Wilton Bullet Vise Paint Colors and Timelines

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

If this has already been documented please forgive me and point me in that direction.

My goal is to try and establish a somewhat definitive timeline and the colors that were used on Wilton bullet vises.

I'll start with what I think I know.

As I understand it, the very earliest bullets were painted a light grey. This is the closest I've found to it. I used a Valspar color that I'll have to get the name of later. This color may be darker than the original.

Somewhere close to 1950 I believe they went to a "hospital green". The closest match I'm aware of is Rustoleum Sage Green. I've borrowed these pics from autopts.

Somewhere in the 70s or 80s they went to the color that is currently used. The closest match that I'm aware of is Rustoleum Hammered Verde Green. Again, this is a pic from autopts.

Was there another color between Sage Green and Verde Green?

PLEASE add any info you have, including timeline, color and examples.

G-ManBart · Feb 22, 2017

There are already two threads with quite a bit of info on the various paints used.

The earliest vises were more of a light blue than a gray and there was never a sage green...it was very much more of a blue green than sage green.

It really would be better to keep all the information in the same thread than spread it out into a third thread...just makes it easier to keep track of, and find later.

Info on the history, including colors:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86615

Info on just the paint:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153114

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

I'm going to read through the first link now, but I've seen the second one. There's really very little info in that 5 year old thread and is conflicting. For example, autopts says that Sage Green is the closest match. Can you clarify your position and post an example of what was used at that time.

Thanks. I'm here to learn.

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

I read through the whole thread. There are very few posts about color originality. I would really like to compile this information in a single location. Here are a couple posts that did shed some light on the topic.

This is color I'm calling Sage Green.

bgott said:
This is the original green. It looks like a hospital or avacado green. The slide is stamped 5-50, just to give you a time frame.

Here are a couple of examples of the light grey.

gtrotter said:
Just picked this up off craigslist today, first Wilton purchase. It's a Wilton 9400 WE. No cracks, swivel base works, dual locking deals for the base. Has a date stamp of 6/51, so that would put it actually being in 1946? Just gotta new jaws and repaint.

spongerich said:
Here's a few pics of my #4. Date on the slide is 1-46 which I suppose makes it one of the earliest ones.

1. Are there more than the three colors already shown that Wilton used?

2. When did they switch from grey to light green?

3. When did they switch from light green to the current color?

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

Here's another example of "mint green".

balane said:
Here's an old 5" like yours in original color. They can be nice with some work.

balane said:
It looked like yours when I got it. Here is the color;

http://www.lowes.com/pd_351816-4-410.0085084.076_0__?productId=3729109

It's the closest I've found to the old Chicago mint green paint.

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

I'm thinking the Valspar might be a close match. Thoughts?

Original

Valspar Leaf Rise

Rustoleum Sage Green

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

Here's another example of the Valspar in sunlight.

KMScott · Feb 22, 2017

Look at this color too. Krylon Italian Olive ( Satin) It is hard to get photos showing the same color in different lights. I like using the Rustoleum Hammered paint. No idea on the history of Wilton color selection but you are on the right track. Thanks for taking time for this. I will be watching.

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

It is amazing the difference lighting has on a color! This is the same vise in different lighting. This is Verde Green.

blsnelling · Feb 22, 2017

ducksface said:
My
Sage green
wilton
Is closer to
Krylon celery green
Than sage green

Another interesting color.

Rory Bellows · Feb 22, 2017

I had a cadet that was red orange original color. No pics sold it a few years back.

G-ManBart · Feb 23, 2017

blsnelling said:
Here's another example of "mint green".

That vise has been repainted and a new label added or they very carefully worked around it. Yes copies of the labels exist and I have copies of all of them.

The anvil has been machined smooth...the straight lines give it away. The pins have been out and the dust cover has obviously come out and been stripped....etc, etc. That isn't an original vise.

Why can't we keep this in the existing thread on the topic so people don't have to look in two or thee places and try to figure out what's what?

The color you call gray is quite blue. The color you're calling sage green isn't anywhere near that color you're posting.

I've posted pics of those colors, with vises that are definitely original paint, and it really gets old posting them over and over in different threads.

blsnelling · Feb 23, 2017

G-ManBart said:
That vise has been repainted and a new label added or they very carefully worked around it. Yes copies of the labels exist and I have copies of all of them.

The anvil has been machined smooth...the straight lines give it away. The pins have been out and the dust cover has obviously come out and been stripped....etc, etc. That isn't an original vise.

I didn't post that as an original vise. That's why I included a link with the source of the color.

G-ManBart said:
Why can't we keep this in the existing thread on the topic so people don't have to look in two or thee places and try to figure out what's what?

That's why I'm doing this. The thread that you posted in last night and linked here was 5 years old with little definitive information. I created this thread before you shared your stuff last night. I appreciate yours and anyone else's help as I try to put this together.

If a mod would like to combine these threads that would fine with me. Now that specific info is being shared in the other thread, it is spreading the info out. That wasn't my intent.

G-ManBart said:
The color you call gray is quite blue. The color you're calling sage green isn't anywhere near that color you're posting

Thanks for the clarification. I now know that your not suggesting there's an additional color.

