tool boxes on old tractors

Were tool boxes on the older tractors like 40's and 50's models standard equipment or were they considered options. If they were options did people buy them with out tool boxes. I've been repairing a couple of mine but when I'm done all 12 of my tractors will have useable tool boxes. Seems like they are just too handy to not have on a tractor.

I'd like to find a convenient place to put a toolbox on my Massey 40. Lots of times I need a tool and have to get one out of my shop.
Gerrit

Case, Allis Chalmers and Ford tractors had tool boxes back in the 40's. Also see a lot of Fordson tool boxes mounted on 9n fenders. There were lots of add on boxes for farmall tractors. I do remember dad's WD-9 had a box under the fuel tank.

I mounted an ammo can to the front axle stabilizer arm on my Ford 2000. Worked great and never got in the way. You can drill out
the arm or get a U bracket and drill the back of the ammo box....HF sells plastic cans which I have adapted to other tractors. They
hood up well.

Farmall Regulars and F-20s had tool boxes standard. The tractor ID tag is riveted to the tool box. After that, I think they figured out they could charge extra for such things.

I have several old tractors from the 30's to the 60's all have factory tool boxes of some sort. Most are Olivers but even the J.D.510 and 710 have built in tool boxes albeit poor ones. There is a tool box in each fender and one under both floor boards for a total of 4, but so awkward to access anything in Dad bolted boxes on top of fender at back end to have tools handy to change shear bolt in baler or whatever. Do have to admit the 70 Oliver boxes are even worse to get anything out of quick plus too darn small. The problem I see you are going to have with tool boxes on all 12 tractors is you may loose track of what tractor the 1/2 inch wrench is in!! Every bit as important as the tool box is a decent spot to hang your grease gun!

I mounted an ammo can to the front axle stabilizer arm on my Ford 2000. Worked great and never got in the way. You can drill out
the arm or get a U bracket and drill the back of the ammo box....HF sells plastic cans which I have adapted to other tractors. They
hood up well.

I'll look over my tractor again tomorrow. Something like that might work. Was just at HF, didn't check out their toolboxes, though. I should have a rusty old steel one around that would go with the rest of the tractor. Gerrit

It sounds like pretty soon you will have 12 sets of every tool you may need. . . .

Or you will spend 1/2 hour looking for tool 'X' in all those boxes.

The later IHC tractors had tool boxes, the Farmalls H and M had the tool box on the seat pipe, the W series tractors had the open-top box under the fuel tank and the Farmalls A and B had the tool box under the seat. The only tractor I am aware of that did not have a tool box were the W-12, O-12, I-12 and Fairway-12, the parts books for these tractors do not show a tool box though the parts books do show sets of tools with each tractor.

Some did, some didn't, and some that didn't had one available as an option.

I made a tool box. About 18 inches long, 6 inches wide, and about 8 inches deep, with a slant top hinged lid. I made it out of heavier guage sheeting, than the ones you can buy. It'd take alot, to even dent it.
I bolted it to the side of the frame rail on one of my tractors, and it is probably the handiest tool box I got on a tractor. Even counting the factory ones I have.

I don't keep many tools in my tractor tool boxes. Basically things that are only used on that tractor. Spark plug socket, and so on. You'd be more apt to find more parts in my tool boxes than tools. An old radiator hose that wasn't blown when it was replaced. A hose clamp or two. Maybe the last spark plugs that got changed out. Or a good used plug wire.

Actually, if I throw tools in and out of the tractor tool box, they are most always for the implement that's hooked on. If tractor breaks down, you'll likely be walking home anyways. If implement breaks down, you have a better chance of getting back going again if you got the right tools to coble things up different. Take broken mower guard out of the middle of the bar, and move the inside end one to
the middle, and keep on going by jogging out one guard width. Stuff like that. More you can scrounge to do, with the implement, moreso than the tractor.
So, when I change the implement, I change out the tools. So nothing much, just stays in the box. A small box helps. If
its to big, then you don't have to clean it out, to put other tools in it when you change implements.

My pet peeve, is driving someone else's cabbed tractor, with tools rolling around on the floor. 2 different guys I help, are both bad about that.

From what I've seen, all of the '50s model tractors I have been around had a factory tool box incorporated somewhere on it. They are definitely handy. Only downside is looking to see where a particular tool was left at last as it will probably not be in your main toolbox.

The old Fords had an adequate one to the rear of the right running board.

Our H has the tool box homemade on the PTO shield. Been there since I was a little kid. going on 60 years now. The MD has one of the old battery boxes for a toll box on the frame rail of it. Just use one big battery on that. 574 has one in the left step. Poor place for one on a dairy farm everything gets wet and rusts in there from cow lot.

The Farmall H that I grew up on had a Fordson tool box bolted onto the PTO shield. Dad put it there.

One of our Farmall Ms had a tool box mounted above the pto shield. Don't know for sure but I always thought it came with the tractor new.
About ten years ago I bought a similar box to put on my Super M but still haven't installed it yet.

Late styled JD 2-cyls have them inside one of the frame rails. Pretty basic: sheet metal sides and screen or expanded metal bottoms. Perfect for a wrench or two, a hammer, and some spare bolts/pins/clevises, but don't expect to put a ratchet/socket set or other small tools in them.

I put them on both my tractors and plows. Its nice having the correct tools on each plow so you dont have to go hunting for them or have them all crammed in the tractor toolboxes.

thats a sharp rig

(quoted from post at 14:08:41 04/15/22) thats a sharp rig

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Yes, for a second I thought "ACG"

The to 20 had one under the hood,the A and the 70 had the factory inside the front frame rail. The best box was the aftermarket box and step combo on those 2 cylinder tractors. One 20 ft 3/8 chain,a hammer and a 12 inch crescent wrench,and a grease gun.