Holy vise grip Batman!

[four.cycle]

It seems like I see a pair at almost every sale lately. I can’t seem to help picking them up, bringing them home and cleaning them up.

well... have you considered taking up welding as a hobby?

 

[d42jeep]

I consider myself among the world’s worst welders. Fortunately my next door neighbor in the mountains has some skills, plus the equipment. I’ve made sure that he has a good supply of welding related Visegrips.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I did a bit in a summer arts program in 1969. Not sure if you call it "welding". I think we used the term "brazing". I used a copper-phosphor (?) rod and an oxygen-acetylene torch. Learned why you are not supposed to wear open-toed footwear while doing that sort of thing.
Interesting technique, for sure... hammering sheet copper and then welding (or "brazing") the pieces together.

 

[Beerhippie]

I did a bit in a summer arts program in 1969. Not sure if you call it "welding". I think we used the term "brazing". I used a copper-phosphor (?) rod and an oxygen-acetylene torch. Learned why you are not supposed to wear open-toed footwear while doing that sort of thing.
Interesting technique, for sure... hammering sheet copper and then welding (or "brazing") the pieces together.

Just for reference, welding is melting two or more pieces of metal together, with or without a filler. Soldering or brazing is using a third metal of lower melting point to kind of "glue" the metal together.

 

[four.cycle]

^ It was an NEA-funded summer arts program that my art teacher Mrs. Wojtowitz finagled me into - I was two years younger than all the rest of the students. They were more concerned about us MAKING something as opposed to teaching us the "science" of the process.
Not requiring goggles and allowing sandals most likely would be frowned upon in the current day. The instructor, Roy T. Stenger (1931-2018) was quite a bit more adept at the process. His "specialty" was copper birds. He was also my high school art instructor.

 

[d42jeep]

Another estate sale, another pair of Vise Grips. These were a little less rusty than most.
-Don
Before and after.

 

[d42jeep]

Finally! A pair of Petersen Vise Grips from an estate sale that required no cleanup whatsoever. I leave plenty of the Irwin examples behind.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

nice. I didn't know they even MADE a 9LN.
I use those "LN" models to clamp off fuel lines on mowers... they work great!

 

[Beerhippie]

Pre-lever Petersen #10--you apparently didn't get much choice of jaw style back then:





The release lever was introduced in '57. If I knew when the Petersen logo started, I'd have the age bracketed.

 

[Beerhippie]

Doing some more reading (AA) and getting a little more confused. The Petersen logo may have been used as early as '32. The lever may have been introduced as early as '50--the '57 date is from an ad calling the easy-release lever "new".

 

[d42jeep]

Here are two formerly slightly rusty pairs I found at Saturday’s estate sale. They came out of the evaporust today.
-Don
Before
After.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of Petersen Vise Grips found on Friday. They needed some serious restoration.
Some after pictures.

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Found these welders vise grips at a yard sale on Saturday. Finally got around to cleaning them up.
Before.
After.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This is the newest looking pre lever pair I’ve run across. Found today at a Tahoe garage sale.
Edit. I did some cleanup today.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

unknown 9-inch locking pliers - no markings anywhere

 

[genog]

This is the newest looking pre lever pair I’ve run across. Found today at a Tahoe garage sale.

I found a similar pair today....
Same April 14, 1942 Patent date

Four days before the Jimmy Doolittle Raid

 

[d42jeep]

Some Craftsman ones I picked at a sale due to their excellent condition. Someday I’ll get around to listing them in the Classifieds.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A couple of Petersen Visegrips that don’t need evaporust were found at today’s estate sale.
-Don

 

[Beerhippie]

A couple of Petersen Visegrips that don’t need evaporust were found at today’s estate sale.
-Don

Unicorns!

 

[Leviton]

A couple of Petersen Visegrips that don’t need evaporust were found at today’s estate sale.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A smaller pair with the 1942 patent than the 10” models I usually find at sales. I removed some white spray paint which may have helped preserve the original finish.
-Don

 

[MAD]

I see some non-Petersen locking pliers in this thread so I hope this is the right place for this tool-

I keep these massive 12" locking pliers marked "GREAT GRIP", "EASY ACTION" in my main box and use them often. They have patent # 2705899 assigned to Metal Engineering Co. which sold locking pliers in the late 40s-50s using the names "Samson", "Lever Jaw", and "Metcoid". I also found that Great Neck marketed 10" locking pliers in the late 60s using "great grip" and "easy action" language in their advertisements with the same patent. Perhaps these 12" Great grips fall somewhere in the early-mid 60s??? The first photo shows them next to a Visegrip 10 WR to show scale.

 

[FrankLee]

I've got a handful of Petersons (and a few unremarkable Craftsmans not worth showing).

4LN, 6LN, 7R, 8R, 10R

​

 

[MAD]

I see some non-Petersen locking pliers in this thread so I hope this is the right place for this tool-

I keep these massive 12" locking pliers marked "GREAT GRIP", "EASY ACTION" in my main box and use them often. They have patent # 2705899 assigned to Metal Engineering Co. which sold locking pliers in the late 40s-50s using the names "Samson", "Lever Jaw", and "Metcoid". I also found that Great Neck marketed 10" locking pliers in the late 60s using "great grip" and "easy action" language in their advertisements with the same patent. Perhaps these 12" Great grips fall somewhere in the early-mid 60s??? The first photo shows them next to a Visegrip 10 WR to show scale.

