The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

Here's the little pin striper in an 1899 catalog. I would think that the age alone would add to it's 'value' however you define that word. EDIT: Now that I look at the catalog closely, the one that sold on Ebay may not have it's original swivel pin.

Do any of you gents remember the highly decorated vise that Joe got? It had much more decoration than this one and, if I remember correctly, he put it in his trophy case. I wonder what that one would sell for today.

 

[Smitty]

Speaking of Prentiss jewelers vises. Somebody had these signs made and it fit in perfectly.


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[lucasd2002]

American Red Seal #56 for sale locally. I'd love to have it, but he's asking a lot for something I'd probably never use.

KMScott, here's pictures for your Vise Document. I was looking data up on it and noticed it didn't have any.

The images from this post in 2019 appear to be lost, which I noticed because I found a No 56 American Scale Red Seal for sale in my area. Images are attached for posterity.





Link below if anyone is interested in a 6" American Scale in Georgia:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2880062095615924/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined

 

[Smitty]

I scored this at a garage sale yesterday for seventy five bucks. Does anybody know who made it?


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[1982fxr]

I scored this at a garage sale yesterday for seventy five bucks. Does anybody know who made it?


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Littlestown I think was the manufacturer and I feel confident saying that's probably the most ever paid for one of those...

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty:
I believe that one was made by Litco tools.
I have one in my collection.

Your mini Prentiss display looks fantastic.

 

[Maui]

That $870 Prentiss makes me feel even better about the one I bought. I already repaired the Wilton tilting vise in the photo and can probably sell that for more than I paid for all four vises.

 

[Charles Waugh]

An oddball vise I've never heard of for sale out here in Oregon:
https://offerup.com/item/detail/1063117066/

A TORCO made by Wilton Chicago

It looks like the smallest opening vise on earth - unless I'm missing something...

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's you several images of the Torco.---They're a light weight homeowners vise.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...AhVIaM0KHeJSAY0QjJkEegQIERAB&biw=1042&bih=558

 

[TOTO]

Recent acquisition. A Littlestown No 450 with pipe jaws. It is a "New York" casting in very good shape.

 

[11b30b4]

Lucasd2002, I saw that AS 56 but its out of my budget. Been searching for the elusive good deal on a Wilton. One dropped two weeks ago on CL that was a 6” for 100 and it looked very clean but I got to it too late.

 

[RBarnes]

JA Fors Craftsman ratchet

I see it was an early New Britain company ratchet. Was this before Sears started branding their tools with the Craftsman name?

 

[ed4banger]

I see it was an early New Britain company ratchet. Was this before Sears started branding their tools with the Craftsman name?

Its not real early, late 40s maybe. JA Fors patent covering this ratchet was filed in '46. It is stamped =CRAFTSMAN = with a circle H. I guess not a lot is known about how Sears came to sell these, they are not really common at all.

 

[Smitty]

Found a clean little Reed 202 1/2 today, it has 2 1/2” jaws and weighs in at 18 lbs. The vise has most of the original paint from 1929 and a beautiful aged patina. Picture with a Reed 102 1/2 from the same era.


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[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

Old Wilton with 3" wide jaws. Has a bit of the casting mia the fixed jaw, missing end cap as well. Otherwise smooth and an unlovely shade of green!

Bought it at an estate sale for $4

Not sure of the model number due to the green paint-a trip to the vapor hone is scheduled for Sunday.

 

[1982fxr]

Anyone know how Parker sent their machinist vises from the factory? Paint color, etc.

 

[Outlawmws]

Depends on which and when. Many were just flat black (think stove black...) one economy model series was green. I'm sure other colors happened...

 

[calum]

Posted this earlier but better showing it in the right thread here.

Picked up this Paramo #23 Hi-Duty vise for free in good working condition and decided to give it a quick refresh.
The jaws had weld spatter on them and the handle had a bend in it but overall was a solid piece of Sheffield steel in decent condition.

Here it is next to my small Record 1 Ton.

<a href="https://ibb.co/7Cy5b6y"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/B3sxwSs/DSC-8271.jpg" alt="DSC-8271" border="0"></a>

A bit of history on Paramo vises, the story goes that the F. Parramore Works casting factory in Sheffield, England was commissioned and approved by the British government to produce castings for Record vises under the brand Paramo Tools since the Record factory was bombed during WWII. F. Parramore was originally a casting foundry producing iron stove grates and heavy cast pipes for sewer systems.
The F. Parramore cast iron foundry was shut down in 1981 and eventually demolished. The tool division, Paramo Tools, went into receivership in 2003 and closed down.

So, the vise. I stripped it down into component form and soaked it in a vat of heavy duty degreaser to strip the grime and paint off it.
After a good cleaning I set about the damage marks and rough edges with a flap wheel to smooth them out.

