Another Wilton vise date help

[Mgdoug3]

I picked this vise up from a friend. It was rusted but did work. I started tearing it about and will paint it. The jaws measure 4" wide. It has a couple of marks but nothing bad. It was a vise that someone used.

I looked on the keystock on the round ram but found no date code. My only clue is city stamp which I think means made after 1974. Any help will be appreciated. I was looking for an old vise last year this time but I finally found a USA vise without spending a fortune.

 

[ed4banger]

They moved to that location in late 50s. This vise has a one piece dynamic construction, so guessing its 60s or 70s. They changed to a two-piece dynamic sometime in late 70s to 80s IIRC.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Mgdoug3...My database shows those casting #'s from (1968-1976).

How about a photo of the "city stamp" you're referring to? 1974 sounds very plausible for a typical date stamp of the slide on that Wilton.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I thought I remember reading that vises stamped Schiller were made 1974 or later. I've been researching different projects so I could be wrong.

It's slowly coming together. I missed a spot painting so I couldn't put the vise together. I know the paint isn't the right color but I like it. It's hunter green. I know no intention of ever letting it go so I'm not worried about the color being correct.

Getting the cap polished up took a little work but I chucked it in the lathe and sped up the process a little.

Edit: found a link on here that said Schiller was 1957 or later.

 

[Roberts210]

I think he means the "Schiller Park, Ill." It's not stamped, it's cast into the body.

To each his own. I happen to like green also.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I think he means the "Schiller Park, Ill." It's not stamped, it's cast into the body.

OK, that makes sense, thanks. I'm using the casting numbers "101027 and 101028" from my database to come up with typical slide date-stamps of (1968-1976).

 

[Mgdoug3]

When I said stamped I was using the wrong term. I should have said casted. The jaws are 4" but I don't see a model number. What model is this one?

I'm in the process of making some aluminum jaws just because I have some scrap aluminum laying around. It's taking some time in my old mill so I don't think I'll make them exact size, just close enough. I want to use this vise but I'll probably use it for lighter duty. I'll beat on my import Dewalt.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Woke up early so I could put the vise back together. Now I just have to figure out where to put it.

 

[Roberts210]

That Wilton will hold up to heavy duty--you won't have to baby it, and you won't have to worry about it coming apart. I've got both its little brother and its big brother--a 3" and a 4.5". I've had the 4.5 for almost 30 years, and it has never let me down.

 

[exmaxima1]

They moved to that location in late 50s. This vise has a one piece dynamic construction, so guessing its 60s or 70s. They changed to a two-piece dynamic sometime in late 70s to 80s IIRC.

What does that mean? Are you saying the tube is welded to the jaw casting? I've never seen that on a Wilton Machinist vise.

 

[ed4banger]

What does that mean? Are you saying the tube is welded to the jaw casting? I've never seen that on a Wilton Machinist vise.

The older dynamics are a single piece casting. Clue is the rounded bulbous shape like the one pictured above in this thread. On newer ones the slide and the outer piece/jaw tower casting are made from two separate pieces joined together to make the dynamic, like this pic of my 600, it has a different shape. I'm not saying newer ones are weak, I just prefer the shape of the one-piece. I'm not sure how they are attaching the two parts.

 

[Fierljeppen]

When I said stamped I was using the wrong term. I should have said casted. The jaws are 4" but I don't see a model number. What model is this one?

The model of your vise is 400N. Nice job on the restore!

They moved to that location in late 50s. This vise has a one piece dynamic construction, so guessing its 60s or 70s. They changed to a two-piece dynamic sometime in late 70s to 80s IIRC.

What does that mean? Are you saying the tube is welded to the jaw casting? I've never seen that on a Wilton Machinist vise.

The older dynamics are a single piece casting. Clue is the rounded bulbous shape like the one pictured above in this thread. On newer ones the slide and the outer piece/jaw tower casting are made from two separate pieces joined together to make the dynamic, like this pic of my 600, it has a different shape. I'm not saying newer ones are weak, I just prefer the shape of the one-piece. I'm not sure how they are attaching the two parts.

I've got a couple of Wilton catalog scans that show the biggest style changes for their machinist vises. The first big change was in 1971, which is what ed4banger is talking about and the next change was in 1998, which is the current style.

Wilton had made changes before 1971, but they were much less drastic. They last two changes are significant improvements to the earlier models in my opinion.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Thank you for the compliment and giving me the model number. Thanks to everyone who has also me with information, I have learned a lot. I never mentioned it but I gave $50 for the vise.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Got the vise mounted and used it today. I don't think I'll use my newer Dewalt vise except if I have to heat something or grind away on something. The Wilton is a joy to use. It's my favorite recent purchase. It beats out a bigger lathe, mill and 3/4 torque wrench.

Looking at the old brochures again, it's interesting to see that the keyway tolerance increased from 0.002" to 0.003". I'm a fan of old iron, especially iron that is still high quality.

 

[Roberts210]

Ain't they great! I love the silky but powerful action of the Wilton machinst vises.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I decided to practice with the mill and made a set of aluminum jaws if I need to grip something delicate. I had some scrap aluminum but it wasn't the right size. Ended up machining it to size. They turned out nice. I just have to remember where I store them now.

 

[Roberts210]

Nice work.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I decided to make some new nuts for the swivel base. I didn't like how I painted the original nuts and the rods were too pitted to polish up. I made the nuts out of aluminum and the rods are 3/8 stainless. They should rust anymore. I'm keeping the old nuts with the aluminum jaws just in case I ever want to put them back on.