History of Dunlap vises

pipsters · Jun 12, 2011

I bought a 3.5" Dunlap vise off ebay. Seller stated "made in USA". Can't find that on there anywhere, although I have seen some Dunlap vises on ebay listings with that impressed on the vise body itself. Wondering if Dunlap ever imported vises, and that is why it is missing from the vise I got.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=330570737215&si=NGetIiKcAlfQ7UaOzp2WjHAm%252F20%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

$(KGrHqR,!k4E3G4-k4y5BN4w36o7ng~~_12.JPG

Thanks!

Catalyze · Jun 12, 2011

I have seen some logos on vises that are unusual. I have an old 30's Columbian Red Arrow vise. It is a model 31 swivel base. No where on the vise does it say that it is made by Columbian but I have an original hardware supply catalog that lists it for sale back in 1938 as a Columbian vise. Later Columbian sold the Red Arrow model as a Model 63 (I think...) and it has Columbian lettered on the side that is blank on my older one. Same vise...2 different time periods....maker on one and not on the other. Go figure.
Craig

View media item 9393

tonydanzah · Jun 12, 2011

looks very similar to a littletown

DaytonFan · Jun 12, 2011

I have an old cman that looks identical! Wow!

Packard V8 · Jun 12, 2011

Wasn't Dunlap the economy brand for Sears? Usually a notch below Craftsman in price and quality?

jack vines

lauver · Jun 12, 2011

Packard V8 said:
Wasn't Dunlap the economy brand for Sears? Usually a notch below Craftsman in price and quality?

jack vines

Jack,

Yes, Dunlap was Sears economy line. MDF was the OEM for Dunlap wrenches, but I don't think they ever made vises. It's a safe bet that it was made in the U.S., given the time period of the Dunlap brand.

Charles (in GA) · Jun 12, 2011

Packard V8 said:
Wasn't Dunlap the economy brand for Sears? Usually a notch below Craftsman in price and quality?

jack vines

Ding, Ding, Ding !!!

Jack wins the prize. 1950's and early '60's, the name was the cheap line, like the later Companion products. Yes, it would be USA made.

Charles

pipsters · Jun 12, 2011

OK great thanks guys, wonder why no "Made in USA" like some have? Not a big deal just nice to see that when I look.

Kirbot · Jun 12, 2011

Charles (in GA) said:
Ding, Ding, Ding !!!

Jack wins the prize. 1950's and early '60's, the name was the cheap line, like the later Companion products. Yes, it would be USA made.

Charles

Companion was also used in the 30s for power tools/stationary machines before Dunlap replaced the name.
I don't think any hand tools were badged Companion at the time though. Not until they brought the name back in the 90s, or whenever they used it...

kc-steve · Jun 12, 2011

Yup, in the early years of Sears they tried a 3-tier marketing system, good, better and best. The Craftsman line was their best line of tools.

Other brands were Fulton, Companion, and Sears' own besides Dunlap. Eventually Evolve moved into the lower category to replace Companion I believe, not that Companion is gone though.

Steve

autopts · Jun 12, 2011

kc-steve said:
Yup, in the early years of Sears they tried a 3-tier marketing system, good, better and best. The Craftsman line was their best line of tools.

Other brands were Fulton, Companion, and Sears' own besides Dunlap. Eventually Evolve moved into the lower category to replace Companion I believe, not that Companion is gone though.

Steve

That!! I believe makes it official. Thats what makes GJ so special..Steve, as usual, You da Man!!

kc-steve · Jun 12, 2011

Awe shucks, Autopts. It wasn't nuttin'. I just like reading the old catalogs. Besides you're pretty smart yourself. Hell, when we ALL put our heads together we know just about EVERYTHING there is to know. :beer:

Pipsters, you might try reading the "Vises of GJ" thread and see if you can spot a similar vise so you can figure out who made it for Dunlap.

