Wilton vise restoration and resale values

[cgrutt]

Hey guys sorry for new thread. I'm trying to turn a Wilton Vise into a new set of tires and could use your opinions and help.

I've posted this vise in before including classifieds and on ebay with not much interest. Well ebay had almost 900 views and 28 followers but not much interest in terms of offers. I posted it with a stretch figure and have been lowering price but I pulled it down today. Actually had one serious offer of $355 but I noticed some light coverage in the paint and replied with a little higher and told bidder about the paint issue. Didn't hear back. Had another offer for $200 which may be what these are worth but declined because I hate when people come in at half asking price. Just move on IMO no need to send a low ball offer (relative to asking price not actual value). Anyway I know there are strong opinions about that and not going to get into it here but wanted some of you opinions about restoration process and work vs potential return.


So the vise is early Chicago Wilton with a stamp of 1-47. It's in relatively good overall working condition and seems to have all the original parts with no cracks, welds or broken pieces. Dynamic jaw slides in and out full direction (approx 5-1/2"). It has 4" jaws that are in decent condition and close tight and straight.

The anvil had a relatively deep gouge from use that I originally decided to just paint vs having to remove too much metal. Well I spent several hours on that today, flattened it out and brought it to a near mirror finish. I'm sure I can spend some more time with it and get it to mirror finish but not sure if it's worth the extra effort. So do you feel this added any value to vise? I do understand it may have actually taken away value to the purests out there but my intended audience is ebay and the shiny vises seem to sell for more.

So should I do the same to sides of the jaws? What about the button on back. I spent some time straightening it out when I first got it but it is currently painted.

What about the jaws? Should I get them smooth, matched and shiny or just leave them as is?

Not sure what to do about the main tube it is pretty bright and shiny but definitely has been used and shows it. I don't really have the tooling to do much with it but I could clean some of the nicks up. What do you think?

Same question with screw and handle. Could probably shine it up but not sure if it's worth the effort.

How about paint? Currently rustoleum Hammered Verde. I made the lettering flat black. Should I try to match original color (there was another thread and somebody had color matched at Sherwin Williams before they sold it) or just leave it as is?

Any thoughts on potential value? As is and if I do more work. I actually want to keep this vise lol but unfortunately need new tires...

Many thanks.




Here's the anvil flattened out screwdriver just to show current reflection.

 

[PCustoms]

If it didn't sell, you're asking too much.

Can't get much simpler then that.

Trying to turn a vise into new tires is unrealistic IMHO. Sorry.

 

[cgrutt]

If it didn't sell, you're asking too much.

Can't get much simpler then that.

Trying to turn a voice into new tires is unrealistic IMHO. Sorry.

Well you answered a question that wasn't asked. I'm trying to Guage if it's worth spending more time with it and if that would translate into higher value.

BTW the $355 offer got me close.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I think $355 is not too high. What I see is a rattle-can resto. You would have done better if you left the vice in as found condition. Part of what you were selling is a project. where the buyer puts sweat-equity into the ice.
I was given the pictured vice. I did the resto-mod for myself. I put it in my milling machine and trued the jaws and the base.
The owner had died and this was in the estate sale. The son could not get the vice off the bench, so he gave the vice to me if I could remove it. There was a large wing-nut holding the vice to the bench. I offered $10. Taking advantage of persons does not make a deal good.

 

[cgrutt]

I think $355 is not too high. What I see is a rattle-can resto. You would have done better if you left the vice in as found condition. Part of what you were selling is a project. where the buyer puts sweat-equity into the ice.

Yeah I get that. Vise wasn't original and was in pretty bad shape when I got it. Some people are paying big dollars for these with the rattle can restore lol.

 

[crguy]

Should have left it as found and taken the $200. offer. Live and learn.

 

[cgrutt]

Should have left it as found and taken the $200. offer. Live and learn.

Should have taken the 355 lol

 

[cgrutt]

Just in case anybody is interested some recent sold listing's on ebay. Generally the "rattle can restores" sell for more than unrestored. Most seem north of $200 regardless of condition (this is just a few listings) and are recent sold wilton bullets.

 

[PCustoms]

Well you answered a question that wasn't asked. I'm trying to Guage if it's worth spending more time with it and if that would translate into higher value.

BTW the $355 offer got me close.

Yep, you should have taken $355

I'll preface this with I use my tools, I take care of them but if they get beat up a little it's a tool meant to be used.

I look at that as a perfectly workable vise that someone threw a can of spray paint and some new hardware at and maybe did some work with a grinder.

It's not a full resto, it doesn't seem to be a particularly rare vise, and it's got some obvious wear. I could use it, but I'd pay maybe $150 for it.

 

[mattthemuppet]

I would have been solidly pleased with $350!

 

[cgrutt]

Yep, you should have taken $355

I'll preface this with I use my tools, intake care of them but if they get beat up a little it's a tool meant to be used.

I look at that as a perfectly workable vise that someone threw a can of spray paint and some new hardware at and maybe did some work with a grinder.

