Mystery Wilton 5" Vise

[Avispex]

I just got off the phone with the seller of this vise and I have one photo and some slightly vague details. He says the jaws are 5" and he has had it for at least 30 years, possibly more. He says it is heavy. I asked him if there were any markings or writing on it and he said "Oh, there are some markings, it says Wilton Mechanics Schiller Park." I can't remember if he said Illinois or not. I also can not guarantee that he would not have read "mechainics" for "machinist" but I would guess that it is mechanics.

From this picture, I can't tell if it is a bullet vise or not. I know he has replaced the jaw insert on at least one side. Did Wilton make a bullet version of the mechanics vise that looked anything like this 30 years ago? All of the 5 inch jaw mechanics vises I can find pictures of look very square and blocky and although the picture has little detail, everything looks very rounded to me. I'm not even sure where the word "Mechanic" would be on the vise.

If it isn't a bullet vise, would it still be worth the 1 hour drive to get it for under $60? I'm not sure what other vises Wilton made 30 years ago and if they were good or not. The current 5" mechanics vises are priced low enough that I think an older version might not be worth that much.

If it is a bullet, I probably will take the drive.

Thanks for any help or advice,

Andy

 

[rlitman]

The bullet vise is the machinists vise. The higher jaws on this look like the Combination vise. I think it is a C2, which is worth far more than a bullet vise.

Maybe a better vise expert can chime in with a better opinion.

 

[Avispex]

Well, after looking at a bunch of pictures from all over the web, my best guess as of right now is that it is a 1750 of some kind, although I haven't seen any pictures of a 1750 that have the words "Mechanics Vise" on the vise. Perhaps he was reading from a sticker. If it is a 1750, then I think it would be worth the drive and the price. I have a C2 and I think the jaw shape is a bit different than the one in the picture, although from the angle it isn't easy to tell much.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[454ragtop]

Anvil area is too big for a "C" series, not to mention how "fat" they are. Look at one from the front and you'll see what I mean.
Jim

 

[Garage Dog]

This is simple - I kinda like vises, and if a guy sent me that picture and the price was under $60, the road trip would be justified.

Justification for one more adventure in life. I have been on a few road trips and regret few.

Now get going and send us the pics after you buy it.

 

[Avispex]

OK, mystery solved. It is a 1750 and I bought it for the full asking price of $35.

Late last night I saw an ad listing a few shop items including a "heavy duty bench vice $35.00"

The listing was accompanied by this picture from which I had cropped and enlarged the picture posted above-

I drove out to see the vise after work and it seemed a bit dirty, but I imagined that it could clean up well and so I gave him some cash and I headed back.

He swears he bought it over 40 years ago, which would have made it a mid 1970s machine. I could believe that based on the use marks and the patina. The fit of some of the pieces and the crudeness of how some of the castings were finished seems odd to me, but I suppose the tradesman vises were supposed to be the lower end.

Here are some pics-

Play of about 1/4" in fit of base with bottom casting-

I'm not sure about these pipe clamps, the replacement ones are a completely different design-

A shot of the bottom. The pads that press against the crinolated ring don't fit it very well and have such rough edges I thought for sure that large pieces had broken off. It still seems to work though.

I could not see any trace of a date stamp on the key. It might be on the other side, (currently facing the tube) but I could not easily see how to remove it from the tube, so I will leave it for now and hunt for a date as I clean it up and dismantle it after reading more. The original color seems to have been a kind of pea soup green. As many pictures of Wilton 1750's that I looked at today, I did not see any with the same metallic plate, which is why I am uploading all of these here, just in case somebody else comes looking for a match.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[nine4gmc]

looks like you need a set of jaws, good score!!

 

[Avispex]

After bouncing back and forth for a couple of days, I realize that I posted this thread in the wrong forum. I am pretty sure it belongs in the tools forum. Is there a way to move it, or just delete and repost? Also, can I edit the title of the thread now that the mystery is solved and my original question is moot?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[nine4gmc]

just post a new thread in the tools section.

 

[ilovevocs]

Nice haul! Congrats.

 

[Garage Dog]

Nice score - congrats!

 

[BrokeWinger]

Just picked up a nice Pre-1998 Tradesman 1750 today. I'ts in need of all four jaws Upper and lower (pipe). The guy wanted to just give it to me! but I made him take $20. Just ordered the replacement parts I needed for $83.

Best I can find looking these things up online I've got a little over a hundred bucks invested in a nearly thousand dollar vise! Score!

 

[exmaxima1]

Just picked up a nice Pre-1998 Tradesman 1750 today. I'ts in need of all four jaws Upper and lower (pipe). The guy wanted to just give it to me! but I made him take $20. Just ordered the replacement parts I needed for $83.

Best I can find looking these things up online I've got a little over a hundred bucks invested in a nearly thousand dollar vise! Score!

$1000 vise? I don't think so...

But maybe if you paint it Red and slap a Snap-On logo plate on it you might get closer.

 

[nadogail]

Congratulations on the vise, may you enjoy it for many years of good health.

 

[BrokeWinger]

I said NEARLY... I see them listed for upwards of $800