my $25 Wilton 1750(pic heavy)

t100 · Jul 10, 2010

my ultimate question: is it a Chinese or Original? mfg date?

I took my chances picked it up at a garage next to a gas station. I didn't know what it was at that time because it was covered by a horrendous amount of grease and metal shavings. no brand casted into the body, also the jaws were broken and pipe inserts were missing. the only hint I got was the brass end cap at the back of the vise looked like a Wilton. it turned smoothly and didn't make any noise.

I got it back to the shop, scrapped off about 1/2 a coffee cup of grease, took it apart, then dumped everything in the solvent tank for 4 hours. at the same time, I dug out a piece of scrap 1/2" 6061-T6 aluminum plate, made a pair of jaws on a band saw and mill.

here are the pictures after I put it back together:

Slip_Kid · Jul 10, 2010

It sure looks like a Wilton, maybe a knockoff. But for $25.00 it's still a good deal, nice job on the jaw pads.

GeorgiaHybrid · Jul 10, 2010

I think it is a fairly new (uses the side plate stickers) Snap-on vise made by Wilton. The base itself and what is left of the original paint are a dead on match to one on a local dealers truck.

Yours has a 5" jaw but is very similar to this one:

Snap-on vise by Wilton

tonydanzah · Jul 10, 2010

GeorgiaHybrid said:
I think it is a fairly new (uses the side plate stickers) Snap-on vise made by Wilton. The base itself and what is left of the original paint are a dead on match to one on a local dealers truck.

Yours has a 5" jaw but is very similar to this one:

Snap-on vise by Wilton

it doesn't have to a snap on made by wilton, it could just be a wilton with the foil stickers like mine.

spongerich · Jul 10, 2010

It looks too well made to be a Chinese knock-off.

Check the bottom of the slide for a date stamp. Most Wilton bullets seem to have them.

Oh, and you ****.

BlindViper · Jul 10, 2010

Looks like mine, but perhaps before they made them for snap-on.

autopts71045 · Jul 10, 2010

Nice vise, however if its not stamped anywhere "Made in the USA" I hate to be the one that tells ya..The upside is that new Wilton jaws are under $40.

Adam McLaughlin · Jul 11, 2010

It does seem to be well made for a chiwanese knock off....

Adam

GeorgiaHybrid · Jul 11, 2010

tonydanzah said:
it doesn't have to a snap on made by wilton, it could just be a wilton with the foil stickers like mine.

Tony,

I thought about that (I have one just like yours...) but I have not seen a late model Wilton that had red paint. All of the late model 1700 series like ours that I have seen come with that green/blue hammer tone paint. Either way, it should have the date on the keyway on the moveable jaw.

And that was a NICE price on the vise.

t100 · Jul 11, 2010

it could more likely be a Snap On, the shop I got from was full of Snap On tools, they are getting new benches outfitted. the guy said his dad put the vise on there probably 20 years ago and never moved it again.

all the markings are in the pictures above, I don't see any date marks on the keyway. the keyway and screw are probably newer than the rest of the vise 'cause they are in much better shape.

I searched other threads regarding Wilton 1750, from the pictures I've seen other posted, my is pretty close, only the number "1750" is on the other side of the moving jaw.

I'll double check on the keyway when I re-grease it, I'm waiting for the heavy moly based grease.

t100 · Jul 23, 2010

update:

she's nakid now.....

is this the date code you guys talking about

now I need to ask a favor, if you have a copy of the mid-late 80's Snap On catalog, would you check if there's a p/n# WV1750? I called a SO guy, he told me there was a red vise sold by Snap On should fit the description, but that was before he took over the business from his father.

spongerich · Jul 23, 2010

4 86 is definitely the date code... April '86.

It's a little odd that it's not stamped USA, but I suppose it's possible that the COO was on the stick-on tag.

Have you tried emailing customer service @ Wilton? They might be able to help positively identify it for you.

Underdog · Jul 23, 2010

WV 1750 Snap-On 5" jaw vise, per 1997 Cat. No. 400 page E116. 1997 price list wv1750 - $370.80 :thumbup:

t100 · Jul 23, 2010

thanks, fellas. I think I'll paint it the original red. problem is the 80% humidity isn't the perfect condition for painting. I've got some self-ecthing primer on, will see how it goes.

autopts71045 · Jul 23, 2010

Nice 1750. Its original color was like Tony's listing up above. if it was an original Snap on I would paint it red. That vise would look very nice and original with Verde Green, a close match to the original 1750. Nice find and clean up!

autopts71045 · Jul 23, 2010

New Craftsman for $130.00. Made in China by WMH (Wilton) rated at 60,000 psi. That 1750 may have been made in that same plant. The world's going crazy!!

t100 · Jul 23, 2010

that's why when looking for a vise, I wouldn't touch anything less than 20 years old.

t100 · Jul 24, 2010

Underdog said:
WV 1750 Snap-On 5" jaw vise, per 1997 Cat. No. 400 page E116. 1997 price list wv1750 - $370.80

I found its evil twin on ebay, Snap On sticker on the right hand side

!B)52j8!!mk~$(KGrHqMOKkEEwQOfWmnGBMPe,myFkw~~_3.JPG

!B)520OwEGk~$(KGrHqYOKj4Ewk7!0q3hBMPebejCVw~~_3.JPG

Steve V. · Jul 24, 2010

autopts71045 said:
New Craftsman for $130.00. Made in China by WMH (Wilton) rated at 60,000 psi. That 1750 may have been made in that same plant. The world's going crazy!!

The beauty of this is that he may be able to get the jaw inserts and pipe jaws from Sears for cheaper if they truly are the same vise.

