Vintage MAC roll cab

[ramtuff]

My Uncle might be getting rid of his old MAC box, and I was wondering if anyone knew what model it is, and what a fair price would be for it. It's in good shape, but the paint has seen better days. It also has a 6 or 7 drawer MAC side box. I was going to get the HF boxes this week, but I'd rather have this if I can get a good deal on it...it does have some sentimental value to me, as it used to belong to another Uncle who passed away several years back.

This picture is not the actual box in question...I just found this during a Google image search. It is this model though, and it has all it's drawers. lol.

 

[airbuff101]

Ram,
Your Uncle bought a very nice box back then.
It appears to be a Mac 1600/1700 series Bench box introduced in the 1984/85 model year. The 1600's were all slide drawers. The 1700 was a year later and had the industry first Ball Bearing Full length lower drawer w/ dual Accuride slides.
It was pretty much the first automotive box to use ball bearings and it was huge for it's time. By 86 or so All drawers were ball bearing.
Heavy duty, 18ga. box w/top hat reinforcements made in the New Georgetown OH box plant.

Ram, cancel the trip to Harbor Freight..............

If you can acquire it from your uncle.....just get it.
(and if the 'tards ask.......NO it was not made in Taiwan
Rob

 

[airbuff101]

I have to correct myself.
The 1600's were ball bearing lower drawer only.
1700's were all ball bearing.
Rob

 

[ramtuff]

Wow!! Thanks so much for the scans! Those are fantastic!! The Uncle that originally owned this box was a pro-auto tech all his life, so it definitely shows it's age, but functionally the box is perfect. I used to work out of this box myself when I worked for my other Uncle. I'll have to check and see if it has roller slides or not though. I never bothered to look, but those drawers just glide even when loaded up. He should know in the next week or so if he's going to sell it, and I'll be holding off any other toolbox plans until I know.

 

[MattT]

By 86 or so All drawers were ball bearing.

50th Anniversary catalog ('88) shows full width chrome drawer pulls so it's earlier than '88.

Airbuff,

How good is your catalog coverage?

 

[seagravedriver]

Keep us up to date on this.....with photos please!

 

[ramtuff]

I've been digging around on Google...haven't found anything on the 1600, but all the 1700s I've seen have the full width drawer pulls, so I'm going to assume this one is a 1600. If the snow holds off tomorrow, I'll swing by and see if I can find the model number on it (and snap a couple pics if I don't forget my camera).

 

[airbuff101]

Yes ram,
i'd say a 1600 with BB lower drawer, the rest should be slides.
Slides are just fine and work beautifully......just like low tooth count ratchets and such...that children often cannot tolerate
If you can acquire that box it will be a great score.
Good Luck!
Lets see some pics when you can.
It might have some date stamping/model info on back.
Rob

 

[Scout Driver]

I don't have any "useful" info for you. Just an opinion.....buy that Mac box if you can!!!

Scott

 

[bagsanthony]

all i gotta say is that is one hell of a box! i say return to these style of boxes and leave behind these crapsman lunch box containers

 

[eborcim]

I'd buy that over a HF box any day.

 

[-->]

Wow, that is a HELL of a box. Your uncle really picked a good one dude. If you don't take it I'd be willing to skip work and make the trip!

 

[ramtuff]

Oh, if he's going to sell it, I'll definitely be taking it. The trick is now to convince him to do so. lol.

I woke up to 1.5" or so of snow out there, so I won't be getting out to check it out today.

Pricewise, what would be fair? My original box budget was going to be $850 (HF bottom, top, and side boxes), but I'm more than willing to break that budget to get this box. I saw what looks like a MAC 1700 on E-bay with a side box for $1400 and no bids, so I'm thinking an offer of $1200 for this one would be in the right ballpark.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Pricewise, what would be fair? My original box budget was going to be $850 (HF bottom, top, and side boxes), but I'm more than willing to break that budget to get this box. I saw what looks like a MAC 1700 on E-bay with a side box for $1400 and no bids, so I'm thinking an offer of $1200 for this one would be in the right ballpark.

I'd say if the box is all standard slides with the exception of the bottom drawer and everything is in good condition and working fine somewhere under or around $800 would be fair.

