Vintage Metal Toolbox Replacement Parts

[thomasw21]

Hey everyone. I recently received my late grandfathers old tool box from his time working on planes at McDonnell Douglas. It’s in pretty rough shape and I would love to restore it as much as possible however I have been unable to find replacements for the 4 small plastic drawer pulls. Does anyone know where I can find replacement parts or any additional information on the tool box at all?

It is an ATI Industries Fabricator/Assembly ATSK 1541 Tool Kit. I’ll attach all the pictures I have. Any help is very very appreciated as this is something that means a lot to me and my family!

Side note, if anyone knows this model or has found the same model anywhere online, please let me know! I’d love more information on the tool box itself.

 

[Mintgrun]

Those are classic Kennedy style pulls. I've seen them in black and brown. Kennedy sells the brown ones, but they're kind of expensive, at $5.61 each.

Brown Pull - Kennedy Manufacturing

Brown Pull

buykennedy.com

This Esty seller makes and sells sets of ten for $25, using a 3D printer.

Kennedy Style Tool Box 3D Printed, Custom Drawer Pulls - Etsy

This Tool Boxes item by LangecoCreations has 36 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Cocoa, FL. Listed on Aug 14, 2024

www.etsy.com

There is one left in this eBay ad for $10, but you'll be better off buying all from one source so they match.

STACK ON TOOLBOX MACHINIST'S TOOL BOX DRAWER PULL. #335 | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Good condition, came from a Stack On Toolbox machinist tool box. Might fit others if they are the same size and style. The pull is 1-1/4" long, 3/8" high. The tiny square piece that goes inside the square hole is 1/4" square, please pay...

www.ebay.com

This video discusses making them with a 3D printer.

 

[thomasw21]

Those are classic Kennedy style pulls. I've seen them in black and brown. Kennedy sells the brown ones, but they're kind of expensive, at $5.61 each.

Brown Pull - Kennedy Manufacturing

Brown Pull

buykennedy.com

This Esty seller makes and sells sets of ten for $25, using a 3D printer.

Kennedy Style Tool Box 3D Printed, Custom Drawer Pulls - Etsy

This Tool Boxes item by LangecoCreations has 36 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Cocoa, FL. Listed on Aug 14, 2024

www.etsy.com

There is one left in this eBay ad for $10, but you'll be better off buying all from one source so they match.

STACK ON TOOLBOX MACHINIST'S TOOL BOX DRAWER PULL. #335 | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Good condition, came from a Stack On Toolbox machinist tool box. Might fit others if they are the same size and style. The pull is 1-1/4" long, 3/8" high. The tiny square piece that goes inside the square hole is 1/4" square, please pay...

www.ebay.com

This video discusses making them with a 3D printer.

You are awesome. Thank you so very much!!!

 

[thomasw21]

You are awesome. Thank you so very muc

Those are classic Kennedy style pulls. I've seen them in black and brown. Kennedy sells the brown ones, but they're kind of expensive, at $5.61 each.

Brown Pull - Kennedy Manufacturing

Brown Pull

buykennedy.com

This Esty seller makes and sells sets of ten for $25, using a 3D printer.

Kennedy Style Tool Box 3D Printed, Custom Drawer Pulls - Etsy

This Tool Boxes item by LangecoCreations has 36 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Cocoa, FL. Listed on Aug 14, 2024

www.etsy.com

There is one left in this eBay ad for $10, but you'll be better off buying all from one source so they match.

STACK ON TOOLBOX MACHINIST'S TOOL BOX DRAWER PULL. #335 | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Good condition, came from a Stack On Toolbox machinist tool box. Might fit others if they are the same size and style. The pull is 1-1/4" long, 3/8" high. The tiny square piece that goes inside the square hole is 1/4" square, please pay...

www.ebay.com

This video discusses making them with a 3D printer.

Sorry to bother more, but any chance you know where I could find a replacement for the red removable tray shown on the ground in one of the pictures? No worries at all if not!

 

[Mintgrun]

I've never seen an insert like that. It looks like it was set up for a particular tool and bits that were used in it. Did your box have tools in it that would fit that tray?

The paint looks rough, but the tray appears to be intact, aside from the rust. It'd probably look pretty good after some cleanup and a fresh coat of paint.

 

[thomasw21]

I've never seen an insert like that. It looks like it was set up for a particular tool and bits that were used in it. Did your box have tools in it that would fit that tray?

The paint looks rough, but the tray appears to be intact, aside from the rust. It'd probably look pretty good after some cleanup and a fresh coat of paint.

Nope, I’m assuming the parts were specific to aircraft assembly but they were lost over time. Any suggestions on how I can remove rust without damaging paint? Even if it is beat up, I’m not planning on using it. It’s more for memories and meaning than anything else.