<a href="https://ibb.co/L607vZc"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/S06CJ3M/DSC-8273.jpg" alt="DSC-8273" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/xFZNkhF"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/fDJsgMD/DSC-8274.jpg" alt="DSC-8274" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Ycg747M"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/BykVHVx/DSC-8275.jpg" alt="DSC-8275" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Tmgqjpg"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/HnHpw1H/DSC-8278.jpg" alt="DSC-8278" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/60QwhBH"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/v49q5Y3/DSC-8276.jpg" alt="DSC-8276" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/brwTQPD"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/7GMPjXL/DSC-8285.jpg" alt="DSC-8285" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/hmwFMZK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/YLwBWyt/DSC-8286.jpg" alt="DSC-8286" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Kwfybtp"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/RysHYXk/DSC-8287.jpg" alt="DSC-8287" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/WsPGzHZ"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/7bRjpSP/DSC-8288.jpg" alt="DSC-8288" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/khp9xP1"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/MRbGsJ6/DSC-8280.jpg" alt="DSC-8280" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/JrVf4Rp"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gtN5pMW/DSC-8283.jpg" alt="DSC-8283" border="0"></a>

During grinding
<a href="https://ibb.co/n6QX4SM"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/LY9TBfd/DSC-8336.jpg" alt="DSC-8336" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/FJm2fLk"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/xGXWctK/DSC-8335.jpg" alt="DSC-8335" border="0"></a>

I wire wheel brushed the rest of it to get the paint off the hard to reach areas.

Then, after masking, 2 coats of metal primer and 3 coats of Hammerite blue paint.

<a href="https://ibb.co/D9wmJbK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/c62RBvT/DSC-8345.jpg" alt="DSC-8345" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/MkNsYb3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/wh6R9Tx/DSC-8344.jpg" alt="DSC-8344" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/T489rZ9"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/D9C0LN0/DSC-8343.jpg" alt="DSC-8343" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/QJqTtDm"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/MgjtQBN/DSC-8347.jpg" alt="DSC-8347" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/2hKWCD5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/B3scQXw/DSC-8346.jpg" alt="DSC-8346" border="0"></a>

Assembled back together. Handle straightened, jaw threads re-tapped 5/16 BSW along with new screws and grease applied to lead screw, half nut and guideways.

<a href="https://ibb.co/7RZMMPM"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/X3K0010/DSC-8443.jpg" alt="DSC-8443" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/SNFbpHN"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/fMjf7ZM/DSC-8441.jpg" alt="DSC-8441" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/26KgD67"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/b3dzS3g/DSC-8442.jpg" alt="DSC-8442" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/cJrCsn4"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/hsmZTz3/DSC-8447.jpg" alt="DSC-8447" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/pzfSbx6"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Z8B0GVR/DSC-8445.jpg" alt="DSC-8445" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/dtbzKgP"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gdvBgVS/DSC-8444.jpg" alt="DSC-8444" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/BZQGc5c"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/mq20bVb/DSC-8448.jpg" alt="DSC-8448" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/bRHy6q3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/2Y8LFm6/DSC-8450.jpg" alt="DSC-8450" border="0"></a>

 

[GForceJunky]

That $870 Prentiss makes me feel even better about the one I bought. I already repaired the Wilton tilting vise in the photo and can probably sell that for more than I paid for all four vises.

Speaking of the Wilton tilting vise, what are ones in good working shape in good condition going for - realistically? Got one as part of a bundle of vises I picked up a bit back - mostly to sell to cover a different vise purchase.

 

[ncgun99]

Army,
You ****! $4?!?!?!? That’s awesome. Look forward to seeing it cleaned up.

 

[ncgun99]

Calum,
Free is great! Good for you. I really like that Hammerite paint and the blue color. It looks like the color on my Vidmar cabinets. Wish we could get that Hammerite spray paint here.
Nice job!

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Nice score on that little Reed. I have a 103 and a 103 1/2. Mine have the flat 4 hole bases.

Army:
You not only **** for getting a half decent Wilton bullet for a measly $4.00, but also for having access to a vapor blaster.

 

[dannyr]

Calum. Well made vises, those Paramo Hi-Duty ----- now that should last forever.

 

[11b30b4]

Guys I have a questions about a Wilton I am considering. It is a 1740 4"; however, the decal Wilton name plate is missing on one side which is not an issue for me. On the opposite side there is nothing, no "Made in USA or anything? I see all the stamped numbers 1740, 110029 on the stationary side, 110028 on the moving side, 101199 & WF3 on the bottom of the swivel base, and 9000530? on the spindle.

So my question is this. Is this made in America or made in China, Taiwan, etc...

