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colmal

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Joined
Sep 8, 2021
Messages
455
Location
Australia
It has been scratched up on the top where the stamp is. It looks like there may have been a logo next to the "Sheffield" that has been obscured by scratches. I can't tell for sure even under the magnifier.

Edit: I think the jaw texture was filed in by a user sometime.
This is a 1936-40 ish 2" Marples (found about 3/4 catalogues wtih it, plus/minus a few years, they have a hollow under both jaws unlike the later ones, and a 'T' that is visible once you remove the dynamic just in front of the nut.

Looks very close to yours,

I may have posted both of my 2"Marples a few months ago, If not I can post some pics.

1742888560645.png
 
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dannyr

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Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
283
Location
Sheffield England
Screenshot_20250324_165539_Chrome.jpgsimilar one in the 1940 Marples catalog. Looks like a sticker for the logo on the dynamic jaw. It weighs 3 lbs 3 oz.

Unbreakable, which is nice.
didn't know they made a little all-steel vise -- maybe that's why no separate jaws, the casting looks a bit rough (not so easy to cast -- much hotter melt), stamped and decal, not cast in name - interestingly Rededa, Sheffield made a model 251 (not 521) similar size at this time.
 

ararat

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Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
597
Location
Ararat NC
This is a 1936-40 ish 2" Marples (found about 3/4 catalogues wtih it, plus/minus a few years, they have a hollow under both jaws unlike the later ones, and a 'T' that is visible once you remove the dynamic just in front of the nut.

Looks very close to yours,

I may have posted both of my 2"Marples a few months ago, If not I can post some pics.

1742888560645.png
Thanks. That looks like the same mark. I'll see if I can find your post.

Edit: I saw where you mentioned it, but I didn't see any pictures.
 
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ararat

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Joined
Dec 27, 2018
Messages
597
Location
Ararat NC
didn't know they made a little all-steel vise -- maybe that's why no separate jaws, the casting looks a bit rough (not so easy to cast -- much hotter melt), stamped and decal, not cast in name - interestingly Rededa, Sheffield made a model 251 (not 521) similar size at this time.
The casting doesn't seem too bad ( for a vise ). The paint is thick in some places and gone in others and makes it look worse in the pictures. It's actually a pretty tight little vise. 17429092225792051014707647974028.jpg
I cleaned and oiled the screw and straightened the handle a bit. There was a lock washer stuck in one of the mounting holes I knocked out. I think that's all the restoring I will do to it.

Quite a coincidence that the numbers are similar, I could see Marples getting these from another source since I think their main line was edge tools.
 

colmal

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Sep 8, 2021
Messages
455
Location
Australia
didn't know they made a little all-steel vise -- maybe that's why no separate jaws, the casting looks a bit rough (not so easy to cast -- much hotter melt), stamped and decal, not cast in name - interestingly Rededa, Sheffield made a model 251 (not 521) similar size at this time.
3" Rededa steel, 251A

They are similar to the small 2" Marples in quality, miles away from the Record Imp 80 of the same era.

Cheap, mass produced for the hobbyist ?

SAM_4533.JPGSAM_4541.JPGSAM_4550.JPGSAM_4548.JPG
 

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colmal

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Sep 8, 2021
Messages
455
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Australia
Thanks. That looks like the same mark. I'll see if I can find your post.

Edit: I saw where you mentioned it, but I didn't see any pictures.
It's in a 1937 Australian McPhersons catalogue, so at least 1936

2" Marples 1940 ish and a 1950ish , the 40 has had the top and sides of the slide ground down by a previous owner, don't take any notice of it (really thick paint, I'm assuming that was their solution to get the slide to fit)

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ararat

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597
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Ararat NC
3" Rededa steel, 251A

They are similar to the small 2" Marples in quality, miles away from the Record Imp 80 of the same era.

Cheap, mass produced for the hobbyist ?

