I always keep an eye out for used Kennedy boxes since, in addition to being useful for tool storage, the previous owners have usually left evidence of their own careers and lifetimes. The stickers and decals of names, of unions, and of places of work remind me that I'm just one guy (even if I'm just a hobby machinist with far nicer tools than he deserves) who is inheriting the tools and techniques of countless people that have come before. Thanks for the great video!
My first high quality machinist box. My beautiful wife bought it for me in Alaska in 1977. It has a few dings now but I am sure my son, who has it now, will undoubtedly pass it on to my grandson. Thanks Pete
Many years ago, the school I taught in was remodeled. The industrial arts department got all new shops. My machine shop had all new machines, each with a Kennedy box on a roller box. The first day of school, my supervisor came in and took three for “other” teachers. They probably went straight to his basement. Nice video. Brings back memories.
Wow, they must’ve had quite a budget. I think you were wrong about your supervisor. Those three boxes went straight into his basement. Although most supervisors have no interest whatsoever in items like that. They are only interested in advancing themselves to the highest level. When you are 80 years old you become very skeptical.
Great video! Please keep them coming. While watching your "extra credit" section I recognized the wooden box immediately as a Star which had the round mirror. I inherited a Star wooden machinist box from my grandfather. It was in very bad shape when a friend gave it to him over 60 years ago and was missing the round mirror. Due to it's condition, my grandfather primarily used the Star as a small parts storage box. I have completely refurbished it (repair, stain, finish, felt, etc.) and use it for my machinist tooling. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a Star specific round mirror and frame. It now sits on an older Kennedy Riser (#22) in my shop. Both the Star wooden machinist box and the Kennedy Riser are used almost daily. I think of my grandfather every time I open the Star machinist box. It provides a meaningful connection to the past and a man that taught me so much.
Wow, I love that story. I bet that box men’s an awful lot to you. I remember seeing a tiny ad in an old popular mechanics magazine from the 40s. The ad was for star toolboxes.
My dad had a Kennedy box with riser. The top box does have the cam lock in the lid. We would be working on a project together, with tools all over. At 5:00 it was time to go into the house, wash up and sit down for the news. We would always clean and put the tools back, even though we would be using the same ones the next day. That was a good lesson for me. Thanks, Mr Pete!
Of all the features you commented about, I did not hear you say anything about the unique “spring squeak” from the lid, common on all “KENNEDY BOXES”! Thanks for the video!
Those Craftsman boxes convinced me manufactures can match the style and finish of other manufacturers. Once you can bend metal, you can bend metal just like the other guy. I believe the drawer pulls are made by a third party supplier, so they aren’t reliable indicators of the manufacturer. There are even Waterloo boxes with the ttwo squeaky spring pins used to lock the front cover that I previously thought was Kennedy only. Apparently, Sears could insist on being able to “own” the rights to a design and have another manufacturer make it. One thing that seems to be uniquely Waterloo is the two divots around the lock like on the first Craftsman you showed. If you look at the number on the lock, you can also call Waterloo, and they will tell you if they made it. The same is sometimes true with Kennedy as well. Locks can be changed of course. It seems Remline and Beach might also have made boxes for Sears. I wonder how deep the box needs to be before the sandwich drawer transitions into a whisky drawer?
I bet a couple 60's? Craftsman mechanics tool boxes are actually built by Kennedy. Overstuffed with tools, both drawers have been out to re-oil the slides. Couldn't handle sticky slides. Another learning/history day! Thank you!
Brian from Ma Great video love them darling little Bridgeport and lathe any hoo off to work on a ranch then I will be shop bound which I’ve been planing a lot more shop time love what I have truly Blessed Besafe
That is a lovely collection of toolboxes, just great. The woorden ones are stunning. Sadly I never see these type of boxes in Europe, I would love to have some. Thank you for showing them.
Seven drawer boxes used, and often on the crustier side can even now be found for well less than $50, occasionally even less than $20! Oddly, the wider boxes i rarely ever find cheap used. Both 7 drawer top box Kennedy boxes i have i bought for less than $20 used and needed repainting, which i did. I later added a small narrow Kennedy roll cab i bought new and a two drawer riser. Also along the way i acquired a 7 drawer Gerstner and a less known and rougher shape 7 drawer Star box (i think) that is a black leather wrap. Someday I hope to restore both of the latter boxes. Until that time comes though both are filled and in use in my shop. I loved the tour Mr. Pete!