I would like a wilton but I do not want something made in china. I know that on Wilton's web site they only advertise the Machinist vise and the Combo Pipe & Bench Vise as "Made in the USA". the Tradesman and Tradesman XC do not state "Made in America".

Additionally, both the Machinist vise and the Combo Pipe & Bench Vise have embossed lettering "Wilton etc..." and both the Tradesman and Tradesman XC have the decal Wilton name plate.

I can not find anything on the web site for the 1740 so I assume this model either got renamed or was discontinued. Looking at our vise spreadsheet, Tonydanzah has a Wilton 1740 and his vise has has the decal Wilton name plate on one side but on the opposite side it is embossed with "4" JAWS, MADE IN USA". this vise does not.

Here are some pics:
View media item 110562
View media item 110561
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

Smitty:
Nice score on that little Reed. I have a 103 and a 103 1/2. Mine have the flat 4 hole bases.

Army:
You not only **** for getting a half decent Wilton bullet for a measly $4.00, but also for having access to a vapor blaster.

Thanks !

I have another old vise I bought at a sale - an old Rock Island 574. Here is a of it mounted to the bench (had to take the bench as part of the sale) and "before & after" photos from using the vapor hone.

 

[Shiftless]

11v30b4:
I am certainly not the ultimate authority on Wiltons but I have been around vises for a while and have 10 of them in my collection. I can assure you that the 1740s were made in the USA prior to Wilton moving production of those vises to China.
I believe the smallest Chinese 17xx vise the is now the 1745.

Whas there ever, even for a brief time, that the 1740 was made in China? IDK

If anybody has evidence to the contrary, please add your opinions.

Go ahead and buy that 1740 if the price is right. You can get new adhesive labels from Wilton..at least you could a couple of years ago when I needed one.

Mine did have the info on the non label side that you were asking about. This is Rustoleum Sunrise Red. I sold it a few years ago. I bought it to flip.

 

[11b30b4]

Shiftless, thank you for the information. Its not a steal but where I am finding the Wiltons is very difficult. I am relegated to market prices and shipping is PITA. At this point anything in 300-400 range without cracks or welds is looking like my only options until something local pops up. Getting a Wilton now will not prevent me from getting another later.

Last weekend I saw a beat up but in good condition 835 at a flea market and they wanted 750 for it.

Anyway, I will make a decision on the 1750 later today.
Thanks again.

 

[Fred Knox]

Would anyone be able to shed some light on one of my small vises? It is an old blacksmith-style clamp-on bench vise with a tiny anvil. It has spring-activated 2 3/8” jaws with an enclosed screw cap (see photo). It is unmarked and works perfectly. I love it. I just do not know much about it. Any thoughts/guidance about this segment of the vise universe would be appreciated.

 

[zoomieport]

I will go with what AUTOPTS told me years ago...

If is has a badge and is not cast with MADE IN THE USA, , then it was made abroad, If it's cast MADE IN THE USA, then it was made here...

I believe him.

ZOOM

11v30b4:
I am certainly not the ultimate authority on Wiltons but I have been around vises for a while and have 10 of them in my collection. I can assure you that the 1740s were made in the USA prior to Wilton moving production of those vises to China.
I believe the smallest Chinese 17xx vise the is now the 1745.

Whas there ever, even for a brief time, that the 1740 was made in China? IDK

If anybody has evidence to the contrary, please add your opinions.

Go ahead and buy that 1740 if the price is right. You can get new adhesive labels from Wilton..at least you could a couple of years ago when I needed one.

Mine did have the info on the non label side that you were asking about. This is Rustoleum Sunrise Red. I sold it a few years ago. I bought it to flip.

 

[Shiftless]

I defer of course to Autopts.
I almost referred to him when I said I was not the ultimate authority.
I thought there were laws requiring products to be labeled with their country of origin. I suppose a flimsy sticker would suffice.

Iirc, manufacture of the Tradesmen moved overseas only in the past few years. That’s what I was told over the phone by a guy at Wilton that I spoke with about 2 years ago regarding that exact question.

 

[dannyr]

From one who is a complete ignoramus on Wilton -- it's a shame they didn't go back to their origins, talk with the York company in Czech and get a good price for their overseas supplies - York still make good vises at good prices (maybe not as low as China).


oh yes, and as the owner of a 'toddler if not baby' York bullet of about 1980, what is the Wilton bullet equivalent of my York swivel 'bullet' 60 (ie approx 2 3/8in wide jaw)?

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Shift...I’ve seen pics of your small Reeds, they’re great vises.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I will go with what AUTOPTS told me years ago...

If is has a badge and is not cast with MADE IN THE USA, , then it was made abroad, If it's cast MADE IN THE USA, then it was made here...

I believe him.

