Snap-On K55-R Tool Box Help

[zorz89]

I picked up this snap on toolbox at my local Habitat for Humanity the other day ($20!). Looks to be a K55-R from 1941 -1946 although I don't know how to nail down the date anymore than that.

I'm looking to restore it as a winter project and give it some much needed attention. I have two questions and hoping ya'll may be able to help. Are those holes on the front panel original or did it have a handle there when sold? I don't see a handle looking at the original catalog. I'd also like to find a replacement lock cylinder but don't know where to even begin finding a part number or model that may be compatible.

Sorry for the poor formatting of the links, as it's my first post I couldn't directly link the album.

https://i.imgur.com/FNrkE3Q.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gGDyvRR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/x2OIR8P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OnFWV2D.jpg
https://imgur.com/gallery/QwHgJwG

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Holes are there to grab front plate

 

[thehorse13]

Welcome, and you ****. the badge on that box is worth 100 bucks by itself.

 

[lilredex]

Welcome to the forum! That is a fine looking S.O. for $20.

Anyone looking at the pictures, go to the last one,it brings up the album.

https://imgur.com/gallery/QwHgJwG

That lock hole is known as a "single D", although you could use the more common "double D" style. You can find them in most hardware stores and adapt. Some of my cam locks are shown that might do the job.

 

[zorz89]

Awesome, thanks for the info. I guess I'll plan on doing a little bit of fabricating to get a latch mechanism that works.

 

[NEVER 2 MANY]

I have a similar box. It was my grandfathers who according to my grandmother worked as a mechanic for the Frisbee pie company in Bridgeport CT sometime after WW II. The factory closed in 1957, and he kept the box. along with some tools. After leaving the Navy in 1987, where I was an engineman, I was looking for my first job as a mechanic, but had no tools, and little money. My grandmother offered me my grandfathers tool box, and told me the story ( he passed in 1985 when I was deployed ) This along with a cheap Chinese roller became my first working tool box. As I upgraded boxes, I kept that box along with some of the tools that I didn't break or loose because it was special to me. Since retiring, I have started cleaning and restoring the tools, and making it kind of a tribute tool box.