It's not a full resto, it doesn't seem to be a particularly rare vise, and it's got some obvious wear. I could use it, but I'd pay maybe $150 for it.

Fair enough. It didn't look like this when I got it actually has a fair amount of work to get it in condition it's currently in. It's not particularly rare but it is early Chicago which seems relatively sought after. I use my tools too lol. I bought this to keep it but unfortunately need to raise some cash for other things.

 

[cgrutt]

I would have been solidly pleased with $350!

I would have definitely sold it at that price I thought it was a fair offer but I noticed on one of the pics that I missed some paint on left side and wanted to bring that to the attention of the buyer before I accepted his offer. So pulled listing down to touch up what I had missed and decided to work the anvil to see ifnit generates more interest. Like I said there were almost 900 views so people are definitely looking at it but I wanted the paint to be right.

The missing paint was in the pics in listing but I don't run like that...

 

[isb cornbinder]

Yeah I get that. Vise wasn't original and was in pretty bad shape when I got it. Some people are paying big dollars for these with the rattle can restore lol.

You should give some consideration to not using LOL. It suggests that you are not serious.

 

[cgrutt]

You should give some consideration to not using LOL. It suggests that you are not serious.

Sorry old habits... I've got a very dry sense of humor most people don't get, esp on the internet.

 

[PCustoms]

...

 

[cgrutt]

I don't get it....you caught a mistake and want s to touch it up, but you also thought that this then deserved a higher price?

It was a few dollars more with a long note explaining the problem that I had just noticed which was very minor BTW. I wanted to give buyer opportunity to take another look at pictures in listing before I accepted his offer which would have generated an immediate payment to me. You don't need to get it.

 

[PCustoms]

It was a few dollars more with a long note explaining the problem that I had just noticed which was very minor BTW. I wanted to give buyer opportunity to take another look at pictures in listing before I accepted his offer which would have generated an immediate payment to me. You don't need to get it.

And I'm guessing he never responded?

I know you're trying to drum up some cash, but take a step back and look at all this from a buyers perspective.

 

[cgrutt]

And I'm guessing he never responded?

Nope which was fine with me. I pulled the listing down when the counteroffer expired.

 

[mattthemuppet]

personally I think $250-300 for a nicely painted decent condition 4" Wilton is a good "sell in a few weeks" price. More than that would need someone who's hot for that model and colour, along with a much longer wait. If you need it gone in a few days then $150-200 is about the range you need to be in.

For reference, I had listed for $250 a 9300 3" in good mechanical condition with some chipped paint from a repaint I did a few years ago. Took a few weeks, maybe even a month or more to sell, but the buyer was happy and I was happy.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks. What I'm trying to wrap my head around is if spending the time to make it more shiny, like on the anvil, is worth the effort. That is does it add any additional value?

 

[PCustoms]

Thanks. What I'm trying to wrap my head around is if spending the time to make it more shiny, like on the anvil, is worth the effort. That is does it add any additional value?

No.

I think it reduces the value. Functional vise should not be mirror polished

 

[cgrutt]

No.

I think it reduces the value. Functional vise should not be mirror polished

Look at the sold pics above every one north of $500 has a shiny anvil surface. I'm trying to maximize value and not sure people who are paying north of $500 intend to use them. There's historical value with having post wwII usa machinery outside of functional use.

 

[PCustoms]

Sell it with some man bun grease and a bespoke leather bracelet and clear $1000 easy.

 

[WMichelsen]

Are the acorn nuts for the swivel base original? If not, that will affect a collector's valuation.
Then, I expect most users would want handled nuts. Again, something to consider when looking at the comparisons.
Nah, additional polishing won't add anything .. IMO.

 

[cgrutt]

Are the acorn nuts for the swivel base original? If not, that will affect a collector's valuation.
Then, I expect most users would want handled nuts. Again, something to consider when looking at the comparisons.
Nah, additional polishing won't add anything .. IMO.

No polished nuts are not original but I have the ones that came with it. They are painted same as vise and will be included. I'm not sure if this came with handled nuts or not I've seen them both ways. Some say the flats on side of static jaw were to accommodate handled nuts but not sure if anything is conclusive. This is 1947, right after war ended I believe most of Wiltons production before this was for military not sure if they sold with handled nuts or not.

 

[PCustoms]

What size tires you need?

I'll give you mine in a month if you stop hurting this poor vise.

 

[RTM]

Thanks. What I'm trying to wrap my head around is if spending the time to make it more shiny, like on the anvil, is worth the effort. That is does it add any additional value?

I agree, no. I don't know what you value your time at, but I know how many hours I out into my Reed 203.5, that I bought for $25. In disassembly, degreasing, BLO, and reassembly, I've got 6-10 hours,, so maybe $7-15/hr if I sell for $100?

I currently have very little free time, so reconditioning a vise to make a few bucks isn't in my scope. If you have the time, and are ok at low value for that time, go for it.

 

[Cruzan80]

No polished nuts are not original but I have the ones that came with it.

