The VINTAGE toolboxes of Garage Journal!

bluebolt · Apr 30, 2012

softailgarage said:
Posted this in another thread, but thought I would add to this one as well. Found it on Craigslist for $40.00. Picked it up from a Marine on Camp Pendleton.

I like that box! Nice score!

Outlawmws · Apr 30, 2012

snapmom said:
Its a Snap on box.

Now that you say that, I can see it (sort of)

crewchief888 · Apr 30, 2012

bissonj said:
I just make it in too! Bottom is 87, top 88, next steps full sanding and rustoluem red. Although I may go to the auto store and look for a cranberry color I kinda like that Snap On color. Not too shabby for 300, by the time I'm done I figure to have 450 invested. I do plan on sending the old owner pictures of what he couldn't wait to get rid of

nice score for $300

SO cranberry is my 2nd fav color :thumbup:

heres a pic of my set of 90th anv harley boxes in cranberry

:beer:

luvit · May 2, 2012

Top and bottom $30 ea.
Haven't even cleaned them, yet.. no brand ID

Mercy · May 2, 2012

The top box looks like a Powr-Kraft with replaced handles. The bottom might be too if the handles and edges are painted red over the original color and chrome.

luvit · May 2, 2012

i'm pretty sure these handles are original.
the bottom is older and not a match to the top chest.. and of course painted all over.
interesting note is that the bottom has two working panel doors for upper and lower half.

May Pop · May 3, 2012

Top box is a Rem Line. Around mid 1970s. Ive got one like it.

930dreamer · May 3, 2012

Two Blackhawk boxes I picked up last year.

concealer404 · May 3, 2012

I believe this counts...

All i know so far is that they're Matco MB500 series, middle box is an MB503. From what i can tell so far:

1) Mac had the same series so i guess they were shared somehow?
2) Top and bottom should be mid 70s, not sure on middle.

mroneeyedboh · May 3, 2012

/\ a guy at my work has one of those. Pretty neat.

concealer404 · May 3, 2012

I can't decide if i should just clean it up, do a full on restore, or a resto-mod. I hate red boxes with a passion, but i'm also not sure if i should "ruin" this thing by painting it some weird color scheme.

luvit · May 3, 2012

930dreamer said:
Two I picked up last year.

my 2 bottom flapper doors are the same as yours. also in condition and unpainted... so i guess my bottom is also remline.

dandan111 · May 5, 2012

A guy has a real nice Matco/Vulcan listed on ft.wayne Indiana Craigslist $900. Price is to much for me but it looks A+. It may be a little wider than the one pictured above.

dandan111 · May 5, 2012

dandan111 · May 5, 2012

I love my new box,it's a 1979 papers show 1980 ,I found them under the bottom drawer. Locks are a little goofy but it is keyed the same now. One is verticle unlocked,the other horizontal. Other than the locks I couldn't ask for a nicer example.

bobkentnova · May 5, 2012

dandan111, Beautiful Snap-On boxes. Is that by chance the original paint on those boxes?

dandan111 · May 5, 2012

Yes it looks original to me. Not sure where all this box has lived but it's had a good life compared to most others I have seen. It's not the fancy,chrome trimmed type but I love it.

Toolman12 · May 5, 2012

Just had this given to me from my brother in law it was his dads full of tools all old stuff and very rough condition but it's all there except one of the ring clasps not sure how old it is but will try to find out may try to restore when i get better healed up

concealer404 · May 5, 2012

Cleaned up the Matco, put in new drawer liners, put it to work.

I found an inspection card in the middle box dated 1985. Forgot to take a picture, will get it tomorrow.

LiveWire64 · May 8, 2012

I posted earlier today a picture of an old box I picked up last night.
Now,after looking through this thread,I believe my box is an older 60's Kennedy.
There are no markings on the box. Did the Kennedy boxes just have a decal for their logo?
Thanks for any help.Brad

luvit · May 8, 2012

brad, you may get more attention by putting the pic in this thread

dandan111 · May 10, 2012

I like the matco a lot.

concealer404 · May 10, 2012

Thank you sir!

I'm trying to evaluate just how well it works for me. I LOVE the way it looks, and the drawer movements are incredibly smooth once loaded.

