Vintage TOYOTA MOTOR Hand Tools, "TEQ" Accessories and Collectibles

[JohnnyC]

From years of ogling over this and that ... and I’m big into the history stuff... I am still hoping for the random historical toyota question on jeopardy... but... they’d probably just ask “Toyota first produced this prior to making cars”

Me “What is Nothing Alex” ... “Toyota started made cars in 1937... Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd. made automatic looms and they made vehicles from 35-36”

It would be the only question I get right... but... they wouldn’t give me credit for my answer because it didn’t match their answer. Lol

 

[dmamj]

Here are a couple of old Toyota parts signs from the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan outside of Tokyo. They are plastic and I'm not sure if they were made to go back to back, or displayed separately. Letters are in 1/16" relief. They measure 26" x 21 1/4".

The translated first line under TOYOTA is GENUINE PARTS. Underneath that in black is something like "Toyota Parts Kanagawa Joint Sales". The red characters in the middle of the solid red lines says AGENT STORE. Underneath that in black, to the left of the blob, says COMPANY (I think). The big blobs are bondo. From what I understand the bondo was intended to cover the name of the parts dealership, so maybe these were reused by a different store. Who knows.

So they say something close to:

TOYOTA

GENUINE PARTS

TOYOTA PARTS KANAGAWA JOINT SALES

AGENT STORE

<COMPANY #%^&*$ $#^>

Wanted to post them here first, but I'm also going to post them as a set in the classifieds to trade a little later.

 

[dmamj]

Pretty neat little "Driver Kit" in small "TEQ" plastic box from the 60s or early 70s at the latest. Contains 10 bulbs, 15 fuses (5 in each box), a roll of electrical tape, and length of wire. Bulbs are Stanley and fuses are Pacific. There is no parts list, so I don't know if it is 100% complete. It's the predecessor of its more stylish companion in the last pic.

 

[Michael B]

Where do you find this stuff?!

 

[dmamj]

Where do you find this stuff?!

Time machine. Just needed to add a little 3 in 1 oil into the plutonium vial on the Flux Capacitor, and off I went to 1962. Should have gone back ten years earlier and picked up a few Topps #311s.

 

[middlecalf]

Hey since you’re hanging around in 1962 would you drop by the factory and pick up some parts - I need a bunch for my 45. I’d even take what’s in their factory reject bins.

 

[batthewmrown]

A question for the knowledgable minds in this thread.

I recently stumbled across a guy with a '78 and in it, the original bottle jack and tool kit. Now, the 40 is roached to hell and he wants $12000 for it, so I'm not interested in that but what would you guys consider a reasonable cash offer if I went back and tried to buy the tools off of him?

 

[dmamj]

A question for the knowledgable minds in this thread.

A reasonable offer for an original, complete, correct kit (bag, tools, jack, jack handle, and don't forget about the jack rods) is $250 in my opinion. That's probably a little less than half of the current market value for the lot and, in my opinion, pretty reasonable. I wouldn't be insulted if someone offered me that, but I would still respectfully decline .

 

[dmamj]

Thought this little carpenter pencil was pretty cool. This one and a few others were sitting in a warehouse in the Aichi Prefecture in Japan for over 40 years. Nice TEQ symbol. The Japanese text translates to TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY (or something very close to that), with a little dragonfly on the end. I think the dragonfly represents power in Japanese culture.

 

[dmamj]

And here's a tool to be used on every trail ride, right after you get to the top of the cliff.

From the Saitama Prefecture in Japan. The translation after TEQ is "Castle 15th Anniversary", so probably a commemorative piece. Maybe 15 years after Toyota contracted with Castle Oil brand? 60s? 70s? 80s? Nice leather case.

 

[scoobiedubes]

And here's a tool to be used on every trail ride, right after you get to the top of the cliff.

From the Saitama Prefecture in Japan. The translation after TEQ is "Castle 15th Anniversary", so probably a commemorative piece. Maybe 15 years after Toyota contracted with Castle Oil brand? 60s? 70s? 80s? Nice leather case.

View attachment 2315657View attachment 2315658View attachment 2315659

Ok I’m just finding this thread, this is just too cool!

