Old Craftsman rolling cabinet refresh. Any help with ID of age?

I have a rolling cabinet like the one pictured below. It was my Dad's, and has been around as long as I can recall. (a very long time)

I'm interested in if the age can be determined some way. Is there a marking on the box somewhere, or does the logo give a clue?

Also, does anyone know how to release the drawers from the slides for removal?

I'm doing a small work area in the back of a laundry room in my condo, and want to clean my unit up (leaving the patina) and make it the 'foundation' of my work area.



@koditten? @Jimmyh? Anyone???????

 

They used to stamp a serial number inside or under one of the drawers. I believe that cabinet is mid 50s, but the serial will give you a closer answer.

 

Some had a serial number plate with build date

 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1940s-1950s-craftsman-piece-rollaway-1876325175

 

@Matic Certainly close! Logo is a bit different. I was guessing '40s after Dad's discharge from the Army Air Corp in '45.

The cabinet I have was disassembled and repainted in about 1970 when they built a new house and he wanted to spruce up the garage.

Anyone have a trick for releasing the drawer slides so I can remove the drawers for cleaning and fresh lube?

 

Update.

I figured out how to release the drawers, then how to remove the drawer slides from the box, which will allow a deep clean and lubrication of all those friction parts.

Was able to remove the lock for which there is no key and was frozen, causing the tab to bend sheet metal, etc. I have no reason to lock it, but not quite sure what I want to do with the lock. I may challenge a locksmith friend. Or cut off the tab, mount it upside down to take the tab out of play, etc.

Figured out how the gravity lock that locks the 3 drawers works in conjunction with lowering the bottom door into position. Not sure if I wan to disable that or leave as is.

Found it has the original ball bearing casters, mounted with straight screws and square nuts. Fortunately I have a small set of double square sockets that allowed easy removal. I need to decide if I want to update to at least 2 locking casters.

Found some old catalogs on line, looks like the logo on the box ended circa 1954, so we are in the range of mid 40's (earliest he would have bought it, if bought new) till then. Have not found any tags or stamps yet, but will keep looking. If anyone has a clue how to pin the date closer that would be nice.

I plan on doing a small write up on the history of the box to leave in the box. Someday when I'm gone and kids or grand kids are dumping my junk, they might enjoy knowing as much history as possible.

 

Bottom of box, really just surface rust on original paint. Light sanding, treated with Purple Power (a discontinued product similar to POR15, phosphoric acid based) then 2 coats of brushed on machine gray enamel. Since this will never be in view, it's just for preservation.

 

A little cleaning on one of the drawer fronts.

It's amazing to me that 50 yo lacquer (repaint in 1970) can still work up that well. No sun, never wet, so that helps. But plenty of dirt, both from sitting and handling......

 

them handles chromed tin or aluminum..?

 

Based on the quick grab of a magnet as well as some rust in the grooves I'd say they are steel. On a couple of the corners the chrome (and likely nickel) has worn off and exposed the layer of copper plating which was typically the first layer over steel.

 

yeah, I have a similar problem with a similar toolbox I’m looking to restore to ‘new’. I’m gonna drill the rivets, have the local guy re-chrome the handles, then new rivets.

good luck.

cool box.

 

So I've still not come upon a direct date stamp. Yet. But I'm pretty far in, so it's not looking good for a find.

I did notice an interesting stamp on the inside of a drawer face, behind the logo mounting. Maybe some digging will uncover the years this company built these for Sears.

 

This would indicate your toolbox is probably 1950's vintage... which i think is about what you thought.

 

New HF casters in place. Original casters were still good, but non locking.

I did mount with original screws / split washers / square nuts. Just because I could.

 

Did some minor sheet metal work to realign the lower door mechanism to fit well. Added some 1mm thick self adhesive felt in several metal to metal rub points to stop noise. In this usage it's a much cleaner solution than trying lubrication.

Polishing / cleanup is coming along a little better than I hoped for.

 

Fitted up a glued edge board for a bit of a light duty work surface today. Sturdier and quieter to work on than the sheetmetal top.

Because it's an in home tool chest and mini work bench.

Need to round edges, sand and poly.

 

Drawer liners fitted. Top mounted. Couple more adjustments and it will roll into it's new home later today.

 

And to put a bow on this project, thought I'd show it in it's new home in the laundry room.

It's functional, looks decent for its age, but most of all offers a reminder of many good memories of my Dad.



Also want to offer a tip 'o the hat to @Too Stroked. This cleanup of the old paint effort used many of the products / techniques he recommended to me for use on my truck.

(Which, BTW, I have finally started on. I hope to have the outside of that completed early next week). A neighbor is out of state for a few months, and he has graciously loaned me his garage. Since I normally only work a couple of panels at a time, it's nice to be able to keep it inside until I have it completed.