Metal tool box how old is it? 18 inches width, 9 inch length

Rather than a tool box , this is more known as a "metal tool carrier" or "metal toter", farmers etc would put the tools they need for a certain job into to bring to the work location , but no idea of the age of this

 

I'd venture 1960....circa

 

Based on the paint color, which appears to be US Army "olive drab" ca. WWII, I'm guessing it could date back as far as WWII. It may be official military issue for carpenters, etc. I think it would have been issued as part of a tool chest rather than individually because that's the way the gov. normally purchased such things.

Bbbbut, if that's the case (npi) I should have been able to find one just like it on the web, but I failed!

 

It's possible it belonged to a metal fabricator.
I've made lots of these, some for me, some for others.

 

KOT, I'd have gone along with that until I got to looking over the two large end pieces-the contours of the bent edges would be pretty hard to make in a small shop I'm guessing-but simple with a huge press like they use for auto bodies. I'm not a sheet metal expert though.

 

Looks like one my dad had,so ww2 surplus would be my guess too, as dad loved the Army/Navy store. I had an ammo carrier as a lunchbox for a while.

 

These parts were cut out and run through a Pittsburg machine.
It makes folded hems on one part and then forms a quarter inch 90 on the opposite piece.
You can see this inside the ends where they rise up to the handle.
These fit into where the sides meet the ends.
The bottom and sides are folded from one piece of metal and those three side hems, on each end, are entered by the end
90s and fit together.
A wood shop wouldn't have this machine.
I have built many items in the Navy and later, neon signs and shapes this way.
The Pittsburgh' machine was designed for fabricating duct work and found to be great for signs.
Duct work is still made this way of anything but round but round is possible too.
If I was to build retro signs I'd buy a Pittsburgh to do them.