The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

ORC: we started a Wilton date stamping thread and figured out that the stamping started after WWII so even though the Patent vises might have been cast prior to Wilton's patent in 1941 they didn't leave the factory until the date stamped on them if there is a date. the ones not stamped we figured out were sold to Uncle Sam for WWII and after WWII when Wilton lost the government contract and almost went bankcrupt they must have started pulling out old inventory and selling it even the patent ones to keep afloat. Make sense? that thread is in the vintage tool section if you have time to post yours there and read a little of it. nice finds this week and even though you are an addict you have a great eye for cool vises.

WW: nice idea for a doorstop. love it!! \

Gman: WELL DONE SIR!! your big Wilton looks almost new now and was surprised it had any issues when you bought it because it looked pretty decent then too.

 

[NJ Marty]

If any of the local NJ guys on here bought that great 120 year old bolt thru vise with the pipe jaws at the sale in Metuchen you forgot something. You must have gotten all giddy and ran away without thinking that the base was still on the bench.

 

[autopts]

Well, I finally finished the restoration of the Wilton 600 I picked up a few weeks back. I'm going to do a new thread on it because there were a few twists and turns that might help others. Hint, don't bolt a vise to diamond plate aluminum OR drop it on it's spindle! Here are the before and after pics:

One very nice restoration Bart.

 

[j p smith]

Where did you get the gray shelving units in the background of your first photo?

They don't appear to be the flimsy box store types...?

Are the shelves steel-topped, or plywood inserts?


~Tejaas~

Those are all Edsal Brand shelving units I have bought over the years a couple at a time. The shelves are steel

 

[Outlawmws]

Fixed it for you!

Too funny. Thanks Outlaw.

 

[Outlawmws]

If any of the local NJ guys on here bought that great 120 year old bolt thru vise with the pipe jaws at the sale in Metuchen you forgot something. You must have gotten all giddy and ran away without thinking that the base was still on the bench.

Marty, did they leave the bottom spreader plate stuck to the bottom as well?

 

[Gert]

Re: Birth announcement!

Mrs. and Mrs. Bullet Wilton of Schiller Park, IL, are pleased to announce the birth of the newest addition to their family - "Baby Bullet" Wilton (pictured with his parents below) was born yesterday, weighing in at 3.63 lbs and 6 7/8" long.

Mother and Baby are doing well.

Scott

Sweet !

 

[Outlawmws]

So would that make Baby, "Jr." or the third?

And is Baby also Schiller Park, or from Chicago?

 

[Thrumcap]

I finally got around to finishing my Record 111 Fitter's vise. This was just a straightforward cosmetic cleanup and repaint. I think it will replace my No. 6....or maybe I should put the No. 6 at the other end of the workbench.



And now for a change of colour, I will break out the John Deere Green for the next one!

Thrumcap

 

[Outlawmws]

Thrum, I can't see your pics

 

[Fordriver6]

Thrum, I can't see your pics

Weird, they show up fine for me in Tapatalk.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[Thrumcap]

Thrum, I can't see your pics

switched on imgur to BBCode from Linked BBCode...
I have never been able to post multiple pics on GJ directly. I'll have to have a go again.

Thrumcap

 

[exmaxima1]

ORC: we started a Wilton date stamping thread and figured out that the stamping started after WWII so even though the Patent vises might have been cast prior to Wilton's patent in 1941 they didn't leave the factory until the date stamped on them if there is a date. the ones not stamped we figured out were sold to Uncle Sam for WWII and after WWII when Wilton lost the government contract and almost went bankcrupt they must have started pulling out old inventory and selling it even the patent ones to keep afloat. Make sense?

Drives, I think you could be more succinct: if the date stamp doesn't include the words "Guar Exp" you do not subtract 5 years. That is a 1946 vise. And AFAIK those hold down clamps were not available until after WWII.

Here's an example to illustrate my point. My "Chicago" era C1 is dated 1945, but if I subtracted 5 years from the stamped date it would have been made prior to Wilton's founding (1941) and even before the "Pat Pend" era vises.

