Vintage MBC toolbox/Need Help Please

[ElizPad57]

Hello everyone. My daughter was given a Vintage MBC Toolbox and we are trying to find out some information about it please. Could anyone possibly tell me about what year this was made and anything else about it. It does have the pull down cover on front and an electrical outlet.
Thanks so so much I really appreciate it!!

 

[ElizPad57]

Also I was a member here several years ago and everyone was so helpful with my car problems it was a blessing.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like mid to late 50s. Nice box!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I would think early '60s. Just like the Snap In boxes from the period. That's a very nice tool box and easily worth a few hundred dollars. Very good quality.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those drawer handles were gone by 59

 

[ElizPad57]

Oh you guys are AWESOME!! It's actually from 1964, and look here's the patent number on the front how cool is that!!

 

[ElizPad57]

It's in great condition, all the drawers work, has drop down front and the electrical still works!! We posted it today for sale. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

It's in great condition, all the drawers work, has drop down front and the electrical still works!! We posted it today for sale. Thank you everyone for your help.

Where are you located?

 

[ElizPad57]

Where are you located?

Jacksonville, Florida

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Jacksonville, Florida

I'd be interested but you're a little too far from me in Atlanta. That's okay, I don't need an excuse to get another box.

 

[Shelbylex]

I doubt you will get $500 for it - a nice try though. I see them for much less money in our state, but FL could be different
Good luck!

 

[ElizPad57]

I doubt you will get $500 for it - a nice try though. I see them for much less money in our state, but FL could be different
Good luck!

Thanks. Well we started it at that and accepting offers. Actually I think we may have a buyer will know for sure tomorrow.

 

[red_ryders]

Tagging along with a request on repair or parts needs for a new to me MBC box. I just purchased this box and top chest full of tools - some vintage, some newer. It has keys for both top and bottom and the slides work great (much better than an older Matco I have with a similar top chest and drawer layout).

Anyway, the top chest of the MB Century has both top cover "stops / locking stays" broken. I'm guessing that they got bent a bit and the metal has fatigued. The lid has fallen on me several times in the first couple days of ownership because the top must be open to unlock the drawers. When opening or closing a drawer, sometimes I've moved the entire box enough to cause the lid to slam shut.

The only picture I have at the moment is from the for sale ad - I'll try to explain best I can... These "stops" are riveted to the lid and chest sides and I'd rather not alter the look of the box if I can avoid it. I understand these were also made for Snap-On - any chance I can get replacements or can someone offer an idea on an alternate way to repair them?

 

[tool_scrounge]

So you are looking for folding lid stays? If so, the most important dimension is the center of hole to hole distance for a replacement. Hole size is important too.

example

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/hardware/box-hardware/stays/45226-folding-lid-stays

 

[1982fxr]

MBC did make boxes for Snap-on but I don't think that was one of them. Pretty positive about that.

Don't think I've ever seen that one or those drawer pulls before anywhere.

 

[red_ryders]

Thanks scrounge - that's just the info I was looking for. I'll start chasing the right ones down.

FXR - I'm not convinced those are the original handles but they are older with a thick chrome finish. I referred to S-O because I thought it might help in the parts search.

I was able to find the Model / Date stamp for the top box (looks like it is a C-29 from 68 if I'm reading that right). The newer paint was laid down really thick so I don't know if it is covering the stamp on the rolling chest or if I'm not looking in the right place(s). I'd really like to find out the vintage and model of the chest too if anyone can help there.

 

[red_ryders]

I just figured out that the OP found the stamp on the front lower LH side of that chest. I didn't look closely there, expecting it to be on the side like my top box (or on the back like my MAC 1700/1710 combo, pretty sure my older Matco is on the back, too).

Looked very closely at the bottom LH corner of my rolling chest and found it is a C-57 #822. The thick paint has obscured the mfg date - it's either 1966 or 68 (I'd guess 68 since that matches the top box).