Just saying this because you can usually find a truck brand 54" box with all BB slides for $1,000-$1,500 and that gets you a box that's much nicer to work out of day to day.

But you can't put a price on sentimental value, if it's worth $1200 for you to have your Uncles box than go for it!

 

[ramtuff]

Yeah, I have seen other truck brand boxes on Craigslist in that range too. This is a larger box than those though, height wise. I'm 5'11" and the top of the box is chest level. lol. Is the box really worth $1200? I have no idea, and in all honesty, I'd probably pay even more for it if I had to. Like you said, you can't put a price on sentimental value, so if I have to overpay to convince him to sell it, I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

 

[jon619]

I think there should be a family discount or something. $400 sounds reasonable for family. I'm giving my dad my HF 41" box and refinishing my 2 old mac boxes.

 

[ramtuff]

Family discount? What's that?

 

[mrholeshot]

If I was going out to buy a MB1600 I'd do about 500 dollars on the bottom MB1700 with roller slides about 600 and the MB1700 with full length drawer pull about 650 with faded but still original paint. The box is tall and 24 inches deep I think. If you want to keep it in the family pay what you have too. You will forget about the money, you will never forget passing on a family members belonging. I'd pay a lot extra for my dads old tool boxes.

They were great boxes BTW.

 

[ramtuff]

You will forget about the money, you will never forget passing on a family members belonging.

That is so very true.

 

[-->]

Family discount? What's that?

That's something that Macys made up back in the twenties with the fat Santa with the red cheeks. Also part of most childrens fairytales, like Unicorns, honest politicians, Leprechauns and Eskimos.

 

[Rickster]

Yup, very nice box. I'd go $500 tops on the friction slider model and $700 tops on the ballbealring model. But its got to be in really nice shape. Start deducting dollars for bent or banged up drawers or bad finish.

 

[ramtuff]

That's something that Macys made up back in the twenties with the fat Santa with the red cheeks. Also part of most childrens fairytales, like Unicorns, honest politicians, Leprechauns and Eskimos.

Yup, very nice box. I'd go $500 tops on the friction slider model and $700 tops on the ballbealring model. But its got to be in really nice shape. Start deducting dollars for bent or banged up drawers or bad finish.

I certainly don't think I'll get it that cheap. If he decides to sell, I'll let him come up with a price and go from there though.

 

[MattT]

I certainly don't think I'll get it that cheap. If he decides to sell, I'll let him come up with a price and go from there though.

The resellers are telling you what they would buy the box for not what they'd sell it for

Depending on the end cab up to a grand is not unreasonable IMO. Anything beyond that you'd be paying sentimental value.

 

[ramtuff]

haha! Gotcha. This certainly won't be for resale. At this point, I'm not going to concern myself with the money aspect. If I can buy it, it costs what it costs...I don't much care as long as I get it. lol

 

[mrholeshot]

The resellers are telling you what they would buy the box for not what they'd sell it for

.

Actually I was telling him what I would pay if I were going to use it. I'd put a lot of work in one before I sell it. Not much room for profit

 

[ramtuff]

I finally escaped from my home after last night's snow fall (17 freakin' inches!) and stopped by quickly to snag a pic. You can see it's pretty dirty, and the paint has seen much better days.

 

[airbuff101]

Ram, That's a bit rougher than I had expected. Has the MB1760 ball bearing side box though.
Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

Rob

 

[ramtuff]

Yeah, the finish is rough. I would strip it down and do a full repaint on it. A lot of time and money for materials to do so though.

 

[mrholeshot]

400 for the box 200 for the side. The side would be worth more but about the only box it will work on is the MB1600/1700. It's the tallest side box ever(from roll cab to floor)

 

[ramtuff]

Yeah, it is an abnormally large side box. lol.

 

[ramtuff]

Well, the tool box hunt continues, because I'm not getting this one. Instead of having a sack and telling me he decided to hold on to it, he emails me a link to some shitball mismatched 26" stack on Craigslist. Talk about a douchebag move, and it's a good reminder of why I think he's an *******. Anyway, I think I will hole of buying something else and look for an MB1600/1610 or MB1700/1710 combo, because I really do like the box style and layout.