Vise company manufacturers directory pre 1970's

[CRSINMICH]

Brief History and Chronology of Athol Machine Co​

 

[CRSINMICH]

Lists of Vise Manufacturers​

These lists come from the 1897 issue of Engineering Directory, the 1905 issue of Iron Age Directory, and the 1922 issue of Engineering Directory.​

The link to the site with these lists was originally posted by twertsy in Post #68. Here's the original link: http://toolarchives.com/node/41

I went to the site to copy and organize the lists. The manufacturers are listed by vise category. The 1922 list is divided into two parts.​

 

[va.grouseman]

Really good stuff CRS.---Tons of info.---If someone were to just now get interested in vises, they would be blown away by the number of vise Cos. in business today and especially the number operating back in the day.---And then all these Cos. are divided by their many vise models and series.---Boggles the mind.---It's like spelunking underground caverns, they just go on forever, and branches off hundreds of different directions.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Really good stuff CRS.---Tons of info.---If someone were to just now get interested in vises, they would be blown away by the number of vise Cos. in business today and especially the number operating back in the day.---And then all these Cos. are divided by their many vise models and series.---Boggles the mind.---It's like spelunking underground caverns, they just go on forever, and branches off hundreds of different directions.

That's why I posted these lists. You can do a lot of spelunking by looking through them. For instance, in the 1905 list under the heading "Vises, Jeweler's" you'll find that Emmert made one. I once thought I'd like to collect one of every type of vise Emmert made. Now I have to add one more to the list.

EDIT: Oh ****! I just looked closely at the 1905 list and noticed that Emmert made a Cabinet vise and a Coach Makers' vise.

It might also be possible to figure out a range of dates that a particular vise might have begun and ended production.

 

[KMScott]

Nice work CRS, very interesting lists. Would love to see a Toolmakers vise made by Chas Parker, Reed, Prentiss and Rock Island. Thanks for sharing.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Nice work CRS, very interesting lists. Would love to see a Toolmakers vise made by Chas Parker, Reed, Prentiss and Rock Island. Thanks for sharing.

KMS: I really can't take any credit for these lists. Twertsy actually posted the link to them some months ago. All I did was cut and paste the lists and then re-post them. I do enjoy looking through them. If we had a few more years worth we would be able to make more discoveries. I'll keep looking.

 

[CRSINMICH]

More Lists​

These are from 1909 Iron Age Directory (two parts), 1911 Iron Age Directory (two parts), and 1915 Engineering Directory (three parts)

I will take credit for these

 

[CRSINMICH]

Rock Island waffle irons?​

Here is some general information about Rock Island Manufacturing Co. and their consumer division RIMCO.

 

[bluebolt]

A mish-mash of Reed information as I find it until I can edit and rearrange it.

Paul Darling Wright, son of Reuben G and Cora Pierce Wright was born at Westfield New York March 9 1872. He resides (1912) at Erie Pennsylvania where he is president of the Reed Manufacturing Company. He has been twice married 30 1901 he married Lillian Gillen who August 4 1905 July 16 1908 he Charlotte Augusta Mehl who was born January 23 187-. Children of Paul and Lillian: Campbell born March 23 1903 and Gridley born February 8 1905 XII. Ralph Glenn second son of G and Cora Pierce Wright was born February 20 1873. He is vice president of Reed Manufacturing Company at Erie Pennsylvania and is sole proprietor of the firm RG Wright & Co of Buffalo New York where he maintains his home. He is unmarried in 1912. Ross Pier, youngest son of G and Cora Pierce Wright, was born Westfield New York August 22 1874. He is associated with his brothers in the ownership and management of the Reed Manufacturing Company at Erie Pennsylvania and is secretary and treasurer of that concern. June 19 1903 he married Mabel Eliza Woodward who was born May 5 1879 and they reside at Erie. Children: Theron Voodward born August 2 1905, Allyn Seymour born December 26 1907 and Robert Pier born September 4 1909. https://books.google.com/books?id=R...onepage&q=Richard Pier Wright erie pa&f=false

Another tidbit, E. C. Barnett attended conventions for Reed Mfg in 1915 and 1920. Would help to have a full name!

