MTFCA Forum

Just seen on EBAY, ending in a couple of days: a running board tool box in very nice condition. Included with it is a reproduction Model T Service Manual, a Model T Owners Manual of unknown year, a few tools that look to be later vintage than T, but the big surprise is a Minnesota Title and Insurance Card for a 1923 T. The date on the insurance card is more than 15 years old. I could not tell whether the title was open. The unusual thing about this auction is that its being offered by a Phoenix, AZ PAWN SHOP ! How a pawn shop got these items, I do not know, but I hope they were obtained LEGALLY ! Most people have heard about stolen items being pawned, which raises my suspicion.

Somebody needs to run those numbers!
Something is fishy there.That date of 03 is new enough I doubt that car got "scrapped" .Perhaps street rodded,but the title would then be used for the street rod .
Getting a title for a built car is a process I am going thru right now,and now more than ever it makes me madder than ---- that people are still able to get away with buying a title and cheating the system.

That's not a Minnesota certificate of title.

It's a carbon copy of the Minnesota application for title and registration or for transfer of an existing title and registration. If it were in better focus, I could determine if it is a new application or transfer.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it.

Erik - from Minnesota

How much the tool boxes worth?
I need one, why I don’t know, but I need one.

Generally you may pay $30 to $50 for a good tool box. Just be sure you get the right size, if you are fitting to the running board.

The better widths are 8" to 9"max. Heights 6 1/2" to 7" or so.

That one on eBay seems too big for a T running board.

I was going to say I think I gave 30 for the first 1 I bought. The second 1 I got was given to me by a friend that had no T's or interst in them but had bought the "really Neat tool box" for 2 bucks 40 years ago. He said,"Here you need this!" So hopefully I can fit it to the speedster.
But this particular tool box, with the books and such, aint that bad of a deal.It is just that paper work with personal info and title numbers that bugs me.
What I would really like to know is there any such thing as getting keys for them?

Yes you can, find a good locksmith and they can duplicate key, if the lock is still operable. Sometimes the locks are rusted too bad.

As for the eBay tool box, it is too big to place on the T running board.

Took a comparison photo of my 9" box with the Ford Service book riding in the lid, you can see how much bigger the lid is on the eBay box.

But not a real bad price @ $80 for what you get, Ford Service is worth $32 along, tools about $15 total with those hinge things, maybe $20 ....so that nice shiny box is at $33 or so bundled that is. May be nice size for the rear deck on a spiffy speedster

Locks with the round bottom like the one on the toolbox on eBay are usually Yale locks.

If the lock has a squared-off bottom, they are typically Corbin or Eagle.

The above take flat keys.

I've had toolboxes with keys. If a key from one box fits other boxes that I own, I've use that key profile or the brand name and number stamped on the key to find additional keys. I've been able to find keys at antique shops and estate sales. I've also taken a key from the same lock company and filed the required notches in it to match a key that works.

Also, if you do know the brand and key number, it is possible to find additional keys on eBay.

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 26, 2020 11:50 pm

........ The unusual thing about this auction is that its being offered by a Phoenix, AZ PAWN SHOP ! How a pawn shop got these items, I do not know, but I hope they were obtained LEGALLY ! Most people have heard about stolen items being pawned, which raises my suspicion.

Searching on the name/address shows that they Louis Mueller (address on registration) may have retired to Sun City Arizona. Call/email him....? scary what we can find out about a person

Ok
I just bid on it
I want the box

Last box I bought at auction was in pretty much identical condition, but without all the stuff inside Paid $20. I watched a few folks look it over before the bidding started and didn't like the fact that "somebody drilled some holes in the bottom". Yep, heard 'em say that. I was the only bidder.

It would certainly fit the wider running board on a 26-7 T.

Allan from down under.