SAM_4533.JPGSAM_4541.JPGSAM_4550.JPGSAM_4548.JPG
In the 1938 catalog it is 2/3 the price of the light cast iron 3" and half the weight. Looks like the cheapest offering. I wonder if it was used in schools like the all steel hand planes.
 

colmal

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Sep 8, 2021
Messages
455
Location
Australia
In the 1938 catalog it is 2/3 the price of the light cast iron 3" and half the weight. Looks like the cheapest offering. I wonder if it was used in schools like the all steel hand planes.
Makes sense, you wouldn't want to give the little schoolies a good quality vice to destroy :)

Marples also had small Shamrocks, but I don't know where they fit in, a better quality of the same era ? was thinking late 50's, or maybe branded that way after Record took them over in 1962

1742916259594.png
 
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colmal

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Sep 8, 2021
Messages
455
Location
Australia
Makes sense, you wouldn't want to give the little schoolies a good quality vice to destroy :)

Marples also had small Shamrocks, but I don't know where they fit in, a better quality of the same era ? was thinking late 50's, or maybe branded that way after Record took them over in 1962

1742916259594.png
Hmmm, another rabbit hole on Marples branding - I'm staying away

 

ararat

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597
Location
Ararat NC
Makes sense, you wouldn't want to give the little schoolies a good quality vice to destroy :)

Marples also had small Shamrocks, but I don't know where they fit in, a better quality of the same era ? was thinking late 50's, or maybe branded that way after Record took them over in 1962

1742916259594.png
Those definitely look nice. I like the English design of bench vises, but I don't have one except for the little guy. Looks like the 1959 catalog had the shamrock spelled out on the side similar the picture above.

I see remnants of a sticker on the left side of my vise, so I ordered a couple of the replacement Marples decals from ebay.
 

jawstight

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Joined
Feb 10, 2025
Messages
155
Finally got my Wilton today. The gentleman I bought it from had a sick Dad, which delayed things a bit. It's in pretty good shape. The key is stamped 180, so I guess it was turned out (or sold), in January of '75? Took it most of the way down today right after it was delivered. Everything so far is there and although dirty is as it should be. Even got the jaws out. It has the smooth jaws right now but I bought a set of checkered ones for it. May or may not actually use them when I put it back together.
It's a 350S. Nothing special but my first Wilton. I can already see why these have such a following, and bring the prices they do.

Is a Wilton of this year supposed to be in the hospital greenish color, or the more modern bluish tint? If I had to guess at the color, which looks original I'd put it more in the green range.

left1.jpgright1.jpg
 
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neharr41

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Joined
Jan 25, 2025
Messages
81
Location
Southern Nevada
Finally got my Wilton today. The gentleman I bought it from had a sick Dad, which delayed things a bit. It's in pretty good shape. The key is stamped 180, so I guess it was turned out (or sold), in January of '75? Took it most of the way down today right after it was delivered. Everything so far is there and although dirty is as it should be. Even got the jaws out. It has the smooth jaws right now but I bought a set of checkered ones for it. May or may not actually use them when I put it back together.
It's a 350S. Nothing special but my first Wilton. I can already see why these have such a following, and bring the prices they do.

Is a Wilton or this year supposed to be in the hospital greenish color, or the more modern bluish tint? If I had to guess at the color, which looks original I'd put it more in the green range.

left1.jpgright1.jpg
Nice vise! It was probably made in Jan of 1980, the five year date code rule only applies if the key is also stamped "GUAR EXP".

As for the color, I believe during that period it would've been the "verde green" originally.
 

jawstight

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Joined
Feb 10, 2025
Messages
155
Thanks!
Latest school of thought I've found is on this site from @Private Lugnutz
"-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a machinists' vise with a date stamp between 1945 and 1954, that's the date your vise was made.

If you have a machinists' vise with a date stamp of 1959 or later - with or without a "GUAR EXP" stamp, your vise was very likely made 5 years before the date stamp.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"

He goes into detail on why he believes this to be true, and credits others for helping him arrive at that conclusion, including @Fierljeppen
I don't have the exact thread where I read it, but many others agreed with that idea.
 