 

[Rileysan]

Here is my 2nd new vise this week....it may be an addiction. I have quite a few Wilton vises in the shop but this one I just picked up is already special to me. It's been popping up on C/L for what seems a year or so and I even price checked it once before and thought it was prohibitive. Today I went to look again and we made a deal.

It's an Early Wilton No. 6. Shows Pat Pending on the side in the beautifully cast letters. Has a clear date stamp of 2-46. That should add up to a 6" vise manufactured in Feb of 1941. All that and it's in fine shape. Seems to have come out of a local machinist shop. Glad I went back to look again. Ed.

Good morning, Ed, and welcome to GJ! I see you live in my neighborhood (or at least the same county). I know this vise you bought from just the other side of Lancaster as I've taken a look a few times myself - I'm just not a Wilton fan so never seriously considered it. He has some nice stuff for sale and at reasonable prices!

I look forward to seeing more of your posts in the near future.

Cheers!

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

wrt the dates, I don't think very many solid conclusions can be made from the data available, other than Wilton did a lot of odd things about it. The "Guar Exp" is solid info, some had 5 year warranties, some (Cadets) had 3 years according to published literature. Some had no dates at all and were clearly both Schiller Park and Chicago eras, some Chicago castings were finished in Schiller Park (particularly Baby bullets) it's a sloppy mess, and very little hard data.

Almost everything on the topic is opinion, and should be stated as such until (If) solid data is there to back it.

So far about the only solid facts are if it states "Guar Exp." we should be able to rely on that.

 

[honza.vosalik]

Re: Birth announcement!

Sweet !

Glad to see it arrived all the way from CA!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Well, I jumped the gun throwing a date five years before the stamp but based on the little research I'd done on Wilton it is an easy mistake to make...seems to have been a common assumption until relatively recently. What I think is more relevant is the casting detail on the side. As Wilton progressed they obviously changed patterns which should give a solid indication of dates. Plenty of NOS gets sold to this day and it is the casting evolution that interests me most. I still have a lot to learn on Wilton history.

Yes Rileysan we are quite close...I was based for over 20 years at an Independence location by the river that I am sure you remember. I am not sure how long this vise kept coming up in our local tool dealers adds but likely long enough for a lot of people to have inspected it. He is clearing out inventory over the next year or so and it might be a good time for another visit. Ed.

 

[bulletpruf]

So would that make Baby, "Jr." or the third?

And is Baby also Schiller Park, or from Chicago?

Baby Bullet is from Chicago, which makes him older than both of his parents...

 

[bulletpruf]

Re: Birth announcement!

Glad to see it arrived all the way from CA!

Yep, thanks, Honza!

 

[Craptain]

Weird, try this http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-POW...=item33bac68f2b:g:mX8AAOSwnNBXbcnP&rmvSB=true

Don't know who made them but I picked one up a few weeks ago. Not made it to restoration yet due to other commitments.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[demoman]

Ok so who got the big 8" Athol in New York. I forgot to bid so I let one get away. I hope it found a home on here. It was a real bargain.

 

[Blue Frog]

I need some information on a Paramo No. 1 vise - size and weight. I've found one on an auction site that looks to be in very good condition, but I would like to know what size before I bid.

Blue Frog

 

[drivesitfar]

BP: did you pull out the dynamic on your baby and see the date stamp? funny about the baby bullets marked with Chicago on their sides because some were stamped in the 1980's if you take a look at the Wilton Date stamping thread. if you haven't already post up your Wilton bullet family over on that thread and here's the link to help you.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269079&highlight=Wilton+date+stamp

EX: that example where you have a NON PATENT cast Wilton Bullet with a 1945 stamp on it was probably the main reason for starting the date stamping thread. Bluebolt might have the actual count handy, but i know of maybe 20 or more that have Patent on their sides and 1945 date stamps on their slides. as i wrote above Wilton's Chicago cast baby bullets were date stamped for over 25 years after they moved from their Chicago location. Also with your 1945 bullet stamped on the base makes me think the guys first stamping the bullet vises were wondering where to stamp them.

