Williams Collectors - need some help, please!

[ssdave]

This is a repost of a post I put in the vingage toolbox section, more or less.

Here's a nice old road chest I've had for a long time. Just like a Snap-on KRA-57, but by Williams. I used it as a primary box for a long time until I outgrew it, and replaced it with a 26" stack set with base, intermediate and top chest.

I've thought about sorting out and assembling a Williams nostalgia set to fill it, that would probably amuse me for several years before I completed it.

Anybody have a late 50's or early 60's catalog that shows this box and catalogs the tools it should have in it? I'd like to fill it with the correct original set. I've attached a 1958 ad that shows what I presume is a slightly earlier version of the box. If I can just find out exactly what years it was from, I can look for a catalog to buy also.

Thanks!

dave

Here's a link to the 1958 Popular Mechanics that has this chest advertised, with a set of tools in it. Would be great to assemble that set for it.

https://books.google.com/books?id=5t0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA272&lpg=PA272&dq=williams+superchest+2001&source=bl&ots=f1jCpmlh8j&sig=evJnDq_bbMA--T_XUDqIPS2FwRQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2Xc0VfzGHcj6sAWwwICwCg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=williams%20superchest%202001&f=false

Here's a jpeg of that ad:

dave

 

[slip knot]

I cant help with your quest. But thats a sweet top box.

 

[twertsy]

I have a '63 Williams Cat and will take a look tomorrow to see if it lists that set.

 

[Cdstahlman]

Not mine, but can buy it rather cheaply. Doesn't really help your quest at all, but I have the ratchets from that set. (Probably the most common items).

 

[twertsy]

Here's the 2 pages from my Cat. Hope that helps!

 

[ssdave]

Twertsy,

Thanks! That was exactly the information I needed.

dave

 

[3baygarage]

She's a beauty.

Here is another Superchest 2001 but there seems to have been multiple drawer configurations over time.

Can compare the parts lists.

 

[ssdave]

Thanks, 3Bay, that makes it easier to read! I've got some of the sockets, but the parts #'s are different, must be newer. I'll start using this as a home for mismatched williams tools, when I get a substantial amount of them, start sorting and being selective.

dave

 

[Mopar-Scooby-Doo]

Not mine, but can buy it rather cheaply. Doesn't really help your quest at all, but I have the ratchets from that set. (Probably the most common items).

If I could only say that. So I could get my hands on a nice Williams box.

Btw ssdave very nice box I must say Best of luck on putting the set together

 

[Cdstahlman]

If I could only say that. So I could get my hands on a nice Williams box.



Btw ssdave very nice box I must say Best of luck on putting the set together

Where are you located? Maybe we can work a deal? Haha

 

[Mopar-Scooby-Doo]

Where are you located? Maybe we can work a deal? Haha

It says under my pic. But it's Sonora California

 

[Ducky]

She's a beauty.

Here is another Superchest 2001 but there seems to have been multiple drawer configurations over time.

Can compare the parts lists.

I have recently aquired one of these Superchest 2001. I too have been trying to figure out the approxiamate age. 3baygarage, you posted some pages from a catalog showing the exact version I have. Can you tell me the year of the publication or source? thanks for any help on this.

 

[3baygarage]

Hi. I‘m guessing there was no date on the catalog, but I haven’t seen it since my move. I was looking around at Archive.org, there are a decent number up there. They might show the same chest. Sorry I can’t give you an answer on it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was looking around at Archive.org, there are a decent number up there.

3bay is referring to the Williams catalogs in the International Tool Catalog Library on Internet Archive, linked here. They range from 1912 to 1960 or so, as I recall, based on the last time I was doing some research, anyway. He would never say it, so I will: Drop some virtual cash in the donation box on your way out. Maintaining that open source of information, with scans generously provided by many catalog owners across our hobby, many of whom call GJ home, is the work of GJ member @Mark Stansbury.

 

[Ducky]

Thanks for the link. I was able to find what I was looking for. I left some quarters in the bucket.
Short version, the SuperChest 2001 model first shows up in the 1949 catalog with a slightly different logo. the 1952 catalog has the exact one pictured as mine. Thanks for getting me in the right dirrection. I will post a follow up when I get done cleaning it up.