I just picked up a old 526 model for 40 bucks from one of the ladies in my church her husband used to be a machinist and it had little odds and ends in it so I cleaned it up and love it .i often get weird looks when at shops since I’m 15 and love to work on cars and collect antiques
Hi Mr Pete, I always thought you could never have too many tools. Well, maybe you can't have too many tool boxes either? Seasons greetings for the new year from the UK.
Good morning Lyle. Love those old Kennedy boxes. I have three full of tools and a Craftsman roll around. I wonder if you’ve ever considered introducing “Coming Attractions” to your loyal viewers? After Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Loonie Tunes, and Wiley Coyote in the old movie theaters they always flashed “Coming Attractions” in big letters on the screen to “Pique”our interest. I can almost hear your booming voice announcing at the start of a new video, “And now for some exciting new attractions, coming soon to this channel for your viewing pleasure!” followed by brief views of products and projects that we would never see anywhere else. By the way, congratulations on reaching the magic number of 300K subscribers.
Actually, I have done that a few times, but usually near the end of the video, which means no one actually saw it. Perhaps I will try to do that, but most often I do not know what the next video will be at that time, L O L. Glad you like the toolbox video. And of course I remember those coming attractions. They always suckered me to come the next week, but of course I was going to go anyway. Thanks for the ideas.
@@mrpete222 One of those coming attractions was "Showboat" with Howard Keel and Katherine Grayson in 1951. After a few scenes these words were flashed on the screen, "See this movie with someone you love!" I did and her name was Annette. She passed away last November at 87 after two marriages, three fine sons and lots of grands and great grands. What wonderful times those were when we sat and watched the silver screen in a darkened theater with not a care in the world.
Happy new year. Nice collection. I do think that the first Craftsman is a Waterloo, though. Both Kennedy and Waterloo supplied to Sears. I actually prefer the Waterloo in cases where the top needs to generally stay closed, since the pins cover lock interfere with the top drawers on Kenedy boxes.
G Box makers make jewelry boxes. And fishing boxes. All sorts of boxes. The Green looks like some sears - maybe where sears had some made one year or two. Looks like my two Sears boxes from the 60's were Kennedy manufactured. Pins and handles but all metal - my handle is steel shell and is great.
My Kennedy boxes are over 35 years old, and one of them is probably closer to 50 years old. All in great shape. Looked at new ones recently, and the jaw hit the floor. Have always wanted to build a wooden set, and may if I ever get to retire.
Great Video Lyle. Never seen a Half Box either.. Got a good chuckle hearing the Noise in the background and the Christmas tree coming down the Stairs. Yup !! I'm Snooping again HAHAHHAAHA... Thanks Much. Mike M.
I feel only a little less bad about my 18 Kennedy boxes. Pop had one when I was a kid. Got their hooks in me early. I actually made the Kennedy Outfitters (?) club, on their website. Kinda far down, outta StL. When you see "Kennedy corner", a mini mill, possibly a small Atlas lathe and / or an old Craftsman bandsaw, that's me. That half box is the neatest thing I've seen in a long while. Thanks for sharing Sir, please disregard the mess in my "shop" if'n ya do come across my pics. Keep up the good work!
Lyle - Another good video to start the day. My best box is a Gerstner that my Dad got in 1941 that is in pristine condition and I keep my nicest tools in that - including several that were his. I also have an old square Kennedy box from the 40s, a darker green paint, still has the decals inside the lid and brass loop pulls that are original. I got that with all the tools - including unused indicators, very nice. Add in the 3 other wooden boxes and a Kennedy with riser in primo shape my one late brother in law gave me when they moved to Florida. Can never have too many tool boxes for those valuable tools. I've been lucky - don't think I've ever paid over $150 for a decent wooden box with all the tools in it (or that old Kennedy). Around here just nobody knows how to use anything in the box and no 'jewelry box' buyers there. LOL. Have a good day.
Kennedy boxes were made in Van Wert, Ohio. They offered mechanic chests too painted red with the same crinkle finish. Never knew why brown was the ‘official’ color for metal machinist boxes. Later they made some very large mechanic chests painted black. Waterloo boxes were made Sedalia, Missouri.
Today, 04/13/2024, I purchased a Kennedy roll around and upper chest for $160. Not bragging, just excited beyond belief. I'll be 73 on my next birthday so I figure it's just on loan to me for a few years until the next youngster gets it after I've reached room temperature. Tomorrow, I'll clean it up, transfer my tools into it, and sell my Horror Freight box for about $160. Life is good, Mr. Pete. Thanks to God.
My Craftsman toolbox looks just that one. Got it in 1978 and still use it. I was an electronic tech for 40+ years. It's full of tools, of course. I enjoy your vids very, very much.
