was a 1993 or so and the bottom, same as the cman but with a waterloo badge, is a 1985. Try measuring the thickness of the actual steel in the drawers, vs just looking at the back edge.