Author Topic: Western Electric Wood Tool Box 1958 Never Used!! (Read 2939 times)

Doug Rose · « **on:** December 21, 2013, 01:08:51 PM »

Picked this up on eBay a few weeks ago for a BIN for $14. Yes $14, cost more to ship it. Seller had three in a box and this one that was not boxed. The ones in boxes all had cracks in the wood. This guy look crack free. Missing one brass corner foot. The slide drawer was taped closed on the inside. My guess on wood is pine by the color, but it is very heavy; very un-pine like! Very sturdy.

Seller said the boxes were dated 1958. Well made and in wonderful condition for 55 years old. This is one cool piece.

Did WE have a Construction Division....Doug

TelePlay · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2013, 01:25:57 PM »

Nice find. Looks more like, maybe, Ash? Pine would be too soft. Has to be a hardwood. Someone has to know.

WEBellSystemChristian · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2013, 02:11:11 PM »

If only the tools came with it...

southernphoneman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2013, 02:44:09 PM »

Doug that is a beautiful box and a great find,

, Gregg

Matilo Telephones · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2013, 04:57:41 PM »

Congratulations Doug. That is a great find.

What are you going to do with it now? Exhibit it somewhere in your house? Use it? Fill it will the right tools?

G-Man · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2013, 05:39:38 PM »

Hi Doug-

Yes, WECo definitely had woodshop departments as did Kellogg and Stromberg Carlson and most of the rest of the manufacturers.

After all they manufactured switchboards, telephone booths, etc. The woodwork was first-rate and often gorgeous.

Even in later years if for example, a addition to an 40-50 year old switchboard was being built, the woodshop would dig out the drawings and patterns used for that customer’s original board and create a perfectly fitting, cosmetically matched, add-on section; without an onsite visit by their carpenters beforehand.

Bill · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2013, 12:08:24 PM »

Beautiful box. But I would have expected dovetailed joints on a WE-built item. And certainly not the bare unedged plywood shown in the last two photos. The knots on the interior certainly look like pine. When you get it, let us know if there are any markings inside or out.

Bill

Dan/Panther · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2013, 01:18:37 PM »

Since Oak was the wood of choice, I'd guess Oak. It does resemble oak grain. But seems a little larger grained than is Oak. The internal parts are Plywood, and Pine. But the outside, My guess Oak.
D/P

HarrySmith · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2013, 08:15:50 PM »

Really nice box. Great shape! It looks like it was made to hold a special tool or tool set. Possibly the plywood section was added in the field. Any ideas on what it held?

Doug Rose · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2013, 09:45:28 PM »

Heres another same seller....Doug

http://tinyurl.com/l49tol8

HarrySmith · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2013, 08:20:07 AM »

AHA

Now we know what it was meant to hold! From the auction description:
"case for pneumatic pressers 10-9-58."
So it held adapters and plates for a press! Nice!

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