Adam Savage Impressed By This Mystery Metal Box! 

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Hard to imagine a simple box could be so emotionally affecting, but dang if the letter and Adam's gushing over the construction of the box doesn't bring at least a small tear of joy to your eye.

Hey Adam, I knew you would appreciate it. My original intention when I found it was to us it for my Han Solo blaster I was building. That project got put on a back burner, then moved further back, and then put into carbon freeze. I'm excited to see what you will do with it.

I remember my grandfather saying that as a metalwork apprentice in the 1920's and 30's one of the first tasks they were given was to make a toolbox for all their tools. He grew up in the aircraft industry and over the years made several boxes similar to this, many also with trays. This video brought back many fond memories.

*the fun part of this is going to be the wooden insert that Adam builds to hold a specific set of tools to store them in that looks like they have always been associated with each other*

My brother was an A&P mechanic at Boeing and then Northwest Airlines. This sort of thing was super common. Walking through the mechanic toolbox area, you'd see all sorts of amazing creations attached to their big rolling boxes, like exquisitely made locking motorcycle helmet boxes. When they had downtime, scrap, and all the cool tools, they did what they do.

I wonder if that box was an examination piece, or "skills test". Part of getting an aviation mechanics "A.P." rating was to demonstrate the various techniques and skills, candidates were given a set of prints and specifications for an object and graded on the results. I wouldn't be surprised if this is an examination piece. Pretty dang inspiring in any case

Adam, the document case is beautiful. I had one that I carried for years when I worked for Lockheed. These cases were designed to be carried on test flights and in test flight aircraft. It is designed to survive aircraft accidents as to protect critical data.

I have a hunch that the man who made it would likely be perplexed at why such a big deal was being made about "that old box". Every great old craftsman I've had the pleasure of meeting has been astonishingly humble regarding their own incredible skills.

Only Adam could make me feel genuinely impressed / happy about a metal box.

Only he can make someone watch a video for 15 min about a metal box and still like it because inexplicably seeing someone having an overwhelming excitement about something is heartwarming. ….. I think

The box is exquisite! Totally understand why Adam is excited. Would be hilarious if the real purpose was “Lunch Box”. 😊

I love watching Adam gush over another maker's work. His joy is infectious.

It's wonderful to see the passion of the maker equaled by the passion of the beholder! Truly a well given gift and well received gift! Bravo!

Who ever built this was a true master of his trade. You are so lucky to have it Adam.

Is so enjoyable to see something like this. 95% of the world would look at this and just see a box. It’s the 5% of us that see a level of craftsmanship we aspire too, that I want to be a part of. Thank you Mr. Steve Powers for sending this to Adam, so he could let the rest of us enjoy it.

It's always fun to watch Adam be so excited about things, it's just wonderful.

That box is a literal piece of artwork! Great to see how humble and appreciative Adam is to receive this. It could not have gone to a better home.

Adam's level of excitement about something like this always cheers me up and makes me feel like there is hope for us all

Adam - There's an article on EAGLE LOCK COMPANY of TERRYVILLE, CT at Wikipedia. The company can trace it's origins back to 1824. It expanded big time during the two world wars. It went bankrupt, etc in the mid-70s.

If the original builder of this box could see, I think he would be touched by your appreciation of the workmanship and careful maintenance.

I've commented a few times on Adam's videos and I feel compelled to do so again today. His obvious giddiness and excitement over this box is palpable. I sat smiling and laughing as I watched him examine and describe this box. 98% of the world would walk past this box and think it the height of mundanity if they noticed it at all. Adam (and the gentleman who sent it to him) "gets" it, though. The product of a craftsman and artist at the top of his game. It's important that Adam keeps doing this because there are lots of boxes out there like this and lots of people who will be moved by his excitement. I love this channel.

What a perfect gift for Adam Savage. My grandfather was also an engineer for Boeing for many years and retired from the Paine Field plant in Everett Washington when I was young. He always brought home fantastic and curious things that he had made at work weather they be tools he had designed for his job, Things built while parts were being designed, and all sorts of goodies made in spare time. Imagine having spare time in an aircraft factory's workshop with the knowledge to make whatever you can think up. That piece is amazing. It makes me imagine a scenario where his briefcase was destroyed at work and all he was able to salvage was the handle and the clasps. He poured himself a coffee and got right to work and made this.