And another from The Trow (formerly Wilson's) Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City dated 1909: Reed Mfg Co (Erie Pa) (Abram M Johnston agent) 54 Warren

More info. Richard Pier Wright (1909-1964) was a Director of Reed Mfg for 36 years, treasurer for 16 and it's Senior Vice-President for a decade. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27773175?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

The only direct connection between Reed and Hollands I have found so far, Richard Pier Wright married Emily Louise Rilling in 1936. Emily was the treasurer for Hollands and the daughter of the president of Hollands, Emil Louis Wright.

 

[bluebolt]

Some information I found that will increase the knowledge bit by bit!

For those of you who like vise history this is from a WWII government publication called "Victory". I redid the info found here by putting the vise company name first and putting it in alphabetical order. Note that in this October 1942 publication Wilton is not mentioned. Two names are misspelled on here, that is what the digital copy shows unfortunately.

https://www.myheritage.com/research/...-vol-3-oct-dec

October 20, 1942
• VICTORY •
25
New industry advisory committees
The Division of Industry Advisory
Committees, WPB, has announced the
formation of the following new committees

MACHINIST AND BENCH VISES
Government presiding ofiBcer - Franz
T. Stone, chief. Industrial specialties
branch, tools division.

Members :
American Scale Co., Kansas City, Mo.; W. 8. Swift, president

Athol Machine Foundry Co., Athol, Mass.; M. Kessler. vice president

Charles Parker Co., Meriden Conn,; Charles S. Parker, president

The Columbia Vise Mfg. Co., Cleveland, Ohio; H. F. Seymour, vice president

Desmond-Stephan Co., Urbana, Ohio; R. S. McConnell, vice president

Erie Tool Works, Erie, Pa.; E. W. Bacon, president

Hollands Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa.; E. L. Rilling, president

Morgan Vise Co., 108 North Jefferson, Chicago, 111.; George Morgan, Jr., vice president

Prentiss Vise Co., 302 Broadway, New York, N. Y.; Elmer Mulford, secretary

Reed Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa. P. D. Wright, president

Rock Island / Birtman Electric Co., Chicago, 111.; Richard J. Simmons, vice president

Sawyer Foundry Machine Co., Oswego, N. Y.; William F. Sawyer, proprietor

Yost Manufacturing Co., Meadville, Pa.; F. M. McArthur, president
__________________

 

[bluebolt]

My Hollands Manufacturing post (post #66 page 4) has gotten so long I had to post a second one!

1908: Hollands Manufacturing Co Erie Pa has been reorganized with the following officers: President, John S. Rilling; treasurer and general manager, E.L. Rilling; secretary and sales manager, L. Rockefeller; and superintendent S. R. Ritler. The reorganization was made necessary by the demise of E. S. Rockefeller last May who was one of the founders of the company and up to the time of his death its president and general manager. The company will continue to manufacture the same lines of tools as heretofore .

https://books.google.com/books?id=p...DAE#v=onepage&q=E.L. Rilling hollands&f=false

With the E. L. Rilling clue I found even more info!

President John S. Rilling is John Stephen Rilling 1860-1926, he is the older brother Of Emil Louis Rilling.

JOHN STEPHEN RILLING, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Rilling, was born in Mill Creek Township, Erie County Pennsylvania, July 22, 1860. He attended the public schools in his native township and the Northwestern State Norma School at Edinboro Pennsylvania, studied law and was admitted to the Bar of Erie County, February 19, 1885 and is now a member of the Bar of the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. From the time of his admission to the bar he has continued in the active practice of his profession. He was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 1894 and a delegate at large to the National Democratic Convention which met at Chicago in 1896. In 1907 he was appointed by Governor Stuart a member of the Commission to codify the school laws of Pennsylvania and was the only lawyer on this Commision. When the School Code became a law in 1911 he was appointed by Governor Tener a member of the State Board of Education on which Board he continued to serve until May 26 1915 when he was appointed by Governor Brumbaugh a member of the Public Service Commission for the term of nine years dating from July 1 1913.
https://books.google.com/books?id=x...PjAG#v=onepage&q=John Stephan Rilling&f=false

The 1908 treasurer is Emil Louis Rilling 1872-1964, father of Emily Louise Rilling Wright 1911-2008, she was later the treasurer for Hollands and a director for Reed.
Emil Rilling became president of Hollands at some time, probably after his brothers death in 1926. Emil was president in 1942 but have not found the full dates yet.

