Opinions on Lyon Tool Boxes

[tombell572]

This is my first post but I've been doing quite a bit of reading here since I discovered this excellent forum-I hang out mostly on the Practical Machinest Antique Machinery site. I'm organizing my retirement shop which will support my small but growing collection of British motorcycles which I both restore and ride. I also volunteer in the restoration shop of the Nassau County Fire Museum and bring home any jobs that we're not set up to handle there. In addition, I have a small basement machine shop and in addition to my own work do jobs for a few local bike shops.

I'll be looking at a used Lyon tool box and rolling chest that seems identical to tedsters' shown in his post in April 2014. I'm not familiar with the brand but the price, condition from photos, price and USA manufacture seem right. Owner says the age is about 15 years. I would appreciate any input that anyone here might have regarding Lyon tool boxes.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: i'd like to tell you that Lyon makes a bad cabinet so i could maybe buy the cabinets you found since i'm in your area, but i wouldn't do that. i have a friend that is a member here that isn't as active as i am on the forum that has at least one full of Snap on tools. it is next to a Vidmar cabinet and both are close to 6 foot tall and i truly like the Lyon better. drawers are solid and i like the insides a bit better. I'd probably buy some if i could find some nice used ones because they are built with amazing quality.

i actually first came across the Lyon name on a cabinet when i was helping clear out a warehouse and the owner sold me a cabinet. i call it my "little" cabinet because I weighed it on his scale after i pulled away the pallet jack and it was 559 pounds. it is 4 foot wide, 2 foot deep and 6.5 foot tall and each of the 5 shelves has had more than 2000 pounds of gym weight plates on them and only scratches so far.

if you decide not to buy those Lyon cabinets please PM me so i can maybe take a look at them.

also if you have pictures of yours or Tedsters if he doesn't see this thread that would help others and i'd like to see them too.

good luck and also welcome to the forum and hope you stick around to post and participate in our conversations.

 

[1foxracing]

I have no comment on the Lyon boxes but be sure to put some photo's of your motorcycle collection please.

 

[tombell572]

Drivesitfar, thanks for your reply. Just to clarify, this would be in New York, where we live most of the time. My wife's family had a house in Portland that we now own and we spend an increasing amount of time there. It may become a permanent move when taxes finally drive us out of NY. I dont have any pictures but the the unit is about 26+ inches wide. Not all that big but about the right size for my needs (ignoring the rule that material-tools in this case-always expands to exceed the available space).

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: most likely each drawer will hold anything you can fit in them no matter how heavy so that might help your decision.

I like to get to the Oregon coast a couple times every year so make sure to take a drive out there and maybe stay a night or two at Cannon Beach or Lincoln City if you have time. it is great weather it's warm and sunny or stormy.

cheers

 

[Brad J.]

I have three old Lyon cabinets that are 30" by 30" by 30" tall. They each have 5 drawers with heavy slides. Nice cabinets that are nice as the 3 listas and 2 vidmars that I have to compare them to. I'd buy them.

 

[fatfillup]

I own Lyon, Lista, Vidmar and Stanley Vidmar. The Lyons are fine though one I have had a rough life. You can't go wrong with any of the above brands.

 

[zkling]

Depends on which ones you are talking about. If they are standard industrial cabinets, they are in the same class as the standard lista, vidmar and the like. Lyon made tons of different cabinets over the years from clerical office to industrial.

 

[tombell572]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I dont know the particular model that the seller has-that will have to wait until I get a look.

Brad, I will post some bike pix as soon as I figure out the procedure. Could sosmeone point me to the directions for posting photos?

Thanks again,
Tom B.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tom: Might I suggest starting a new thread in garage gallery and post pics of your garage and bikes even if a work in progress. I post pics by clicking on paperclip just above where you write your posts and download one at a time sort of lil an email. There are other methods but I think its the easiest and ask more questions if you need help.

 

[FJ 432]

I own Lyon, Lista, Vidmar and Stanley Vidmar. The Lyons are fine though one I have had a rough life. You can't go wrong with any of the above brands.

I agree and I would add to your list Equipto.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

I use an old Lyon industrial rolling cart with a drawer as my welding cart. That stuff was built very well back then.

I'm a British bike guy too, so post a few pics of your 'sickles!

 

[tombell572]

Some older bike pictures have been posted under a new thread--Photo Test-My'68 BSA A65. Missing is a '62 BSA B40 350cc that I just dragged home. Thanks for asking

Tom B.

"I prefer the IBM method: It's Better Manually."

 

[joecon]

I have a lyon tool box and it is great box it is the same as a waterloo.
Years ago lyon bought waterloo and sold their boxes under their name also.

 

[Linda@Lista]

@tombell572 let me know if you have any questions about Lista or Vidmar cabinets - I'd be happy to help. @fatfillup thanks for the Lista & Vidmar shout out!

 

[tombell572]

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I checked out the Lyon tool box and bought it immediately. It had been purchased by the original owner about 20 years ago and used in his job as a car audio system installer so it's never known grease and is in outstanding shape. It is substantially built and will suit my needs well. He was asking $175 and I felt that was fair given its condition.

Thank you everyone here who provided comments and opinions.

Tom B.