What's this drawer for?

[cgv69]

A lot of (most?) older top chests seem to have this tall narrow draw in the middle (like pictured below). What was it designed for or typically used for? Most newer designs don't have it but I'm curious why it was so popular with the older designs?

 

[Rogue1987]

Guns, drugs, and booze.

Duh.

Seriously, I'm not sure.

 

[jeffmoss26]

The ones in the Kennedy boxes are for a Machinist's handbook!

 

[bobcatdan]

It is a nice junk drawer. I keep my gasket sealers, locktite and stuff like that in it. My Grandpa keeps tape measure and electric tape in his. i always liked that style and wish they would bring it back.

 

[Brian_B_]

Dad keeps some electrical testers in there. I never really thought about what it was for. Hmmm...

 

[m_hatcher]

My father has that top box and keeps glasses and ear plugs etc in it.

 

[whelenfan]

I would have to vote for the guns, drugs and the booze!

 

[nicholasbailey1993]

My dad told me that he used to put his wallet and watch in there while he was working because that drawer can lock while the rest of the drawers stay unlocked.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

Junk drawer or air tools depending on size. A snap on road chest can fit a couple impacts and die grinders in it comfortably.

 

[darkk]

Beer...

 

[Stuart in MN]

Historically that was where you kept machinist's manuals, or other reference manuals or papers.

 

[BHH]

Fleshlight?

 

[91bronc300]

If you need a place to keep gift receipts around but don't want your gift recipient to find them the handbook drawer works pretty good for that.

 

[Outlawmws]

The ones in the Kennedy boxes are for a Machinist's handbook!

I'll, be damned, I went and checked in the one machinists top I have, and it DOES fit the book! (I didn't' think it would fit...) I keep three drill indexes in that one.

For mechanics boxes, I agree with the place to keep a wallet locked up...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

My dad told me that he used to put his wallet and watch in there while he was working because that drawer can lock while the rest of the drawers stay unlocked.

^^^This^^^

Charles

 

[PCO6]

I have a 1970's Beach box with a drawer like that. I keep basic safety "stuff" in it. Things like glasses, a respirator, gloves, ear plugs and a few other things that are hard to store in "regular" drawers.

 

[buco]

Fleshlight?

lmao!

 

[70Chevy]

It's for your Machinery Handbook...there is usually a hole in the bottom of the drawer so you can push the book up from the bottom. I actually had a college course about the Machinery Handbook.

 

[biscuit141]

I've seen them somewhere referred to as a "whiskey drawer". I think some of them could be locked while the other drawers remained unlocked so you could lock up your personal items but still get to your tools. The top lock which would catch the lid would swing all the way down and lock just that drawer. If you look you may see a grove in the top of the drawer for the latch.

 

[boostedgt]

bottle of booze

 

[flyingw]

You can put your weed in there.

 

[Vvmvbb]

I'll, be damned, I went and checked in the one machinists top I have, and it DOES fit the book! (I didn't' think it would fit...) I keep three drill indexes in that one.

For mechanics boxes, I agree with the place to keep a wallet locked up...

Gerstners too:

 

[Altec]

You can put your weed in there.

 

[alan camby]

I've seen them somewhere referred to as a "whiskey drawer". I think some of them could be locked while the other drawers remained unlocked so you could lock up your personal items but still get to your tools. The top lock which would catch the lid would swing all the way down and lock just that drawer. If you look you may see a grove in the top of the drawer for the latch.

I saw a Viper box at Sears that had a cardboard sign "wiskey drawer" on that drawer

 

[Wrenches of Death]

A lot of (most?) older top chests seem to have this tall narrow draw in the middle (like pictured below). What was it designed for or typically used for?

Wallet, car keys, sidearm, extra speed loaders or magazines. Some boxes would allow you to unlock all of the drawers except it.

WoD

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

Lol I always see the weed, wallets, guns, etc sitting in the top drawer next to the sockets... But nobody I know has those narrow boxes like that (besides road chests)

 

[biscuit141]

I saw a Viper box at Sears that had a cardboard sign "wiskey drawer" on that drawer

Yep, thats where I saw it, but I also heard someone on here refer to it by that name before I saw the sign at Sears.

 

[cgv69]

Thanks for the replies guys. A machine manual draw that later morphed into a wallet\stash draw as these boxes transitioned from machinist chests to mechanics boxes makes sense to me.

 

[bigcaddy]

Scotch?

 

[otis66]

I'd put my test lites and all of my test jumper wires fused jumpers remote starter etc...

 

[Coach James]

I've used that term on here before. From the time I was a little kid, people around me called it a whiskey drawer.

Coach

 

[Steevo]

My dad told me that he used to put his wallet and watch in there while he was working because that drawer can lock while the rest of the drawers stay unlocked.

^^ This is how I used mine.

 

[crewchief888]

i have one of those boxes and keep my machinery handbook, dial indicator, and my tool reciepts in it.


but it's real function was as a security drawer.

 

[t100]

in most work places, OSHA requires everybody wearing safety goggles. you have to keep one in your tool box. well, remember how big them old goggles were?

 

[Coach James]

I would have to vote for the guns, drugs and the booze!

Does your name come from the 35 Whelen?

Coach

 

[ElectroLight]

You can put your weed in there.

Bong too...