I'm just unsure if a 26" wide box really works for me these days, and the dividers in the bottom cabinet need to go for my purposes.

M. Blue 240 · May 15, 2012

Its not the best pic, but this will be my first ground up restoration.

It originally had a radial arm saw bolted to the top. I snagged it (and a hidden set of Knipex vice grips) for $10. The plan is to strip it down and repaint it in satin black and gold metal flake.

Anyone know where I can get gold metal flake in a rattle can?

HeelSpur · May 15, 2012

Picked this up for $5 at a yard sale. A 15 in cresent wrench isn't in the pic but was in the box as well. About what year would this be from?

I rigged the handle on it from what I had on hand, strips of leather and copper rivots.

Cranehead · May 15, 2012

Yeah man! In 30 years that handle will be folk art.

tc

jeffmoss26 · May 15, 2012

Interesting handles on the red slip-joint pliers!
I bet all those tools will clean up nicely.

Flatintoone · May 15, 2012

What Jeff said. Good stuff in that box, even without the 15" Crescent!

Outlawmws · May 15, 2012

M. Blue 240 said:
Its not the best pic, but this will be my first ground up restoration.

It originally had a radial arm saw bolted to the top. I snagged it (and a hidden set of Knipex vice grips) for $10. The plan is to strip it down and repaint it in satin black and gold metal flake.

Anyone know where I can get gold metal flake in a rattle can?

If the usual suspects don't sell it, talk to a local car paint retailer, most can package it into a rattle can.

Outlawmws · May 15, 2012

jeffmoss26 said:
Interesting handles on the red slip-joint pliers!
I bet all those tools will clean up nicely.

I agree Jeff, but I don't think they are slip joints; a small set of linemans? :dunno:

And I think the big crescent shown is a Danielson, the hanger hole looks to have a 12 pt box end on it?

Hard to set a date on that one, I'm betting it was hand/shop made and not mass manufactured. It is metal covered/wood lined right?

markitsnappy · May 15, 2012

here is my mystery box. kind of looks like a matco too me but the handles are wrong. definitely a heavy duty box, it weighs a ton.

luvit · May 15, 2012

markitsnappy said:
here is my mystery box. kind of looks like a matco too me but the handles are wrong. definitely a heavy duty box, it weighs a ton.

hey, checkout your box configuration and this Remline box configuration..
the thing is, you have the same handles as my Remline chest.

markitsnappy · May 15, 2012

luvit said:
hey, checkout your box configuration and this Remline box configuration..
the thing is, you have the same handles as my Remline chest.

the configuration looks the same to me but the handles are different. I will definitely look into remline to identify it.

luvit · May 15, 2012

markitsnappy said:
the configuration looks the same to me but the handles are different. I will definitely look into remline to identify it.

HeelSpur · May 16, 2012

Outlawmws said:
I agree Jeff, but I don't think they are slip joints; a small set of linemans?

And I think the big crescent shown is a Danielson, the hanger hole looks to have a 12 pt box end on it?

Hard to set a date on that one, I'm betting it was hand/shop made and not mass manufactured. It is metal covered/wood lined right?

Yup, its thin metal with about 3/8 wood on the interior. I believe the 10" cresent is a Lakeside, will have to double check later.

Private Lugnutz · May 16, 2012

I'm curious now too. Diamond Calk also made broached hanging holes on their adjustables in the 40's and 50's, but that does look like a 'K' and an 'IDE' on that recessed handle.

SquirrelSOMD · May 16, 2012

Outlawmws said:
I played with one of the cover pics a bit to see if I could get the shadowed name to come up a bit more. Limited success... You might try some more pics under different lighting and pic angles and play with the contrasts and such in MS Picture manager or photo shop..

Is that original paint or someone's rattle can attempt?

sorry, havent checked this thread in a while.

im pretty sure its the original paint, i could be wrong. ill be out there in a bit and ill check to make sure and might snap a few more pics with a camera and not the cell phone this time.

HeelSpur · May 16, 2012

Heres a better pic of some of them, added the 15"er.
The 10" cresent and small pair of pliers are Lakeside.

jeffmoss26 · May 16, 2012

Very nice! Outlaw, you have better eyes than I do, I did not spot the hex broach on the original picture!

doodah man · May 18, 2012

Reported.

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