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Shiftless

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Mar 9, 2014
Messages
14,591
Location
East Bay SFO
Well I got another one!
Nice one!
For the benefit of readers using their phones, I reworked that image. It’s a Wilton combination vise, a C3, which is the biggest of the series considered by many to be the best vise Wilton makes and among the best vises made by any manufacturer past or present. Nearly 200 pounds of fun. (With the swivel base)



B5B5C713-C96B-4E93-9C17-0699840D4C10.jpeg
 

Caa311

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Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
763
Location
Virginia
Nice one!
For the benefit of readers using their phones, I reworked that image. It’s a Wilton combination vise, a C3, which is the biggest of the series considered by many to be the best vise Wilton makes and among the best vises made by any manufacturer past or present. Nearly 200 pounds of fun. (With the swivel base)



B5B5C713-C96B-4E93-9C17-0699840D4C10.jpeg
Thank you so much for the info! I've been sitting here at work burning up GJ looking for info on it. It's missing the parts for the swivel but I have the base so I'll make them if I can't find the parts. It was left outside for awhile but looks like it's in good condition. I cut a 50 gallon plastic barrel in half and it's ready for a diesel-transmission fluid soak for awhile before I take it apart. This is my first wilton he had a smaller one to but wouldn't part with it.
 

jawstight

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Joined
Feb 10, 2025
Messages
155
Got it all apart and degreased. Light surface rust and no pitting. Nothing broken or bent.

Not going to take the key out since there was no rust to speak of. Someone kept this pretty much dry and lubed for 50 years. I think it will look practically new after I run it through the wire wheels.

Anyone know where to find some of the unobtanium Verde Green?

degreased1.jpg
 

Eric Brown

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jun 14, 2024
Messages
681
Got it all apart and degreased. Light surface rust and no pitting. Nothing broken or bent.

Not going to take the key out since there was no rust to speak of. Someone kept this pretty much dry and lubed for 50 years. I think it will look practically new after I run it through the wire wheels.

Anyone know where to find some of the unobtanium Verde Green?

degreased1.jpg
I did a quick e-bay search and found a spray can, 12 oz for $160.00 Ouch. Wonder if you could go to a car paint shop and have some mixed up for you.
 

jawstight

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Joined
Feb 10, 2025
Messages
155
I saw that too, at least a couple of cans on eBay for $160 each. Apparently there is a Hammerite Light Blue that's very close, but it seems to be discontinued also. I guess I'll probably go with a black hammered. I don't know if a car paint shop would make hammered, but then again I don't know what makes paint hammered to begin with.
 

Beerhippie

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Oct 13, 2023
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10,017
Location
Far NE Oregon
I saw that too, at least a couple of cans on eBay for $160 each. Apparently there is a Hammerite Light Blue that's very close, but it seems to be discontinued also. I guess I'll probably go with a black hammered. I don't know if a car paint shop would make hammered, but then again I don't know what makes paint hammered to begin with.
This is the best example of a hammer tone paint I could easily find:

47988487733_3ca93f6e5b_b.jpg

I was able to match it with a Rustoleum product:

49544291638_0dffbdd862_b.jpg

I think I still have most of that can left. Seeing as it's used, I can let it go for the low, low price of $125!

54414493151_b06a9829be_b.jpg

54414879075_519276783b_b.jpg

I wonder if it's still any good?
 
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Eric Brown

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Jun 14, 2024
Messages
681
Probably little to no chance, but I asked Rustoleum if they could come up with a dozen 12 oz spray cans of Verde Green hammertone at reasonable price. Can't hurt to try.
Here is their response (sorry)

Thank you for contacting Rust-Oleum Product Support. Unfortunately, the Stops Rust Hammered paint has been discontinued, and we currently do not have a replacement available. As our product offerings evolve, we cannot guarantee if the Stops Rust Hammered paint in Verde Green will be reintroduced.
 

LTkev1n

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2019
Messages
5
Location
New Hampshire
I have two parkers that I intended on fixing one to replace my small Hollands.
No. 300 - needs a lead screw (broken thread)
23x - needs a front saddle/retainer and the swivel base. I can probably fabricate a retainer easy enough but I'd like to get a base.
Anyone have any of these parts so I can get one of these together?

20250321_222824.jpg

20250320_223154.jpg20250320_223206.jpg
 
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