The tools are older than and not original to that box.
That box is a military WW2 era toolbox, government stock number 41-B-1840. They were called 'flip tops' or 'gull wings' due to the handles. They were the standard box used for a dozen different US Army tool-sets, including mechanics.
Every mechanic at a second echelon motor pool maintenance shop was issued one Motor Vehicle Mechanics Tool-Set, later called a General Mechanics Tool-Set, and, from the 1980's on, a General Mechanics Toolkit, or GMTK, for short. (They are still known as a GMTK today, but they come in an indestructible three-drawer Pelican case on wheels.)
All the tools - 1/2-drive socket set, 1/4-drive socket set, ignition set, hammers, punches, files, several screwdrivers, pliers, hacksaw, feeler gages, an oiler, and a brush - about 114 pieces at its peak, were put inside this box, and a padlock was slipped around the handles, because every mechanic was accountable for his own tools, and we all know that the only thing a mechanic covets more than his own tools are the tools in another mechanic's box!
I've put a few together before.
They weigh about 60 pounds full!
See the hole in the top tray? That's for the spout of a 1/2-pint spring bottom steel oil can. The oil can was put in the bottom and the tray slipped over the top of the spout to keep the can upright in the bottom. Like this…
They were made by several companies, including Hamilton Metal Products (Ohio), Union Steel Chest (LeRoy, NY), Duplex Mfg Co (Sherman, NY) and E. J. McAleer (Philly).
Based on the shape of the tray handle and the number of hinge elements, I'm pretty sure yours is a McAleer. A lot of their boxes were sold to the Signal Corps.
The same style box was sold commercially in the 1950's, including by Kennedy, and you still see them around, but they don't have those ornate corner supports on the bottom, and the handles are riveted not welded to the lid.
Anyway – nice box!
I'd be very curious to know if yours has any remnants of a paper or foil mfgr’s label (usually inside one of the lids) or if it's embossed anywhere.