And today we learned that Adam is a cat lol. It is a beautiful box, and very skillfully made, I also had the thought that it was a prototype once you showed that he left the writing visible on it rather than buffing it out.

"That's just showing off." - I LOL'd hard when Adam said this. There is good... then there's 'I did it because I can' good. Adam's appreciation and pointing out the craftsmanship here is enlightening to appreciate this box!

This is so wholesome and so special. I have my great grandfather’s automotive soldering kit (at least that’s what I’ve been told that’s what it is) and the box it’s in is similar and every time I look at it, it just brings me so much joy. Awesome awesome stuff

“That’s just showing off” -Adam Savage. :) it is an amazing creation and makes OCD people like me smile.. really smile.

Also, I love your enthusiam over this box. I have no experience with metal crafting at all, but looking at it I knew right away that it is a toolbox, someone MADE it by hand, and that you were gonna go ga-ga over it. Never change, you awesome geek, you.

I always appreciate a display of skill.

the single piece of aluminium for the trim is just masterful work.

Getting the chance to do a close up inspection on a master of their crafts work is always a treat, even more so when you are interested in that particular craft.

We used to have a retail surplus outlet at Boeing in the Seattle area that sold off lots of excess materials, furniture, etc. You could buy sheets of various aluminum products, which is probably where he got that material. The store is gone now, because some "leftover" materials were eliminated by better design/supply practices, and some was bundled up for sale to various second tier resources. I used to wander through and get stuff like "a bag of washers" out of a big tub skid on the floor.

Reminds me of when i restored an Old Albatross speedboat with my Dad, when i got the boat all the rivets had fallen to pieces and the boat was basically all sheets if 1/16 aluminum sheeting, Dad( an old foundry man) made a rivet tool and some rivet snaps and i made over 5000 rivets by hand with countersunk heads, annealed them and then the task of riveting the boat back together, lots of work with my Dad who has passed nearly 20 years ago this year, still, its something i'll never forget, he also taught me how to restore vintage outboard motors, mainly Johnson and Evinrude, i still have a 1958 Red and White Johnson 35 Hp and a couple of 1962 and 63 18 Hp Evinrudes and just today was given an early 80's 25 Hp Johnson. Life comes full circle, still have some more classic motorcycles waiting restoration too, Wishing you all the best for 2023 from Barbados. P.S. the gentleman who made the box probably made a bender to make all the angle frames the same way too, its what i would do, it would make things a lot easier than having to bend each one by hand .

it was wonderful to watch your joy overflow as you explored the box and explained the details that thrilled you so much: Your enthusiasm is highly infectious and contagious.thank you x 1000

My grandfather was a carpenter for the Great Western Railway in England. The care and attention shown in that metal box just reminds me of the wooden boxes he made in retirement.

Hard to tell without measuring but I think 12 inch records would fit in it. Would be a nice DJ case.

A well deserved gift to a truly kind man. Crazy but cool.

To funny! Loved the video. It is great when you recognize what another person has done!! I love to see what other people have done. Sometimes it inspires me to do things. Watching your model videos, I have started my first build in 22 years. It is a model of a wood ship. It only cost 15.00 dollars and is lacking in everything, but it has potential to become something special. Thank you for your videos!

I had a friend who has long since passed away that did that level of tin smith work. The old craftsmen in many trades were that good. Much respect to all of them.

Looks like a case to carry records. Also if it was linned with soft foam to hold what ever instrument inside the box I would imagine it wouldn't leave any marks of use

"I'm sorry if he set anything important on fire." I love that that's a reasonable response there xD

Some old school engineering apprenticeships used to include making your own tool box and tools.

Adam's childlike joy and curiosity is SO FUN TO WATCH!

7:50 He was so excited he said Bobby instead of Peter.

