is this a good deal on this older snap on box

[jbarbrey]

I have no idea if this is a good deal or not. A little help please. Thanks.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/2603026543.html

[kblazer87]

Thats too much for just that top box.

[gnx547]

I would ask $180

[jbarbrey]

Thanks. I thought that to but I really did not know what they went for. Thanks!

[markw365]

he'll probably scare joe average off with the "does not have ball bearing slides" line. I inherited the 557/537 combo from my dad and I like them. Go kick the tires on it if it's still there in a few days and offer him less.

[onewaydave]

This is why I don't have any SO boxes. The one posted is not BB slides, has been used a lot and has a "few" dents/dings and has a broken latch something-or-other. All this for only a little over $300. Wow what a deal.

Last week I looked at what looked like a good deal on line. In the pawn shop in Wichita, it was a Cman box with nice SO emblems. The whole box would rack diagonally if leaned upon slightly. But it was only a little over $300!

Sarcasm aside, I think there are much better deals out there, just not any where I live 'cause this is typical of what I find.

Dave.

[Vinko]

agreed. Too expensive. At least for me, and I live in Los Angeles, where sometimes prices seem to be higher. The most I've paid for a 537 is about $200 and I've got 3 now. The hinge is about $10 to replace and I like the newer designed hinges than the older ones.

[wornoutoldman]

Hundred bucks tops.

[back2class]

Having owned the same top box...why the heck would you want it? Not great quality and not a great design. Purchased the top and matching bottom and was so disapointed......nothing bad about it...just plain average. Sold it and never looked back. That's about a $150 top box and I sure wouldn/t pay even that for it.

[markw365]

Originally Posted by Vinko

agreed. Too expensive. At least for me, and I live in Los Angeles, where sometimes prices seem to be higher. The most I've paid for a 537 is about $200 and I've got 3 now. The hinge is about $10 to replace and I like the newer designed hinges than the older ones.

What's with the hinge? Mine has a piano hinge riveted to the lid. Box is dated 78. I like it more than my craftsman stack. BB glides would be nice but I have nothing in this combo.

[Vinko]

Originally Posted by markw365

What's with the hinge? Mine has a piano hinge riveted to the lid. Box is dated 78. I like it more than my craftsman stack. BB glides would be nice but I have nothing in this combo.

Different thing. The hinges on each side of the box. I think they call them "cover stops". The newer ones have a slide that locks the hinge on one side and the hinges themselves are substantially thicker. I posted photos in the massive 537 thread. I think it was titled Rick Mears 537 or something like that.

As for why one would want a box like this (queried above): I really like the design. Not as much as the 59 or 58 (I've got a couple of those now two - one without a cover lid, alas.) But it's a convenient layout for my work.

[fatfillup]

As a purveyor of fine and not so fine used tool boxes, $325 is too much. If you need the box and like it, no more then $200.

Now as to the design. Friction slides are fine if cleaned and lubed. The small drawers are handy for smaller tools and that box will hold a lot of tools. Too many big boxes today don't have enough small thin drawers and a lot of space is wasted in deep drawers.

Good luck and I also would let it sit a few days before contacting them.

[jbarbrey]

Ok here are some more pics he has sent me. I am thinking 200.00 for both after these pics? I Value all opinons. Thanks...




http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_007.JPG

http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_010.JPG

http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_013.JPG

http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_018.JPG

http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_022.JPG

http://mail.aol.com/34166-111/aol-6/...OL_BOX_016.JPG

[Vinko]

^ I think you've got to have an AOL acct to view those photos.

[diesel research]

He linked directly from his email in box. If he would be kind enough to give us his email password, then we can see them.

*Hint:
You need to upload them to a "host" like photobucket, here, facebook, or your own personal site.

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Originally Posted by wornoutoldman

Hundred bucks tops.

Good luck finding one for that.

It all depends on condition. I sold one of those in good to very good condition a couple years ago for $300...and I only had it on CL for a few days.

$325 is not out of the question for one in nice condition...it's near the top of the range IMO. The way he described it, sounds like it's worth in the $200-250 range at the most. I couldn't see the other pictures the OP posted.

OP, put the pics (not links) in your message so people don't have to go out and fish for them.

