I bought a piece of history today..............
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:36 pm
One of the things I like almost as much as vintage knives is vintage tool boxes and today I ran across a great one.
On the way home this morning from striping a 1928 Model A Ford sedan I stopped at a 2 family garage sale on the main street in town.The first sale held nothing of interest but the second(which was down the far end of the driveway)yielded this little gem. The owner who is a customer and a friend told me that it had belonged to his ex-wife's great grandfather and he had just put it out to sell as no one in the family had expressed any interest in owning it.
The box is made by the R.H.Buhrke Co. of Chicago Illinois which I understand was bought in the 1980's by Klein Tools.On the top is lettered the man's name(Floyd H.Hovey)and the word SERVICE in large letters followed by the Gridley Motor Co. 1620 McGee St. Kansas City Mo. and to the side Peerless with something illegible under it. On the front of the box is what looks like a miniature radiator possibly from a model car with the name Peerless in blue porcelain.
Inside is Floyd's name again with the address Florida Ohio and on the right side the date May 30 1918 "Homeward Bound" possibly indicating a return from World War 1.There were two keys on a ring which operate the lock on the box and the leather handle has some stitching rotted away(an easy fix).The box is quite dirty inside and out(it is after all a tool box for a mechanic)but is responding well to a gentle cleaning.The price;which some might consider ridiculous for an old box to me was very reasonable:$80.
I will try and research not only the owner but the car company he worked for.This one is DEFINITELY a keeper! Just opening it up and smelling the interior gets me to thinking what stories this box might tell if it could only speak.Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.
On the way home this morning from striping a 1928 Model A Ford sedan I stopped at a 2 family garage sale on the main street in town.The first sale held nothing of interest but the second(which was down the far end of the driveway)yielded this little gem. The owner who is a customer and a friend told me that it had belonged to his ex-wife's great grandfather and he had just put it out to sell as no one in the family had expressed any interest in owning it.
The box is made by the R.H.Buhrke Co. of Chicago Illinois which I understand was bought in the 1980's by Klein Tools.On the top is lettered the man's name(Floyd H.Hovey)and the word SERVICE in large letters followed by the Gridley Motor Co. 1620 McGee St. Kansas City Mo. and to the side Peerless with something illegible under it. On the front of the box is what looks like a miniature radiator possibly from a model car with the name Peerless in blue porcelain.
Inside is Floyd's name again with the address Florida Ohio and on the right side the date May 30 1918 "Homeward Bound" possibly indicating a return from World War 1.There were two keys on a ring which operate the lock on the box and the leather handle has some stitching rotted away(an easy fix).The box is quite dirty inside and out(it is after all a tool box for a mechanic)but is responding well to a gentle cleaning.The price;which some might consider ridiculous for an old box to me was very reasonable:$80.
I will try and research not only the owner but the car company he worked for.This one is DEFINITELY a keeper! Just opening it up and smelling the interior gets me to thinking what stories this box might tell if it could only speak.Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.
....VERY NICE FIND. 