Wilton Bullet Vise date stamping. show yours with or without EXP on slide

[bluebolt]

Yes I have the swivel jaws in the data base. Where was that 800 made, Schiller park?

 

[va.grouseman]

I went back and took some more pictures because I couldn't remember where it said it was made.---When I looked again, I know why.---I doesn't say.---I need answers.

Both sides just say Wilton USA.---The left profile has some numbers that are almost obscured with paint.

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's the swivel jaw.---It's just like I got it 4 years ago.---Haven't gotten around to it yet.---First time I had the slide all the way out on this one to.---First time I had the swivel jaw off of this one also.---That's when I noticed all the jaw bolts were missing.---Wonder the jaws stayed on.

Hard to see it but says-- 6-30-64-- GARANTEED.

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's a few more pics of the swivel jaw.---Could you make out the date?

 

[bluebolt]

That's interesting VA! I did a search and all the 800 vises I found either have the curved Wilton made in Schiller Park or the later ones with WILTON in large letters. According to Autopts 800's and C3's were added in 1954. Perhaps Wilton was in the process of buying the new factory already (they bought it in 1955) and decided to just put USA on it so they wouldn't have to redo the molds?

 

[bluebolt]

Added your SJ to the database VA. It's the latest GUAR EXP date in the database so far although there is a C1 that shares it.

Looking at the data looks like Wilton stamped bullets with the GUAR EXP for the years 1954-1959. Cadets started earlier with the earliest so far being made in 1952.

Even with the added data (155 vises so far) I still believe it goes like this.
1941-1944 all vises produced for the military, not stamped.

1945-1953 Bullets stamped with the "release for sale soon" date. This is not when it was made, vises may have been made years earlier but not sold.

1952 (or maybe earlier) Cadets stamped with GUAR EXP date for the expiration of 3 year warranty

1954-1959 Bullets stamped with GUAR EXP date for the expiration of 5 year warranty

1960 Wilton starts putting the "release for sale soon" date on them again.

 

[va.grouseman]

Blue,--- I forgot to add two shots of the Static/swivel jaw I took that said USAF stamped in the jaw.---Not sure it is an official stamp, but yaw can take a look.

 

[bluebolt]

Added a Cadet and bullet dates from vises Balane restored. Close to 160 vises on the database.

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: I just want to thank you again for doing all the work you took on to get more data into this thread. From what I've heard, read and learned about the Wilton bullet vise's date stamping i can't say I'd disagree at all with your assumption you posted. of course new data and testimonials from Wilton factory workers or owners of the company could maybe change that, but it seems that we are getting a good idea on their process now.

 

[Koken]

My No. 60.

No visible date stamp

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks Koken! Surprisingly there have been more 6" swivel jaw Pat Pen vises (3 each) show up so far than 6" Pat Pen fixed jaw (1 each). Also swivel jaw or stationary, they are marked No 60.

 

[topop101]

Here is the latest bullet I gathered up. It says WILTON TOOL CORP on one side. Wilton Vise No.4 pat. pen. USA with fish hooks on the other. No date on the slide

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks topop101! I believe that is very early since it does not have Chicago on it. Added to database.

 

[brianmorey410]

Here is my Wilton that I aquired last week. I tore it down to restore it here are some pics. The vise body says it's a 9400 and the dynamic jaw has 8400 stamped on it. Any help deciphering this is much appreciated. It does have GUAR EXP stamped above the date, it's just so worn that it doesn't show up in the picture.

 

[dmw56]

My Wilton I bought at a garage sale for $50.

 

[Steevo]

My C1 has the key marked 8 1 78, with the 1 sideways:

Also, the pins (and the holes in the key) are not centered in the key-way/key, but are offset to one side, so the key can only be put in one way.Were they always that way?

Schiller Park casting, with zip code.

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks guys! We are over 170 vises in the database now. The gaps are pretty much gone.
Here is a link that hopefully everyone can view. Check it out and post up your thoughts!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XPd0wMd6vseGwtNc0_PCa6jPnCfZ1YHWZppnqi2FM60/edit?usp=sharing

 

[brianmorey410]

Very cool! Thanks for all the work put in on this!

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: another big thanks for collecting all the data and I found this Baby Bullet for sale on Craigslist in Palm Springs, California. i'm posting it because it has the Chicago casting on the side and a January 1972 stamp on the slide which is about 18 years after they moved to Schiller Park.

Steveo: I can't say that any of the Wilton C1's that I've owned had any different keyway situation so maybe a Friday afternoon vise production that you now own. i think I've owned 4 of the C1's that have all found new homes and one on the back of a client's truck tucked under his bumper. if you haven't seen this mounting before in one of my posts here it is again because i do think it is pretty ingenious.

ALL: thanks for posting your Wilton bullet vises and their date stamps because the mystery gets a step closer to getting solved on almost every one.

 

[bluebolt]

I received my vise from a family friend a couple years ago whose father had a machine shop. It's not perfect but it works great! Missing a few parts still. Could not find any numbers on key...any other areas with numbers ?

Texacman, what is the jaw width on that vise?

 

[bluebolt]

Added Garageguy54's ACME tool company branded Wilton bullet to the database. 6-47 date code and it's a 4" vise, VA Grouseman's is a 4.5" vise.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4766065&postcount=27664

 

[firemanast]

6-75 on this baby.