 

[bluebolt]

The breadcrumbs are starting to add up. Thanks to Demomans posting of a Erie Tool Works catalog on the giant vise thread it lead me to finding out Hollands Mfg. Co. was purchased by Erie tool works in 1959.

http://www.lakeviewforge.com/about-us.html

 

[ganymede]

Some information I found that will increase the knowledge bit by bit!
.......
Members :
American Scale Co., Kansas City, Mo.; W. 8. Swift, president

Athol Machine Foundry Co., Athol, Mass.; M. Kessler. vice president

Charles Parker Co., Meriden Conn,; Charles S. Parker, president

The Columbia Vise Mfg. Co., Cleveland, Ohio; H. F. Seymour, vice president

Desmond-Stephan Co., Urbana, Ohio; R. S. McConnell, vice president

Erie Tool Works, Erie, Pa.; E. W. Bacon, president

Hollands Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa.; E. L. Rilling, president

Morgan Vise Co., 108 North Jefferson, Chicago, 111.; George Morgan, Jr., vice president

Prentiss Vise Co., 302 Broadway, New York, N. Y.; Elmer Mulford, secretary

Reed Manufacturing Co., Erie, Pa. P. D. Wright, president

Rock Island / Birtman Electric Co., Chicago, 111.; Richard J. Simmons, vice president

Sawyer Foundry Machine Co., Oswego, N. Y.; William F. Sawyer, proprietor

Yost Manufacturing Co., Meadville, Pa.; F. M. McArthur, president
__________________

Interesting. !
I wonder if Simplex had sold the rights to Desmond that early on or if Desmond had been making other vises ..?

 

[kwoswalt99]

Interesting. !
I wonder if Simplex had sold the rights to Desmond that early on or if Desmond had been making other vises ..?

I don't think Simplex was a company?

 

[va.grouseman]

Man I love this thread.---This is stuff you ain't going to learn anywhere else.---Nice to know that there are this many committed historians in one place.---All you fellows are what GOOGLE refers to when someone inquires about a vise.---Keep up the good work.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: here's a couple catalog pages i found of course in a GJ thread and good question about whether Simplex was the name of the company or just a name for Desmond Stephen's vises. the catalog pages in red were from 1964 and not sure when the other one was printed.

Simplex (Desmond Stephens) were made in Urbana, Ohio

thanks everybody who post on this thread to support our need to learn more about these great old very well made vises (vices). keep up the great work digging this stuff up.

here's another post i found posted by a GJ member in 2010. true or not it's information to look at and figure out.

DISPLACED HOKIE wrote: I've got some additional Simplex info...

Desmond-Simplex or simply Simplex is still in business, but as Desmond-Stephan. They no longer make vises. They make grinding wheel cutters and dressers. http://www.desmond-stephan.com/index.php It appears that most of the Desmond-Simplex vises were made in the 1940's and 1950's, but the exact period of manufacture is currently unknown.

 

[ganymede]

....
View media item 55225[/IMG]
View media item 67747[/IMG]

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks for the picture Ganymede I thought Simplex started out on it's own. And the company was in Woonsocket Rhode Island. Some info I found.

THOMAS SHAW, president and general manager
of the Simplex Tool Company of Woonsocket, situated
at the corner of Social and Worrall streets, is an im-
portant part in the industrial life of this community.
Mr. Shaw was born in London, England, January 21,
1888.