Steve

Flash21 · Jul 24, 2010

it seems, for some reason, the 1750 / 1760 / etc series didn't have "MADE IN USA" cast into the side of the vise. I think when the changed over to the 1755 / 1765 model series, they added that.

I'm not sure when or why Wilton made the change to add 1/2" to all their jaw widths (and the overall proportions are a little different)

Flash21 · Jul 24, 2010

here is a 1760 of the same vintage, which is a nice vise, but it also didn't have the MADE IN USA on the side:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66964&highlight=1760

autopts71045 · Jul 24, 2010

Go figure!

Flash21 · Jul 24, 2010

autopts71045 said:
Go figure!

Whoa! That is odd, first 1760 I've seen with that. Are those both yours?

Do you notice any other differences?

autopts71045 · Jul 25, 2010

Yes, they are both mine, the newer looking one that says USA on the side is a 1997 and the other is from the early 80's. Wilton I believe first started making that body abroad, then they decided to make it here, and then they discontinued that # all together. Right now, I'm doing a make over on the older one. I have an extra sticker to glue on the other side. They usually clean up nicely.

t100 · Jul 28, 2010

I grabbed the wrong RED spray can, duh. the color turned out to be pearl maroon. fugly as hell.

rough it up with scatchbright then 3 coats of blue Dupli-Color engine enamel. the actual color is darker than in the picture thou.

mixxmstrmike · Jul 29, 2010

t100 said:

That blue looks... dare I say... SEXAAAAY! :thumbup:

-Mike

rockchucker · Jul 29, 2010

Man....Very nice score for 25 bucks. *******!!!

cowboy73 · Jul 29, 2010

Nice looking vise for 25 bucks.

autopts71045 · Jul 29, 2010

KLars1 said:
Whoa! That is odd, first 1760 I've seen with that. Are those both yours?

Do you notice any other differences?

KLars1 said:
it seems, for some reason, the 1750 / 1760 / etc series didn't have "MADE IN USA" cast into the side of the vise. I think when the changed over to the 1755 / 1765 model series, they added that.

I'm not sure when or why Wilton made the change to add 1/2" to all their jaw widths (and the overall proportions are a little different)

The 1760 without the engraved stamp on the side was made in 1985 the one stamped Made in USA is a 1997. One difference is the older one has the external end cap that holds the threaded assy, like the older typical Wiltons. On the 1997 model, newer generation, they made that holding assy. inside the rear of the vise. I'm going to see if the front jaw assemblies are interchangable.

autopts71045 · Jul 29, 2010

autopts71045 said:
The 1760 without the engraved stamp on the side was made in 1985 the one stamped Made in USA is a 1997. One difference is the older one has the external end cap that holds the threaded assy, like the older typical Wiltons. On the 1997 model, newer generation, they made that holding assy. inside the rear of the vise. I'm going to see if the front jaw assemblies are interchangable.

Nice thread t100 and a very nice restoration of what could have been in garbage site dump by now. You saved another one. From this photo, I guess Wilton didn't go by the Henry Ford rules of assembly line technique. The newer front jaw into the 1985 body and you can see that jaws are off by at least 1/4" Operation is at least smooth.

scheu · Jul 29, 2010

$25?? I think a "you ****" is in order.

autopts71045 · Jul 29, 2010

Here is a 1740 and this little piggie is not going to market.

t100 · Jul 29, 2010

by just looking at it, I think the major difference between the USA made and the current imported vises is the size of the swivel base. the import ones are totally miniature.

autopts71045 · Jul 29, 2010

KLars1 said:
it seems, for some reason, the 1750 / 1760 / etc series didn't have "MADE IN USA" cast into the side of the vise. I think when the changed over to the 1755 / 1765 model series, they added that.

I'm not sure when or why Wilton made the change to add 1/2" to all their jaw widths (and the overall proportions are a little different)

I've seen alot of Wilton Tradesman and this is this first one I've seen like this also. The bases are the same on both, They might appear different in the photo.

irvin · Aug 4, 2010

My 1750 taken apart for a thorough cleaning.

autopts71045 · Aug 4, 2010

irvin said:
My 1750 taken apart for a thorough cleaning.

Nice comparison photo, a later production Wilton that was made here in the middle/later 90's that Wilton discontinued. That newer generation Wilton is today's style. They eliminated that back cap housing and moved it inside the tube. One excellent find!

t100 · Aug 5, 2010

new pipe jaws

new stainless steel head bolts, modified the head to clear the screw

1FordTech1 · Sep 18, 2010

Great thread! Sorry to bump an older thread but I just got this vise in a garage sale along with a couple trucking sized ratchet straps for 30 dollars. I did a lot of searching on Ebay and decided it looked a lot like the Wilton ones there but found no Wilton name on it. Then I found this thread and looked at all the markings and it is identical to the one the OP posted. It has been repainted black but the bottom side still has the original red paint, so I am going to assume this was made for SnapOn and the foil labels are long gone. It has a production date of Feb 1985.
Thanks for this post which surely clears up some of my questions on the identification and certainly gives me pride in a great deal made! I will restore it and use it in my garage at home.

1FordTech1 · Sep 23, 2010

Mine didnt turn out as pretty as yours but here it is. I opted for a can of Chevy Orange engine enamel, high temp that I had laying around and a little sanding down of components. The original jaws were good enough to use for around home use. Ive asked my Snap On dealer to see if he can get me a couple replacement labels for it. You can see where someone had been grinding on something that was held down with the vise so its pretty scarred up from that, but overall a great find for home.

red93yj · Apr 27, 2011

hi guys, this is my first post, pretty excited about my new wilton 1760, I guess this was made 11-93, is that any good? I think its in good shape.

my $25 Wilton 1750(pic heavy)

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