ALL: Wilton only seemed to do a 5 year guarantee for a short period of time for their Wilton Bullets and they had if i recall correctly 1,2 & 3 year guarantee periods for their Cadets. we've talked about this more on the Wilton date stamping thread. of course to find FACTS we probably would need to find more articles or need a few workers stepping up and posting that used to work at Wilton and stamp the vises to convince some members.

as far as Wilton patent vises having dates on them in 1945 i bet they were cast in 1940 or 1941, but sold to clean out the shelves after the war with the newer date stamps on them. yes it's my opinion, but it makes sense to me.

BlueFrog: i'm not sure,but it's not very big and maybe 10 or 15 pounds.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Craptain.

Don't know who made them but I picked one up a few weeks ago. Not made it to restoration yet due to other commitments.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-POW...8f2b:g:mX8AAOSwnNBXbcnP&rmvSB=true&rmvSB=true
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I believe those were made by Milwaukee Tool and Equipment Co.---Could be wrong.


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63969&d=1273676450

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Demoman.

Ok so who got the big 8" Athol in New York. I forgot to bid so I let one get away. I hope it found a home on here. It was a real bargain.
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Brad, the only thing that I know could take your eyes off of an 8'' vise is a 9'' vise.---Did you get the 9''er?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I need some information on a Paramo No. 1 vise - size and weight. I've found one on an auction site that looks to be in very good condition, but I would like to know what size before I bid.

Blue Frog

17 lbs. & 3" jaws

 

[FigureItOut]

Would anyone happen to know anything about this Columbian 603, or have some educated guesses? There's no letter designation stamped on the outside, but there's an "M" on the inside, and "603-2" I just picked this up today with a set of 5 Nicholson files for $25.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[drivesitfar]

FIO: i'll guess you didn't pay too much for it.

what is it you'd like to know??

GET: talk about a pristine old English vice.

VA: so was it not on your radar either since you are looking for little ones to feed the CHAIN GANG?

 

[FigureItOut]

Drives, got it with some nice files for $25. I'm curious about the age mostly, and what sort of quality tier it was when new. It looks worse in the pictures than it is. It moves very smoothly and has very little play. Both handles are straight. It really just needs a good cleaning as far as my untrained eye can tell. I like the very solid hold down on the swivel base, and it's 360 unlike my other Columbian that swivels only 180. It'll make a good beater for me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[Rileysan]

Yes Rileysan we are quite close...I was based for over 20 years at an Independence location by the river that I am sure you remember. I am not sure how long this vise kept coming up in our local tool dealers adds but likely long enough for a lot of people to have inspected it. He is clearing out inventory over the next year or so and it might be a good time for another visit. Ed.

I know the place you speak of, but it was shut down before I moved here a few years ago. Lots of history in this town that I am still get acquainted with.

Feel free to join us on the PNW forum. Aside from small talk, there are members who buy/sell/trade with each other. Good group!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314689

Brian

 

[drivesitfar]

FIO: i saw how much you paid for it hence the smiley face on my post.

Columbian vises are not my favorite brand, but don't take that as meaning they didn't make great old vises. my guess on the age of yours is 1960's and maybe 50's and made in USA prior to Columbian making vises in Japan. if it had the rounded lettering i think that dates those vises pre WWII and some of their really old vises have the heft of any of the other makers.

i'm not sure if it was Columbian saving money so they could sell their huge vises for less by not filling in the towers on their 8 inch vises, but if there is any talk of Columbian not being a good working vise it might be because of that and the fact that a lot of their vises were not made in the US after i think 1970. i'm not certain about these facts and if anybody has information that conflicts or confirms them i'll listen and be happy to read their posts.

as far as that Columbian being a BEATER it's a good old US made vise from a day when the vises were made to last and should be treated as such so you can pass on to your grandkids even though you use it like a vise and not an anvil or a press.

nice find and yes it was a good buy for $25 even if files weren't part of the deal.

cheers

 

[exmaxima1]

as far as Wilton patent vises having dates on them in 1945 i bet they were cast in 1940 or 1941, but sold to clean out the shelves after the war with the newer date stamps on them. yes it's my opinion, but it makes sense to me.