The childhood and early life of Thomas Shaw was
passed in his native country, where he attended the pub-
lic schools and afterwards took a course in the Borough
Polytechnic Mechanical School at London. Here he
became an expert mechanic and devoted his time to
a mastery of the craft of tool making. Upon completing
his education in this line Mr. Shaw came to the United
States and settled at Bridgeport, Conn., where he made
his home for a short time. It was not long, however,
before he left that place and came to Woonsocket and
here secured a position as tool maker with one of the
local factories. He continued to follow this line of
work until the year 1915, when, being of an ambitious
nature and very anxious to be engaged in business on
his own account, he organized the nucleus of what is
now the Simplex Tool Company of Woonsocket. At
the time of the organization this concern was indeed
small, but the industry and business judgment of Mr.
Shaw soon caused it to develop rapidly until on Feb-
ruary 7, 191", it was incorporated witli Mr. Shaw as
president and general manager. Shortly afterwards the
plant was moved to its present location, where large and
adequate quarters were provided for it, and equipped
with the most modern machinery and all the most
recent appliances for carrying on this work. The plant
is modern in every particular. .-X new building with
twenty thousand square feet of tloor space and lighted
entirely by daylight has recently been erected. The
building is so arranged that as many as two hundred
hands may be employed there at one time, and here the
finest grades of tools for all forts of mechanical pur-
poses are turned out. The Simplex Tool Company does
a very extensive business, not only with all the States
of the Union, hut with most of the European countries
as well and with Canada and South America. It is one
of the best equipped plants of this kind in this country
and its products enjoy a reputation throughout the
world second to none.

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-e...and-providence-plantations-volume-8-kci.shtml

 

[Shiftless]

Fascinating research guys! Great work

Last year my wife and I drive all the way from CA to NH and stayed in the area almost a week. I wish I had known about Woonsocket RI...would have been a blast to wander around in the town and look for obscure Simplex foundry information.
CRS: I know you're a big fan of the Desmond-Simplex

(subscribed)

 

[ganymede]

Thanks for the picture Ganymede I thought Simplex started out on it's own. And the company was in Woonsocket Rhode Island.

Fascinating research guys! Great work

Last year my wife and I drive all the way from CA to NH and stayed in the area almost a week. I wish I had known about Woonsocket RI...would have been a blast to wander around in the town and look for obscure Simplex foundry information.
CRS: I know you're a big fan of the Desmond-Simplex

(subscribed)

The city is quite a step back in time with plenty of old factories from yesteryear.
It wouldn't surprise me if the building was still standing.
I've got to get down there some day and see if the library has any old city directories. They're an excellent resource.

 

[va.grouseman]

Ganymede, I've had my eye out for one of those Rode Island Simplexes for 5 years.---They just don't pop up often.

Also, the chart that Drive posted, shows swivelers from 3 1/4" to a 6 1/4", and then an 8 1/4", but no 7 1/4.---I wonder why.

 

[bluebolt]

The city is quite a step back in time with plenty of old factories from yesteryear.
It wouldn't surprise me if the building was still standing.
I've got to get down there some day and see if the library has any old city directories. They're an excellent resource.

I searched for an actual address for Simplex but only came up with it was located at the corner of Social Street and Worrall Street. A satellite view shows lots of new building there so it is probably gone. The library does have old directories.

Edit: Searching on Thomas Shaw's partner Frederick L. Cleveland showed he was a major shareholder of the Woonsocket Wagon Mfg. Co. formed in 1901 with a factory at Nos. 15-20 Worrall Street and after a fire in 1909 a new factory was built on the whole block of #2 to #38 Worrall Street. In 1919 Frederick sold part of the business to his sons and in 1920 they had offices at 65 Social Street. http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/w/woonsocket/woonsocket.htm

A new office building, the Union St. Jean-Baptiste Building, was built in 1926 at the same time as the Stadium Building and has a current address of 1 - 19 Social Street. This probably replaced the offices at 65 Social Street.

The Worrall Street wagon factory may have housed the Simplex Tool Co as well. There is no sign of it on current photos. The wagon company had moved in 1925 and the factory may have been torn down for the Union building which was on the corner of Social and Worrall.

I wonder if any of the old vise factories exist?

 

[ganymede]

Bluebolt
Some fascinating stuff there. Thanks for that article !

Vagrousman
I've seen a few on the forum and a couple on eBay (not the 7" size).
The 41s is the most common size.
I've only seen the larger ones from Desmond or Rigid and not too many .

 

[bluebolt]

Thanks Ganymede. Thomas Shaw submitted a patent in 1927 for Simplex Tool Co for a cooking machine, that is the latest for Simplex Tool Co so far.

