Pg 40 - Union Steel Chest

Union Steel Chest Corp., LeRoy, NY. 1933 – 1951

In 1932 three former executives of Union Chest and Cabinet bought the company and re-located it to LeRoy NY, about 30 miles SW of Rochester. They renamed their new business to Union Steel Chest Corp. (“As their name implies, they were primarily in the steel chest manufacturing business.”)

They continued to offer wooden machinist tool cases and chests which were manufactured by The Pilliod Co. (I believe, no proof). However, this company “trimmed” the cases and chests with their own hardware at their facility. They continued until 1951 when they pulled the plug on the wooden line of machinist tool chests and cases.

(In the time period of 1943 - 1949 they supplied Craftsman chests and cases for Sears Roebuck Co.)

A historian at the LeRoy Historical Society sent me copies of some of the data from their files. She had also written in an article for the LeRoy Pennysaver & News, June 21, 2015, “One of the men who brought Union Tool Chest to LeRoy was Seeley Pratt’s father”.  

Seeley’s father was Seeley F. Pratt Sr., born in Rochester in 1893. He started as a draftsman for American Drafting Furniture Co. and became part owner and officer of the Union chest companies. He died in 1949. Seeley F. Pratt Jr. was born in Rochester in 1932 and he passed in 2008. He worked his career with Union Steel Chest Corp. After retirement he returned to LeRoy. He was the “official” Union Steel Chest historian. All of his notes and catalogues are now in the LeRoy Historical Society’s archives and accessible. Another person sent me copies of an information package put together in 1984 by Seeley Pratt Jr., to answer an inquiry made to the Society. Very helpful.