HAMB "Vintage" Tool Box Club

Another shot from the inside, still like our Vernors around here. The dog just insisted to be in the pictures. That was a good 5 bucks spent at value village.

 

Also picked this Beach hip roof, cantilever box from the original owner rick, gladly paid the asking price. I want to use it for a field box, but am not sure I could lift it with tools in it.

 

Pretty sure I will leave the stencilling in place.

 

I realize this post is super old but I am pretty into Pressteel... I started the pressteel thread on garage journal. Would you happen to have any pictures?

I 'm a pretty big proto collector and your sign is from the 60's. I have seen the earlier style that shows the brand as Proto Los Angeles but havent seen this newer style before. Nice find

 

Here are my 2 era correct boxes

plomb top chest and lower- both made by pressteel and are pre war or early war. Took a bit to get them shined up and straightened up but they hold my plomb tool collection
- lower tool chest has roller bearing slides

proto- the maroon/red ones-
Top chest- red wrinkle finish
Bottom- from the 60’s but it has lower roller slides

 

hHere is an unmarked lower box I picked up today. Anyone know who may have made it?

 

I bought my 1st old wooden machinist chest at a car show/swap meet over 10 years ago and was hooked. I have 21 now.
All except 2 are old/ vintage.
Years range from the teens to the 70s. Most are 40s,50s 60s. Most don't have much in them but I do leave a little something in them if it came with stuff.
The one under my lathe does have lathe bits & tools

 

A 30 second video wouldn't load so here's more pix

 

These are the 2 I really use.
Both Gerstner. The leatherette covered one on the left is mid 40s. The one the right is new(approx 2013)
The one one the left is all old and mostly period correct machinist tools.
The one on the right is some newer machinist tools and a bunch of drafting tools that I used in the 80s.

 

I recently picked up this (late '60s?) Craftsman toolbox, as I needed a bit more tool storage space and it was very clean. I will have no problem putting it to use.

 

Look in the till(top sectioned area with the lid open). If there's liner in it of course lift that. In the very left section Close to the front of the box or sometimes mid way the year will be stamped. It's not to small but you may need a magnifying glass and a flashlight.

Looks late 60s to mid 70s to me

 

You are correct: 12-72 stamped date. A few months younger than me.

 

Just my opinion but I think all old tool boxes would look better with some pinstriping on them.

Jimbo

 

New here.

Hi all!
I just stumbled upon this site. Recently I sort of started collecting old tools and old tool boxes. I like the idea of rescuing some old tool box that belonged to some old back yard mechanic or a returning veteran.

Well anyhoot this is how my project is coming along so far.

 

Some more pics.

 

The craftsman 8 drawer with the crown top logo isnt common. The date should be behind the badge and is either a '58 or '59. The heritage 10 drawer top chest will also have a date behind the badge as well.

 

Found this box at a yard sale across the street from my house for 5 bucks. HRP

 

Picked this up for cheap. Not int patina on a car but it kind suits this old box. Never seen an S&K machinists box. Holds all my body hammers and dollys.

 

anyone else buy any cool boxes of late?

 

No but I have one for sale. I have two of these.

 

I have a number of old Kennedy toolboxes, but this is the oldest one I've seen.


This is a newer one, but is probably 50 years old.


And these come from a Caterpillar tool & die maker, who retired. I paid $750 for both boxes, possibly the best machinist tool deal I've done.

 

Lots of cool tools.....