I guess my opinion on that would be that Wilton waited until they were an actual company to start casting vises. And since numerous sites, including the current Wilton Tool, states that as 1941 I would go with that. Further, I would venture that most vises were cast after 1941 and more towards the end of the war. That would explain the seemingly vast inventories of castings that they were saddled with after the war, that they ultimately sold to the civilian market.

 

[joe.striper]

Ok so who got the big 8" Athol in New York. I forgot to bid so I let one get away. I hope it found a home on here. It was a real bargain.

Im sure that whomever got it is a complete tool and HE doesn't deserve it.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

FIO,
Your Columbian 603 was a great buy! From what I understand, yours was manufactured before the end of WW2, based on the curved Columbian name that was cast in the body.
Although they don't have the accurate movement that many high end machinist's vises have, they are a great "nuts & bolts" vise that will do all that you ask. IMO: A more robust vise than the red one in the background.
I believe that the 603-2 and M that are manufacturing numbers that are cast inside of the stationary body.

Good find. Do you plan to keep it, restore it or resell it?

 

[Evergreentree]

Well my hunt for a 5" Parker is over! I was looking for a big bear series with an anvil horn, but I'll take this 975 any day! Im so excited. 30-40 some odd vises later, and finally I found my personal go to!

So the clist guy said great condition, newly restored. Great, thanks guy for the paint job! I'd have paid 40 more for this smurf "unrestored". Oh well, vise is perfect otherwise, and my 6month hunt is over! Now to the paint stripping so I can get it apart, then possible sandblast and blo. Yea, coated. Even a section of the lead screw is beautifully painted smurf!

Anyone use citristrip?

 

[meatsis]

Ok so who got the big 8" Athol in New York. I forgot to bid so I let one get away. I hope it found a home on here. It was a real bargain.

This guy right here!!! I haven't had the time to go pick it up yet though. I'll post some pics when I get it home. I'm still shocked that I was the only person who bid on it.

 

[demoman]

Meatsis - Glad to see you got it you probably saved my marriage.

 

[demoman]

Previously posted by Demoman.

Ok so who got the big 8" Athol in New York. I forgot to bid so I let one get away. I hope it found a home on here. It was a real bargain.
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Brad, the only thing that I know could take your eyes off of an 8'' vise is a 9'' vise.---Did you get the 9''er?

Yes I did bring the 9 inch home and another 8 last weeklend. The 8 inch is a railroad vise that I have only seen one other this spring and passed on it bacause I already had one

 

[bagged89s10]

Well my hunt for a 5" Parker is over! I was looking for a big bear series with an anvil horn, but I'll take this 975 any day! Im so excited. 30-40 some odd vises later, and finally I found my personal go to!



So the clist guy said great condition, newly restored. Great, thanks guy for the paint job! I'd have paid 40 more for this smurf "unrestored". Oh well, vise is perfect otherwise, and my 6month hunt is over! Now to the paint stripping so I can get it apart, then possible sandblast and blo. Yea, coated. Even a section of the lead screw is beautifully painted smurf!



Anyone use citristrip?

Nice find. I'm regretting selling my 5 inch Parker. Want to trade for a 5" Reed? I use citrus strip sometimes but hate it just like any other stripper. At least it's supposedly non toxic. I think the key is to put the stripper on the paint, then cover it with a plastic so the stripper doesn't dry out.

 

[CRSINMICH]

FigureItOut: Here are two ads showing Columbian 603 vises. One is from 1926 and the other is from 1974. The M may stand for Malleable