Old Foundry / Refinery Cart

I would imagine this thing has an interesting history.

I imagine it came from one of either Champlin refinery ( long since closed, scrapped and hauled away) or one of the numerous foundrys and fabrication shops that have come and gone from this area over the decades.

From looking it over I would say the history goes something like this...

Someone needed a secure tool chest so they looked around and using angle iron and old boiler plate made one. I am sure it served them well until it was retired and probably tossed on the scrap heap.

Then one day someone needed a cart to move material around the shop so they went to the scrap pile and found a couple 36" steel wheels from an unknown source and an old steel tool chest. A torch made quick work of the lid (part of the hinges are still welded to the box) and an axle was made and Presto! a servicable cart.

At some point it ended up in the back yard of a lady who planted flowers in it until she passed and I found it at her estate sale. I don't know how long it was there but it took a half can of WD-40 to get the wheels freed up.

Chalk up another victory for my old industrial crap addiction. LOL