100 years of YORK (York History)

Honza-Vošalík wrote up a great thread (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417896) a couple years ago on the history of York. This thread will be a little bit redundant to his thread, but covers a little bit more history. I’m not taking credit as the author of the following write-up, I simply am sharing information I was given directly from email exchanges with YORK spol. s r.o. [LTD] including a digital supplement containing details on York’s history. I have merged together bullet points from both and re-formatted, re-typed, and paraphrased some details from the email exchanges and supplement for the sake of more grammatically correct English as well as to organize into a more chronological order to follow.

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856851502/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Logo"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856851502_6a898bde27_t.jpg" width="100" height="23" alt="York Logo"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
[Logo from York Website]

100 years of YORK

The firm from the Czech Republic manufacturing YORK brand tools has a tradition going back many years. It was founded in 1921 by Jan Dohnal.

•The first products in 1921 included woodworking clamps (joinery clamps), steel plumb lines and frame saws, which constituted the main production programme up to 1925.
•1925 saw the production of the first DOKO brand plate vices “the very first types were named DOKO after the name of the company DOHNAL - Metal Production”, and in 1930 hand drills and cutting pliers were first made.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856877572/in/dateposted-public/" title="DOKO Plate Vise Patent"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856877572_573fd52cae.jpg" width="305" height="500" alt="DOKO Plate Vise Patent"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
-Doko Plate Vise Patent Drawing courtesy of Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856785716/in/dateposted-public/" title="DOKO Plate Vise"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856785716_d26e2c6041.jpg" width="500" height="421" alt="DOKO Plate Vise"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
-Doko Plate Vise Photo courtesy of Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD]

•In 1933 production of “Lightning” wrenches began. But it enjoyed its greatest success with the production of DOKO plate vices, which became the main production line, and the other products became secondary lines or their production was terminated.
•In 1933 production was expanded to include car shock absorbers (friction and oil ones), circular saw spindles and car jacks.
•In 1934 production of YORK spanners and chuck keys began.
•In 1933-34 production of DOKO plate vices came to an end, and the production of the YORK vices that we know today started and in 1934 became the core product of the company (YORK patent application submitted in 1934). The principle of the vice and its functionality was patented under patent number PDG-P-1348-37, DR Pat. No.155.454 and in 1939 it was registered globally.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856889347/in/dateposted-public/" title="YORK Patent Drawing"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856889347_0fe2152762_o.jpg" width="400" height="185" alt="YORK Patent Drawing"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- YORK Patent drawing from datamp.org
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856077118/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Patent Drawing"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856077118_fff86b9854_w.jpg" width="400" height="273" alt="York Patent Drawing"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Patent Drawing courtesy of Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856079283/in/dateposted-public/" title="YORK Patent Drawing"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856079283_4daf5508d9_w.jpg" width="389" height="400" alt="YORK Patent Drawing"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Patent Drawing courtesy of Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856818921/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Catalogs"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856818921_b57f2ec0bc_w.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="York Catalogs"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Catalog Photo received from both Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD] & Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856912617/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Catalogs"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856912617_2babc33cd6.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="York Catalogs"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Catalog Photo received from both Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD] & Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856912092/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856912092_e2e511d625.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Early DOKO bullet vise photo courtesy of Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856912582/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856912582_fea98c7ca3.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Early DOKO bullet vise photo courtesy of Jan Votava
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856818656/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856818656_1c5fb7c4eb.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Early YORK bullet vise photo courtesy of Honza Vošalík
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856911977/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856911977_748b2b9469.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Early YORK bullet vise photo courtesy of Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD]

•From 1939 the firm manufactured only joinery clamps, YORK vices and chuck keys. In 1939 the production really started to take off because YORK vices started to be made for other countries around the world, and the main consumer was Germany.
•In 1940 there were 220 employees.
•In 1942 “Boley” vices started to be manufactured, as well as compressed air nozzles. In 1945 the firm had the maximum number of employees – 230 (180 men and 50 women).
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856097198/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856097198_d964db62f0.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- YORK bullet vise photo courtesy of Stuart Schossow

