KRH300D restoration. Need help from other kr300 owners

[Hendrik]

Hi
I have just picked up what I believe is a krh300d from 1958.
I got it at an auction for $75. It has some battle scars that are going to take some work to repair. It was repainted an done horribly so I have begun stripping all the paint off. I can't seem to find the serial number to confirm age. Any ideas? It is not in the middle on the back.
Thanks for your help

[macother]

It may not have one, it may have one and it's not located in the middle, and it may be a 300B. The handles indicate it's possibly older, logo could be back as far as about 54. Date stamps are not congruent, may be found anywhere, but usually lower and not centered on the rear. Earliest stamps I've seen are from 54, but not all have them, and most did not prior to about 58.

[Hendrik]

Ok thanks for the help and the sad news. I was really hoping to find the number. I have stripped the majority of the paint off the out side and didnt see even a hint of one.
Are these boxes with the sliding front door common? I have never seen one before I bought it other then researching this site.
I think its pretty cool and cant wait to finish it.
I will post some pictures when its all done but it will probably be alittle while, it wasnt exactly looked after too well and I will have to do some patch work.
Thanks again

[Hendrik]

After going over the catalogs on this site, I think this box must be a 1956 or 57. It has the same drawer handles that the '55 has but it has the same Snap on badge as the '58. it didnt come with a push hanlde though.

[macother]

Those are great boxes, probably more style than any other roll cab. The sound of the doors being rolled up in the morning at the shop, nothing but nostalgia now, but that went on all over the country (world) from the late '30's till not long ago. Considering how many mechanics had them, I'm surprised there's not more of them for sale. A lot of mechanics got frustrated with the lock, welded on hasps and shackles or locking bars, yours doesn't have any of that, fortunately. Good luck with it, it'll last a long time.

[macother]

As far as judging when things changed or were introduced by the catalogs, there's a lot of variation, and it's not exact. Many times the pictures in the catalog remain from an older iteration, sometims years after the box or tool has changed. More true on the boxes than the tools, and some times even though the picture is carried forward and out of date, the description would be updated.
I'll put up a few pictures, examples of some of the changes and my understanding of the dates.

[Gregorygoard]

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