

That’s a heck of a find! Where did you find it? You are correct, way more rare than the plomb version by far.I had a really good May on the hunt. I've been looking for Flying Lady Toolmobile for about 15 years to complete this stack. In my area they are way rarer than the Plomb version. You just never know when something you've been looking for will turn up, and for a ridiculously cheap price.
Found it in Battleground. Believe it or not before I could get my $50 bucks out to pay the guy he says "ok I'll take $40 I just want it gone". No way I would have asked for a discount.That’s a heck of a find! Where did you find it? You are correct, way more rare than the plomb version by far.
Hmmm not looking good ... bummer.I think the P&C version is rarer. The only newer roller box I ever saw was our friend Keith's stack. By the way Jabber I went by his house recently and no one lived there. I hope he's still kicking around.
Are you serious? That's nuts....I paid $40 for my first one that was missing the rollers and had no front cover. Yours looks mint from the photos!Found it in Battleground. Believe it or not before I could get my $50 bucks out to pay the guy he says "ok I'll take $40 I just want it gone". No way I would have asked for a discount.







Well don’t you just ****! Nice findOn my way to the far-off Habitat store, I said to myself, "it's worth the drive, I've found a few cool old boxes at that store." Sure enough, I picked up this 9980 Utility Chest yesterday. It's the first flying-lady box I've found; unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of the logo left. This is as-found-condition.
That chunk of aluminum is holding the hinge up, to match the other side, due to two broken spot welds and the back hinge on that side had the lid hinge barrels peeled off of the pin. Thankfully, I was able to bend them back into shape without breaking them. For the most part it's a solid box, but there's a dip across the front edge and pushing it flat puts ripples in the front lip, so I guess that's the way it will stay. Someone must have stood on it or something. I'm planning on replacing the tack welds with two little rosette welds from the back side, to reattach the front hinge.
It looks like it held small cans of paint. I think most of that rusty dust will wash right off. It's missing a lot of paint on the outside though.
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Here it is in the 1948 catalog, (thanks to the Internet Archive site).
Tom





Wait a minute. All that stuff you're posting in the flashlight thread and you don't carry one in every garage or estate sale you go to? I swear everyone I go to lately is darker than the previous one. Every time I show up with a pocket pen light everyone around me is like oh damn that's a good idea.It was a very dimly-lit (1 bare bulb in a 18 X 25' space), so I wasn't sure what I was picking up.
I do--along with a 10X loupe and some 4-0 steel wool in a ziplock--but this wasn't a planned excursion--just a TOO on the way back from lunch.Wait a minute. All that stuff you're posting in the flashlight thread and you don't carry one in every garage or estate sale you go to? I swear everyone I go to lately is darker than the previous one. Every time I show up with a pocket pen light everyone around me is like oh damn that's a good idea.
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No kidding. I’m beginning to think that I’m a glutton for punishment with thisThat’s a great find. It might take some time to fill it up. It’s good that you’re young.
-Don
I thought so. I’m really surprised by the logo. It’s very nice while the rest of the paint on box is just “ok”… I’m just glad the label survived as wel as it did! Usually you find em all scratched and damaged due to negligence or things being set on themPretty sweet!
It's a tool box. It's called use, not negligence. Once it becomes a "collectable", sure, damage is negligence--but for the rest of its lifetime, it's just use.I thought so. I’m really surprised by the logo. It’s very nice while the rest of the paint on box is just “ok”… I’m just glad the label survived as wel as it did! Usually you find em all scratched and damaged due to negligence or things being set on them
I agree with the sentiment but do have some things to add....You can use something for its intended use without abusing it. You can use something while caring for it in a manner consistent with its use. I'm all for age and patina and I actually prefer that over brand new/mint condition. What I dont like is seeing scale rust from a box just sitting out getting wet or worse yet a box that has been stepped on or smashed just because someone was careless and now a clamshell is pancaked and is only a parts box. Luckily my box doesn't show any signs of neglect, just good old age/use. But I have repaired a lot of damaged boxes over the years or have sadly parted out many beyond fixing boxes.It's a tool box. It's called use, not negligence. Once it becomes a "collectable", sure, damage is negligence--but for the rest of its lifetime, it's just use.
I'd account most of that kind of abuse to after the original owner--who likely spent the better part of a week's pay for the kit.I agree with the sentiment but do have some things to add....You can use something for its intended use without abusing it. You can use something while caring for it in a manner consistent with its use. I'm all for age and patina and I actually prefer that over brand new/mint condition. What I dont like is seeing scale rust from a box just sitting out getting wet or worse yet a box that has been stepped on or smashed just because someone was careless and now a clamshell is pancaked and is only a parts box. Luckily my box doesn't show any signs of neglect, just good old age/use. But I have repaired a lot of damaged boxes over the years or have sadly parted out many beyond fixing boxes.

I found a 5/16” nutdriver at an estate sale yesterday. I never understand plier marks on nutdriver handles. If you can’t turn the nut or bolt with the nutdriver, use another tool, people!
-Don
Posting this here because, well the sticker says I can
Today, I had to work. Not my most favorite activity on a Saturday but I made the best of it. While sitting at my desk and working through various work activities, I perused FMB intermittently in between sulking and sipping my coffee. I noticed a killer looking sale and sent it to my wife...unfortunately she was occupied and not able to go. A while later for some reason I checked the photos again and much to my excitement I spotted something that has been a bit of a unicorn. Last one I saw was 4 years ago and my friend/fellow forum member ran me up on eBay before he eventually won the itemI messaged the seller and asked if he would hold it for me if I paid.... $10 later and it was mine. Dual marked Plvmb/Prvtv 3/8 drive socket box with very nice (albeit, crooked) water slide decal. The white thing on the decal is spider web and will come off.
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