Yale Running Board Toolbox

[1923Touring]

Does anyone have a Yale running board toolbox that looks similar to this? I am trying to determine if the top of the lid is supposed to be flat, or have a bow or crown in the outward direction. Mine is dented, and I want to make it right.

Thank you,
Joshua

[Jack Putnam, in Ohio]

Flat! At least mine is.

[1923Touring]

Thanks Jack. I am interested to see what others say too. I just took pictures of the lid, and the "crown" on mine does not look symmetric.

[Jim11787]

Mine is flat also. No crown.

[Allan]

So is mine flat also. Yale may only be the latch/lock maker. The box maker could be any manufacturer.
Allan from down under.

[KBurket]

Slight crown even though this box has been sat on, stepped on, and had stuff piled on top in storage.

[michaelb2296]

Flat on top! Maybe a Globe Toolbox ? with Yale lock! Do you know the key #????
I’m missing my key! But i know its a flat yale key.
It’s out being sandblasted as i post a reply!

[Wayne Sheldon]

A lot of companies made similar boxes with the raised area on the lid. I have seen many of them, some very flat, some with a slight hump. One could be restored either way (if damaged enough to not be able to tell?), and basically nobody would know the difference.
Peerless made thousands of similar boxes. Ames was an early maker of whole speedster bodies, kits, and pieces, including seats and tool boxes sold individually. A dozen other sheet metal companies made similar tool boxes. Most did not have the manufacturer's name on them in a manner that would survive more than a few years. Peerless used small decals with their name on them (I don't recall who, but someone reproduced these decals a few years ago from a nearly NOS original box!). Years ago, I saw one with the remains of a paper label inside the tool box (the name of the manufacturer was mostly gone!). Decal or paper, the labels usually were gone after only a few years.
Yale locks were used by many manufacturers, as were a few others. And many tool boxes didn't have a lock, just simple latches.

[modeltspaz]

The late Larry Sidmore (the guy that used to sell the reproduction small drum A C brakes) used to sell reproduction Globe tool box decals at the Bakersfield swap meet.

Since his passing, I have no idea what happened to them.

Mike.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

There were most likely dozens of companies that made these. To say that yours is wrong because it's crowned wouldn't be fair. Besides, even if you did want to make it flat, it would be nearly impossible to get it dead flat. Go with the crown. It looks nice. It'll shed rain better that way

[DanTreace]

My box is flat on top, rather think they all were mostly flat. Many makers, and the size for the Ford should be 9" width, so the box won't hang off the running board edge.

Now for those long lost tool box latch keys.......well just add a hasp and your own lock. Or just a whittled wood stick to jam in the latch to keep it closed

[1923Touring]

Flat on top! Maybe a Globe Toolbox ? with Yale lock! Do you know the key #????
I’m missing my key! But i know its a flat yale key.
It’s out being sandblasted as i post a reply!

Michael, I do not have a key, and I have not seen a key numbers stamped onto the lock. I would presume there either is no number, or it is buried under the old paint.

[DanTreace]

Michael, I do not have a key, and I have not seen a key numbers stamped onto the lock. I would presume there either is no number, or it is buried under the old paint.

These pics were on the forum a while back, shows the key style of a Yale lock for tool boxes, rather generic looking and simple. They are all the same.

The other pic is one that was homemade to fit the Yale lock and make it open and close.

Image 4-30-24 at 9.05 AM.jpeg (33.12 KiB) Viewed 2477 times

Image 4-30-24 at 9.10 AM.jpeg (30.62 KiB) Viewed 2477 times

Tried to make a similar key for my running board battery box with lock, but the lock tang had been busted out, so no way to lock, at least the latch holds it closed.

[Steve Jelf]

Did Ford ever sell tool boxes? My 8-5-28 parts book lists a tool roll but not a box. I have always thought running board toolboxes were made by other companies, not Ford, as an aftermarket accessory. Is that wrong? Does any Ford parts book show a toolbox?

[RajoRacer]

Only Ford supplied tool box I've seen was on the back of a Torpedo ! Nice to see you commenting again, my friend !

[Allan]

It may well be that the slight crown in the lids is due to the way the lids are pressed. All that compound curving on the corners and in the raised top section is likely to leave stresses in the metalwork which cause the crown.

Allan from down under.

[signsup]

Do not know what is OEM, but I presume anything that might be exposed to rain would benefit from a slight crown to facilitate run off. I wondered why the running boards did not have a weep hol or two in them, but perhaps the front to rear pitch to them provided enough drainage. Maybe my supports are worn, but my running boards have a rear ward tilt to them. Maybe a flat toolbox mounted on that same running board would also have the same rear ward pitch to it.

[Mark Nunn]

My box has a Perfection Lift Lock. Clasp. The box has a flat top. It also has a seperate compartment in the back. The shape is perfect to fit a Ford tire pump. I have never seen another with the separate compartment.

[John kuehn]

The tool box I had but later sold was a nice near mint box. The top wasn’t flat but had a very slight crown. It had very nice paint and patina and you could just see the slight crown and each corner to crown X that was pressed into the top when it was made. My thought is that it was that way to keep it from collecting water on the top. I never thought about until the question was asked here. I haven’t kept up with tool box posts and pictures of them but the box I had has a very slight crown. I think Allan’s post has a good explanation about the crown.