Vintage snap on toolbox

[Oldss72]

Today I was able to bring home an old snap on toolbox from my wife's grandfather's house. I have been helping my father in law clean it up before the closing of the sale and he told me I could have this box. I also did get a large amount of Old snap on/Williams/Mac/proto ect ect hand tools and auto tools. I have a full box already - but I cannot see not grabbing good old stuff and some things I didn't have and now I have a very complete set of hand tools.

My wife's grandfather was a mechanic who owned his own shop in buffalo from the 1960s thru the 1990s. He also worked as a mechanic after serving in WWII so it is possible he bought this new. I can only find a part number and year on the middle box - KR421 4475 (57). I assume that the middle box is a different year given the badge differences.

I am looking for more information on this box and opinions on if I should leave it and use it as is or repaint it and restore it. You can tell it is well used. The drawers all work but the one that is out sags slightly and causes the drawer under it to pull out when it is opened. The drawers were stiff and it certainly has not been opened in the last 10 years since his passing.

Can I do anything about the sag or is it just wear in the slides? I was going to swap slides with another drawer to see if the problem follows the slides or the drawer position - but maybe someone can tell me the normal wear points and possible fixes. I will for sure use this - and can use the tool space.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Nice box! I would leave it alone and just clean it up.

 

[WNYflyer]

Nice box! I would leave it alone and just clean it up.

^^^^
Agreed, I would just clean up and repair the best you can.

 

[question guy]

Those guys are right. Clean it up and repair what you can. Spend time on getting the slides right. Surface shield and fluid film are great products for old rusty stuff

 

[ZRX61]

That stack is beat to ****, repaint it. Give it to one of your grandkids when the time comes.

 

[Jazz1]

Paint to match the car in the background

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'd wet sand the outside of the box, and the drawer fronts by hand with 3000 grit paper and wax. Degrease the inside of the drawers and do the same. Take slides out, degrease, put back in and re-lube.

It will take some time, but much less than if you were sanding and prepping for paint, and cost you virtually nothing, plus you'll save the patina.

 

[FJ 432]

Top Box is a KR56. From the 1953 catalog:

1953 Catalog U - Collecting Snapon

collectingsnapon.com

 

[Oldss72]

@ lookin4'67galaxieconv- thanks for the in comments. I started se greasing it because it is covered, so I will do that at the end.

Also thanks for the catalog. I will post photos when I get more done.

 

[Walkers]

That is the toolbox my dad had (still has) when I was growing up.

 

[lilredex]

Dragging on the lower drawer is always a problem with those full width jobs. They should have run an "X" bead on the floor of them to stiffen them up and minimize the sagging, but that costs extra time ($$). There are ways to add those beads after the fact. Something like in the picture below.

 

[Zeke]

So, in the world of old toolboxes the new thing is to adhere to the saying they say about old barn find cars, "They are only original once." (?)
Not for me when it comes to a tool box. I want it to look good and work even better. Years ago I put a bunch of car parts stickers and decals on some boxes. I keep intending to get that stuff off. I don't want a garage fridge with 'Holley' plastered all over it either.

But I digress. This is about an old beat up box. You either build a glass case for it and put it on display or you clean it up and paint it so you can keep it clean. That's all IMHO, of course.

 

[MeanGene427]

I have an old Plumb (or Plomb if you prefer) rollaway that's a pretty solid piece

 

[d9gdon]

Looks like it held up well to a lot of use.

 

[question guy]

If you decide to go the restore and paint route can I suggest the 3m accuspray 2.0 paint gun. Prepwork is 99 percent of a paint job. Lot of work to make perfect. Sorry jazz1. Didn't mean a thing by it.