Chicago made Wilton score

[Hybridss]

I was not aware Wilton had Chicago made vises until I saw this one and did some research on here. Are these more desirable? Maybe less desirable? Worth more? Or is it just another Wilton bullet? This particular model has jaws that open VERY wide. Seems like a keeper to me. Just need to clean it up, paint it, lube it up and put it back in service. Date stamp is 10-50, but it is in surprisingly good shape. The handle isnt even bent...lol.

 

[G-ManBart]

Nice find!

Wilton made their vises in Chicago from 1941 to 1957 when they moved to Schiller Park.

You will get different answers about desirability/value/etc but generally speaking a clean Chicago vise will bring more money than the same vise from the Schiller Park era.

From a practical standpoint, the entire Wilton line got stronger, beefier, heavier, and better in most every way as time went by. The hollow cavity in the jaw supports was much larger in the models with the more rounded dynamic jaw compared with those that have a flatter/more square profile.

Still, a 9450 is probably my favorite looking Machinist vise, so I'm not taking anything away from yours. I have two 9450s, but both are newer than yours....really nice vises.

 

[G-ManBart]

You should add some pics to the Wilton date stamp thread....it's right in the transition period as I recall, so it might be helpful.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269079&highlight=wilton+date

 

[Hybridss]

Will do. And thanks for the great info. I will be restoring it this month so I'll put some progress pics up soon in the Wilton thread.
Almost forgot...I paid $20
Quite the bargain.

 

[ScottsGT]

I'll double your money!