Previously, on the blue server at least, both containers did serve the same function. Vendors selling either of the containers also sell mana batteries, so it would follow then that both worked similarly in classic but one (Deluxe Toolbox) offered less constraints with slots equal to a Bag of the Tinkerers. Fair point though, evidence should be provided that the two-slot container was used with tinkered items and not just Plane of Sky quest rewards, even though both containers use batteries and, in this case, only two slots are needed for the combine. That said, there is little info about the original GVD, with Allakhazam including it in there database as late as
June 2001, and no mention of the box except in reference to sky combines.