Help Identify Wilton 600 Clone

[BrockSolidWorkshop]

I obtained a large vise which was included with a welding table I bought at an auction. At first glance, I thought it was a Wilton 600, but a closer look convinced me it was not. When I got it home, I tried to identify it, but found nothing on the web about it. I believe it to be a Westward brand, judging from the worn out tag attached to the side which had what looked like a portion of the "WARD" on it. Again, nothing could be found online about a large torpedo/bullet vise made by Westward.

The measurements are almost exactly the same as the Wilton 600. It weighs about 140 lbs and interestingly the swivel base that came with it is indeed a Wilton brand. The jaw inserts are identical to the 600, but have holes drilled and tapped all the way through, presumable to make them reversible. The bullet section is a little larger and is flat on the bottom.

Has anyone seen a vise like this? I understand that some time ago some Westward tools were made in Canada. It would be a plus if this one was made there but I have not been able to find anything at all.

Any help would be appreciated.

Robert

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Nice vice. The things that make you say hmmm.

 

[RTM]

I obtained a large vise which was included with a welding table I bought at an auction. At first glance, I thought it was a Wilton 600, but a closer look convinced me it was not. When I got it home, I tried to identify it, but found nothing on the web about it. I believe it to be a Westward brand, judging from the worn out tag attached to the side which had what looked like a portion of the "WARD" on it. Again, nothing could be found online about a large torpedo/bullet vise made by Westward.

The measurements are almost exactly the same as the Wilton 600. It weighs about 140 lbs and interestingly the swivel base that came with it is indeed a Wilton brand. The jaw inserts are identical to the 600, but have holes drilled and tapped all the way through, presumable to make them reversible. The bullet section is a little larger and is flat on the bottom.

I thought Westward was a Grainger brand, like Dayton etc. so maybe pulled the Wilton name off the vise,

 

[Roberts210]

How tight are the tolerances? It's definitely not a Wilton, but was it made to Wilton tolerances?
Somewhere in the deep recess of my brain I seem to remember Wilton sued some manufacturers for making look-alike vises.

 

[Shiftless]

Somewhere in the deep recess of my brain I seem to remember Wilton sued some manufacturers for making look-alike vises.

You night be thinking of the Taskmaster vise made in India. It was a good copy of the Wilton Cadet. The one I used to have featured Taskmaster cast into the side of the body. The country of origin mark was ”made in India” stamped into the horseshoe retainer under the nose.

 

[3baygarage]

Could it be a Wards?

Pics?

 

[BrockSolidWorkshop]

I thought at first it was a a Wards, but I had no luck finding a match. I started a restoration of the vise and found no other markings that helped identify it. I’ll include more pics next week.

 

[BrockSolidWorkshop]

How tight are the tolerances? It's definitely not a Wilton, but was it made to Wilton tolerances?
Somewhere in the deep recess of my brain I seem to remember Wilton sued some manufacturers for making look-alike vises.

The tolerances are tight. It is very smooth and seems to be well made. I’m restoring it now. I found no filler anywhere on it after stripping it to bare metal. Filler is a dead giveaway for foreign made - especially India or China.

 

[Shiftless]

The tolerances are tight. It is very smooth and seems to be well made. I’m restoring it now. I found no filler anywhere on it after stripping it to bare metal. Filler is a dead giveaway for foreign made - especially India or China.

Clean the horseshoe retainer on both sides and look for a made in India stamp/engraving.
That is where my Taskmaster was marked. But on the back side. Maybe a previous owner reversed it.

 

[BrockSolidWorkshop]

Clean the horseshoe retainer on both sides and look for a made in India stamp/engraving.
That is where my Taskmaster was marked. But on the back side. Maybe a previous owner reversed it.

I’ll do that early in the week.

 

[rancherbill]

I obtained a large vise which was included with a welding table I bought at an auction.

Cool table. Did you get any extras for it? I'm not sure what some of the features are.