Toolbox ID for a new-ish guy

[cinco]

Hi all. I've been reading this site for a while now and the main result seems to be that I have apparently ruined my brain. One byproduct of this is that I'm now wondering about the brand and age of my toolbox instead of simply contenting myself with putting things in it and taking things out of it. Another byproduct is that I'm now slightly more inclined to pass over my semi-modern Macs and grab my garage sale 1945 Wright when I need a 3/8" ratchet, but that doesn't really have anything to do with the subject at hand (pun... sort of).

So anyway, the box. It was given to me years ago by a former boss and was owned by his father long before that. I do have the matching top chest, though it's at a different location and I don't currently have photos (at my mother's house so I can find things when she wants me to do some work over there). There seem to be no markings visible on it other than the swoopy design/possible logo on the drawer cover panel (I haven't yet closely examined the back, etc.), though I can tell you that it used to be red at some point in the distant past (not much of a surprise). So if anyone recognizes a familiar design element or is capable of pointing me in a likely direction I'd appreciate the info.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[FJ 432]

Huot Design. Probably made by Kennedy but that's a familiar design where Huot put their logo inside the oval. Hope that helps.

 

[FJ 432]

What's throwing me is the three drawers on top but the bottom is Huot. Still around but they've always had another manufacturer make their boxes. Great tool and die company; US made.

Figure 1970's early 1980's.

 

[FJ 432]

Last comment. We receive comments from a gentlemen with Huot who stops by from time to time. He may chime in and it's his family's business. Quality products.

 

[cinco]

Ha! Right you are, and now I have something to read up on since I've never actually heard of that company before. The three upper drawers are actually part of the whole thing, not a separate intermediate chest - there appears to have been a separate locking cover for them which has been lost to time. I suppose the drawer pulls or the drawers themselves could have been replaced at some time but I'd lean toward that being unlikely as the construction seems to match everything else. Thanks for the assist, and how odd that it should come from someone ~60 miles south of me.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Since the ahndles on the top 3 dwrs don't match the bottom, I'd start to look around for a possible weld seam and grind marks where two boxes may have been weled together to make one.

I see it done all the time on mfgr floors or in mtal fab shops , especially in the old days.

Check the paint color inside each box as well and see if they match (the grey looks like a repaint.)

Modding boxes like that in the 50's, 60's and 70's and even earlier were not uncommon.

Side box handle is different from others as well but key lock appears the same as bottom.

I think a little sleuthing as to what is what in that 3 box arrange is necessary. How things appear my not be what they truely are.

 

[FJ 432]

Greeley? Ft. Collins? That's a nice box. I've never seen the three drawers before and the handles are throwing me off.

 

[FJ 432]

Since the ahndles on the top 3 dwrs don't match the bottom, I'd start to look around for a possible weld seam and grind marks where two boxes may have been weled together to make one.

I see it done all the time on mfgr floors or in mtal fab shops , especially in the old days.

Check the paint color inside each box as well and see if they match (the grey looks like a repaint.)

Modding boxes like that in the 50's, 60's and 70's and even earlier were not uncommon.

Side box handle is different from others as well but key lock appears the same as bottom.

I think a little sleuthing as to what is what in that 3 box arrange is necessary. How things appear my not be what they truely are.

Good call. I think you may be right. The bottom I'm 90% sure was made by Kennedy. I have one similar.

 

[cinco]

I think jjjrmx5 hit it. I was thrown off because there aren't any hints of a seam anywhere between the two sections. When you start looking at the actual construction, though, you find that they must have bent and welded new steel to the vertical corners along with adding welded plates to cover the seam between the separate boxes. It's fairly well done and seemed a perfectly reasonable way for a factory to construct a roll-cab before I had any points of reference. Depending on my mood in years to come I may actually split them apart and restore the whole mess, but for now it's a work-box rather than a showpiece so I'll leave it be. Pretty spiffy that the Huot section was made by Kennedy - I also have two of their machinist's chests in good original condition and it's no secret why they're still in business.

Yep, Greeley. Sympathy donations go in the jar to the right .

 

[FJ 432]

I think jjjrmx5 hit it. I was thrown off because there aren't any hints of a seam anywhere between the two sections. When you start looking at the actual construction, though, you find that they must have bent and welded new steel to the vertical corners along with adding welded plates to cover the seam between the separate boxes. It's fairly well done and seemed a perfectly reasonable way for a factory to construct a roll-cab before I had any points of reference. Depending on my mood in years to come I may actually split them apart and restore the whole mess, but for now it's a work-box rather than a showpiece so I'll leave it be. Pretty spiffy that the Huot section was made by Kennedy - I also have two of their machinist's chests in good original condition and it's no secret why they're still in business.

Yep, Greeley. Sympathy donations go in the jar to the right .

UNC graduate. No sympathy from me, I loved Greeley!