ZOOM

First off, I'm a big AUTOPTS fan, as I personally blame him for inflicting me with my vise disease. However, I believe that was AUTOPTS opinion before he received some new information from an actual Wilton employee and GJ member, RobRace10.

Both of the following posts are from the "Wilton Vise History" thread. The photos of the -3- different Wilton Tradesman labels all show Illinois cities: Schiller Park, Des Plaines and Elgin.

 

[GForceJunky]

There are plenty of tools and other types of equipment that are verifiably made in the US that are not marked with 'Made in the USA' anywhere but the packing they came in, or on some sticker. For example, a lot of newer Starrett tools only say 'Made in the USA' on the box and not on the tool anywhere. Or, if you've watched the recent HJE 'state of the industry' youtube video, they have 20k+ brand new Crescent US-made wrenches and most do not say 'USA' anywhere but on the label/box despite being 100% US-made. Personally, it irks me greatly when the COO is not labeled, especially when it's somewhere like the US, Canada, Japan, etc., but I've seen plenty of US-made things without it to know anyone saying that it HAS to have it or it's not made in the US is either ignorant or lying - expert or not.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Would anyone be able to shed some light on one of my small vises? It is an old blacksmith-style clamp-on bench vise with a tiny anvil. It has spring-activated 2 3/8” jaws with an enclosed screw cap (see photo). It is unmarked and works perfectly. I love it. I just do not know much about it. Any thoughts/guidance about this segment of the vise universe would be appreciated.

That style is still on my "vise bucket list". I don't know a whole lot about these hand forged blacksmith clamp-on vises, but I'll give you what I have in my notes.

(1865) is the earliest catalog I found, with (1914) being the latest of many. They almost all list those vises as being German or Imported. There was a company called Stubs that sold many of this style and also a hand vise. They were also imported from Germany.

Those vises seem to be very appreciated by their owners.

 

[wrenchguy]

Would anyone be able to shed some light on one of my small vises? It is an old blacksmith-style clamp-on bench vise with a tiny anvil. It has spring-activated 2 3/8” jaws with an enclosed screw cap (see photo). It is unmarked and works perfectly. I love it. I just do not know much about it. Any thoughts/guidance about this segment of the vise universe would be appreciated.

I know them as wagon tongue vises. Ideas flying around are they were issued with wagons during the civil war, but i take they were farmer/teamster vises stowed in wagon and clamped to wooden tongue when needed. I seen bigger ones than that but all seem light duty.

 

[va.grouseman]

Speaking of the Wilton tilting vise, what are ones in good working shape in good condition going for - realistically? Got one as part of a bundle of vises I picked up a bit back - mostly to sell to cover a different vise purchase.

Here's you eBays price range on those tilters.


https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=wilton+tilt+vise&_sacat=0

 

[11b30b4]

Zoomieport, thanks for the additional information. I also feel that AUTOPTS is on target and when we are talking about “true” vintage vises, its rare when a made in the USA vise is not stamped as such. The real problem comes when (as is my case) we are looking at a company that in recent times (the last 10-20 years) splits its manufacturing with some products made in the USA and others made elsewhere.

We can all understand from a business perspective why a company may do this and either by design or inadvertently decide to drop labeling some of their products that are made elsewhere. Obviously, most of us here would not choose to buy a made in china vise when the same vase was made in the USA prior to some business decision.

So we come to my current dilemma and how to know what I am getting.

Fierljeppen, that information was the last bit of information I needed to make the decision. I purchased the vise and should have in the next week. I will tear it down and see what I am dealing with.

I understand Wilton’s perspective on having an easy way to rebrand the vises for Snap-on, Jet, etc… but it still does not give me (the consumer) a warm and fuzzy to not have the Made in the USA embossed on the vise. Honestly, I can see leaving one side blank for the brand decal but leave the Made in the USA on the other side of the casting.

I assume some sort of contractual agreement with these other companies required Wilton to remove the Made in the USA from the casting. If in fact once I get this vise and later learn it is not made in the US, I will still keep it and use it until it fails and then chalk this one up to a lesson learned. I am hopeful this will not be the case.

Now I need to go find that old rusty parker looking for a new home.

Thanks everyone for adding to the information flow, I appreciate all the perspectives and information. Once again GJ rocks and gets me moving in new directions.

 

[PierceA]

A wagon tongue vise is much larger than the one posted and inquired about. A wagon tongue is roughly 4"x 6". The small vise posted is hand sized. Sort of like a jewelers vise build on the pattern of a post vise without the post to the ground.

The wagon tongue vises I've seen and played with had 4" or larger jaws. They could clamp to a 4x4 or a 4x6 easily.

The vise photo and brochures show a vise that might be able to clamp onto the edge of a wooden work bench. It looks like the maximum thickness of the bench would be 1.5"-2".


PierceA

 

[PierceA]

deleted