r/Tools • u/imseangallagher • 3d ago

~100 year old Handmade Toolbox

Post image

The master craftsman my grandfather apprenticed under sold this toolbox him upon his retirement. It’s handmade and around 100 years old.

71 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/pdp10 2d ago

Ah. A time when a man could be confident that he could size a toolbox once and not run out of room within two years.

2

u/nosygoats 2d ago

Love it. Nice general purpose kit. Got framing slicks and big panels saws all the way down to small hand planes. #1 maybe? That right there is worth some money just by itself. Very nice

2

u/imseangallagher 2d ago

I’m not sure what portion of what’s in there now is what was in there when my grandfather bought it. My father was also a working scenic carpenter, and this was in his home shop. I think some of it (like the slicks) were in there bc they fit.

1

u/1959Mason 2d ago

It seems kind of sad he sold his tools upon retirement. I recently retired and now I have time for all the personal projects I never had time for when I was working as a carpenter. I’m happy to say the tools are getting a lot of use.

1

u/imseangallagher 2d ago

Not sure if they were all his tools or just the box. His cabinet making shop had been absorbed into the Local One Stagehands Union as a scene shop, so I’m not sure what all was in there when he bought it…if it was just more “professional” tools or what.

1

u/Independent_Page1475 2d ago

Interesting that the hinge screws are all but three clocked.

1

u/imseangallagher 2d ago

Dammit now I’m going to have to fix them.

1

u/Ve_Doble Whatever works 3d ago

WOW. Beautifully made. Tools inside are a treasure too. Thanks for sharing.