First post! I have an OLD and rare Wilton...

[mattysdaddy]

One thing I wanted to add to this thread is that I did pull the dynamic jaw out and found the three digit code stamped on the key way. The number "672" was there which threw me a curve ball! Was my vise repaired by Wilton in the late 60's and did it receive a new date stamp? Comments???

 

[fatfillup]

I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Never understood restoring tools and never using them

Do you not collect anything? Some people collect coins and stamps and don't use them. Some folks collect cars and rarely drive them. People collect all manner of things just to enjoy or have them. Some folks just chose to collect tools. Me, I collect money

 

[PT Doc]

That more recent date stamping would likely cause it to lose value for a collector. As a working vise, who cares. In the hands of the right bidder, this could go to $500. Without the right bidder, who knows.

 

[drivesitfar]

my guess is the date on the slide is the 5 year expiration date of the warranty so the dynamic jaw is probably a 1971. I'm not sure why some of the guys thought it was an original so maybe there are markings on the other half that swayed them. Both sides of your Wilton's vise jaws look almost identical so probably not a repair or two different vises. you have one of the nicest 1971 Wilton swivel jaw vises around as the pictures indicated so still a very valuable vise to some and me included.

since your vise has seen so little use over the last 40+ years and is still an "awesome" Wilton you can put in the closet or use it as your spare vise just to hold things in. if you are going to set it up on your bench and use it you might use these Wilton copper jaws that are shipped for $30 to protect those jaws that looked like they haven't seen any abuse or hardly any use.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PAIR-OF-G...1?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item5af3db3bb9

there are plenty of $100-$200 vises out there you can use to do some jobs on that might do some damage to a vise that you can sit on the other side of the bench or your garage or on a stand you can roll out from a corner. your bench with the Wilton sitting on it should bring you a smile every time you walk out to work there and i'm certain your friends that know anything about vises or tools for that matter will be talking about it with you and their friends.

I don't remember seeing a dust cover (cap) on the end of your vise so if it needs one see if you can find one off another Wilton or go the freeze plug method just to keep the insides protected.

have a great weekend.

 

[ajchien]

my guess is the date on the slide is the 5 year expiration date of the warranty so the dynamic jaw is probably a 1971. I'm not sure why some of the guys thought it was an original so maybe there are markings on the other half that swayed them. Both sides of your Wilton's vise jaws look almost identical so probably not a repair or two different vises. you have one of the nicest 1971 Wilton swivel jaw vises around as the pictures indicated so still a very valuable vise to some and me included.

Im confused. Wilton supposedly moved to Schiller Park in 1957, so I would have thought that they changed from marking their vises from Chicago to Schiller Park at that time.

 

[mattysdaddy]

My thoughts are, why would my vise be marked "Chicago" and "Pat Pend" if it were a 1971???

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

that thing is a beaut! I need to get me one!

 

[autopts]

My thoughts are, why would my vise be marked "Chicago" and "Pat Pend" if it were a 1971???

That vise was made before 1950. Now, it could have been in storage on a dealers shelf for years and returned to Wilton Corp. at a later time. It could be the factory did not want to double date the keyway and moved the date of resale elsewhere. Wilton GUAR EXP date only was used a few years in the early, middle 60's. Up until 1960 that GUAR EXP, to my knowledge (and its fading) was not used.

 

[tedsters]

Welcome to the forum, thats a good looking vise i have never seen a swivel jaw bullet before and did not even know they made one and that one there is super clean great find and great vise

 

[Alexbn921]

That vise was made before 1950. Now, it could have been in storage on a dealers shelf for years and returned to Wilton Corp. at a later time. It could be the factory did not want to double date the keyway and moved the date of resale elsewhere. Wilton GUAR EXP date only was used a few years in the early, middle 60's. Up until 1960 that GUAR EXP, to my knowledge (and its fading) was not used.

Agreed. This vise was made before they moved factory's. Doesn't look repaired in any way. Probably sat on a shelf waiting for a buyer for 20+ years. Kind of an oddball vise,.

 

[Rust]

Vise ****.
God this **** is hot.