 

[Garageguy54]

I also recieved a wilton baby bullet vise with 2 inch jaws the slide is stamped 11-46 it is difficult to make out.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bluebolt: did you see Balane's post on the vise thread of the Wards cadet with the guar 6 30 55 and he mentioned that those vises only had a one year warranty?

interesting and i'd like to see Autopts' literature stating the one year warranty time period.

Fireman: nice looking big Wilton and thanks for posting

GG: good find and pretty rare too. should we nickname it Wiley?

 

[bluebolt]

I also recieved a wilton baby bullet vise with 2 inch jaws the slide is stamped 11-46 it is difficult to make out.

Can we get pictures of the sides?

 

[bluebolt]

Updated the database.

I would like to see more about the Cadet 1 year warranty and when it changed to a 3 year?

 

[flingwing1969]

I just picked up a NOS Wilton 9450 at an estate sale for $100. The stamp shows no "EXP" or "GAR" but does show the date of MFG. 12/1/67

Oh yeah, here's the vise too.

Never Used

Never Mounted

 

[McBrownie]

I just picked up a NOS Wilton 9450 at an estate sale for $100. The stamp shows no "EXP" or "GAR" but does show the date of MFG. 12/1/67

That is the newest vise that I have seen with the "hex-based" lock down nuts. I thought those were phased out in the early '60's and replaced with cylindrical ones. Really nice vise in as-new condition. Bolt it down and start using it! It's been waiting 50 years.

 

[drivesitfar]

FW: thanks for posting your awesome find and the date. i'm thinking you didn't overpay, but if you are thinking you did then I'll Paypal you the Benjamin and funds to ship and you can send it my direction. that size is almost perfect for any shop even for us that might have another bigger one on a different bench.

 

[bluebolt]

Nice vise Flingwing1969! A vise that size is perfect for a user. It was well worth $100. Added to the database.

 

[balane]

Here's a shot of the 1954 catalog showing the Cadet's one year guarantee. From looking at later catalogs it appears that the very next year Wilton improved the warranty to 2 years. At some point after that, in the later 50's, the guarantee was increased further to 3 years.

Edit: The 2nd catalog is 1960 so it was 2 years at that point. I'm unsure when it went to 3 years.

Edit: Adding 3rd catalog scan from 1963 showing a 3 year guarantee.

.

 

[Outlawmws]

Now if catalog pages for the bullets can be found....

 

[flingwing1969]

That is the newest vise that I have seen with the "hex-based" lock down nuts. I thought those were phased out in the early '60's and replaced with cylindrical ones. Really nice vise in as-new condition. Bolt it down and start using it! It's been waiting 50 years.

Thanks. It will see use in my new shop - going onto my big welding table - my middle sized welding table had a Reed 205R installed on it - I bought them together at the same sale for $200. Needless to say, I had a good time.

 

[flingwing1969]

Nice vise Flingwing1969! A vise that size is perfect for a user. It was well worth $100. Added to the database.

Thanks, my sentiments exactly.

 

[flingwing1969]

FW: thanks for posting your awesome find and the date. i'm thinking you didn't overpay, but if you are thinking you did then I'll Paypal you the Benjamin and funds to ship and you can send it my direction. that size is almost perfect for any shop even for us that might have another bigger one on a different bench.

I'll keep that offer in mind if I ever get tired of it.

 

[flingwing1969]

Here's a shot of the 1954 catalog showing the Cadet's one year guarantee. From looking at later catalogs it appears that the very next year Wilton improved the warranty to 2 years. At some point after that, in the later 50's, the guarantee was increased further to 3 years.

Edit: The 2nd catalog is 1960 so it was 2 years at that point. I'm unsure when it went to 3 years.

Edit: Adding 3rd catalog scan from 1963 showing a 3 year guarantee.

.

Nice postings.

 

[flingwing1969]

That is the newest vise that I have seen with the "hex-based" lock down nuts. I thought those were phased out in the early '60's and replaced with cylindrical ones. Really nice vise in as-new condition. Bolt it down and start using it! It's been waiting 50 years.

That's a nice bit of history for me, I would not have noticed a difference. I like the idea of a hex, you can wrench it if you happen to get it too tight or it gets some corrosion on the lockdown.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's a shot of the 1954 catalog showing the Cadet's one year guarantee. From looking at later catalogs it appears that the very next year Wilton improved the warranty to 2 years. At some point after that, in the later 50's, the guarantee was increased further to 3 years.

Edit: The 2nd catalog is 1960 so it was 2 years at that point. I'm unsure when it went to 3 years.

Edit: Adding 3rd catalog scan from 1963 showing a 3 year guarantee.

.

Thanks Balane! My old eyes can't read the print on the 1960 catalog, does it say the expiration date is stamped on it like the 1954 and 1963 catalog?

Also is the 1954 catalog the first one the Cadet shows up in?

 

[KMScott]

Hey Guys, Here are the catalog pages of the vises from my 1963 catalog. They mention 5 years in each ad. The catalog has 60 pages and if anyone needs pictures of other Wilton products made in 1963 then PM me.
Kevin

 

[KMScott]

Here are a few more from the last two pages.