Finally acquired a Wilton!

[tvacula]

While roaming around yesterday, we stopped at an antique store and there sat a Wilton bullet vise on a really nice walnut dresser, in front of a couple of ceramic figurines. The context was humorous, but I found the vise intriguing.

It is an 835, and the fellow was asking $195, but I brought it home for $175. Not a great deal, but it's at least complete, no rust, just discoloration of the plated bits.

I don't run across many vises, and almost never Wiltons; don't plan to restore it, just use it as is. It has smooth jaws, in good shape with no chips. Operates smoothly. Super excited to replace my Chinese 5" vise shaped object with an honest to goodness tool.

I know this is the vintage tool thread, and this may border on too new for vintage, since the date on the slide is 173.

 

[Jim C.]

Nice find! I think you got it for a good price too. Not a steal, but a good price for a nice vise in original condition. Not bad.

Jim C.

 

[Roberts210]

That's a very good price. You won't EVER be sorry you have it. I use mine all the time.

 

[Cope]

That one is in good user condition.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

That's a sweet one. It shouldn't let you down.

 

[Roberts210]

It's in GREAT condition--no hammer dings, no hacksaw cuts on the jaws, no cracks in the castings, no bent handle.

 

[G-ManBart]

It is an 835, and the fellow was asking $195, but I brought it home for $175. Not a great deal, but it's at least complete, no rust, just discoloration of the plated bits.

That's a nice vise, and a good price, so don't feel bad at all.

Can you post pictures of the other side with the markings?

I ask for a couple of reasons. Wilton markings can get confusing and they changed frequently enough that it can be hard to follow. My suspicion is that on the other side of your vise is says "9350" which would make it a model 9350, not an 835.

Earlier 3.5" machinist models had 835 cast into the dynamic jaw, and 935 cast into the static jaw. Some folks say the 835 was a fixed base version, and a 935 was the swivel base version, but catalogs from that era show them as being a 350N and 350.

Still, most of us call a 3.5" vise from that era a 935 and Wilton made the 935 in Chicago, and never made that model in Schiller Park that I'm aware of. They made some slight changes (360* swivel base for one) to the design and renamed it the 9350 while still in Chicago. The weird thing is, the Chicago marked 9350 I had also had "835" cast into the dynamic jaw the way yours does. Mine was stamped 6-30-60, so it was actually sold after they left Chicago...sort of a left over casting, which isn't uncommon.

Wilton moved to Schiller Park in 1957, so a Schiller Park 3.5" model should have a 9350 on the right side....but you never really know with Wilton, and that's why I ask

 

[tvacula]

Thanks for the positive comments on my acquisition, guys. G-ManBart, here are some photos of both sides of the vise, please let me know what you think.

 

[Rick B.]

Very nice vise. I keep hoping that some day a Wilton will swim my way.

 

[Roberts210]

Rikki, bargain Wilton's are around, just waiting to be discovered.

 

[G-ManBart]

Thanks for the positive comments on my acquisition, guys. G-ManBart, here are some photos of both sides of the vise, please let me know what you think.

Thanks for the pictures. Thats super interesting! Yours is the first I've seen, or at least noticed, that has the newer style model number (101020) and still have the older "825" cast into the dynamic jaw. I like it!

My guess is that was probably a transition period when they were going from the 935/9350 models to the 101020 markings and yours wound up with a little of both sets of markings. Wilton had a habit of sort of gradually incorporating changes, and I suspect it could be as simple as changing the mould for the body of the vise a few days before they changed the mould for the dynamic jaw (or something along those lines).

A little bit later a 3.5" machinist model would have only had a 101020 on it, and then later they went to the modern "350" markings.

I had to run out to the shop and pull my 9350 off the shelf to look at the markings again. It has the 835 on the left side of the dynamic jaw, and 9350 on the right side of the body. It's stamped 6-68 so it's just a few years old, and similar condition. I actually paid a touch more than you did...couldn't beat the seller up too much as he's a friend and he didn't really want to sell it. I've sold probably 50 Wiltons but this is one of the few I plan to keep

 

[G-ManBart]

A couple of pics for comparison.

 

[tvacula]

Thanks, G, that's helpful to know. A Google image search turned up a couple threads in different forums of 835s with the same marking combination as mine has:

http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=23084.0

http://rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=168864

I've already used mine for a couple of light tasks and really like the size. I'm happy that I happened upon this one and was able to bring it home with me.

I understand you, Rikki - didn't think I'd ever run across a good, old American vise to buy, but this one just happened. The guy had just brought it into the antique store a few days earlier. Luck turned my way, for a change! I hope you'll run across one, soon.