[Vinko]

Originally Posted by Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

Good luck finding one for that.

Exactly. +1

[jbarbrey]

Ok sorry guys. It was late and was not tihinking to clearly. here are the best of the pics.
I have him down to $450.00 for both boxes. I am thinking no more than $350.0

[mrholeshot]

200 tops. i'd be pushing hime to part with the set for about 500

[j.c.whitney]

Keep looking, a better deal will come along. Patience pays.

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Originally Posted by jbarbrey

Ok sorry guys. It was late and was not tihinking to clearly. here are the best of the pics.
I have him down to $450.00 for both boxes. I am thinking no more than $350.0

Why not meet him in the middle at $400? If the set is in good shape, drawers slide easily, etc, you won't be sorry.

You don't say where you are, which actually would be helpful as there is more selection in some places (Pennsylvania) than others (Kansas).

[jbarbrey]

Tennessee.

[jbarbrey]

Originally Posted by j.c.whitney

Keep looking, a better deal will come along. Patience pays.

That is waht I think I am going to do.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by jbarbrey

I have no idea if this is a good deal or not. A little help please. Thanks.

http://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/2603026543.html

Originally Posted by jbarbrey

Ok sorry guys. It was late and was not tihinking to clearly. here are the best of the pics.
I have him down to $450.00 for both boxes. I am thinking no more than $350.0

Well worth it at $450.

I have sold a bunch of these boxes. In very good condition, I've averaged about $850 for top with matching bottom. One in really nice shape even sold for $1,350 on eBay, (go figure!). But condition is everything. In rough but usable shape $400-600 is ok.

Given the age of these boxes, and how many you still see around is a testament to how well they are made. Replacing the lid stop is no big deal.

[Vinko]

Originally Posted by jbarbrey

Ok sorry guys. It was late and was not tihinking to clearly. here are the best of the pics.
I have him down to $450.00 for both boxes. I am thinking no more than $350.0

I guess it's what you can live with. $450 seems reasonable to me. But I'd want to know if all the drawers open and close right, slide in and out easy. If not, how tweaked is the vertical sheet metal on the boxes? You can get the false channels (at least on the 557) and the slides can be warrantied (and are available on both the 557 and 537). Also how are the locks and mechanisms. From my experience the 557 is simple but I've had a few 537's that have been a bitch to realign (and one that was missing the locking assembly I had to make my own). I have one 537 that still doesn't lock right -- I believe there were some changes between the 537A through 537G, so some of the parts don't fit as well on the early as they do the latter.

I got one 537/557 combo for about $400 and change and another for $600 but that was with the 274 side cabinet which I hadn't often found used for a reasonable price. The one for $600 was from the dealer, so it was real quick to warranty everything, and I got all the locks and extras (drawer liners -- which they still make for the 657 but need to be cut for the sheet metal dividers) at 50% off.

[Carl B]

Originally Posted by Skyline

One in really nice shape even sold for $1,350 on eBay, (go figure!). But condition is everything. In rough but usable shape $400-600 is ok.

Wow... I have a 65th Anniversary Edition Top, Bottom and Side box - I think it's in very nice condition - get me $1350.00 for that and I'd sell it in a heart beat....

Personally - I wouldn't spend $450.00 on any tool box that needs a complete restoration - unless that restoring tool boxes was a hobby.

FWIW,
Carl B.

[ibedayank]

Originally Posted by j.c.whitney

Keep looking, a better deal will come along. Patience pays.

if the OP can get both boxes for $350 better than 99% of the so called deals i see around here

[jbarbrey]

Thanks for all the input on this. I think I am going to let it simmer for a little while and see if I can get it for $350.00. He is set on $450.00 but that is more than I am willing to pay for it. I know it will not maybe as good as this box but what about the HF box that they sale that is the red box with the crinkle finish. I looked at that box today and for the money in mho it ani't half bad. On par with a Craftsman box for sure. What is everybodys opinon on this?

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Originally Posted by jbarbrey

I know it will not maybe as good as this box but what about the HF box that they sale that is the red box with the crinkle finish. I looked at that box today and for the money in mho it ani't half bad. On par with a Craftsman box for sure. What is everybodys opinon on this?

Do a search on Harbor Freight toolbox on this site. You will find more opinions than you can handle.