•After the war in 1945 the factory was taken away from Mr. Dohnal because he worked in the NSDAP - German fascist party, he was imprisoned for about 2 years and then sent to Germany in 1947. After the war, no one protested how the factory was taken from Mr. Dohan.
•After 1945 the firm was nationalised.
•After 1948, when the communist party came to power in the country following the elections and Czechoslovakia became a country of the Eastern Bloc (nationalisation of production), production of “Boley” vices came to an end, production of chuck keys was transferred to the firm Somet in Liberec, and production of joinery clamps move to the firm Pilana Hulín.
•By 1952 the firm manufactured only YORK vices, electrician’s punch pliers and sealing pliers.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856912637/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856912637_49fdda6053.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- YORK bullet vise photo by Zach Filly Filipek

•From the aspect of history, the firm always came under various production companies in the years 1948 to 1991.
- In 1949 it came under the plant Zbirovia Zbiroh,
- in 1953 under Tona Pečky,
- in 1954 it came under the Caloria Příbram n.p.[nationalised company],
- in 1964 it was incorporated in Moravia Mariánské Údolí n.p. and the name was changed to MORAVIA Dobříš.
- In 1975 the plant was split off and incorporated into KOVOSVIT Sezimovo Ústí n.p.
- In 1990 the firm was privatised, and since May of that year it has been a private firm. It is currently called YORK spol. s r.o.[Ltd]

•Some significant dates in the firm’s production history include:
-1954, when it started to manufacture Pioneer pipe vices.
-in 1970 production for carpenters began to expand – door clamps, workbench spindles and panel clamps.
-Before 1980–1989 there had been a great drop in production, and up to the year after the firm was taken into private hands it made only vices in 5 sizes: 63 mm–150 mm. In 1987 a project was actually prepared as part of Comecon to transfer production to Vietnam, although this never happened.

The production history of YORK vices has undergone many changes.
-In 1956 the models were changed, and they were made with an appearance slightly different from the original vice.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856819041/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856819041_9b2055bf7e.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- YORK bullet vise photo courtesy of Nick Wise

-In 1972 a new model called A was manufactured (also very similar to the patent from 1934).
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856818956/in/dateposted-public/" title="York Vises"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856818956_81a91c1a69.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York Vises"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- YORK bullet vise photo courtesy of Cana Rochbell

-1987-1988 saw the last change in the shape of the vice, when the type L started production. This type is manufactured to this day and was designed by the well-known Czech designer Vaclav Kral.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856130658/in/dateposted-public/" title="York L"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856130658_78c2f1f5b0.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="York L"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Image sourced from www.york.cz
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856821801/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856821801_be18e3bd3c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Catalog image courtesy of Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD]

-After 1991 the firm YORK started to expand production and return to the manufacture of Pioneer pipe vices and tools for carpenters, workbench spindles, door clamps, joinery clamps.
[<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856100073/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856100073_860ff0952c.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
- Image sourced from www.york.cz

-In the 1990s the firm expanded production to include other products, in particular in the field of tools, these being MBV machine vices, HVR and HVRQ wood vices, various bending tools – sheet metal and tube benders, lever shears, pneumatic and hydraulic vices, vices with clamp and with swivel joint, vices for carving, various types of shaped vice jaws and other such products.

