Vintage Williams Rolling Tool Chest

[kbuhagiar]

Hello Folks,

I recently acquired a vintage (early 1960s?) Williams rolling tool chest, identical to the one pictured below:

Its a solid well-made unit and I am looking forward to cleaning it up (but leaving the patina) and putting it to use in my garage.

The key is long gone, and under normal circumstances I would merely replace the lock. However, the lock on this cabinet is virtually inaccessible; I have all of the drawers removed, and I cannot find any way to get the lock out. It is behind a welded panel.

Does anyone have any idea how to remove the lock from this cabinet?

Short of that, is there any way to obtain a replacement key? The code on the front of the lock face is C27B.

Thanks in advance for any assistance and advice.

 

[jakemac]

You can try taking the code, and a picture of the lock to a locksmith (I'd recomend an old timer, the young guys don't always have the experience to do this) and they may be able to make a key. It might be better to bring the whole cabinet to them so they can try different blanks. Success may depend on how buggered the lock is.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yes a good lock smith will be able to cut you a key from the code provided. Always best to take the lock/ or whole cabinet with you, then he can try out the key while you are there. I had a key cut from code and was told that there was 3 different keys with that code. So with the lock there it was his second one he tried.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to take whole tool cabinet to old timer locksmith to get key made.

 

[Tippletrash]

Cool find

I've had luck ordering replacement keys thru ebay for snap on boxes, just searched for keys with the corresponding key code. Might not be able to find them for a old williams though. Be worth a try if u don't have access to a locksmith.

 

[wgcted93]

Just purchased a Williams like yours and need to remove drawers. All the “how to” videos show one friction slide, but these jokers have two on each side. Please point the new kid in the right direction?

 

[Garage.Girl]

Not sure if the seller would ship, but I found a cool top box for sale you might want to match (this is in no way my listing) enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/393868281301244/

 

[wgcted93]

Put a remover in place with drawer out almost to the stop, then take a hammer handle or similar piece of wood and push the slide back. Repeat as necessary.

What do you mean by the term “remover” and where would I put it so that it is “in place”,

 

[1982fxr]

Google Snap-On drawer removal shim tool. It's late ke $1.50

 

[wtn1271]

Came across this top box recently. Lock is long gone but the bars are still there. Looks like someone had installed a lock hasp at some point but it too is gone now.

 

[MilesG]

Nice ....

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those are awesome looking toolchests. Love the black tops.

 

[rustyzman]

Very nice cabinet. I picked one up about a year ago at a sale as well. I was attracted to it because it is made quite bit heavier duty than most of the store type brands that were out there at the time those were made. It is a old school professional chest to be sure. Certainly made to see daily use. I have not researched a replacement key for mine, so I can't really help on that one, sorry.