if anyone wants to get in on the Millhoff vise craze sweeping the country here's your chance!
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/for/4935306730.html
Roughly what year would you say this Wilton is from?
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Holy ****, the eBay ad lists that as 2,150 kg! That's... wait a minute... 338.6 stone!!

Hi Friends,
Pictured below is a vise that will become a family heirloom. I had been consigned to restore a Dunlap No. 5244. The gentleman who enlisted my services told me that this vise belonged to his Wife's Grandfather.
About the vise: It is a Dunlap brand. Dunlap tools were the economy brand sold by Sears. The economy brand these days is Companion. It's sometimes hard to determine the date of manufacture of a vise. I think this one was built in the 1940s.
This vise is considered to be a light duty, home shop vise. However, I was surprised to find how well built this vise was. Upon inspection, I noticed that it was heavier that comparable vises. Here are some observations:
1. The casting was not as hollow as others that I've worked with.
2. I also noticed that it had a formed steel slide to cover the lead screw.
3. The dynamic jaw & swivel base movement wasn't as sloppy as many light duty vises I've worked with.
4. The swivel base had a rib around the locking bolt slot.
5. There is a bushing around the swivel base pivot screw. This is the screw at the center/bottom of the base.
On a side note, I attached a mandrel with Scotch-Brite to the back end of my 1968 Craftsman radial arm saw for polishing small details (see 4th. picture). Maybe I should post this on Vise Repair 101.
It has been delivered to the customer. He's very happy with it.
Happy trails.
Zoom:
Thank you for your kind words.
Hi Friends,
Pictured below is a vise that will become a family heirloom. I had been consigned to restore a Dunlap No. 5244. The gentleman who enlisted my services told me that this vise belonged to his Wife's Grandfather.
About the vise: It is a Dunlap brand. Dunlap tools were the economy brand sold by Sears. The economy brand these days is Companion. It's sometimes hard to determine the date of manufacture of a vise. I think this one was built in the 1940s.
This vise is considered to be a light duty, home shop vise. However, I was surprised to find how well built this vise was. Upon inspection, I noticed that it was heavier that comparable vises. Here are some observations:
1. The casting was not as hollow as others that I've worked with.
2. I also noticed that it had a formed steel slide to cover the lead screw.
3. The dynamic jaw & swivel base movement wasn't as sloppy as many light duty vises I've worked with.
4. The swivel base had a rib around the locking bolt slot.
5. There is a bushing around the swivel base pivot screw. This is the screw at the center/bottom of the base.
On a side note, I attached a mandrel with Scotch-Brite to the back end of my 1968 Craftsman radial arm saw for polishing small details (see 4th. picture). Maybe I should post this on Vise Repair 101.
It has been delivered to the customer. He's very happy with it.
Happy trails.
On a side note, I attached a mandrel with Scotch-Brite to the back end of my 1968 Craftsman radial arm saw for polishing small details (see 4th. picture). Maybe I should post this on Vise Repair 101.
I struggle to find a beat up bullet and you have weAkly gems in your back yard...Well ......... if lifting the vise doesn't kill you, moving that barrel full of concrete might finish the job.![]()
Hi Friends,
Pictured below is a vise that will become a family heirloom. I had been consigned to restore a Dunlap No. 5244. The gentleman who enlisted my services told me that this vise belonged to his Wife's Grandfather.
About the vise: It is a Dunlap brand. Dunlap tools were the economy brand sold by Sears. The economy brand these days is Companion. It's sometimes hard to determine the date of manufacture of a vise. I think this one was built in the 1940s.
This vise is considered to be a light duty, home shop vise. However, I was surprised to find how well built this vise was. Upon inspection, I noticed that it was heavier that comparable vises. Here are some observations:
1. The casting was not as hollow as others that I've worked with.
2. I also noticed that it had a formed steel slide to cover the lead screw.
3. The dynamic jaw & swivel base movement wasn't as sloppy as many light duty vises I've worked with.
4. The swivel base had a rib around the locking bolt slot.
5. There is a bushing around the swivel base pivot screw. This is the screw at the center/bottom of the base.
On a side note, I attached a mandrel with Scotch-Brite to the back end of my 1968 Craftsman radial arm saw for polishing small details (see 4th. picture). Maybe I should post this on Vise Repair 101.
It has been delivered to the customer. He's very happy with it.
Happy trails.







Just an addition to your Sears history. The Companion label was the original economy label that Sears used from the mid 30's to about 1940 when the Dunlap label began to be used. There was a little overlap between the two labels from 1940-1942 (approximately).
I wasn't aware that they were using the Companion label again. I wonder when that started ?
Unlike the changing model numbers on the Craftsman labeled vises, it seems that the Dunlap vises used the same 5244 model number even when the vise was re-styled later. I think this is the third style that used the 5244 number. All similar, but slightly different.
Does this one actually have the model number cast into it ?

Companion ran from about 1933 to about 1940 as mentioned. and again in the 70's/80's or so. I remember wondering who the heck would by such inferior tools back then... If they are back yet again it's news to me. for that these days it's been "Sears" brand...![]()
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Interesting looking vice.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150mm-6-s...116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a094a0ac
Interesting looking vice.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150mm-6-s...116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a094a0ac
---Beat on it for two days, peening with a 2 lb. hammer and 5/8'' stainless steel rod.---I swear the stuff is harder than steel to get to move.---
Will be getting this vice picked up for me later ..... Thanks go to Dutch for finding it and letting me know
It has 5" jaws and is a record 633
This is a proper saved from the scrapper job as it's at a metal recycling yard.
I think they were around in the 60's and 70's, described as an American style vice by Record.
Worse case if it's proper buggered it can go to a scrap man down here![]()
Got any pictures of yours? They're quite thin on the ground.I'm in the process of restoring it's big brother, a 634. Good looking vises.


Got any pictures of yours? They're quite thin on the ground.