Request Help Identifying a Machinist Tool Chest

[Dan Cobian]

Looking to buy this from a local CL advertisement. It was advertised as a Kennedy but it looked “off” so I emailed Kennedy customer support the photos and they stated that it was not one of theirs based on the photos.
It doesn’t look like any Snap-On chests (and they all seem to be red anyway).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BTL-A4]

Does it have the crinkle paint? What type of drawer slides? Can you go look at it? I "think" Kennedy's have the model stamped somewhere, but I'm not home to check.

I would advise looking at prices of tool chests in your area, going to look at this and then making an offer at the low end. The seller may honestly think they have a Kennedy. You can tell them they don't and see what they say.

If it's a good chest then get it.

 

[JSharp]

That is a Waterloo

 

[1982fxr]

That is a Waterloo

This ^^^

 

[IndyGarage]

I don't know if Waterloo make Kennedy, but that looks like a Kennedy to me. Brown crinkle paint is the giveaway.

 

[Packard V8]

I don't know if Waterloo make Kennedy, but that looks like a Kennedy to me. Brown crinkle paint is the giveaway.

No, Kennedy makes Kennedy. Some Kennedys are red wrinkle paint.


Agree 3X, the pulls indicate Waterloo. FWIW, Waterloo made boxes for at least a dozen different brand names over the years. IIRC, those included a Craftsman and a Grainger/Dayton machinist chest in brown wrinkle finish.

jack vines

 

[Alinnh]

The side cabinet looks exactly like my craftsman except mine is craftsman red and was made in 1985.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

I don't know if Waterloo make Kennedy, but that looks like a Kennedy to me. Brown crinkle paint is the giveaway.

You can buy brown crinkle paint at the hardware store.

 

[IndyGarage]

You can buy brown crinkle paint at the hardware store.

True, but the inside of the drawers and cabinets are painted. It looks like a factory paint job to me.

I think at one time you could order Craftsman boxes in the crinkle brown too, so probably just a factory brown painted waterloo.

 

[Bockscar]

It's clearly a Snap On.....has a badge on the third drawer

True, but

 

[rayik]

I have a Craftsman Professional tool chest from the mid 90s that is different from the photo, but is the exact same color and wrinkle finish

 

[driftpin]

Some Kennedys are red wrinkle paint.

Like this modified workbench, w/original paint. I got it free, it was being discarded, and I picked it off a pile outside a warehouse. I fabricated some legs and a bottom shelf. Awhile after I had repaired this one, I saw someone advertising an original one for $500 on social media locally.



As soon as I saw the O.P.'s box, I thought it was probably a Waterloo. The welded construction and the shape of the tabs is what made me come to that conclusion.

 

[vssjim]

Waterloo defiantly made brown crinkle finish boxes geared towards the machinist customer at one time and those drawer pulls are old style Waterloo for sure .

 

[goldtang]

The handles look like the ones on my stack- on tool trolly I have no idea of the age but I have had it for about 22 years

 

[Dan Cobian]

All,

Very, very helpful. I really appreciate the help. Again, it was advertised as a Kennedy. I told the seller it was not a Kennedy based on the feedback I got from Kennedy customer service (they were awesome by the way). He said he had initially listed it as a Snap-On but someone told him it was Kennedy (which is what it looked like to me too).

I’ll let the seller know.

Thanks again!

-Dan

 

[RoninB4]

I have a Waterloo machinists chest I bought in 1979 with wrinkled brown paint and different pull handles. They were cheaper than a Kennedy. They changed some things not long after that and there were other imitators from Asia in the market back then too.

 

[jmarkwolf]

I have a wrinkle brown Craftsman that looks exactly like my Kennedys.

 

[cowboy73]

The top corners of the main box look like my dad's Craftsman box. I vote for Waterloo.

 

[Dan Cobian]

Thanks again all- I even found the exact Waterloo tool chest (minus the custom (Snap-On label).

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I've never seen the semi-circle handles on Kennedy boxes.

 

[firstyearchevelle]

Yup. Waterloo. I have a Williams badged one.