Waterloo used to make all the mechanics boxes for Mac, Snap on, and Matco. My dad was a tool grinder and he had a nice wood box but it wasn't a Gerstner. Not sure who made it but it was very nice.
I hope I live to be 80 or more like you because I have so many tools and I don't get to use them enough. That was a very informative video. I would have paid about $150 for the wooden one since it was empty. I have paid about $500 for old Gerstner boxes full of tools several times and I know they were good deals each time I got them. The ones I got were in excellent condition. Have a great new year and hope to see more videos. I used to watch your videos all the time but got busy and lost track for about 2 years. Your story videos got me watching again and I can't wait to see more.
I have A Waterloo machinist box that I’ve had for over forty years. I don’t know if they’re still made or not. It’s similar to a Kennedy but is much better built. There’s a stiffener spot welded onto the lid and the sides are much wider than a Kennedy. I’ve seen Kennedy’s actually shift from side to side and my Waterloo will not. I’ve never in my forty plus years in the trade seen another and I’m glad I have it.
I actually have 2 Waterloo machinist boxes at my home shop. Have had them both longer than I can remember. They are indeed well built. My box I had at my day job was actually a Power Kraft from Montgomery Wards. Not sure who actually made it, but it is also well built.
My boxes have held up very well. I think it’s because I do not move them around. I suppose if you carry them from place to place and bang them around, it causes wear
Kennedy IS the best. Got my first one as a tech on the Apollo Command Module at NASA in Houston in the early 70s. Have acquired a few more since. Tried the cheap imitation a couple of times of the years to my regret. Save your money and buy the good stuff, you'll only have to buy it once.
Morning Lyle, maybe your son-in-law when restoring the old green Kennedy, mite watch the video i made back in November on the two 520's installing new felt in the early box with square lid. I think you too missed thoes videos, are didn't comment. I only have one 526 & one 520, since the 520 later model goes to my grandson Hunter. Was to give to hime on Christmas, but the auto accident sure throw a "Wench it to that Plan"! It wiill happen, but got to get back on my feet and stock it with tools. I do have a roller around craftsman lthat sets by your mill. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, but put on hold filling the 520 Kennedy I gave to my grandson Hunter with tools for Christmas. Now dw with the flu bug, but will shoot that event soon!
I have the long Kennedy with two risers. I need a different stand because it sits really high now. I have a Sears that I keep wood carving tools in and other expensive woodworking tools. No sandwich in mine, just the machinist hand book. I worked with a guy that had a Gerstner and another that was skinned in black leather.
They definitely don’t make them like this anymore. Funny story, I just recently picked up a craftsman box at a flea market (I did a video on it) and found some amazing tools. But the best part was, it had old photos and other sentimental items, I was able to find the original owner on the Nextdoor app and was able to get his items back to him. His sister accidentally gave it to a junk company 🤣 But I got it for 40 bucks with everything in it. Love the tool box. And also Met a new friend. Thanks for sharing…….
I've never seen one of those half width boxes before. However, as a kid in the 50's going to the country dentist, I did notice a similar type set of boxes in the "chair" room. I now know these were medical grade but at the time I was really stricken with tool box envy! Lol! Great video Mr Pete! Great comments also! 👍😎✌️
I have a couple of Kennedy toolboxes, one a Craftsman and the other marked Kennedy. The Craftsman one looks like it's been through the wars, but it soldiers on. The other was some sort of specialty box for what I don't remember.
My collection comprises of hand me downs and lucky buys,I don't go to auctions cause people get lost in the moment and drive the bidding to high,some flea markets,thanks for the tour🤗😎🤗😎
In my Shop I have both the Kennedy Branded ones and Craftmens ones and I thank that small craftsmen half box was made by Waterloo who was the company that made the mechanic tool boxes and benches for Sears !I have in my Collection A Kennedy box which was handmade by Kennedy When he first started .
Mr. Pete after seeing these it reminded of my carry around snap on tool box from the 60's. It was my grandfather's. If you would like to see it I wouldn't mind sending pictures. Thanks for taking the time to show us your collection. Hope you have a happy new year
@@mrpete222 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O8rtKdpUTIA.htmlsi=RSnw9DJHAxlienMv couldn't figure out how to send a picture. So I made a short video. I also have his matching tool box that goes with it. It's pretty good size box for being from 1969
Happy New Year Sir! That was an interesting video. I did not know that Kennedy made boxed for Craftsman in the past. I have plenty of Craftman tool boxes but, nothing like those. I do have a full chest made by General Tool which could easily pass for Kennedy boxes. I bought them from Harbor Freight in 2013 as a closeout item. They were made well enough and priced so low that I bought a second set as a birthday present for my friend and neighbor. I have since moved away from that area and we lost touch but, those boxes are still serving me well. The one thing that seems to be lacking in New England is good tool auctions. If there are any they are not very well advertised. That's probably a good thing because I'm already overloaded with tools, boxes and machines. I have four lathes, two drill presses, a band saw, table saw, other power tools and seven roll away tool cabinet sets! I will soon be adding a Bridgeport to the collection. Good grief! Thank you for all of your hard work and for being such a fantastic teacher.
