Does anyone have a Snap-On 1750 vise that hasn’t been repainted?

[Billy182]

I’m in need of a little advice here from anyone that has an original untouched Snap-on 1750.

Thanks for any replies

 

[Billy182]

I'd certainly appreciate a reply from someone who knows for sure. My story is I've inherited a couple vises from my Dad who recently passed, and in his memory I'd like to restore both of them.

One is the Reed 403 1/2 A model that is missing the tapered pin for the swivel jaw. See post: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=452590

But the Snap-On vise is special to me. I can still remember when he bought it years ago, and during the years he had used it often. At one point he roughly repainted it with a brush, covering up just about everything.

I'd like to restore it to as close to "as new" as I can get it, but so far after searching online for days I cannot seem to confirm exactly what was painted red and what wasn't.

I did find this example online:

I noticed that both the vertical sides of the jaws are unpainted, and the endcap is unpainted.

Can anyone please confirm if this was how these vises came when delivered new?

Thanks again if anyone could assist with a reply

 

[Stuart in MN]

To make imgur images appear here, you have to change the https to http in the address:

 

[Roberts210]

I don't have a good "unpainted" picture of my Snap-On 1750, but here's how I did mine after looking around at some examples online. Mine had been an S-O, but was rusty and terribly abused when I got it.

 

[3baygarage]

I don’t know if this helps based on the model or age of your vise, but this is a screenshot of a 2015 catalog online, showing sides unpainted.

 

[exmaxima1]

But the Snap-On vise is special to me. I can still remember when he bought it years ago, and during the years he had used it often. At one point he roughly repainted it with a brush, covering up just about everything.

I'd like to restore it to as close to "as new" as I can get it, but so far after searching online for days I cannot seem to confirm exactly what was painted red and what wasn't.

If you come across a source for the Snap On logo plate, please let me know.

 

[Billy182]

Thanks guys for your responses.
I was wondering why the BB code still wasn’t showing the picture, next time I’ll remember the correct sequence.

I did see quite a few photos online of vises without the sides of the jaws painted, so I was pretty confident that was correct. However, it’s the unpainted end cap that is throwing me for a loop. That photo I posted is the only one I’ve found after spending a good hour or so searching online. Perhaps the owner replaced the end cap and just didn’t paint it? Although I do find that rather odd especially for such a clean looking example.

One last thing I noticed, is that some of the vises only had the snap-on badge on one side, while the other side had “Made In USA” and below that “5 Inch Jaws” cast into the body. I found that curious.

Keep them coming, I’d sure appreciate more of your kind thoughts and responses!

 

[AngryBeaver]

Thanks guys for your responses.
I was wondering why the BB code still wasn’t showing the picture, next time I’ll remember the correct sequence.

I did see quite a few photos online of vises without the side of the haws painted, so I was pretty confident that was correct. However, it’s the unpainted end cap that is throwing me for a loop. That photo I posted is the only one I’ve found after spending a good hour or so searching online. Perhaps the owner replaced the end cap and just didn’t paint it? Although I do find that rather odd.

One last thing I noticed, is that some of the vises only had the snap-on badge on one side, while the other side had “Made In USA” and below that “5 Inch Jaws” cast into the body. I found that curious.

Keep them coming, I’d sure appreciate any more responses!

Your vise will have the date stamped on the bottom of the Key. the sides of the jaws, and jaw towers were not painted, because the jaws were installed on a painted vise, then finish milled for a uniform fit. The Cap was painted. a lot of the 1750's have missing caps because the nut that is pinned to the body moves. that nut holds the cap in place is the inference fit between the nut and the cap. when the nut moves after years of use, the cap likes to fall out. Replacement caps were not painted.

This is a 1760 which is the same vise, same era as the 1750's.

These vises didn't have bosses for the badges. they were smooth sided for a decal or aluminum plaque later on. Wilton made them for Mac, Snap on, and a few other companies. There was Rumors that people thought these were made over seas, so Wilton changed the casting they had used from the mid 70's until 1995 when they cast in the boss for 5" jaws, made in the USA. (or 4",6" etc). This only left a pocket for one badge. in 1997 they changed the castings again for a new one piece tail nut section that did away with the two piece nut. When they did this, they added a 1/2" to the jaw width and changed the model numbers. These kept the Made in the USA casting on one side and a pocket for a plaque on the other side. the model number changed to 1755,1765,1745,1780. there was a few one piece nut new style bodies with old style 4,5,6" jaw widths in 1996/97.

 

[AngryBeaver]

If you come across a source for the Snap On logo plate, please let me know.

order it directly from snap on or wilton

 

[Billy182]

Your vise will have the date stamped on the bottom of the Key. the sides of the jaws, and jaw towers were not painted, because the jaws were installed on a painted vise, then finish milled for a uniform fit. The Cap was painted. a lot of the 1750's have missing caps because the nut that is pinned to the body moves. that nut holds the cap in place is the inference fit between the nut and the cap. when the nut moves after years of use, the cap likes to fall out. Replacement caps were not painted.

This is a 1760 which is the same vise, same era as the 1750's.

These vises didn't have bosses for the badges. they were smooth sided for a decal or aluminum plaque later on. Wilton made them for Mac, Snap on, and a few other companies. There was Rumors that people thought these were made over seas, so Wilton changed the casting they had used from the mid 70's until 1995 when they cast in the boss for 5" jaws, made in the USA. (or 4",6" etc). This only left a pocket for one badge. in 1997 they changed the castings again for a new one piece tail nut section that did away with the two piece nut. When they did this, they added a 1/2" to the jaw width and changed the model numbers. These kept the Made in the USA casting on one side and a pocket for a plaque on the other side. the model number changed to 1755,1765,1745,1780. there was a few one piece nut new style bodies with old style 4,5,6" jaw widths in 1996/97.