 

[middlecalf]

Oh man those binoculars look a lot like the old bushnells I got from my dad (great cruiser binos for checking on the cows in the hills, before they got knocked off my gun safe and ruined ). You are knee deep in the cool stuff!

 

[dmamj]

I think everyone had Bushnells! I did!

 

[Dizzy]

There are a few sources for the Toyota mechanic's tool box. It is a new box, but a vintage design. I got mine from @Racer65 . It took me a while to decide that it was worth getting more steel boxes, when I already have that need fulfilled. But, the design of this one is really nice, and it organizes about 1/3 of my everyday-go-to tools much better than what I was using before.

 

[Economist LC76]

@dmamj Now this thread is not for nervous persons! So cool Toyota rarities ...

 

[dmamj]

@Dizzy those new tool boxes are very nice indeed. They are absolutely identical to the vintage design. Same exact dimensions, hinge, shelf, handle, everything. Only difference is the old ones are lime green. They are definitely more functional than the vintage Toyota Motor TEQ boxes, but a little bit lower on the coolness scale (not dissing yours by any means, just my opinion because I've got both also and think the Toyota Motor boxes have more character).

 

[dmamj]

My old friend the Mopper showed up again (see post #57 & #189 in this thread). Judging from the shagginess, it very well may have crawled here on its own.

The tag (pic #3) says it is "Essential for the driver" and:

• Absorbs dirt
• Gives gloss shine
• Prevents electrostatic action
• Light and strong
• Easy to wash

Toyota-cool original box.

 

[Dizzy]

@Dizzy those new tool boxes are very nice indeed. They are absolutely identical to the vintage design. Same exact dimensions, hinge, shelf, handle, everything. Only difference is the old ones are lime green. They are definitely more functional than the vintage Toyota Motor TEQ boxes, but a little bit lower on the coolness scale (not dissing yours by any means, just my opinion because I've got both also and think the Toyota Motor boxes have more character).

The big issue with the TEQ box is the handle location. Because the box must be carried on a different plane than how it is opened, it makes heavy tools tumble when you move it by the handle. So, it is best a box for the bench. But, it makes for a good box for things like gloves, electrical tape, vacuum hose, flashlight, first aid kit, etc, even though it has a tapered compartment for sockets - which can tumble if you don't have it configured just right. But, it also stores narrow, with the handle up. I'd love to find a sensible way of storing it in the later 40 that requires no major mods. This one lacks a good ergonomic handle.

Now, with the mechanic's box, I was immediately impressed by the weight, and tactile quality of the box. And, it is about as good as it gets with the motion of the top shelf, where weight up there and not in the lower compartment, won't force it to tip or spill, also, because the lid and handle prevents it from tipping, which is a problem with my vintage, family heirloom Montgomery Ward box, and, a workhorse, cheap plastic box that has nice small compartments integral to the lid, both of which I used in building my first 40, many years ago. Also, access to the lower compartment of the Toyota box is easy, as the top shelf doesn't hide much of the contents of the lower shelf - it is frustrating to open a box, and not find a tool that is actually in that box. Plus, the handle of the new Toyota box fits well in your hand, and the closure mechanism is beefy. I probably should get a second one, maybe a green one, just for working on my bicycles.

 

[scoobiedubes]

My modest contribution to the thread, I picked this up for my 66 45LV thought it was pretty unique and cool. Hasn’t been used and came with a nice little pencil not the right year, exactly but close enough!

 

[dmamj]

Just when I told myself I was gonna start paring the collection down...

Was fortunate to come across another old sign. This one came from an antique dealer in Australia. The owner of the store went picking at a very old Toyota dealer in a small town in southern Australia and brought it back to his place. I did a bit of a double take when I saw it on line. After exchanging a few messages and getting more pics it was pretty clear it was authentic. I can't speculate why, but vintage Toyota signs just don't seem to surface terribly often.

Likely from the late 50s to late 60s. Very good size, 39" x 24", made of metal, one-sided. I stuck the jack in the second picture for scale. Four holes in the corners for mounting and weighs about 10 lbs. Just really admired the subject matter.