Magical box! My father was a toolmaker, making the tools that make the tools. He was in the RAF during WW2 working on Spitfires. He would have appreciated this, I appreciate it. When he died, large companies purchased his patents for pennies. I was too young to have any of his tools. Thank you for showing this!

This is the top tier metal box quality content that I subscribe for. Seriously though, fascinating!

Adam’s unbridled joy is so delightful to see.

It's hard to be sure without knowing exact dimensions but, it looks to be the perfect size to hold LP records. It would need to be albums worthy of an exquisite box like that.

As a gigging guitarist over the last 20 years I can really appreciate a well built storage container as every piece of gear I've used over the years, guitars, amps, pedals, miscellaneous tools and extra cables, bits and bobs all have to be in good cases in order to be stored between the truck trailer and whatever venue were scheduled weekly. I mostly use anvil type road cases but I have a miscellaneous strong box that I had a friend build for me back in the 80s. It's one of my most prized container that has never ever failed me. It's made of stainless steel, aluminum extruded bracing and trim, and brass hardware. Heavy as all get out but with 20lbs. Of gear inside its built to take abuse. So, yeah. I do get exited over a quality strong box!

That box may have been a assignment/test given to the person who made it as a test of that person's proof of their skill. I bought a aluminum pet carrier at a garage sale made along those lines the maker got a bit caried away with the design it had four different heavy-duty latches to secure the door shut. It looked like it was made to contain an evil Tasmanian devil. I use to enjoy taking our kittens to the vet in it and watching the peoples' expressions, like what do you have in there.

Watching Adam gushing over this box makes me so happy. What a great video.

Master craftsmanship. Stunning detail.

I just love how much Adam loves this.

Finally! someone made an explosion proof lunch box that can contain my famous TNT Chili!

The serenade in the middle was beautiful. He actually has a great voice

Incredible craftsmanship!!

one of my favourite things is people that are passionate about something and have knowledge that I don’t have at all, gushing over details that to me are completely trivial and I would never think twice about, it really makes you appreciate the details that go into different things, that most of us are completely unaware of

Happy new year to you and your family, Mr. Savage.

Masterpiece of workmanship. And the box found the perfect steward in Adam!

Happy new year bro, wish you all the best for the coming year

I always get a kick out of Adam's "kid in a candy shop" enthusiasm!

Looks almost big enough to be a record box.

Stinnett Sticks: A great RU-vid channel for custom made walking sticks. Absolutely AMAZING walking sticks. So calming to watch them being carved too.

The final version probably had all the sided polished out to almost a mirror finish. That was a structural prototype

That is truly beautiful, someone put all their skill into that and for that reason alone it's special.

Adam, I'm among other things, an old Aircraft control surfaces mechanic mechanic. I thought I'd share a little insight on the construction of your fantastic aluminum box. Those flushed rivets tell a tale. The two parts comprising the front of the box had to be cut to size, countersunk, riveted and flushed BEFORE he began assembling the box. You can't do that quality of flush on an assembled surface like that. That's supreme confidence in your precision measurements! It looks to me, just examining the video, that all the riveting on the round head rivets is perfect. There's not a single "eyebrow" or "mis-strike" anywhere. This gentleman was a master at his craft. But more important, looking at that box tells me this man had a really good friend. He couldn't achieve that level of perfection on those rivets if he didn't have someone equally talented and "in tune" with him, to buck those rivets so precisely. And for a tedious job on what was almost certainly a "side hustle" project, he had to be a really cool friend. It's a thing of rare beauty and I am supremely pleased it ended up in the lap of someone who can truly appreciate it for the master work it is. I can only hope, after I'm gone, some of my work will end up in similar hands. And I got a little choked up with you while watching your video. I've always liked you and your work but today, you have earned my deepest respect, sir. Thank you very much.

Everything tells a story - It's just a matter if you listen or not. Thanks Adam

My dad would have shared your tenacious curiosity and adamant restoration for this mystery box. Thank you for so precious a reminder.

it looks like a box for vynyl albums. those covers wouldnt mark up the inside if those or other paper products were what he was storing.