Thank you ! Exactly the kind of info I need for what I plan to do.

One question though, and it’s probably my fault for not understanding completely. I can see that the vertical sides are unpainted, but is the horizontal section of the cast jaws that is immediately below the replaceable serrated jaws also unpainted? It’s hard to tell in the pic you posted.
Thanks
-Bill

 

[exmaxima1]

Any idea when the 17xx vises came out? I'm thinking early 70's, but curious if anyone knows of them dated before then.

 

[AngryBeaver]

73 or 74

 

[Roberts210]

I had to order new S-O badges for mine. IIRC I called S-O, and they directed me to another company. Not real sure right now--it was some years ago. There are S-O badges specifically made for the Wilton vices. All the above pictures show the correct badges.

I can't imagine the end cap not being painted, as it would tend to rust in normal use.

 

[TampaCraftsman]

The tradesman 1750 vise was the first product to roll off their line in Chicago when they opened their doors in April 1940. The tradesman vise, with the exception of WWII production halting and retooling to aid the Allied effort, has been continuously in production. I came by this information shortly after a couple weeks of lubricate, heat, beat, bleed, repeat, to restore what was handed to me as a rusted out hunk of seized up scrap iron by a friend, along with a large Yost 865 and a smaller but still substantial 5" Columbian whose model number I do not currently recall. When I saw the date code after finally freeing the dynamic arm from its static sleeve tomb, I had to speak to the archivist at Wilton. The woman confirmed that, if genuine, I have one of the only prewar Wilton product known to exist outside their vault or the Smithsonian, and it's the oldest at July 1940. So I can firmly state, that the 1750 tradesman vise started production in April 1940 as the only product the company made, stopped for the war, and has been in constant production since. You can find one at Northern Tool soon as they open.

 

[Roberts210]

Sorry, but please post multiple, sharp, pictures of your 1940 Tradesman.

 

[1982fxr]

The tradesman 1750 vise was the first product to roll off their line in Chicago when they opened their doors in April 1940. The tradesman vise, with the exception of WWII production halting and retooling to aid the Allied effort, has been continuously in production. I came by this information shortly after a couple weeks of lubricate, heat, beat, bleed, repeat, to restore what was handed to me as a rusted out hunk of seized up scrap iron by a friend, along with a large Yost 865 and a smaller but still substantial 5" Columbian whose model number I do not currently recall. When I saw the date code after finally freeing the dynamic arm from its static sleeve tomb, I had to speak to the archivist at Wilton. The woman confirmed that, if genuine, I have one of the only prewar Wilton product known to exist outside their vault or the Smithsonian, and it's the oldest at July 1940. So I can firmly state, that the 1750 tradesman vise started production in April 1940 as the only product the company made, stopped for the war, and has been in constant production since. You can find one at Northern Tool soon as they open.

Also, I have a couple of bridges for sale if anyone's in the market.

 

[Fierljeppen]

The tradesman 1750 vise was the first product to roll off their line in Chicago when they opened their doors in April 1940. The tradesman vise, with the exception of WWII production halting and retooling to aid the Allied effort, has been continuously in production. I came by this information shortly after a couple weeks of lubricate, heat, beat, bleed, repeat, to restore what was handed to me as a rusted out hunk of seized up scrap iron by a friend. When I saw the date code after finally freeing the dynamic arm from its static sleeve tomb, I had to speak to the archivist at Wilton. The woman confirmed that, if genuine, I have one of the only prewar Wilton product known to exist outside their vault or the Smithsonian, and it's the oldest at July 1940. So I can firmly state, that the 1750 tradesman vise started production in April 1940 as the only product the company made, stopped for the war, and has been in constant production since. You can find one at Northern Tool soon as they open.

I was hoping to get a response from you, along with some photos of your date-code.

Either way, I think I figured out what you're mistaken about. First off, Wilton (JPW) doesn't have an archivist. Someone over there was either trying to "appease or ****" with you. I'll let you decide.

I found your original posting of this matter, which was appropriately posted in the "Wilton Vise History" thread. It was suggested by @exmaxima1 that what you identified as a "7-40" date-code was actually just a casting number, which is correct.

Here's another photo, showing "7-40" on the main nut of an early Wilton Tradesman 1750 vise.



The date-code for your vise will actually be stamped on the bottom of the slide, as seen below.



I was in the same camp as @AngryBeaver and others, with regard to the first 1750 Tradesman vise being offered in the early 1970's until I stumbled onto an original 1968 Wilton brochure no. 835 advertising the "New Wilton Mechanics Vises", as seen below. You'll notice that the 1750 was the only model offered originally, as all -4- sizes were released independent of each other.



Anyway, no harm, no foul.

 

[1982fxr]

Ahhh, he's ****** with ya.

 

[Roberts210]

Tampa Craftsman might be too embarrassed to come back and reply.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Tampa Craftsman might be too embarrassed to come back and reply.

@TampaCraftsman should definitely not be too embarrassed to come back and reply. They made a very bold, unfounded and ultimately naïve statement, which was justifiably called out in multiple threads. There is more than one lesson for @TampaCraftsman to learn here and the main one has nothing to do with vises. Credibility is a real thing. I don't need to like what I hear, I absolutely need to believe it though.

There is no shame for being wrong, however, if you post something, you need to be willing to defend it or accept something else as better information. I know this all too well, as I post a lot of vise information, some of which is controversial and certainly worthy of a challenge from my peers.

With that said, I truly appreciate and respect your comments @Roberts210. The Vise Collectors @ the GarageJournal have the largest unorganized "Gentlemen's Club" I've seen in my limited Social Media experience and you are a great example of that. "Blessed are the Peace Makers" could be their unofficial motto and I'm still a work in progress, with regard to that.