Edit: More info Metal Industry Volume 15, 1917

Thomas Shaw and Frederick L. Cleveland of Woonsocket and George W. Greene of North Smithfield, have incorporated a company under the laws of Rhode Island as the Simplex Tool Company, with capital of $50,000, to do business in Woonsocket as manufacturers and dealers in tools and machinery.

https://books.google.com/books?id=m... tool company woonsocket rhode island&f=false

 

[ganymede]

I read on this or the general tool forum that they changed their name to Simplex Corporation in 1940 or 41.wish I could find that thread again.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Carder69.---On page 93, post 1849.

I purchased this Desmond Stephan 81S at an estate sale yesterday. I searched the forum and the web and I can't find any similar to this size. It is a beast and I screwed up my back lifting it into my truck. The cman vise is a 3 1/2 by comparison.

I plan on restoring and wanted to know if anyone knew what the original color was? Also, has anyone seen a Desmond this size?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_WYmUv-du4NQ/TY9JGgb8skI/AAAAAAAAG2A/aVZ-JsRJogc/s800/vise2.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


These are on my short short list.---I think Demo has 2 of the buggers.

 

[bluebolt]

Hey Drivesitfar you can edit post #2 to add Meadville Vise Co from Meadville PA, they changed their name to Barrett Machine Tool Co in 1905 before selling the vise portion to Yost in 1909. Vises have been found marked Meadville Vise Co and other marked Barrett Machine Tool Co.

 

[bluebolt]

Also there is a Stevens Perfect Hand Vise and a Stephens Patent Vise, two different companies.

 

[kwoswalt99]

Hey Drivesitfar you can edit post #2 to add Meadville Vise Co from Meadville PA, they changed their name to Barrett Machine Tool Co in 1905 before selling the vise portion to Yost in 1909. Vises have been found marked Meadville Vise Co and other marked Barrett Machine Tool Co.

I believe MVC made vises for Massey as well.

 

[PghJKB]

That's why I posted these lists. You can do a lot of spelunking by looking through them. For instance, in the 1905 list under the heading "Vises, Jeweler's" you'll find that Emmert made one. I once thought I'd like to collect one of every type of vise Emmert made. Now I have to add one more to the list.

EDIT: Oh ****! I just looked closely at the 1905 list and noticed that Emmert made a Cabinet vise and a Coach Makers' vise.

It might also be possible to figure out a range of dates that a particular vise might have begun and ended production.

CRS
Just to give you an idea of what you are looking for:

JKB

 

[CRSINMICH]

JKB: Thanks! Now I just need to find the real thing.

 

[CRSINMICH]

MORE WILTON INFORMATION​

These are from the 1966 catalog of The Chas. A. Strelinger Co. of Detroit (Look at the bottom left of page 1029 and see how much a Baby Bullet on a PowRarm would have set you back.)

 

[drivesitfar]

BB: I'm sorry it took so long for me to edit the vise company list on post #2, but i made the changes you requested. a few posts ago to companies that ended up being Yost vise company.

All: anybody else need me to do some editing on the companie's list on post #2 or elsewhere just ask?

GOVERNMENT AND VISES?

anybody know the history of who Uncle sam had make their vises since maybe 1850 or before if any are known?

I think Wilton made all their vises for Uncle Sam for WWII. was there other companies that supported the war effort?

after 1945 i think Morgan obtained the contract for Uncle Sam's vises and still have that contract to make them vises today as far as I know. I guess Wilton almost went bankrupt after 1945 after they lost the contract to supply vises to Uncle sam.

anybody have a history trail on the effects of vise companies during or after the two WORLD WARS? i think WWII was pretty much the end of business for Prentiss who sold to Parker who eventually sold to Union and they stopped making vises in the late 50's. so two of the oldest companies Parker and Prentiss quit selling vises after 100 years in the late 50's. was that because of WWII or because factories were built in Taiwan and Japan and vises were made there and imported cheaper or with incentives?

not trying to get into the politics of vise companies and just the business parts of them.

to all of you that read and save and then post catalog pages and newspaper articles on this thread i want to thank all of you and if you want to keep doing so i'm at least one very interested reader when i have time to.

thanks

 

[twertsy]

Gents,
If you take a look in the vise section of Toolarchives.com, I've started working on company histories. Started on some companies in the A-B category here: http://toolarchives.com/node/587

 

[bluebolt]

BB: I'm sorry it took so long for me to edit the vise company list on post #2, but i made the changes you requested. a few posts ago to companies that ended up being Yost vise company.