[The Following images are all sourced from www.york.cz]
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856100108/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856100108_15f9d3e2c6.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856100103/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856100103_2d985effd0.jpg" width="365" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856915322/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856915322_6a3626bec3.jpg" width="500" height="265" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856914587/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856914587_e4d6f39c09.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856915457/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856915457_2678aa045e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856821626/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856821626_bed4045162.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856915407/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856915407_cdfe93cd30.jpg" width="500" height="324" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856099943/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856099943_b8d4f5f646.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856821771/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856821771_e906423434.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856915302/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856915302_314b76a52b.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856915122/in/dateposted-public/" title="Current York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856915122_aa16f324e5.jpg" width="354" height="500" alt="Current York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

-In addition to the manufacture of tools, since 1991 the firm has manufactured engineering products, specialising in the production of trapezoidal screws and nuts.
With gradual modernisation and the purchase of CNC machines (lathes, turning centres, milling machines, grinders etc.) and the building of a CNC hall, the firm is focussing on more precision production and custom production according to drawings for many firms, including global ones (Widmöller und Hölscher Machinery, Wheelebrator, Soma etc.).
-At present the firm has 3 main fields of operation – production of tools for metal workers, production of tools for joiners, and cooperation work.
The firm YORK manufactures and exports its products to almost the entire world – Europe, North America (the United States, Canada), South America (Chile, Peru, Columbia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Honduras), Africa (Egypt, South Africa), Asia (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the Philippines) and Australia.

Wilton Vises Story in relation with YORK:
- There was a wholesaler of tools and workshop supplies in Prague and the owner, Mr.Vogl was a customer of, and well-known by Mr.Dohnal , he worked with him since 1921 and sold York vises through his business. Mr. Vogl was of Jewish origin and with the onset of fascism he sensed what was to come and sold his business in Prague in 1936 and moved to the USA. In the USA, he again sold tools and in 1941 he started making vises modeled after those of the earliest DOKO/YORK vises made by Jan Dohnal. Mr. Vogl named them WILTON after the street where he lived.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191908119@N08/50856897006/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wilton vs. York"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50856897006_66ba979d2f_z.jpg" width="453" height="640" alt="Wilton vs. York"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Special thanks To:
- Robert Svirk of YORK spol s r.o. [LTD]
for passing along this information as well as some great catalog photos and older models of vises as reference.
- Jan Votava for Patent Files/Drawings as well as photos of the older DOKO bullet vises.
- Honza Vošalík for the original write up on the York history, and some photos of the early York bullet vise.
- Stuart Schossow for photos of early York and Wilton vises, as well as selling me my first York vise (mid 1950’s York 100)
- Nick Wise for photos of the (1957-1971) model York.
- Cana Rochbell for photos of the (A) model York vise.

Nice write up. I expected it to be about the compressor company.

fourjeepin said:

Nice write up. I expected it to be about the compressor company.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Nice info, York are great vises. Thanks for posting it.

By chance, is there any history or info on the relationship between Wilton and York later on after 1946?

Great write up, thanks for posting and sharing.

Thanks for the thread. I recently aquired a DoKo plate vise but in the main vise thread nobody said a thing. The thing is, I could swear I saw it on a patent but for the life of me could not find it again. Thanks to your thread I found it again:
DE541033C

Interesting that Mr. Vogl (Wilton) also claimed to be inventor(!) of the same vise in the US US1887829A which was priorities to a czech patent CS1887829X.

If he stole it or it was just done this way due to circumstances is everybodies guess, an application in the UK had been done "properly" as the british patent GB384004A cleary names him and some other people but doing it in the name of the Dohnal Company.

As for their relationship today, take a look at the Wilton Super Junior Vises that look like a York and which country of origin is the Czech Republic...

macgee said:

Nice info, York are great vises. Thanks for posting it.

By chance, is there any history or info on the relationship between Wilton and York later on after 1946?

Click to expand...

Not sure, good question though. This was all I was told from the gentleman at York. On one hand I would speculate that their relationship ended when Mr. Vogl moved to the states and then the war disrupted ownership of York from Mr. Dohnal whom sounds to be his close connection at York. But it’s worth reading into. I can ask my York contact if he knows anything further.

Qualitytools said:

Great write up, thanks for posting and sharing.

Click to expand...

Thanks, No problem!

bastel said:

Thanks for the thread. I recently aquired a DoKo plate vise but in the main vise thread nobody said a thing. The thing is, I could swear I saw it on a patent but for the life of me could not find it again. Thanks to your thread I found it again:
DE541033C

Interesting that Mr. Vogl (Wilton) also claimed to be inventor(!) of the same vise in the US US1887829A which was priorities to a czech patent CS1887829X.

