Please Date My Vintage ToolBox

[demiandvm]

Hello All:
I was lucky to pick up this vintage Craftsman tool box from a thrift store this week. Pretty good shape I think, leather handle 90%. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask to tap the knowledge the group to date this box for me. I am interested in filling it with the correct dated tools. I am aware of the different tool marks such as BE, circle H, V, etc. but would prefer to know which tools filled this box so I know what to search for. It appears the box held a socket set with a speed wrench and I would suspect a ratchet and extensions. Thanks for your comments.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Mid 40s or so

 

[AntiqueBen]

Found this Craftsman at the flea market this morning. I've been looking for one of these for a while. It's 26" wide and 20" tall. I can't wait to restore it. Anyone know the era this would be from??

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Look on the floor of the main compartment, near front left corner. May have to scrub the grime off and use a flashlight to cast shadows but there should be a 4 digit date code stamped there.

 

[LB-1911]

Found this Craftsman at the flea market this morning. I've been looking for one of these for a while. It's 26" wide and 20" tall. I can't wait to restore it. Anyone know the era this would be from??

70's era according to an image search.

May find this informative;

Let's Hear it for the Old Gray/Red Sears Craftsman Tool Chests and Cabinets (60s/70s)

Here is one of mine found in 2002-2003 while out for a walk. This is a '68 model six drawer. The logo and tray are wrong and those are copies of the original Sears catalog ads in the top lid.. It sits in my garage with some vintage Craftsman tools my next door neighbor was going to toss. Also...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Walkers]

I think my current tool boxes would get jealous if I started dating your toolboxes, we are not in an open relationship like that.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Thanks JoCo! Scrubbed it off & there it was. October 1967.

 

[alinc100]

Hello All:
I was lucky to pick up this vintage Craftsman tool box from a thrift store this week. Pretty good shape I think, leather handle 90%. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask to tap the knowledge the group to date this box for me. I am interested in filling it with the correct dated tools. I am aware of the different tool marks such as BE, circle H, V, etc. but would prefer to know which tools filled this box so I know what to search for. It appears the box held a socket set with a speed wrench and I would suspect a ratchet and extensions. Thanks for your comments.

This appeared on Facebook Marketplace http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5390856094364863/

 

[d42jeep]

Hello All:
I was lucky to pick up this vintage Craftsman tool box from a thrift store this week. Pretty good shape I think, leather handle 90%. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask to tap the knowledge the group to date this box for me. I am interested in filling it with the correct dated tools. I am aware of the different tool marks such as BE, circle H, V, etc. but would prefer to know which tools filled this box so I know what to search for. It appears the box held a socket set with a speed wrench and I would suspect a ratchet and extensions. Thanks for your comments.

Here is a partial Heritage set I had back in 2016. My box was slightly different. I believe that most of the tools were Circle H.
-Don

 

[Uncle murph]

Found this Craftsman at the flea market this morning. I've been looking for one of these for a while. It's 26" wide and 20" tall. I can't wait to restore it. Anyone know the era this would be from??

Nice find, I have two bottom boxes with the same paint scheme,based on previous owners stickers I would say late sixties or very early seventies.

 

[d42jeep]

Hello All:
I was lucky to pick up this vintage Craftsman tool box from a thrift store this week. Pretty good shape I think, leather handle 90%. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask to tap the knowledge the group to date this box for me. I am interested in filling it with the correct dated tools. I am aware of the different tool marks such as BE, circle H, V, etc. but would prefer to know which tools filled this box so I know what to search for. It appears the box held a socket set with a speed wrench and I would suspect a ratchet and extensions. Thanks for your comments.

Your box likely came with Circle H tools like these I found at a yard sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Found this Craftsman at the flea market this morning. I've been looking for one of these for a while. It's 26" wide and 20" tall. I can't wait to restore it. Anyone know the era this would be from??

That is definitely going to be a project!

 

[AntiqueBen]

I finished the tool box last weekend...or at least for now. I wanted to keep the old look. So I sanded the outside to just knock of the surface rust, took the handles to the wire wheel, painted the drawers with some Craftsman red & touched up the logo with white paint. I'm calling it done for now. I'm liking the old look. I put 2 coats of Boiled Linseed Oil on the outside. Here's some before & after pics.

 

[Farmer J.]

I finished the tool box last weekend...or at least for now. I wanted to keep the old look. So I sanded the outside to just knock of the surface rust, took the handles to the wire wheel, painted the drawers with some Craftsman red & touched up the logo with white paint. I'm calling it done for now. I'm liking the old look. I put 2 coats of Boiled Linseed Oil on the outside. Here's some before & after pics.

Before you began it looked awful, neglected and decaying and now it looks good, old, original, and preserved.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Thanks Farmer J. I finally purchased something I've been looking to find for a while. I found a Craftsman 3/4 socket set from the 60's in it's original box. All the sockets are =v= & the quick release ratchet has the oil port and stamped patent 1967, which means it was the first version of the quick release made by Moore Drop Forge before Easco took over for Craftsman. I should receive it by the end of this week. I can't wait to clean up the original tool box... keeping the old look of course

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Okay.
Here is something I recently got.

I was told that the crown logo was used from the 1960s - 1970s (maybe early 70s, I don’t know).
This picture might give those that know all the information needed.



The whole thing.


Here is the tote tray. I did not know they made a version with three sections.
This is not how I intend to set it up. I just got excited when it arrived and tried putting some tools in to see what and how things could fit.


The tools do give a bit of context to the proportions and volume of the box.





I am not sure but I think the box is bent. The lid does not seem to want to swing all the way open.
Also when closing it seems to stick on the front left corner.
Everything works but it’s been stepped on somewhere in it’s life.

So let me know your theories of where this stands on the Space/Time continuum.
Thanks for your help.