On Hoarding and Kennedy boxes

[ssdave]

....

 

[davethorik]

I'd have a hard time parting with it too. You don't see many that old...however I am partial to Kennedy boxes, and work out of one. Always have a soft spot for Ohio tool manufacturers as well, So my opinion may be biased.

 

[4xdog]

I know how you feel.

I've not been able to part with my father's old Craftsman toolbox, despite it being rusted through in places and with damage to the handle. I'll at least salvage the badge when I stop hoarding it...

 

[bczygan]

The more the merrier.

My latest grab for $70.

Bill

 

[bmwrd0]

I see all of those "clean all clutter" shows and I think, Why? I don't have problem holding onto things, why are people in such a rush to get rid of stuff?

Love the pulls on that old Kennedy.

 

[RTM]

I have 4 or 5 Kennedy’s awaiting rehabilitation, and I don’t see a problem, especially those with the nice hardware.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I think Kennedy boxes are good quality but the prices asked for them seem to be more than the perceived value.

 

[Motorman55]

Nice old Kennedy box and still doing its job.

 

[driftpin]

I have several, two machinist's chests, a mechanic's box and a hip-roof box. I had a carpenter's box but it rusted-through, finally. All cheaply-acquired, all in decent shape when found.

 

[thehorse13]

I'm not a fan of Kennedy boxes and even I would gladly keep that old brass handled gem as is.

 

[captain14]

Kelp the old Kennedy toolbox. Why would strip and discard an old trusted friend like that?

I’m sure more than once while in the workshop, you just stopped and admired it.

 

[Packard V8]

I have been using Kennedy boxes for fifty years and have never seen one as old as yours with the brass pulls.

Kennedy has made a wide variety of mechanic's and machinist's boxes. I buy all the 7-drawer machinist's chests for storage for all the small stuff; drills, reamers, punches, chisels, hole saws, router bits, files, taps and dies.

jack vines

 

[1982fxr]

Damn when is that from? Never seen one like that...

 

[RTM]

I suspect those are user added, somewhere along the way. I have an old square top Kennedy, and it has the same boring pulls as modern ones, just better material, if I recall correctly.

 

[ssdave]

There's one on ebay at the moment, they want $450 for it, that's got the same pulls and logo and matches mine exactly. I think the pulls are original. The patents pending implies early production.

 

[bmwrd0]

Those pulls show up in the catalogs from the twenties. Very nice.

 

[Packard V8]

There's one on ebay at the moment, they want $450 for it, that's got the same pulls and logo and matches mine exactly. I think the pulls are original. The patents pending implies early production.

http://https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kennedy-Machinist-Tool-Box-Brass-Pulls-Industrial-Age-Antique-Very-Rare/324063416928?hash=item4b73af5260:g:kWsAAOSwbl9eOYZY

 

[ssdave]

http://https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kennedy-Machinist-Tool-Box-Brass-Pulls-Industrial-Age-Antique-Very-Rare/324063416928?hash=item4b73af5260:g:kWsAAOSwbl9eOYZY

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kennedy-Machinist-Tool-Box-Brass-Pulls-Industrial-Age-Antique-Very-Rare/324063416928?hash=item4b73af5260:g:kWsAAOSwbl9eOYZY

Fixed it to work.

I'd pay $3 for that box, too. Maybe $10 to account for inflation. It's in slightly better condition than mine was, I think. Hard to tell. That'd give me 18 of the pulls, instead of 9. Still would be hard for me to part out the boxes.

 

[RTM]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Kennedy-Machinist-Tool-Box-Brass-Pulls-Industrial-Age-Antique-Very-Rare/324063416928?hash=item4b73af5260:g:kWsAAOSwbl9eOYZY

.

Shows what I know. I thought mine was really old.

 

[Shane6377]

The 7 drawer Kennedy machinist chests are the best. Love Kennedy boxes and it looks like you've got a couple of good ones.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Toolmaker65]

Both boxes look pretty darn good. I have quite a few Kennedy and Gerstner boxes that I use at work and home. Both of yours would be definite keepers in my book. Two boxes do not make you a hoarder. Two thousand would just put you in the 'advanced collector' category.

Sent from my LM-G820 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t have a problem with hoarding Kennedy boxes, I just buy them and keep them.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A few more.
-Don

 

[MFolks]

I had almost the same set up,but the cabinet on the left was rotated,and mounted 90 degrees with wheels under it. My late wife passed away after 27 years of marriage and rather than have my druggie, 50 years old stepson get into the tools,I gave them away to my friends Nephew. The workbench I made with doubled 2"X4" legs, with a 72" X 30" Grizzly butcher block top and lots of tools.

 

[erimille]

From the pulls it looks like you have a box that's approaching 100 years old. It's similar to mine from the 1920's (see below).

That is one heck of a garage sale fine at any price. Well done!

--e

 

[Provincial]

I just bought some old tools that came in an old Kennedy hip-roof box. I thought the box was somewhat old, but now am wondering if it was made about the time of the 1920's tools it contained?

The tools probably date from the mid- to late-1920's.

 

[Provincial]

Here are some more photos. Mostly of the tray.

The box is painted a dark olive drab. It seems to be original paint.

The hardware seems similar to the early box shown above.

 

[erimille]

I haven't had much luck with specific dating on these Kennedy boxes (i'm asking for help on this in another thread), but happy to share the rough patterns I've figured out so far ...

The leather handle is an indicator that the box was made before the 1940's. The pulls and hinges help date these boxes to decades, but as to specifics beyond that I'm less clear. Tray configuration, colors and textures do not seem to help as much regarding dating.

From looking at the hinges in your picture, i'm guessing a little elbow grease would reveal these are brass. If so, and from the design, i'd say it's also from the 1920's and inline with the tools you mentioned being in the box.

If i learn more, i'll report back. If someone knows more, chime in

--e

 

[RTM]

From looking at the hinges in your picture, i'm guessing a little elbow grease would reveal these are brass.

Or maybe a magnet?

 

[Provincial]

The latches on my hip-roof box are steel, plated with brass.

 

[d42jeep]

Kennedy went from leather to steel handles in 1949 or 1950. Jock, the Kennedy Kits tag on your box looks pretty early.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

Size-wise, it is a 118. One of the catalog pages from 1945 says that number was no longer made then.

The tray has the full-length handle like your 1942 ad, rather than the shorter-length version shown in the ads I see from the teens and twenties.

The tray may or may not be original to the box. I'll have to look at it closely.