If he stole it or it was just done this way due to circumstances is everybodies guess, an application in the UK had been done "properly" as the british patent GB384004A cleary names him and some other people but doing it in the name of the Dohnal Company.

As for their relationship today, take a look at the Wilton Super Junior Vises that look like a York and which country of origin is the Czech Republic...

Click to expand...

Glad to help, I saw your DOKO vise on your IG, Mike shared it with me, cool vise!!

Yes, it’s very interesting the whole Mr. Vogl/Mr. Dohnal relationship... it sounds like they were friends and associates, but I’m still unsure of the whole patent infringement by Mr. Vogl. The email exchange from York was a bit confusing here but this is what he said in regards to Mr. Vogl “He applied for a patent, but not for functionality - it could not, it was patented, but for the shape of the vice (something like a Coca-Cola bottle…, in Europe shapes like a patent cannot be applied for - it would have to be a shape associated with functionality, which is why the Chinese they happily copy everything and can deliver it to Europe, to the USA if someone has a patent on the shape so they can't)”

I also was given a handful of Patents for various countries, and as you point out, some are Mr. Vogl but citing the Dohnal Co.

Huh, I actually hadn’t really made that connection on the newer York’s vs. Wilton (super junior) vises... but you’re on to something there.

I may have to reach out to York again and press for more info on their relationship with Wilton post 1946-present day.

The funny thing about the original patent by Mr. Dohnal for the bullet vise type is, it's actually only for not having the shelf extending from the static jaw (as with system koch type tube vises of the time). You can see that / line drawn. The idea was that the top part of the tube ends earlier so the tube itself is supporting the dynamic jaw on the bottom like a shelf would do. All the other things we see, the bulbous head of the dynamicc jaw helping in load distribution and whatnot are all mentioned in the patent but were not patented, maybe Mr. Dohnal didn't seem them worth it .

Fascinating!
I have one of these. Nice to know the history behind it!

Yeah, it’s hard to say, but perhaps your right, he just didn’t think it was worth patenting... especially if that meant more money invested into addiction patents (not sure if that would be the case)

pozidriv said:

Fascinating!
I have one of these. Nice to know the history behind it!

Click to expand...

Awesome, what model do you have?

Model 100. Paid € 25 for it. Since these pictures were taken it's gotten a cleanup and paintjob naturally

Nice, good deal!!! same size as mine. Mines stamped Caloria and based off the body style that pegs mine as being made from 1954-1956 (1954 is when Caloria took ownership, and 1956 is when they switched the style/shape to your style.

The only thing I did with mine was lightly scrub decades of grease and grime off the paint, and then wire wheel the bare metal areas to polish them up a bit. I may do a full restoration someday down the road, but I really love the patina on it, so for now if leaving it alone.

That one looks really good!
I didn't find any additional markings on mine.. It would be cool to date it somehow.

And here I was hoping for OBA tech...

I figured it was going to be about the compressor company too!

I picked up a used 150 from the 1970s on the local online ad website. The ad was pointed out by a GJ member.

Great write-up! Thanks for posting.

Always good to learn new facts about tools. They look like nice vises. Now I will have to keep an eye out for one.

MikeF2316 said:

I figured it was going to be about the compressor company too!

I picked up a used 150 from the 1970s on the local online ad website. The ad was pointed out by a GJ member.

Click to expand...

Funny, lots of folks mentioning it, I had no clue there was another York company who made compressors. A 150 (6”) nice, big one, bet it’s a great vise!

bonneyman said:

Great write-up! Thanks for posting.

Always good to learn new facts about tools. They look like nice vises. Now I will have to keep an eye out for one.

Click to expand...

Thanks, definitely scoop one up if you can find one, great well built vises, tough, and they’re just awesome looking!