BICO 6 Vise

[Joe B.]

I saw this interesting vise over the weekend. It is not mine nor am I in a position to acquire it. I have just never seen one like it and search on GJ and google produced no results. So, has anyone heard of a BICO 6 vise before?

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If you are curious, I saw it at the Illinois Railway Museum: http://www.irm.org/ Great place and well worth the stop if find yourself in Northern Illinois.

 

[Joe B.]

Wow. 70 views and not a single comment! Have I stumped the GJ vise lords?

 

[Flatland Dave]

cool vise! That's all I know about it.

 

[Provincial]

Probably not many around. I expect they had to quit making them when Wilton complained about patent/trademark infringment!

Neat vise!

 

[Joe B.]

Anyone in the morning crowd recognize this one? It seems so exotic I might need to go steal of from the museum!

 

[70shaker6pk]

My dad has one, I will get a picture of it and post it. I too thought it looked like a wilton.

 

[WVeeStrom]

I got this at an auction just this past Friday. Same name, different style. No apparent casting or makers marks. It's still a little grimy, so the marks might still be there.

I suspect it's not as old as the OP's picture. Newer design, what appears to be power-coated gray finish, chromed handle and tips, Phillips-head screws. The main beam (?) is 16", the jaws are 6".

 

[Good_ol_Days_Guy]

BICO 6 vise - BICO has been out of business for years but they made equipment that lasts forever. My Dad had his BICO 6 vise for about 60 years, and since he passed away years ago, I have the vise. The BICO 6 was only one of many sizes made by BICO. That vise doesn't really belong in a museum. It could be used for another 100 years or more in a railroad, car, or truck shop.

 

[6PTsocket]

I searched and searched and while I found a few vises for sale I could find no mention of the company. NOTHING, ZIP, NADA When and where did they make vises? It sort of reminds me of the Polish stuff from Bison-Bial, Atco, Rapid. They have been around a long time. I have had a Rapid for many years. Any chance? Is BICO an acronym for a company name? I am probably way off. Thanks.

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[tool_scrounge]

Bico = Boswell wholesale Inc. (Boswell, IN)
Trademark date 1978

https://trademark.trademarkia.com/bico-73175815.html

 

[tool_scrounge]

Address in the trademark reg:

106 S. Adams St. Boswell IN 47921

Looks like a warehouse

 

[Lucid Moments]

Y'all realize that this thread is from 2012?

 

[6PTsocket]

Bico = Boswell wholesale Inc. (Boswell, IN)
Trademark date 1978

https://trademark.trademarkia.com/bico-73175815.html

I found that too, but they seem to be a surplus sales house, not a manufacturer. There is also BICO jewelry in Australia.

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[6PTsocket]

Y'all realize that this thread is from 2012?

OK, but that still doesn't answer the question about who made those vises. I would like to know.

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[davethorik]

I would guess Asian imports. The square one especially, but the lettering on the wilton knock off looks goofy to me.

 

[1982fxr]

I saw this interesting vise over the weekend. It is not mine nor am I in a position to acquire it. I have just never seen one like it and search on GJ and google produced no results. So, has anyone heard of a BICO 6 vise before?

View media item 20736
If you are curious, I saw it at the Illinois Railway Museum: http://www.irm.org/ Great place and well worth the stop if find yourself in Northern Illinois.

I've seen vises like this before but just with a number never seen one with the name bico on it.

Looks like a pretty standard Asian import...

 

[Rickyfixerupper69]

Yes bico info is hard to find.
I got lucky and found this gem about 8 years ago it’s been great ever since currently restoring it mostly cosmetics

 

[seber]

Bico vises were an early Asian import. I believe they were around in the late 70s maybe into the early 80s. I've seen a few broken ones. The breaks show large voids in the castings.

 

[Rickyfixerupper69]

Asian or not lol works great! New paint looks even better!