Picked up an old toolbox what so you think?

[blackhawkdriver]

I picked up this old craftsman box yesterday full of tools everything works except the lock thats been punched out. It has about 70 sockets and wrenches mostly old craftsman. Got the the whole deal for 70 bucks. Can anybody tell me what year it is and maybe what its worth (hopefully 70 bucks). I think I'm going to restore it and use it as a drill press table. Here's some pics.







Here are couple of the more interesting tools that were in it. The breaker bar and ratchet are Par-X USA (never heard of them but they're nice).



I think this is a snap on stud puller.



Still have to go through everything else to see whats there. What method would you guys recommend to clean it up. Sandblaster (i don't have)? Wire wheel and paint? Just leave it?

 

[PaulsGarage]

Looks great! My vote: Just wipe it down and leave it like it is.

 

[Big Grouch]

The bottom pic is a stud remover. There might be another insert for different sizes. I used these all the time in a muffler shop. I'd clean up the box, maybe a trip to the do it yourself car wash, and leave it like it is.

 

[Thumper]

Par-X was the cheap line sold by Snap-On. I think you did good on the box.

 

[zkling]

Awesome box and tools, good deal.

It is from the 1950's. It may be date stamped somewhere on the box, possibly behind the badge. I'll let one of the craftsman experts advise you on that though.

Got any more pics of the tools?

As for value, well, kinda hard to say. What makes it a good deal is the tools you got with it. For $70 and all you got I'd say you got a very good deal. the box alone won't have a lot of value outside of a collector IMHO. It is a cool box, but for a guy just looking for a tool box, it doesn't have much storage with only 3 drawers and a bottom compartment.

 

[Big Grouch]

If the stud remover is a Snap On A50, which it looks like, they sell for $91 new. Two inserts available, one for 7/16-1/2, another for 1/4-7/16. Several listed on evilBay around $50. I used mine on exhaust manifold studs, and also for installing studs in transmissions to mount a PTO.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Nice box. Ya done good.

 

[Pumpman1968]

You got your moneys worth. There are quite a few guys around.......and probably a few on here ..........that would gladly pay $70 plus for that box. Clean it up, I bet it doesn't look so bad.

 

[Flatintoone]

You ****!

 

[Arne73]

Nice box! I really like the look of those vintage Craftsman. Great score!

 

[SweetD]

Nice deal. I agree with the others that say don't repaint / refinish. Just clean it up real good and leave the original patina. Maybe a coat of clear if you want, but overall it has a great vintage look as-is!

Dave

 

[BK13]

I'm generally not a fan of vintage boxes, but I dig that one!

 

[tedsters]

nice looking box i like the older craftsman boxs looks really cool and you got a few nice tools also good find most of the time when you find vintage stuff the badges are not in that good of shape the badge on that box looks great

 

[Outlawmws]

As mentioned, open the drawer with the badge, and look where the embossing is, there may be a maker and possibly a date stamp there.

How wide is the box? those were made as narrow as 25" in the early 50's. then 26 or 27 later. Also, are the back corners square or rounded like the front corners?

Clean the box up good, (start benign with something like WD-40) and see where you gt with the finish. Other than greasy gunge, it really does not look that bad...

 

[chris fresh]

just picked up this upper and lower about two weeks ago,both are 58' they are stamped inside the drawers behind the badges

 

[doan]

That box is awesome....looks like it is from the 50's. Love the patina, just put some good casters on it and it will be a great shop cart.

 

[Mickey O]

Little bit more money and you could have gotten yourself a shiny new HF box. I, on the other hand who can't afford the stuff at HF would have bought that box with tools for that price in a heartbeat.

 

[jeffmoss26]

That is too cool!!

 

[blackhawkdriver]

Thanks guys. I measured the box it is 25 1/2 in wide and all corners are rounded. No luck on the date being behind the badge though. Heres the pics of the tools that came in it I still haven't gone through them all.

 

[bryanrj]

Nice vintage box. On the Kennedy tool chest web site they recommend using Murphy's Oil Soap on their chests for cleanup. I suppose that is gentle on the crackle finish, but should gently clean up this beautiful Craftsman piece too.

 

[Outlawmws]

@ 25" wide and rounded all around it shows up in the 1954 Craftsman catalog. I have the same box and topped it with 1/2" steel plate for welding bench. Tip up shelf for vise and small grinder. Also has a hang-on cabinet that holds my Linclon SP-125 PLUS
MIG welder perfectly.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

@ 25" wide and rounded all around it shows up in the 1954 Craftsman catalog. I have the same box and topped it with 1/2" steel plate for welding bench. Tip up shelf for vise and small grinder. Also has a hang-on cabinet that holds my Linclon SP-125 PLUS
MIG welder perfectly.

Outlaw do you have any pics of how you set yours up?

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw do you have any pics of how you set yours up?

I do "somewhere" but finding them will be the trick (I've posted them as well, but not sure a search would find them..)

I'm booked all day tomorrow (at least), but I'l see what I can find.

 

[Outlawmws]

Blodoy hell; got it first try!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2148585&postcount=725

 

[kenburkholz]

What a great score! Clean it up, and enjoy it. the tools can be cleaned up with solvent and with a fine wire brush on a grinder. Ken.