I think this right here is your issue. Big $$ collectors are looking for the creampuffs that are all original, and were kept immaculate (and then doctored a bit). Not ones that were brought back with welding, non original pieces, etc. I would agree with the other posters and list at $300-350, and be done. You aren't getting $500+ for that without lots more time/effort

 

[cgrutt]

I think this right here is your issue. Big $$ collectors are looking for the creampuffs that are all original, and were kept immaculate (and then doctored a bit). Not ones that were brought back with welding, non original pieces, etc. I would agree with the other posters and list at $300-350, and be done. You aren't getting $500+ for that without lots more time/effort

Thanks. Never expected to get $500+ just was saying those that did had polished anvils. No cracks or welds and the only thing not original in that Pic is the nuts but I have the original ones (at least when I got it).

 

[Cruzan80]

That was the immaculate+slight doctoring I meant. All you are seeing is the polished anvil, not all the original parts/conditions that has also gone in. Or it is matching old paint colors, with more durable paints than rattle-can, etc.

 

[cgrutt]

That was the immaculate+slight doctoring I meant. All you are seeing is the polished anvil, not all the original parts/conditions that has also gone in. Or it is matching old paint colors, with more durable paints than rattle-can, etc.

I did pretty much the same thing to a 5" wilton about 7 or 8 years ago and sold it for $750. It was a much larger vise though. About same condition as this one when I got it. I did buy new jaws (believe a member here actually made them) for it that were close to $200 IIRC.

 

[Roberts210]

I've seen many Wilton restorations sell on ebay for $100 per inch of jaw width, plus another $75 or so for a swivel base. Put it up for $400, Buy It Now. Someone will.

 

[thehorse13]

You've gotten a lot of solid answers here and so I will leave you with one more.

Big money collectors are only interested in excellent+ condition originals. This is the case in most things so always consider this when you find a beat down Wilton or anything else. Next, you're never going to see large returns on restorations, Wilton vises included. There are millions of them out there and most people watching your Ebay auctions are just flippers looking for market insight or simple curiosity seekers.

Will all of the extra effort turn into a large cash return? No. $335 was a fair deal on both sides. Adding more time and resources fixing the things that you listed isn't going to materialize into an 800 dollar set of tires.

All of that said, I would post it as it is now with a BIN price of $375. It will be gone in less than a day.

 

[cgrutt]

You've gotten a lot of solid answers here and so I will leave you with one more.

Big money collectors are only interested in excellent+ condition originals. This is the case in most things so always consider this when you find a beat down Wilton or anything else. Next, you're never going to see large returns on restorations, Wilton vises included. There are millions of them out there and most people watching your Ebay auctions are just flippers looking for market insight or simple curiosity seekers.

Will all of the extra effort turn into a large cash return? No. $335 was a fair deal on both sides. Adding more time and resources fixing the things that you listed isn't going to materialize into an 800 dollar set of tires.

All of that said, I would post it as it is now with a BIN price of $375. It will be gone in less than a day.

Thanks. For clarity I didn't buy this to flip it or expect a huge windfall I've owned it for about at least 5 or 6 years. I never expected anyone to pay $800 and the tires I'm looking at are $400. As already stated I felt the $355 was a fair price and would have accepted it had I not seen the light paint. BTW the light paint coverage that I'm talking about is visible on picture posted on this thread. I'm not out to screw anybody I want them to be happy with purchase and want to do as good a job as I can. I'm not happy with how the paint turned out so I pulled listing and will fix it.

 

[Roberts210]

I restore vises for fun, and try to get them into the hands of guys who will use them.
Here's an S.O. 1750 I bought for $30, before and after. Note the welding!



Here's one I got for $10 cause it was rusted shut. Took one hell of a lot of work to get this one open.



And after:

 

[genog]

Just my nickels worth....

If I were offered somewhere in the vicinity of $350 again, I'd take it
And it's my belief that you should stop now with the polishing and painting before you reduce the value even more.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks I responded several times already why I didn't take offer done repeating myself. As for lowering value anymore I respectively disagree. The anvil was painted and had a relatively deep gouge in it when I received the $355 offer. I genuinely feel more people will be interested and perhaps willing to pay more now that it's been corrected.

 

[Roberts210]

You have a great vise there. Hold out for the price you want. Someone wants that vise.

 

[cgrutt]

Well against most advise I flattened the jaws and polished them up a bit. I still have a lot to do including matching the sides and probably going to work on cross hatching. No Wiltons were intentionally harmed during production of this thread! As to value I guess I'll find out when it's completed.

 

[cgrutt]

Did some work on it today. Got the jaw inserts and sides of jaws ground flat with most of the nicks and dings removed. Still have a lot of sanding to do but pic below is how it currently sits. I think I may paint this with a closer matching color to original.

Saw an auction on ebay this afternoon for a 3" wilton in pretty rough shape. One of the feet on swivel base was even missing. It was up to $320 with several hours tonight go (may be over now). I think I'm going to put this on ebay with an auction and see how it does. I'm pretty confident it would do better than the one indicated above. It should anyway.

Coming along.