I did a little more digging and found that Great Neck sold locking pliers very much like my example. The Great Grip name was in use in 1963 trademark granted in 1964. Here are pictures of some early Great Neck packaging with illustrations of tools marked like my locking pliers. Later, Great Neck continued to use the Great Grip name on their other styles of locking pliers.

I still believe there could be a connection between these early Great Grip pliers and Metal Engineering Co (Metco/Metcoid). They both used the term Lever Jaw Wrench and shared patents. Also, since the early Great Grips only referenced Great Neck on the packaging and not on the tool, it leads me to suspect they may have been in production already when Great Neck acquired the design and/or name.

 

[four.cycle]

Thanks.
Patent 2705899 was assigned to Metal Engineering Co. of Chicago and was made by both Metal Engineering and Great Neck, as well as being sold under the "Craftsman" brand.

 

[MAD]

Thanks.
Patent 2705899 was assigned to Metal Engineering Co. of Chicago and was made by both Metal Engineering and Great Neck, as well as being sold under the "Craftsman" brand.

Thanks! I had read somewhere that the patent was also on Craftsman I-circle locking pliers, but that did not make sense to me. All of the Parker ones I own and remember seeing have a different release lever style. I searched ebay and catalogs and could see that the earliest (1948 until around 1957) Craftsman locking pliers were the same as mine, and used the terms Lever Jaw and Easy Action on the tools and in the catalogs. This means they must have been supplied by Metal Engineering Co (Metco) and not Parker. These early Craftsman locking pliers also were available in the 12" big boy size, like the Great Grips I posted.

 

[Ultradog MN]

There are a few more around here but these are at least grouped in one location.
Nearly all are Vise Grip brand.

 

[bazzz]

Here is my collection of Vise Grips. Looks like I need to get some evaporust and learn D42jeep’s method for cleaning them up. I have had some over 40 years , lol.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Here is my collection of Vise Grips. Looks like I need to get some evaporust and learn D42jeep’s method for cleaning them up. I have had some over 40 years , lol.

Yours are nice.
Mine look shoddy from years of use.
They still work tho.
I don't have a single one with the horseshoe shaped jaws.
What primarily did you use them for?
I'll have to watch for a couple.

 

[bazzz]

As long as they work they are worth having around, right? The U shaped ones are great for clamping and tack welding in the middle. I have one of the “reach over” versions cut in half, welded to a small metal plate, with a threaded hole in the plate. I works great for a quick drill press clamp.

 

[four.cycle]

I don't have a single one with the horseshoe shaped jaws.
What primarily did you use them for?

^ Clamping down the soles of my Tevas or Converse Hi-Tops when I have to glue them back together. Works great! Barge's contact cement and Vise-Grips for the win!

 

[d42jeep]

I mentioned how rusty these Petersen Vise Grips were at an estate sale on Saturday and he didn’t charge for them. They came out of the evaporust today.
A slight improvement although a few pits remain.
-Don

 

[fishwatcher]

I picked up an old Vise Grip Locking Chain clamp for $10. These were made by Peterson in De Witt, Nebraska.


I cleaned it up with degreaser, Rust Stop, wire wheels and a 3M abrasive wheel.

 

[fishwatcher]

I was late to the bandwagon on learning the history of Vise-Grips, knowing which were U.S.A. made, the purchase and shift by Irwin to manufacturing in China, the rise and fall of Malco Eagle Grips, etc.

I now have three on my peg board. One from my dad’s tools, a Malco Eagle Grip, and this latest chain lock.

I also have a blue and yellow rubber clad Irwin in my daughter’s college toolbag. I assume that’s made in China as it doesn’t say USA on it.

 

[genog]

Found a rather interesting Pli-Rench by the Whale Tool Corp today....

The moving/pivoting bottom jaw looks like a darn good idea
I'll use it the first chance that I get

 

[fishwatcher]

I added a little 6” needle-nose Vise Grip, made in DeWitt, to my humble set.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these long nose Peterson Vise Grips on Saturday. I cleaned off the minimal rust yesterday but forgot to get an after picture.
Edit… A little less rust showing.
-Don

 

[firstyearchevelle]

Four pairs of pre release lever Vise Grips. Noticing the differences in these. The pair at the top is not marked anywhere but on the handle. Is there anyway to date these? Thanks.

 

[Leviton]

We haven’t had a Truecraft in here yet. From a distance it looks like a Petersen (as would be expected from Truecraft) except the release lever is round.

It is 5.3” long and marked: ‘Truecraft 705 Japan’ – ‘5’’ Grip’ – ‘Cr-Mo’.





More than you ever wanted to know...
- The 1973 Truecraft catalog has this, but the release lever is not round and the model number is K705B.
- The 1979 catalog has this model number, but the release lever is not round. The ‘79 catalog says that 705 is the New Item Number and the Old Item Number is K705B.
- In the 1987 Display Program catalog, the tool board outline shows a round release lever on the outline for the 7” version, but the plier hanging the board has the non-round release lever.
- In the 1983 and 1988 catalogs, the number is 705 and the release lever may or may not be round (illustration is not 100% clear).

 

[four.cycle]

anyway to date these?

I don't know how to date Petersen Vise Grips, but:
Take that fly sheet out of that box and look at it carefully.
Do you find a FORM NO. anywhere?

e.g., FORM NO 59-10 (which would indicate a date of 1959)

Won't tell you the age of the tool, but at least you have a reference point.