Hip Roof Cantilevered Toolbox Identification

[lt.luke]

looks better with the Kennedy handle.

[d42jeep]

As has been posted in my NAF toolbox thread, three very similar cantilever toolboxes have surfaced without any indication of Manufacturer.
Two have Navy markings and the third (mine) has indications of where a sticker has been. The first one was discovered by a fellow vintage tool collector in the San Francisco Bay Area and was posted on the Gee by Wingnutt. The second was purchased in the U.K. by Gee member Len Jones. I found the third one on Friday at an estate sale in western Nevada. Although similar to Kennedy boxes there are clear differences. Here are some pictures of the boxes in order of discovery.
-Don

[d42jeep]

Here are more views of Len’s and my new box
-Don

[Wingnutt]

There is zero doubt in my mind that the three boxes are from the same mfgr and timeframe. In my opinion, the second tray cover on the other Bay Area box is not enough to classify it as a different model. That's a minor thing that is typically handled in options, not a major construction distinction. While the Len and Don boxes have amazing matches (including the locks and the stickers!) we don't have enough details on the other Bay Area box to know if it has the same lock or not (that can be resolved!), and that different sticker location is a function of the user, not the mfgr. That placement could be the arbitrary decision of a different NAF facility, a different unit at the same facility, same facility and unit, different team, etc. The fact that it had a sticker, and that the sticker was very likely NAF, seems a strong probability to me.

[Len Jones]

Don
Thanks for posting the photos of all three boxes, strange how things turn up in three's !

As Greg has quite correctly pointed out that all three boxes appear to be from the same manufacturer, albeit that box 1 has two top tray lids, and a different decal position.

Both mine, and Don's appear identical, both have the same ' Eagle Company ' side latches - I wonder what latches are on box 1 ?

Greg has already confirmed that his WW2 Armourer's box has the same latches. Jason has also posted photos of a ' Lock, Foot Locker Trunk ' with the same ' Eagle Company ' from a 1942 dated box - just the lettering with no ' EAGLE ' logo.

My post WW2 Simonsen type 11 mechanics case also has eagle latches, however the logo is simply an eagle with out stretched upward pointing wings clutching the word ' EAGLE '. It's handle, and Government tag are both marked ' Simonsen Chicago 51 ' which dates it prior to the introduction of postal zip codes in 1962. Don's padlock has a similar ' EAGLE ' logo, and Gordon has posted a garage lock with the same ' EAGLE ' logo, and a patent date of 1954.

Therefore could the ' Eagle Company ' marked latches on both of our boxes provide a possible date of manufacture ? Hopefully this could lead us to a known manufacturer.

Just an observation but the L-Rail that supports the fold out trays is a one piece arrangement, and is held in place by only two rivets on each end of the case - other cases have four rivets on each end ?

Anyone care to measure the overall height of a WW2 vintage Simonsen case for a comparison ? Not that I am suggesting in any way that these cases might be made by Simonsen - it's just that the two round recesses instead of the one recess might mean a taller case ?

Many thanks to all those who have ' been on my case '.

[Wingnutt]

I got some pics from the owner of the other Bay Area box. The center locking hasp is missing, so we won;t be able to see if it's EAGLE or not. Maybe the shape will help? The other pics are the decal remains (unintelligibe, but same shape) and a latch.

Blake hasp rsz.jpg (150.34 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

Blake Decal remains rsz.jpg (247.73 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

Blake Latch left rsz.jpg (150.81 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

[Len Jones]

Greg thanks for that extra information.

The hasp and staple on my USN box are not marked, the hasp seems to match that outline on Blake's box, and the decal seems to be the same size too.

Would it be possible to ask Blake if he would not mind removing a bit of paint from the latch to see if it is marked like mine ? I was a little reluctant at first - but I just used a some steel wool very lightly to find the ' Eagle Company ' marking, which showed up quickly.

[Wingnutt]

Yes, I'll ask.

[d42jeep]

I seem to see some traces of red in the remains of Blake’s decal which indicates to me that it was very likely to be another Navy sticker, just in a different location. I took a few more pictures of my box including the latch before I removed some paint to reveal the Eagle markings.
-Don

[d42jeep]

I was getting tired of carrying the toolbox around with the strap remnants of a handle so I installed an appropriate leather handle I had on hand.
-Don

[Spencer54]

Is this postwar?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-U-S- ... OSwzpFa14D~

[Gordon_M]

Is this postwar?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-U-S- ... OSwzpFa14D~

Yes.

...
...

... oh, all right then - it is a WW2 style Hip Roof Type 2 case, but the Mil Spec type markings suggest Korea or later, and there is a "60" in the order number which I'd guess would be about right for the date. It does look a little tired, and the price is about twice what I'd expect to pay for that condition here in the UK.

[d42jeep]

I believe that Kennedy used the leather handles until around 1949, so I would say Gordon’s timeframe is accurate.
-Don

[Spencer54]

Excellent - I thought it was a bit on the pricey side, I'm supposed to be buying bits for the GPW but the tool bug has now got hold of me.
I badly want a toolbox now

[Gordon_M]

Excellent - I thought it was a bit on the pricey side, I'm supposed to be buying bits for the GPW but the tool bug has now got hold of me.
I badly want a toolbox now

Can't go too far wrong if you just grab anything original that is the right price. Given the choice the smaller boxes are definitely more usable. The bigger hip roof boxes are heavy when empty, and diabolically heavy when full. Hip roof boxes seemed to be common in USAAC / USAAF / USAF and Navy use, less so in Army.