Snap-On shorty side box, KR286

[Sleeper]

I recently picked up a short (25” tall) made in Canada 3 drawer side cabinet that’s stamped KR286. From what I’ve seen online there is supposed to be a suffix like 286A or 286D but the stamping on mine is so shallow that the suffix didn’t print. It looks similar to the 286D I’ve seen online but I wonder if anyone can tell for sure what series/year it is by looking at it?

Anybody know what the holes on top were meant for? Was this box originally part of some system or just meant to be a shorter alternative to the regular 32” tall side boxes?

Anybody know how to get the slides out? I’ve never seen slide retainers like this on any of my other Snappy boxes.

Interested to hear anything people know about this thing.

Thanks

 

[crewchief888]

mid 80's i remember seeing a lot of "made in canada" snap on boxes that weren't stamp well. i have a similar box but mine has full drawers.
the new style logo came out in '85 or so

 

[Sleeper]

Interesting about the logo. So it’s probably pre 1985.

The slides came out easily. Probably the easiest slide removal I’ve ever done. You just pull out on the rearmost tab which pulls the spring away from the drawer and allows the retaining dimple on the drawer to pass by and the drawer to come out.

I still can’t figure out the holes on top. There are some sort of reinforcing plates welded to the inside of the box around the holes. Maybe they were there to spread the load of something intended to be mounted on top?

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Early 1980's - If I recall it's a 1981 model.
3 drawer with an open area at the bottom

 

[crewchief888]

Interesting about the logo. So it’s probably pre 1985.

The slides came out easily. Probably the easiest slide removal I’ve ever done. You just pull out on the rearmost tab which pulls the spring away from the drawer and allows the retaining dimple on the drawer to pass by and the drawer to come out.

I still can’t figure out the holes on top. There are some sort of reinforcing plates welded to the inside of the box around the holes. Maybe they were there to spread the load of something intended to be mounted on top?

does the bottom of the box have a set of holes in it?
if so, they may be predrilled holes for stacking 2 boxes.

 

[Sleeper]

No holes or reinforcing plates on the bottom.

does the bottom of the box have a set of holes in it?
if so, they may be predrilled holes for stacking 2 boxes.

 

[Oldsnapper]

KR286 without a letter suffix tells us that it is the original design. KR286A shows that Snap On has made some change to the way the box was made. Each change of the letter indicates further changes. A KR286D shows that there have been 4 changes in the design of the box.

 

[cgrutt]

Just guessing but maybe they sold a solid top to use as a work surface that would be mounted through holes. My snap on top box is bolted to lower roll cab through factory placed holes.