G-ManBart said:
I've posted pics of those colors, with vises that are definitely original paint, and it really gets old posting them over and over in different threads.

Again, that's why I'm doing this. I appreciate your help.

blsnelling · Feb 23, 2017

Does anyone have any idea on the answer to these questions? I have a pair of 4" 1967 bullets that I don't know what color to paint.

1. When did they switch from grey to light green?

2. When did they switch from light green to the current color?

Brian R. · Jul 30, 2017

Here's my newly acquired HD 4". We've done some digging and for the most part I and others have concluded it's a late War vise...
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6637895&postcount=693
No date stamp on the key though. Lot's of the original blue-gray 40's paint left. I also have a 1946 #4 that has a 3-46 date stamp on the key. It has patches of the exact same original paint as this HD vise. We'll call it Wilton Twilight? Vogl Slate? Chigago Storm? Haha.

mgmlvks · Aug 7, 2017

I'm new to the vise game so bear with me if I miss something! I have a "No Date" No 4 Vise. It is interesting in its own right - but the color is on my mind as I get ready to put back together.

Lots of pictures here on my Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/46064258@N08/albums/72157684394529983

Vise as found

I want to make the case that this vise was painted BLUE whn it left the factory in 1941.

There is a Robins Egg Blue paint under most parts of the vise. There is the ooky-green and then a red on top of that too.

Consider- and look at pics:
1. Green and red paint on sides of inserts - no blue
2. Green and red inside swivel locks - no blue
3. Green and red on end cap, and blue underneath
4. Blue under green and red on all major pieces

So - I have searched GJ and found a/very few references to blue paint on the early vises. Anyone have an opinion on this?

End Cap

End Housing:

Swivel Lock Nut

Jaw Insert

Vise Body (contradictory in part)

G-ManBart · Aug 8, 2017

mgmlvks said:
I'm new to the vise game so bear with me if I miss something! I have a "No Date" No 4 Vise. It is interesting in its own right - but the color is on my mind as I get ready to put back together.

Lots of pictures here on my Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/46064258@N08/albums/72157684394529983

Vise as found

I want to make the case that this vise was painted BLUE whn it left the factory in 1941.

There is a Robins Egg Blue paint under most parts of the vise. There is the ooky-green and then a red on top of that too.

Consider- and look at pics:
1. Green and red paint on sides of inserts - no blue
2. Green and red inside swivel locks - no blue
3. Green and red on end cap, and blue underneath
4. Blue under green and red on all major pieces

So - I have searched GJ and found a/very few references to blue paint on the early vises. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Keep in mind that the jaws, jaw supports, swivel locks, and spindle wouldn't have been painted from the factory. I've seen a few older vises that had painted jaw supports, but it wasn't clear whether that was factory or not.

It seems (and I'm not saying this as a certainty) that Wilton was machining the ends of the jaws and jaw supports at the same time, with the jaws mounted on the vise. I think they were doing that after the vise was painted because the back edge of the jaws usually shows paint on them. I can't imagine they would have taken the time to mask off those areas prior to painting....takes too much time.

That's a long way of saying, I think the body of the vise with the light powdery blue underneath is likely the original color, which matches up with some prior evidence we've seen.

mgmlvks · Aug 10, 2017

G-ManBart said:
That's a long way of saying, I think the body of the vise with the light powdery blue underneath is likely the original color, which matches up with some prior evidence we've seen.

Went with Rustoleum Painters Touch Satin Oasis Blue. Painted the sides of the jaws in the spirit of the original, but am not planning on polishing. New Jaw inserts and horseshoe washer and swivel lock bars coming.

mgmlvks · Aug 10, 2017

Well - CR*P - was sorting out pics and found this one I had overlooked - shows blue paint on the swivel lock. Oh Well - still keeping it blue!

jeffmoss26 · Aug 11, 2017

I have a small bullet vise in orange. It looks like it could be original but I am not sure.

meatsis · Aug 11, 2017

jeffmoss26 said:
I have a small bullet vise in orange. It looks like it could be original but I am not sure.

A bullet? Or a cadet?

thundermug · Aug 12, 2017

Is this Balane's vise? I'm pretty sure I made that decal. Unless someone else is making them now. Looks good!

jeffmoss26 · Aug 12, 2017

meatsis said:
A bullet? Or a cadet?

I think it's a cadet.

UrsusMaritimus · Jan 22, 2018

Just picked up a Wilton vice from a local guy on a buy and sell group. $30CDN... about $24USD. Interested to clean it up and see what sort of details I can find on it. My impression is that I got it at a steal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

UrsusMaritimus · Jan 22, 2018

UrsusMaritimus said:
Just picked up a Wilton vice from a local guy on a buy and sell group. $30CDN... about $24USD. Interested to clean it up and see what sort of details I can find on it. My impression is that I got it at a steal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Turns out it’s a Wilton 9450, and the date stamp on the bottom says 10/53. So, does that mean it dates to 1953 or 1948?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

exmaxima1 · Jan 22, 2018

UrsusMaritimus said:
Turns out it’s a Wilton 9450, and the date stamp on the bottom says 10/53. So, does that mean it dates to 1953 or 1948?