 

[383 240z]

Do you not collect anything? Some people collect coins and stamps and don't use them. Some folks collect cars and rarely drive them. People collect all manner of things just to enjoy or have them. Some folks just chose to collect tools. Me, I collect money

Of course I do. Several rare and antique fire arms come to mind, yet I think nothing of packing them up for a range day, after all that's what they are ment to do. My house is full of late 1700's to mid 1800's furniture and not a single peice of it goes unused. There is not a single chair that you can't sit on, not a single chest that we don't use as storage. We even have photos of our nieces as very young girl playing tea with my wife's collection of flow blue dishes, cups and saucers. They know to respect them for what they are, and treat them as such. To me they are things to be enjoyed, I guess I may be the proverbial odd duck, but get more joy from holding and using something, than having it locked away just knowing I have it and nobody else has one. Keith

 

[fatfillup]

Of course I do. Several rare and antique fire arms come to mind, yet I think nothing of packing them up for a range day, after all that's what they are ment to do. My house is full of late 1700's to mid 1800's furniture and not a single peice of it goes unused. There is not a single chair that you can't sit on, not a single chest that we don't use as storage. We even have photos of our nieces as very young girl playing tea with my wife's collection of flow blue dishes, cups and saucers. They know to respect them for what they are, and treat them as such. To me they are things to be enjoyed, I guess I may be the proverbial odd duck, but get more joy from holding and using something, than having it locked away just knowing I have it and nobody else has one. Keith

Ah, now I understand where you are coming from. Makes more sense now that I know the whole story. As far as you being the odd duck,,,,,,,,,well that remains to be seen


Actually we are all odd is some way

 

[CoopVA]

Oh MY! That is sweet! I have an old Wilton 9400... The one you have is a keeper for sure!

Use the hell out of it. They are practically bullet proof. No reason for it to be a safe queen...

I use mine all the time along with my old South Bend 9" lathe...

 

[Mr.1961]

Do you still have this vise?

 

[mattysdaddy]

I still have it and I think it is FOR SALE now... Jgrant68 (at) Mac.com

 

[oldldh]

Just thought I'd post a picture of Maclin's 450SJ...

As was said, it did bring almost $ 600.00 on Ebay...

Good luck on your sale...

 

[d-m]

Hi new to the board thought I would pop in and say hi.Found this at a local junk store a few days ago needs a quick going over and a few parts made up.

 

[drivesitfar]

D-M: this is an old thread that might give you a lot of information about your vise, but you might want to post up more pictures of your vise on the BIG vises of garage journal thread and if you need help putting it back to close to original condition you might want to post it in the vintage tool section on the Vise Repair 101 thread where a lot of great guys will try to help if they see your questions.

nice find and welcome to the forum.

 

[mattysdaddy]

I rarely get by this board. There is a wealth of knowledge here. I had planned to eventually use my old No. 60 but my shop is still my garage. If anyone stumbles across this thread that is interested in buying it from me, message me. Those who I have previously spoke with should likely look elsewhere. It can be had but not cheap. The way things usually work is that I get rid of something because I didn't need it then end up wishing I hadn't.

Good luck with your research and restoration!

 

[d-m]

D-M: this is an old thread that might give you a lot of information about your vise, but you might want to post up more pictures of your vise on the BIG vises of garage journal thread and if you need help putting it back to close to original condition you might want to post it in the vintage tool section on the Vise Repair 101 thread where a lot of great guys will try to help if they see your questions.

nice find and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome this was the only thread I found in a google search for that vise. I have trolled around this forum for more info could not find BIG Vises would you mind adding a link to direct me to the one you mentioned?
It will be a month or so before I get serious about putting this in service. I currently rebuilding a BUX mag drill for a customer. Next week my VFD will be here for my milling machine I'm sure that will take most of the weekend installing. This looks to be a really cool site lots of folks who like old tools and equipment.

 

[drivesitfar]

D-M: if you have any questions just ask on a thread that is talking about what you might be wanting more information on or PM me if you have a quick questions or one of the MODS (guys that run the site because i'm only a user).

anyway i saw you also are restoring a very cool old DP so you have a good eye for cool old stuff and talent too.

here's the Big Vise thread and BEE CAREFUL because there are a lot of cool vises on it and your new swivel jaw will fit right in. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44782

also here's the link for the Vise Repair 101 thread that has a ton of information on it and if you want to see a HUGE list of vise companies check out post #2.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

good luck

MD: i sold most of my big Wiltons and have a ton of Prentiss swivel jaw and Reed swivel jaw vises so i'm not your guy like i might have been a year ago when you found your vise. I agree that cash comes and go and you remember a few of the things you wish you still had. If i were you i'd mount your Wilton to a bench and even if you don't use it much it's great to admire there instead of in a closet or on a shelf.

good to see you are still with us and feel free to post on other threads, because guys like you have talent to share with those that don't have a clue. remember they don't teach shop class in public school anymore because the lawyers deemed it too dangerous or some lawsuits have turned most old school shops into a storage room now.

