Toolbox Score Friday 3-29-13

Scored this vintage Craftsman toolbox today. A guy had it for sale in his driveway. I love the vintage look. Anyone have an idea on how old it is? He thought late 60's early 70's. Anyone else pickup anything cool lately? Please share...

 

Certainly not 60's. Probably 70's. Maybe early 80's. Don't remember when they switched to red with dark grey drawers.

 

I had the very same top box in the 80s,Got it from my Dad he bought it new in mid 60s.
Somebody broke in my garage and never saw it again.

 

I think I read somewhere that the date is built into the serial number

 

I have one just like it I use everyday and have been since it was new in 1974.

 

All the websites I have checked show 60's to early 70's. My dad bought a box in the mid 70's that was red with grey/black drawers. Remember, they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true.

 

1970's , its just like mine i got from my dad

 

Cool find , I have a set up like that that I bought out of a driveway 5 houses away during a garage sale

 

bought mine in 1965 and still have it . It looks like that one you have. JB

 

i have the same upper part , got it used in the late 70s

 

Got an upper chest that is all grey..... Probably from the early 60's.....

 

i'm thinking 60's, early 70's for sure...

 

I've got 3 setups that are exactly like yours and the last one was bought in the late 60's.

Frank

 

Thanks for the info, guys!

 

I dug out my old Sears tool catalogs.
The '66 Catalog shows a similar set up but the sides of the cabinet are different. The side handle is different as well.
The '69 catalog shows a NEARLY identical set up for $108.95! The only difference I can see is the Craftsman logo's were on the right. The OP's are on the left.
I don't have a '70 catalog.
The '71 catalog has the identical set up as the OP's with the Craftsman logo's on the left. Those boxes remained the same in the 72/73 and 74/75 catalogs.
I know it's splitting hairs but I stand by my comment that it wasn't from the 60's.

 

Guys on the Garage Journal will know,quite a few took junkies there.

 

Thanks Pops. I knew it was older than me since I am a 1980 model. I figured correctly as to late 60's early70's. Thanks for doing the research.

 

Looks like my oldest box late 60's. HRP

 

I have one the same style that I bought in the late 60's.

 

I have a bottom one exactly like the OP, bought it brand new sometime between Aug 71 and Aug 72. Top chest that came with it is a 10 drawer, logo is on the top center drawer, and it has recessed handles on the side.

A plumber buddy did water heater installs for the local Sears at the time so I got his employee discount off the sale price, bottom line between $115-120 for the set, roughly a weeks take home pay for me at the time. Been a great investment, still going strong.

Ed

 

I have a very similar looking setup my Dad bought new in 1968 when he opened his gas station.