If it is also stamped "GUAR EXP" then it is a 1948. Otherwise it is 1953.

And you **** for getting that vise so cheap.

UrsusMaritimus · Jan 22, 2018

exmaxima1 said:
If it is also stamped "GUAR EXP" then it is a 1948. Otherwise it is 1953.

And you **** for getting that vise so cheap.

Thanks, I didn’t see that on there, so I guess 1953 it is.

I figured it was pretty hard to beat that deal. The guy was probably 40ish and told me it was his grandfather’s vise.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

G-ManBart · Jan 23, 2018

UrsusMaritimus said:
Thanks, I didn’t see that on there, so I guess 1953 it is.

I figured it was pretty hard to beat that deal. The guy was probably 40ish and told me it was his grandfather’s vise.

It was still a decent deal, but it appears part of the jaw support on the static has broken off. That reduces the value a drastic amount.

Still, that early style swivel base alone is worth $75-100 so you did well.

UrsusMaritimus · Jan 23, 2018

G-ManBart said:
It was still a decent deal, but it appears part of the jaw support on the static has broken off. That reduces the value a drastic amount.

Still, that early style swivel base alone is worth $75-100 so you did well.

I’m happy with the purchase, took it home and started to clean it up. You can see the damage to the jaw in the photo here. That said, I’m planning to paint it up and use it in my shop, so value isn’t a huge issue for me.

In the end it’ll be a good vise to use, and an interesting conversation piece.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

G-ManBart · Jan 23, 2018

UrsusMaritimus said:
I’m happy with the purchase, took it home and started to clean it up. You can see the damage to the jaw in the photo here. That said, I’m planning to paint it up and use it in my shop, so value isn’t a huge issue for me.

In the end it’ll be a good vise to use, and an interesting conversation piece.

No doubt about that. The damage is actually a lot less severe that many you see and really won't cause any problems. I would have grabbed it at that price and been happy as heck about it!

I actually bought half of a 9450 recently (static was completely ruined) and paid $75 for it and was happy...it'll help save a couple of other basket cases I have :thumbup:

UrsusMaritimus · Jan 29, 2018

Well, I got the old vise cleaned up and put a coat of paint on it. I looked high and low for Rustoleum Verde Green, but couldn’t find any, it doesn’t seem to be listed on the Rustoleum Canada website either. Either way, since I’m looking for a nice vise to use, not a museum piece, I went with Rustoleum Hammered Rosemary. Overall I am happy with the way it turned out, and it works great!

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thin_concrete · Nov 11, 2018

Hi all - found this thread through Google. I’m restoring several vises at the moment and am stuck with the Littlestown 400 I’m nearing completion of. Is there a thread on GF that can approximate current Rustoleum/Valspar/etc. colors that were used on old vises? I really don’t want a garage full of black vises if I can at all help it.

I’m guessing there is such a thread, given the extensive knowledge base here, but I’m just not coming up with the right search terms. Thanks in advance!

TC

Shootingbeaver · Dec 19, 2018

Hello, I’m a new Wilton Cadet owner. I would like to restore it to the original color but am unsure what color that would be. Did they make some orange cadets? I see someone else mentioned an orange cadet but tben it dropped off. Mine is dated 6-30-61. Paid $80 at an antique store and it’s not banged up just rusty.

Ryan_340 · Dec 19, 2018

Shootingbeaver said:
Hello, I’m a new Wilton Cadet owner. I would like to restore it to the original color but am unsure what color that would be. Did they make some orange cadets? I see someone else mentioned an orange cadet but tben it dropped off. Mine is dated 6-30-61. Paid $80 at an antique store and it’s not banged up just rusty.

Here is my original paint Cadet dated 12-31-59 for color reference

Sapoverde70 · Dec 31, 2018

I just picked up a Wilton Cadet 6-30-57 date for $10 and it is orange in color. Wanted to know if that is the original color for that year?

KMScott · Dec 31, 2018

Sapoverde70 said:
I just picked up a Wilton Cadet 6-30-57 date for $10 and it is orange in color. Wanted to know if that is the original color for that year?

Brilliant Orange Enamel is what the catalog page says in my 63 catalog. $10 bucks is a u-**** price.

Sapoverde70 · Dec 31, 2018

I went to buy a grinder from offer up and the lady said add another $10 and take the vise. She said when she bought the house the vise was there

swampyman · Jan 12, 2019

hi i think my color choices beat the original colors anyway , but i found traces of battleship gray on my 6/45 dated no.4 which is either the first or second version of this 4 inch model

wam · Feb 7, 2019

Greetings, I checked with Wilton about my 3-1/2" combination bullet vise pertaining to the color and this is what they replied. Regards: Bill

[Verde Green Hammer tone]
(order from home depot or Lowes)

wam · Feb 7, 2019

[Verde Green Hammer tone]
(order from home depot or Lowes)
These colors were given to me by Wilton for my 3-1/2" combination swivel bullet vise.
I bought it approximately 32 years ago new. It is probly older than that due to the fact of its cost and smaller size.

Wilton Bullet Vise Paint Colors and Timelines

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