 

[d-m]

Thanks for the links what I am needing is a measurement on what appears to be the pin that locks the fixed jaw. It would just save me from trying to get the taper right if you don't have any info I will ask on the thread and don't worry the Wilton will be mounted and used as it was meant to be just as my drill press my Monarch lathe my varnamo shaper and my cincinnati mill. Tools were meant to be used not stored. I have a 80's era of all things Harbor freight bench vise that I bought new junk or not it has served me well for a lot of years as will this Wilton. I have a regular job but in my spare time I repair and restore anything that people bring me. My wife call's it metal Illness I call it relaxing!

 

[drivesitfar]

D-M: i'll send you a PM so you can see how GJ's internal email works and feel free to start an introduction thread over here if you haven't already.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27

BTW the mounting the vise to the bench was for MattysDaddy and happy to hear you are going to replace your old HF with the new Wilton.

don't worry about our wife's because they just played with dolls. just say "yes dear" and you should be fine.

 

[ilovevocs]

Re: Lots of pics now! First post! I have an OLD and rare Wilton...

Don't mothball it!

 

[mattysdaddy]

Resurrection of this old thread... Just wanted to say hey folks. Matty is twice as old as he was when I started this thread and the old swivel jaw Wilton is four years older! I had thought about building a plywood crate for it and selling it on ebay but im not really hurting for the cash. If a collector wants this vise and offers me a fair price, it will have a new home. Otherwise, Matthew will likely use it one day in his own shop.

 

[G-ManBart]

Since some folks checking our your auction might read this, there have been a lot of developments in the area of date stamping Wilton vises that might shed additional light on this one.

Going off hundreds of vises included over several years, it's obvious that Wilton sold vises that were cast in Chicago, or cast with old Chicago moulds after the move to Schiller park, and sold decades later, with corresponding date stamps.

As an example, many 2" baby Wiltons that are marked "Chicago" have been found with date stamps well into the 1970s and even early 1980s. Wilton left Chicago in 1957, so they must have had a pile of them on hand when they moved, or they kept using the old mould for decades to make a batch now and then.

Since 2" baby vises, and 6" swivel jaw vises aren't big sellers, they sort of go together. Either Wilton cast a bunch in Chicago and took them to Schiller Park, or they used the Chicago moulds for those models for a long time after the move.

I wrote a summary of what we've learned and posted it on my website (has a link to the original thread as well).

http://mivise.com/wilton-vise-date-stamping/

 

[2oolhound]

Just found this thread. What a nice vise. I'm glad you've kept it original instead of restoring.

If I had it I'd mount it in a quiet part of the shop where I wouldn't use it for the nasty jobs, got plenty of nasty vises for that stuff.

 

[Jarhead0408]

As soon as I saw the title I was thinking the OP might have found an SJ 60 like I have. That's about as rare a Wilton as I could imagine.

I was pretty surprised to see how old the thread actually was, but it's still a good read.

Thanks for the updated information G-ManBart.

 

[mattysdaddy]

I really hope that one of you gets this vise. I am sad to let it go but need to lighten up considerably due to a move that we must make across the country.

Look for an old Fisher Eagle 100 pound anvil to be listed for sale soon... I dreamed of having the Wilton no 60 and the Fisher anvil in my workshop someday but this stuff has to go... Life changes and so do priorities.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Found one of these Wilton 60 same exact date code hmmmm

 

[crguy]

I really hope that one of you gets this vise. I am sad to let it go but need to lighten up considerably due to a move that we must make across the country.

Look for an old Fisher Eagle 100 pound anvil to be listed for sale soon... I dreamed of having the Wilton no 60 and the Fisher anvil in my workshop someday but this stuff has to go... Life changes and so do priorities.

Email sent.