It’s such a joy to see Adam just geeking out over a box!

amazing work! maybe it is an actual "masterpiece", the final exam for some kind of metal worker?

Adam loves the fact that a man made this 60 years ago with his own hands using skills he probably learned 20-30 years previous. It is a beautiful thing in so many ways

I do not know of any other man who could make an aluminium box so intriguing and sensual, mr Savage you are a God!

That mystery metal Box is extremely simple and unique....ooh I love it Adam

I'm glad this work of art was saved and not scrapped like so many others. Not only saved, but Adam has already shared it with the world. 👍

I love when Adam gets excited like this 😄

*Making money is an action. Keeping money is a behavior, but "Growing money is wisdom" I figured this out a week ago.💯*

Truly an excellent box, one can see the work and detail put into it. Hope Adam finds a good usage for it.

Your enthusiasm is contagious.

You can look and glow at it all you want. But all it takes is to hear the sound it makes when you close it. That solid and satisfying clap tells me all I need to know about this case. Chef's Kiss Perfect.

Only Adam Savage could be this interested in a box and make us interested as well.

I love the praise Adam heaps upon the maker of that box. You can't argue how beautiful something is when made by a master craftsman.

This makes me realize how much I take things for granted. When he first showed the box my initial reaction was, "...ok, it's a metal box put together with some rivets...what's there to be impressed about?" But seeing Adam marvel over it, and passionately explain the craftsmanship required to make something like that totally changed my perspective. It makes me wonder how many things I use every day that I don't even give a second thought to, because I'm oblivious as to what went into making or designing it.

Beautiful! Lovely to watch someone knowledgeable enough to kvell about all the right details

Be a good box to keep all your old truck titles in for memory and to know they were forever safe from this magnificent piece of skilled expertise.

I love that sentiment at the end. It has never been used, and where others might go "it must be protected, stay pristine, and continue not being used at all", Adam says: That is a problem that I'm gonna remedy and find a use for it.

It is so wonderful to see true and absolute appreciation for something.

This box will be used to house a relic. The reverence in his voice means only something very special will be honored to call it home. Not only that, the item will fit the "feel" of the box wonderfully, and be the perfect size and shape for it. Being admired by Adam Savage for the detailed craftsmanship means it will likely end up in a museum or treasured collection someday, along with whatever lives in it. Also, I will never look at a box like that again without fully inspecting it and thinking about the person who made it.

Just proves the craftsmanship n quality attention to detail they had back in the day. Where things were made to last unlike today

I've experienced the same thing, my grandfather was a Craftsman during his life. A few years ago , I was handed a custom jewelry box he crafted in the early 70ts. I am now 42 years old ,I work at a custom fabrication/machine shop. When I saw that box, no matter how many projects I've seen pass on our laser/CNC/lathes you name it. We can easily match the quality (longevity) of craftsman hands, but no machined piece will ever be able to capture the character and true passion that type of work has. It's incredible

I came into this video thinking “oh that’s a nice box, whatever’s in it must be the real deal though” and then by the halfway point I was right there with you on being impressed. The eye for detail you have about the fabrication of objects is something I aspire to as a maker and clothier.

Hearing Adam gush about good construction is the maker/artist's equivalent of the "Coffee is for Closers" speech

Thank you Steve for letting Adam share that masterpiece with everyone! I’ve always had a thing for boxes as well and that was an amazing piece!

I wish I loved anything as much as Adam loves this box.

I love that Adam starts trying to shoot some B-roll, and immediately starts geeking out over it again instead :D

I really hope Steve lets the lady know there is a video of Adam Savage gushing over her late husband's creation. What an honor to have your own creation, discovered and recognized for the technical achievement is. Even if was just a box. He made one hell of a box.

"This is coming home with me and it is going to be something important." I felt that.

A Christmas morning level of glee from Adam. Kudos.

The simple detail of the lid locating ears speaks volumes.

I had the fortune to work with Bob Fischer who was a Boeing/GE A&P mechanic for 40 years. Just to watch him turn a flat panel into a repair panel was mesmerizing, from the shear to the english wheel to perfect fit!