All: anybody else need me to do some editing on the companie's list on post #2 or elsewhere just ask?

GOVERNMENT AND VISES?

anybody know the history of who Uncle sam had make their vises since maybe 1850 or before if any are known?

I think Wilton made all their vises for Uncle Sam for WWII. was there other companies that supported the war effort?

after 1945 i think Morgan obtained the contract for Uncle Sam's vises and still have that contract to make them vises today as far as I know. I guess Wilton almost went bankrupt after 1945 after they lost the contract to supply vises to Uncle sam.

anybody have a history trail on the effects of vise companies during or after the two WORLD WARS? i think WWII was pretty much the end of business for Prentiss who sold to Parker who eventually sold to Union and they stopped making vises in the late 50's. so two of the oldest companies Parker and Prentiss quit selling vises after 100 years in the late 50's. was that because of WWII or because factories were built in Taiwan and Japan and vises were made there and imported cheaper or with incentives?

not trying to get into the politics of vise companies and just the business parts of them.

to all of you that read and save and then post catalog pages and newspaper articles on this thread i want to thank all of you and if you want to keep doing so i'm at least one very interested reader when i have time to.

thanks

Drivesitfar, check out my post a few pages back about vise companies and the government in 1942 during WWII. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6276132&postcount=130

 

[twertsy]

Put the nose to the grindstone on Prentiss this morning and found quite a bit of info on the company history. I'm not convinced they ever actually manufactured their own products. Please note the links and references.

http://toolarchives.com/node/137

 

[PghJKB]

Put the nose to the grindstone on Prentiss this morning and found quite a bit of info on the company history. I'm not convinced they ever actually manufactured their own products. Please note the links and references.

http://toolarchives.com/node/137

twertsy

My research shows Mason Prentiss setting up business in 1868. Probably right after getting patent #75576.

I have a JPEG somewhere that states that Bagley & Sewall started producing Prentiss vises in 1868. Until I find that, here is a partial ad from the March 1922 edition of Hardware World that states that Prentiss has been producing vises for 54 years.

Here is the link to his patent:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNu...%26S1=0075576.PN.%26OS=pn/75576%26RS=PN/75576

Here is the first page of the patent:

JKB

 

[twertsy]

twertsy

My research shows Mason Prentiss setting up business in 1868. Probably right after getting patent #75576.

I have a JPEG somewhere that states that Bagley & Sewall started producing Prentiss vises in 1868. Until I find that, here is a partial ad from the March 1922 edition of Hardware World that states that Prentiss has been producing vises for 54 years.

Here is the link to his patent:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNu...%26S1=0075576.PN.%26OS=pn/75576%26RS=PN/75576

Here is the first page of the patent:

JKB

Thanks JKB, I have most of that on down the page. One thing I noticed just now is that Mortimer Lewis was a principal in the Prentiss company. He invented a LOT of vises (Lewis Tool Co.) and even Emmert was assigned at least one of his patents.

Todd

 

[CRSINMICH]

JKB: This might be the clip you were referring to. It's from a history of Watertown, NY. It doesn't give the exact year that Bagley & Sewall began making vises for Prentiss. It only says that they started "somewhat before" the company was incorporated in 1882.

 

[twertsy]

JKB: This might be the clip you were referring to. It's from a history of Watertown, NY. It doesn't give the exact year that Bagley & Sewall started making vises for Prentiss. It only says that they started somewhat before the company was incorporated in 1882.

That all jives. I saw another reference yesterday that lamented the fact that Prentiss had to move production "out of the village" to Watertown not long after starting production in NY. I think they made their own for the first couple years then shifted to Bagley & Sewall (and others like Hall Manufacturing and Havana Bridge Co.)