Hip Roof Cantilevered Toolbox Identification

[Wingnutt]

In terms of overall condition, this might be the nicest example of a Kennedy cantilevered box I've seen in the wild. No dings or dents, no paint loss, no rust, and a very intact (Style No. 1018) sticker on the inside. I'm not sure of the age. After my initial headlong deep dive into this subject, I haven't kept up, and I've lost the bead on whether we have anything definitive on the metal handles being WWII or not. Also note the single clasp. Probably post-war.

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[Gordon_M]

I think we ended up leaning towards the single clasp and lack of socket box lids as being earlier, with more / stronger clasps, and first one, then two box lids.

Leather handles started early then vanished, but some manufacturers had metal handles from the start ( Simondsen?) as seen in wartime adverts.

Of course it is possible this example is a post war standard civilian duty basic box, with no concessions to military requirements.

Is any of the paint actually OD green?

[d42jeep]

My best guess on that particular box, being a Kennedy with a steel handle is that it is postwar. I've left some of those behind at the flea as well, albeit reluctantly.
-Don

[Len Jones]

Hi all, hope this helps

Recently acquired a Kennedy on the auction site here in UK similar to this ' 1018 ', but slightly smaller at 17'' Long X 8'' Wide X 10'' High.

Mine has the original seal brown wrinkle paint finish, single lay flat metal handle, & single central clasp. Internally some of the tray dividers have been removed probably to make them more usable for longer tools, etc. Who ever removed the dividers decided to repaint the trays concealing the decal in the process.

After some careful cleaning I found the decal ' 1017 ' , so I contacted Kennedy Customer Services - here is their response word for word

' I checked with a co-worker, and one of our engineer's that have been here a long time, and that they said we stopped using those Kennedy Kit stickers ( with the '' kittens '' on it ) in the mid-60s, and since the handle is not leather , the box is probably from the 1950's-mid-60's, but most likely the late 50's '.

Also this random piece of information

' The two kittens on the sticker were supposed to represent the two Kennedy brothers that started Kennedy Kit. One did more the business side and the other was more of the labourer/manual worker, that is why one is in a suit and the other in overalls '.

Quite amusing lol, just shows it pays to look at things closely for the finer details !

[Len Jones]

Hi all, hope this helps

Recently acquired a Kennedy on the auction site here in UK similar to this ' 1018 ', but slightly smaller at 17'' Long X 8'' Wide X 10'' High.

Mine has the original seal brown wrinkle paint finish, single lay flat metal handle, & single central clasp. Internally some of the tray dividers have been removed probably to make them more usable for longer tools, etc. Who ever removed the dividers decided to repaint the trays concealing the decal in the process, and also the original green enamel finish, which is not OD in colour.

After some careful cleaning I found the decal ' 1017 ' , so I contacted Kennedy Customer Services - here is their response word for word

' I checked with a co-worker, and one of our engineer's that have been here a long time, and that they said we stopped using those Kennedy Kit stickers ( with the '' kittens '' on it ) in the mid-60s, and since the handle is not leather , the box is probably from the 1950's-mid-60's, but most likely the late 50's '.

Also this random piece of information

' The two kittens on the sticker were supposed to represent the two Kennedy brothers that started Kennedy Kit. One did more the business side and the other was more of the labourer/manual worker, that is why one is in a suit and the other in overalls '.

Quite amusing , just shows it pays to look at things closely for the finer details !

[Wingnutt]

Don,

Thanks for the reminder on Roger's 1942 ad. Perhaps they made the same box with the same style (model) number ('1018') for many years, but I'm really liking the fact that the number on the label on my box ('1018') matches that 1942 ad!

I also remembered that the NAF box in the ASO Class 41 has a single center clasp.

Is any of the paint actually OD green?

Maybe it's the photo, my eyes, or your eyes, but it's all OD green (the darker shade, not the lighter shade) except for the interior trays, which are plain green.

After some careful cleaning I found the decal ' 1017 ' , so I contacted Kennedy Customer Services - here is their response word for word

' I checked with a co-worker, and one of our engineer's that have been here a long time, and that they said we stopped using those Kennedy Kit stickers ( with the '' kittens '' on it ) in the mid-60s, and since the handle is not leather , the box is probably from the 1950's-mid-60's, but most likely the late 50's '.

Thanks for taking the initiative and for reporting your findings here, Len! I knew about the kittens/brothers from another forum, but I agree, it's a cute story!

[d42jeep]

Here is my Kennedy 1018 that houses my NAF set.
-Don

[Wingnutt]

An unmarked, unidentified and unique box worth some discussion... Click here for photos.

[d42jeep]

That is an interesting box, Wing, with different details than any other box posted on this thread, as far as I can see. I wonder who the manufacturer was? Here is the Kennedy I posted on the previous page that I removed a large modern hasp from. My neighbor and I used his MIG welder to fill in the holes and then we ground the excess metal down with a die grinder. I hope to someday replace the missing vintage center hasp.
-Don

[Wingnutt]

That is an interesting box, Wing, with different details than any other box posted on this thread, as far as I can see. I wonder who the manufacturer was?

That's why I posted it here! Hoping to get some thoughts, research, and wild ass guesses going.

Nice job on your hasp holes. So your neighbor did most of the welding then?

[d42jeep]

If I had done the welding, the holes would have just been bigger. I was all over the die grinder though.
-Don

[lt.luke]

If I had done the welding, the holes would have just been bigger. I was all over the die grinder though.
-Don

The difference between a good welder and a great welder is a good grinder!

[d42jeep]

That is so true, Luke!
Here is my new box I just posted on my NAF collection thread but I thought that it would be of interest here as well. I found it at a moving sale yesterday.
-Don

[lt.luke]

That's an awesome box! I bet that rope handle (line...we are in the Navy after all) is period correct!

[d42jeep]

I'm afraid the rope handle was removed by the unsympathetic restorer who didn't like the duct tape goo on the rope. It was replaced by a Kennedy correct handle and is now ready to be filled with NAF tools.
-Don