I've got the box and base on the left in my garage. Bought it in '85. Even has the included, engraved, name placard, my tools and some "souvenirs" from various shops. It still smells from high speed coolant, too.
Never saw the half box either. Interesting. Dad had an original Kennedy and I looked at it a few times. The added advantage of the rounded corners on the Craftsman box is it did not dig into your side as you carried. Though most machinists did not move them around a lot.
I have a Kennedy no signature but has the decal that I picked at an auction. I also have a green Kennedy style box but has button pulls. It has no maker marks but I have owned since the 1960s and I have used and abused it on the farm. It made many trips to the field and back and is still in very good condition and retired to a position near the lathe and mill. The slides still work perfectly but I did put speed decals on it as a teen but left it that way because most of those companies are no more. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for the comment that was interesting. I really do not like it when people put stickers on their toolboxes. However, the magnetize ones are great.
I was at a pawn shop in Daytona Beach some years ago, and they had just set a new kennedy box out that was filled with machinist tools (new also) most still in their little boxes. I bargained and struck a deal with the guy for $150. Then, another guy came out and asked if I was planning to buy it. He said if you are, there's more to it upstairs and brought out a large cardboard box full of machinist stuff still in the boxes. I was already biting my lip even before he said that. I knew both the guys pretty well, they said it all went together and they didn't raise the price. I was concerned about where the tools came from, but it was a large well known pawn shop and they told me about the guy that bought it all new and showed them the receipts for lot of it. He inherited a large sum of money and changed his whole career plans. I was in the right place at exactly the right time that day.
@@mrpete222 I'm retired now, but the company I worked for had furnished Kennedy rollaways as toolboxes and they decided to get rid of them and set a couple of dozen in an area and numbered them to take bids. I picked a couple with all thin drawers for $35 each in about 80% condition with some wear. Still really nice boxes though. I now have 4 Kennedy roll aways, 3 top boxes and 1 center box. Plus a large red Craftsman set and a really nice heavy Mack set. At least 2 of the Kennedy roll aways are the wide ones. That sandwich drawer also works for a pistol though they frown on it now. I also bought 6 sets of parts drawers with the pull out metal divided boxes like at an auto parts store. A company sold off a bunch of them new on ebay for $50 a set (for the 4 metal boxes and the frame). I'm reorganizing the garage. I also have about (20), 30cal ammo cans to store stuff in (keeps it dry) Write a number on each can and take a picture of whats inside. Then just look thru the pictures to find stuff. Its a good cheap system.
I have a bunch of Kennedy chests and risers (4 chests and 4 risers), but no bottom rollers. I also have a Craftsman and a Stack-On (looks nearly identical to a Kennedy with black pulls) that was issued to my wife when she was an illustrator in the USAF. And I finally snagged a Gerstner O42 for next to nothing AND it was full of tooling! I love the shallow drawers on them all.
@@mrpete222 I got really lucky with this one. It was a mess and the front cover was broken. I replaced the top handle and all of the felt and used some finish restorer. But I have no room for it in the shop, so it sits on a shelf in my office, largely unused.
Happy new year Mr. Pete . Wonderful collection sir . I was lucky to buy an 8 drawer machinist box WITH the 2 drawer riser for $80 from an electrical engineer and have filled it with most of my layout tools for woodworking . Love your videos .
I know understand that many people are buying these that are not machinists. Maybe that’s why they bring such a high price at auctions. And they are addicting.
Along with the boxes I use, I have three rusty caresses I got from a hoarder's estate that I've used for a few parts. I should get rid of them, but I haven't been able to do so yet.
I've managed to acquire a few Kennedy pieces over the years. Fortunately I stumbled across some fair deals or was able to combine them with a machine tool negotiation... "Well, ya know I'm going to need the tooling and this box that goes with it..." 🤠
Have you ever tried to find replacements for the Kennedy or Craftsman draw pulls? That little piece of plastic will run you about $6 a piece plus shipping. AND, it's sort of snapped in to the face of the drawer, not even held by a fastener. I need a few for a box I bought years ago. Couldn't bring myself to just stick something in the holes.
