walt323 Posted February 4, 2013 Share #1 Posted February 4, 2013 I picked this up at a local estate sale this weekend. I have a couple of similar tool boxes in my collection but none have the the detail that this one does. The original owner was drafted in 1943 and ended up in the 97th division from what I have found online. Billy L. Gaines 35725108. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt323 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted February 4, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt323 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted February 4, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt323 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted February 4, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt323 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted February 4, 2013 Inside of the tool box was one of his projects from mechanics training, a small handmade section of I beam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted February 4, 2013 Share #6 Posted February 4, 2013 Now that is just freakin' cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltz41 Posted February 4, 2013 Share #7 Posted February 4, 2013 Awesome piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted February 6, 2013 Share #8 Posted February 6, 2013 Now that is something you don't see everyday! This made me think again about something that I have wondered about. On Hwy 41 in Evansville there is/was a whirlpool plant that you could tell must have been used to build planes in WWII as the building ends opened up. It sits next to tthe small airport off of 41. Wonder if that was where this fellow did his work at. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phyllene Posted August 24, 2014 Share #9 Posted August 24, 2014 Yes, that is where Republic Aviation produced the P47 Thunderbolt during WWll Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idorap47 Posted February 23, 2015 Share #10 Posted February 23, 2015 Many thanks for posting the info and photos about your INDIANA DIVSION OF REPUBLIC AVATION (IDORA) toolbox. For the last 25 years I've been seriously researching the 1942 - 1945 IDORA P-47 assembly plant, as well the large Modification Center that Republic operated across the airport from the IDORA plant. Presently I'm writing a new book about IDORA and the publisher hopes to have it on the book stores shelves by 01 Dec. 2015. All the very best and have a very blessed day, Ken <>< Kenneth D. Wilson Evansville, IN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted February 23, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 23, 2015 very nice tool box! Thanks for posting Would think Bill was structural maintenance specialist....???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted February 23, 2015 Share #12 Posted February 23, 2015 holy crap I love this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted February 23, 2015 Share #13 Posted February 23, 2015 It is very nice to find something like that. I have been by that plant and airport a dozen times and never knew that, thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted February 23, 2015 Share #14 Posted February 23, 2015 Is it a Kennedy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted February 23, 2015 Share #15 Posted February 23, 2015 Super neat item! I really dig this one! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted February 25, 2015 Share #16 Posted February 25, 2015 Ken I would be very interested in reading the book when it is published. Can you post in this thread when it is So I can pick up a copy. I don't get to Evansville much anymore but my Great Grandpa's brother was, from what I understand, was A big wheel there in the early-mid part of the last century so I have always been interested in the city, Mike Many thanks for posting the info and photos about your INDIANA DIVSION OF REPUBLIC AVATION (IDORA) toolbox. For the last 25 years I've been seriously researching the 1942 - 1945 IDORA P-47 assembly plant, as well the large Modification Center that Republic operated across the airport from the IDORA plant. Presently I'm writing a new book about IDORA and the publisher hopes to have it on the book stores shelves by 01 Dec. 2015. All the very best and have a very blessed day, Ken <>< Kenneth D. Wilson Evansville, IN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plant#4 Posted June 27, 2015 Share #17 Posted June 27, 2015 The I beam looks very cool, prehaps he had to lay out and buck those rivets to progress into a new job classification, possibly master Aircrafter, a test / practice piece so to speak. Maybe even a bit of drill, ream, and countersinking to go with it... LOL We still had to buck rivets in 2002, but now they are bolting the aircrafts together....read eddie bolts, as some things change, certain skills are going to be lost. Imagne how hard it was to transition from button head rivets to counter sunk fasteners back in the day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc3439 Posted August 7, 2015 Share #18 Posted August 7, 2015 I am green of envy. I am a naval aviation mechanic and I would absolutely love to acquire a tool box like that. Great piece. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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