Cool thread, this one gives me a chance to make my first post. I picked up this Craftsmen TWA mechanic's chest at an antique sale a while back. When I was cleaning it out I found a folder inside with the shown paperwork including the Boeing 727 tool list. The paperwork is dated from 1967, so I figure it is probably an early 60s or 70s box. If anyone has a better idea let me know. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Nice find! The paperwork is as interesting as the tool chest. Might look good having at least some of it framed.
No, Minnesota...just a proud Badger alum. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It's a homemade wooden box that has been around the Farm before I was born . It is full of combine parts and is always on the fuel truck during harvest .
One of my neighbors that I have mowed his grass for over 17 years gave me this and the story to go with it. He was apprenticing as a machinist when he was 17. He was drafted to fight in the South Pacific so he put the box at his moms. His brother in law took it and used it as a machinist and his tools for 30 years retired and put it back up in the attic in the same spot. When they cleaned out his moms house years later he found it and forgot it was there and his brother in law told him he used it. He went to college on the G.I. bill and worked at Oak Ridge then became a world renowned clock maker. I would trade him use of his FORD metal lathe for cutting his grass even tho I can hear him saying “son, this is a precise machine that makes intricate clock parts not motorcycle parts”. But every now and then he’d let me make grips and pegs or other parts. He gave the box to me one day with all his machinists tools in it before he died and we use it for all out leather tooling stuff. He said he wanted me to have it. It’s heavy as balls with all the tools. He gave me a vintage wood creeper that he never used and his CAT diesel hat that I wear often. the other box I bought off another oak ridge worker for 25 bucks from his grandson not sure why people would sell something like that.
I know, it's not really a toolbox, but it was my Dad's old slot car pit box. I've had it forever, and use it to hold all sorts of hotrod trinkets.
I do have a few old toolboxes hanging around as well. The first is a nice cantilever box, no markings that I can see. Picked it up cheap at an auction a couple of weeks ago. Next is an old Craftsman box that is destined to become a battery box for the RPU project. My buddy called me up the other day and told me that he had a different Craftsman toolbox that I needed to own. Didn't know why he thought that...until I opened the lid and saw the vintage stickers under the lid. Then there is my Dad's old box that used to sit on top of his workbench for as long as I can remember. Someone else posted a picture of the same box a few pages back. Small world. Was going to post pictures of the two triple stack roll away boxes, but they are kinda too new...even though I just realized that I have owned them for almost 30 years now!
I bought one of these when I was in high school in the early 60's. Gave it to my son in law when they moved to their home to help him keep tract of his tools. Phil
My buddy has a knack for finding old toolboxes. I told him I needed one that would fit an Optima battery, and had to have a little bit of "patina". This is what he brought me. The fact that it's a Craftsman box is just a plus.
Had several. Great for pit box. Red lift out tray....kool Sent from my XT1710-02 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
That cantilevered box would make a dandy sign-painter or pin-striper kit. That upper tray with the hinged lid would be perfect for keeping your lettering quills and striping brushes clean and oiled.
Brother Bill and I started out with a set of Blackhawk 7/16" ratchets, extensions and sockets. I bet most folks have never heard of 7/16" sockets, but back then, the thinking was the 7/16" would serve the purpose of doing jobs usually reserved for either 1/2" or 3/8," and therefore a shop would only need one set of tools rather than two sets. Attrition, from the late 1940's, took its toll, and I couldn't tell you today, what happened to that set.
I try to find 7/16” drive tools at the swap meets, but most tool sellers haven’t heard of them. I like to add them to my Blackhawk “bomb” tool box.
I also had not heard of the 7/16” drive until yesterday. Apparently Wright made a 5/8” drive as well, I found some on the bay of e yesterday. I know that SnapOn also made dome goofy hex drive stuff too. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
This belonged to my dad. I don't remember seeing it as a kid at the house. Must have been at his work places. He was a punch press set up and maintenance man. Trying to find the vintage. It is in excellent shape,no plywood, no knick's, gouges or scratches, no staining or wear on the felt lining. Let the tools go at the estate sale, kept the box.
The Gerstner company has a web site and they will look up the time the box was made for a fee. They also make keys for your lock. Take out the drawers and look at the back and there should be a number in pencil. They hand fit each drawer to the location in the box. I have the one my father in law used at work.
Found a key, and the pencil notations on the back of several drawers. Sent them an email about year of manufacture. Later ones apparently used plywood with overlay this seems all solid wood with exception of metal drawer bottoms.
The Jalopy Journal
