Identification Needed for this Wooden Box

[Bus]

Does anyone have any ideals as to what came in this box? It is 5-1/2" by 7-3/4" by 12-3/4".

[crankshaftdan II]

I don't know what your's was designed for-I picked up 3 lager than your's and they had carpenters tools (Saws etc) under those twist locks, mine also had sliding drawers for hardware items.  Might have been made like with plans from popular mechanic's if they originated that far back.  I think most apprentice carpenter's were resonsible for making their own?//   Just my opinion....Cranky

[lbgradwell]

I would also be surprised if it wasn't homemade.

My grandfather was a carpenter & I have his much larger (but similar) tool chest that he made for his tools...

[jimwrench]

 Never seen that configuration. Wonder if the two black twist locks are replacements for original wooden ones like the one in center. The mortices on right side suggest something like wood chisels retained by them but rest of it doesn't. Thought of squares or bevels but nothing really fits. After pondering on it I don't have a clew. Looks to be about the right size to hold my lunch.

[Donny B.]

Well, I don't see it as a "toolbox" to hold tools in general. It would certainly be a small one if it was. It looks more to me as if it was designed for a particular piece of equipment and its accessories.

[rusty]

Agreed, if you look closely at the lid, in between the blocks is a faint outline of something that rubbed the wood. Something specific went in there...
dang if I can imagine what it might have been tho...(something with a round gage?)

The black twist locks are standard window hardware, my basement windows used to have those...
The chain holding the lid is light fixture chain, I think after the 40's...
Either could be replacements of course...

Not much help, are we Bus - P

[Bus]

After reading these posts and looking at the box closer I would agree that it is shop made for a particular purpose.
Probably never know what it was made for then. The rub mark on the bottom of the lid looks kinda like it held an open end wrench but the head would have to be 1-1/2" thick for the clip to hold it in place so maybe it is a gauge. The next holder up looks like it could of been a hook spanner or some kind of j-shaped tool..

When I bough the box it contained probably a full set of forged Hindsdale 1/2" drive hex and square sockets, several pressed steel Mossberg sockets, misc deep spark plug type sockets and a Ray breaker bar.

[Branson]

The chain holding the lid is light fixture chain, I think after the 40's...
Bus - P

Actually, that's a chain pattern that is far older than light fixtures.  In brass, we documented it for use at
Sutter's Fort.  I stumbled across a bunch of it 25 years ago.  It was commonly used for box lids just as seen
here.