Very nice collection. I'm still looking for my first Kennedy, no luck so far. My four toolboxes consist of one for my mill, one for my lathe, one automotive, and one for woodworking. It would be nice to consolidate to two to save space.
Like you, I have long favored Kennedy boxes. I think that I have 21 or 22. I have a Kennedy that is similar to your very small box, also the only one that I have ever seen. I long preferred the very thin machinist chest drawers over traditional mechanic chest drawer design. I "misapplied" my machinist boxes for industrial mechanic application. Eventually I began upgrading to Snap-On mechanic chests. Kennedy employs friction slides more often than ball bearing slides. This is fine for the small drawers, but I prefer the ball bearing drawer glides and locking drawers of the mechanic chest designs. Kennedy never embraced full extension drawer glides on any of my chests. This would have been a significant upgrade, and still frustrates me about my Kennedys. The Kennedy chests aren't as rugged as premium mechanic chests and have limited drawer width and depth options compared to mechanic chests. Kennedy is far less costly than Snap-On and other premium chest brands making them still a favourite to me. I own one Lyle tooling cabinet, and they and Stanley Vidmar are a very viable option if you want an upgrade from Kennedy and would benefit from vastly stronger and heavier drawer capacity. The used market frequently has these industrial grade cabinets at very affordable prices. My employment required me to move my chest daily over a 140,000 SF shop, so portability was important. Kennedy Versa cart was too small and I didn't care for the outboard large wheels and the common end cabinet. I like that all my drawers open towards the front. I only own one versa cart that has grown to a 7 cabinet stack. I bought the three chest starter setup used for $100. My current shop setup no longer requires moving chests. I solved my work chest setup by fabricating a zero turning radius cart with under chest casters suitable for the 2000lb payload. I was long, tall and narrow, using 27" and 29" chest stack ups plus an outboard work surface including a large Wilton Tradesman vise. Kennedy makes full depth riser cabinets and mechanic top chests. This work setup sported one Snap-On base with Kennedy full depth 5 drawer riser and Kennedy mechanic top chest. The next stack was all the same in Kennedy, but sported the machinist top chest. This gave me a wee bit of deck space for job site staging. The biggest disadvantage was the non locking chest drawers. I could generate serious travel speeds and cornering could allow drawers to open. This chest setup was a career long functional setup and was affordable when I was younger and had less deep pockets than my retirement years. I used high quality 6" casters. A ton of tool chest mass could generate significant inertia and would drag me to a stop on smooth factory floors. Our shop was very confined and the zero turning radius was very valuable. I now have many chest stack ups, but the work chest arrangement remains a favorite. I think that I may be done buying my chest armada (I think that it is up to 30), but I still covet the very large mechanic chests. I only have 4 Snap-On chests and none of them are the extremely large chests. I think that my largest stack is only 36" wide. My longer mechanic tools won't fit in the drawers. I don't own any Gerstner chests. They are lovely, but are too pricey for my spendage.
Awesome comment, I hope lots of people read it. That is amazing, I never knew a man that had that many machinist boxes. Very good logic on what you told me about the different boxes.
Nice boxes, I only have one Kennedy box in which I keep my gtd tap wrenches. Just having it makes me feel like a real machinist. I wish it had the sandwich drawer.
2 years ago, I picked up a green Kennedy box, when someone was selling their father's tools. A lot of older precision measuring tools for a good price. I went looking for video 890 and can't find it using either you tube or google. Strange? Have a good day!
I never tried to buy one and never thought about it. I would doubt very much if you could find one of those clips. Buy a donor box someday when you can find one cheap.
Mr. Pete: Do you think that half-wide box is a Rem Line? The drawer pulls look similar to your branded Rem Line as does the shape and contour of the covers.
In mining there is a company called Kennedy stoppings. They make metal walls to put up and block off sections of the mine. they help course and control airflow. I have offend wondered if it might be the same company.
I was thinking in the condition of that wooden one that you showed last the maximum I would’ve given for it. It was about 50 bucks because it looked like it was highly worn or abused
I have one of those Craftsman/Kennedy tool boxes I bought in 1975. I built a 3/4” plywood road case on wheels that the tool box fit into. That tool box traveled with me to 49 of the 50 States several times. Never made it to Alaska but it did get to Hawaii. It also made it to Europe a couple of times. I still own it today and other than the felt liners being a little tattered it still works perfectly. I never realized till your video that it was made by Kennedy. Do you know if you can buy new liners for the drawers?