 

[Mintgrun]

A lot of people swear by Evaporust, but I have not tried it. If you click on the Sticky (the first topic at the top of the Vintage Tools page) and scroll down to the bottom of the fourth page in the thread, there are a lot of links to discussions on the topic of rust removal. There are two Evaporust thread links there as well.

 

[thomasw21]

A lot of people swear by Evaporust, but I have not tried it. If you click on the Sticky (the first topic at the top of the Vintage Tools page) and scroll down to the bottom of the fourth page in the thread, there are a lot of links to discussions on the topic of rust removal. There are two Evaporust thread links there as well.

So grateful for all of your help!

 

[Mintgrun]

You're welcome. There is a ton of useful information in the Sticky. Have fun!

 

[Farmer J.]

Evaporust is your friend on a job like that. Also, very fine wire wool. Lots of info in the 'sticky' threads on restoration!
If you clean it up and remove rust carefully you may prefer not to re paint the box, it may be better to keep it as original but just clean.
The sticker/plate on the lid is quite unique, so worth preserving as the history of it. I suggest take some good pictures of those before you start work, in case they get damaged, then replacements could be made using the pictures.
Have you tried to research what was in an ATI Industries ATSK 1541 tool kit?
I have one 100yr old tool box which was my late Grandfather's, nice to have, I just use it for documents and small keepsake storage.

 

[cgrutt]

Cool box apparently ATI is now a specialty division of Snap on. Longshot buy I'd call their customer service may have inventory of replacement parts. http://www.atitools.com/contactus.html

 

[thomasw21]

Evaporust is your friend on a job like that. Also, very fine wire wool. Lots of info in the 'sticky' threads on restoration!
If you clean it up and remove rust carefully you may prefer not to re paint the box, it may be better to keep it as original but just clean.
The sticker/plate on the lid is quite unique, so worth preserving as the history of it. I suggest take some good pictures of those before you start work, in case they get damaged, then replacements could be made using the pictures.
Have you tried to research what was in an ATI Industries ATSK 1541 tool kit?
I have one 100yr old tool box which was my late Grandfather's, nice to have, I just use it for documents and small keepsake storage.

Thank you! I’m hoping to replace some of the more functional parts while keeping the paint and stickers intact. I don’t plan on using it, so mostly wanting to clean it up a bit.

As far as finding the tool box itself, I’ve had a hard time getting any information on it. I have my uncle trying to track down one of my grandfather’s work buddies to get some details on the specific tools.

 

[fishwatcher]

Thank you! I’m hoping to replace some of the more functional parts while keeping the paint and stickers intact. I don’t plan on using it, so mostly wanting to clean it up a bit.

As far as finding the tool box itself, I’ve had a hard time getting any information on it. I have my uncle trying to track down one of my grandfather’s work buddies to get some details on the specific tools.

Neat project!

Check out my post and the responses I got in the main vintage toolbox thread here.

I started with some basic cleaners like Lysol wipes and some degreaser with paper towels. I think Evaporust is a good idea. I used Krud Kutter for rust because I had some on hand and it did a decent job. As a near final step I used 0000 steel wool with more Krud Kutter on the top where I had the most rust.

The recommendation of Meguiars Cleaner Wax was one of the best tips.

Here are before and after pics. I ended up removing these stickers. I thought at first they were authentic, and maybe had some cool history I was going to preserve, but then figured maybe not.

 

[thomasw21]

Just in case anyone is curious about updates:

I didn’t even notice the Douglas sticker on the back until today. Looking infinitely better with some WD-40 and steel wool while my Evaporust gel is on the way. Got some new drawer pulls on the way and was able to do a rough solder job to tighten and secure the 2 pulls that were still on. New latches should be here and I think I found the exact stickers, so hoping to replace those as well. Still some rust work to do, but I like the worn look after removing the rust.

Side note, my father figured out I was working on it and brought over my great grandfather’s 90+ year old Kennedy toolbox that’ll end up being my next project!

 

[thomasw21]

Consulting the experts again. Does anyone know the size/name of the rivets that would be used to attach the new latches to the toolbox? I have one, but I’m not sure the size specifications of the rivet to get more or the tool used to clamp it. I have a rivet tool, but it’s the standard rivets with the long metal piece that slides into the rivet gun. The rivet I have is hollow with the end capped/covered.

 

[RTM]

Amazingly, it’s not a hollow rivet (both ends open), but a tubular, or semi tubular rivet. No idea on the tools, but I need to figure it out soon, also.

Semi-Tubular Rivets | Hollow Rivets | Aluminum, Brass, Steel | Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, Inc.

www.rivetsonline.com