Steve

pipsters · Jun 12, 2011

Thanks steve, will do.

wxm · Jun 13, 2011

The Dunlap might have turned to the economic line from Sears, the early vises showed pretty decent quality.

I have one mounted on my work bench:

As I like it very much, I got another one in my collection:

kc-steve · Jun 13, 2011

Autopts could back me up here, but that vise above looks a lot like an old Columbian. I also have a "Craftsman" vise that is very similar to it with that horn next to the anvil. But the open screw is what the OP has. It could still be Columbian though.

You can also check the patent number or model number if there is one. Sears used a "506" as the first three digits to indicate the source code for Columbian vises. I have a newer Craftsman vise just like it sitting next to my foot that has the "391" model# in the casting but I think that is for Warren Tool that bought the Columbian company after 1972. Now days Wilton makes that vise and is called the "400 Series" I think.

Steve

KKMoore · Aug 19, 2011

I was looking up info on a vise that we posted on Craislist yesterday. Like when it was made. I gather from readin past posts that it was probably made around the 50's - 60's. It is a Dunlap 5422. Anyone know anything else about it? Thanks.

KKMoore · Aug 19, 2011

Oops... it's a 5244, not 5422..

jkf1983 · Aug 31, 2012

I just found the same one on craigslist... 30 bucks seems like a good deal.

WWIIjeep · Aug 31, 2012

Here's some history of the three main Sears tool brands--Craftsman, Dunlap, Companion--and also how the Dunlap brand got its name:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222

And here's one of my 2 Dunlap vises:

Outlawmws · Aug 31, 2012

I've posted a PDF of this elsewhere, but here are the logo and brand name timelines as best as I have been able to support it with catalog entries and in one case with something physical.

Sears trademarked the Craftsman name in 27, but the earliest catalog support of the brand name is 1931. (bold years have a catalog to support the data)

Thread with the PDF, and additional data for hand tool markings: (Mostly up to date)

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145578

Outlawmws · Aug 31, 2012

Also there is the Sears " Craftsman/Sears, Vise ID by Catalog" thread...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149519

Glenn M. · Dec 29, 2017

Just got a Dunlap 5196 vise, 3" jaw width, 4 1/2" opening, 2 1/2" throat attached to a 2' x 8' workbench - off the side of the road where the owner had placed it with the trash.
No end to what people won't throw away. :wtf:

I actually went to the door and made sure the owner didn't want it anymore; said he didn't. My neighbor brought his truck and we hauled it to my place. I love the whole bench, 3/4" plywood top and shelf, no warps anywhere, 4" x 4" legs, just a little dirty and all kinds of paint on it.
Not sure I want to paint it one color, it looks good just like it is.

Joe Bendix · Jul 30, 2021

The 391 prefix, (391-****) on Craftsman vises, means "Made in Japan" . If they have "BF" on the bottom of the swivel, It means that they were made by a company called "Daido". They were very durable high quality vises. I suspect that they were affiliated with Columbian Clevelend, because the castings for the Craftsman "391" vises are identical to the "506" vises, I own a 391 with 3.5" jaws. (506-*****) on Craftsman vises, denotes made by Columbian. I have seen Columbian vises, Identical to their "USA Cleveland" vises, with no place of manufacture on them. They were probably made by Daido in Japan using columbian molds. Daido Industries is still in existence and they have a website. They no longer make vises. They make high-tech, high quality, industrial manufacturing equipment for assembly lines. -Joe

Prospecter · Jul 30, 2021

wxm said:
The Dunlap might have turned to the economic line from Sears, the early vises showed pretty decent quality.

I have one mounted on my work bench:

As I like it very much, I got another one in my collection:

I have a twin to these. Inherited from my grandfather. He worked for various utility companies over the years as an engineer, and went to Greece in the mid-40s to support reconstruction. Probably bought the vice when he returned stateside c. 1949. Have it on my bench and it is also my go to vice. Have both bigger and smaller, but I like this one.