Help me identify this old Wilton vise

[jwicker]

Picked up this 5" Wilton vise from Craigslist.
The seller buys, refurbs and sells them pretty regularly.

He seemed to know his stuff.... he had some really nice old ones (Cole, Wilton bullets, American Scale, etc).

He didn't know the date of manufacture of this Wilton one, but estimated it from the 70s. He concluded that since it was not marked China, that it was likely US made.

I have found some Columbia vises (around the time Wilton bought them) that had odd marking, missing info on castings, etc).

This one has several numbers:
111218
111103

It looks like a 645 to me.

I got it for less than a new Chinese Wilton would cost, so I think I did ok.

Any and all info appreciated.
Thanks
jw

 

[Zrexxer]

He concluded that since it was not marked China, that it was likely US made.

I'd conclude the opposite... if it's not marked "USA" I'd assume it's Chinese.

 

[twertsy]

I'd conclude the opposite... if it's not marked "USA" I'd assume it's Chinese.

Agreed. That is typically the case.

 

[jwicker]

From what I have found, there are plenty of US Wilton's that were not marked Made in USA.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86615&page=14

"I'm sure that Wilton has very high quality control measures in place so that even their Chinese vises are of the best quality, but it's nice to know for SURE that the mid 90s vises without any COO in the casting are all USA made."

COO = Country Of Origin

 

[jwicker]

Looks like Airbuff101 has the exact same vise as me:

http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=973a0f4dc198b7a40183c9b11ac0c4a4&topic=21100.15

I see that airbuff101 is also a member on this forum - maybe he will chime in???!!!!

 

[Fretters]

From what I recall, the design of the swivel base plate tends to be the main giveaway. Take a photo of the underneath of that and post it. Apparently the casting changed somewhat with the Chinese ones, if memory serves. Someone on here, probably Balane I'm thinking, contacted Wilton once regarding that matter of determining USA/Chinese manufacture.

 

[exmaxima1]

From what I recall, the design of the swivel base plate tends to be the main giveaway. Take a photo of the underneath of that and post it. Apparently the casting changed somewhat with the Chinese ones, if memory serves. Someone on here, probably Balane I'm thinking, contacted Wilton once regarding that matter of determining USA/Chinese manufacture.

I have a Wilton that looks pretty much the same, with no COO markings on top. But if you flip it over, you find "Taiwan" cast into the swivel lock plate.

 

[jwicker]

Here is the bottom:

 

[CNGsaves]

Tell us what you paid for vise . . . that that might give hint whether the "CL refurb" guy gave you the bamboozle or not.

+1 vote for COO from the copy capital of Earth . . . China.

 

[jwicker]

Probably too much.

Check Craigslist Evansville Indiana for vise. He has 3 on there now. Cole, American Scale, Wilton Bullet.

 

[jwicker]

I sent airbuff101 a message. Maybe he will see it and add some info.

Anyone else have any first hand knowledge?

Thanks in advance.

 

[1982fxr]

never seen a wilton mechanic's vise with cast in jaws. Old ones had those thin crimped metal ones and the new ones have the thicker ones (from what i've seen).

If I had to vote I would say USA. I thought towards the end of the US run on mechanic's vises was when they took the wilton casting off and then had an empty rectangle for metal plates/decals? And all the imports had been like that since (on mechanic's vises)...?

 

[zkling]

Is it just the pictures or is that vise sprung? I don't think they jaws are cast in, there should be screws in the face of the jaws.

 

[Zrexxer]

Is it just the pictures or is that vise sprung? I don't think they jaws are cast in, there should be screws in the face of the jaws.

He's talking about the pipe jaws, which are cast integral with the body. It looks sprung to me too, but it could just be the pictures.

 

[jwicker]

Sprung ?
How can I tell?


The pipe jaws are cast.

 

[jwicker]

Maybe this angle will help?:

 

[Zrexxer]

This is what we're talking about.

 

[jwicker]

I'm not sure how it could be spring. Might have been poorly aligned when welded.

 

[1982fxr]

they 'slip' if pushed too hard. That's just a little, some are much much more.

Yes, sorry, I meant pipe jaws. Has anyone EVER seen a Wilton mechanic's vise with cast in pipe jaws? I don't think I ever have.

 

[jz2delta]

I am really enjoying this thread. teaching me a ton about what to look for when buying a vise. I appreciate all the comments from those more knowledgeable than I am.

 

[Canoe50]

Here's one I picked up not long ago that's USA made. (stamped in) It obviously needs to be cleaned up, but functions great. Pipe jaws are not cast in.
There's some obvious differences (the base alone) looking at the pictures of the OP's, which leads me to believe his is from China. But that's only speculation on my part.

 

[454ragtop]

Currently restoring one of these with large "WILTON" raised cast letters on both sides, Schiller Park Ill USA cast in smaller on one side. Has the stamped pipe jaws. Would this be newer or older than the type with the depression for the decal, guessing older?
Jim

 

[jwicker]

I'm still hoping airbuff101 chimes in. His old red one on the Garage Gazette forum has the same base and single sided raised casting (WILTON only) as mine.
I'm obviously hoping mine is US made, but will venture a guess that an early China one is better than a newer China one. Maybe. Hopefully.

Either way, I'm sure it will do what I ask of it in my small home workshop.

As always, all info appreciated.

 

[Canoe50]

I'm still hoping airbuff101 chimes in. His old red one on the Garage Gazette forum has the same base and single sided raised casting (WILTON only) as mine.
I'm obviously hoping mine is US made, but will venture a guess that an early China one is better than a newer China one. Maybe. Hopefully.

Either way, I'm sure it will do what I ask of it in my small home workshop.

As always, all info appreciated.

Did you see the Vise thread over in the ...General Tool Discussion... forum? Right now it's on the first page. If you go over there & post pictures of your vise, you'll likely get a definitive answer. Forum member...Autopts....is the Wilton guru over there, but there's certainly others with plenty of knowledge on these.

 

[jwicker]

Thanks Canoe!
I'll certainly do that.

 

[Canoe50]

Thanks Canoe!
I'll certainly do that.

PM sent.

 

[nglauer]

I just took pictures of the Wilton i have and it looks very similar, if not the same as the OP's. It came with my grand fathers estate when i purchased it. Supposedly its been in the garage since the 70's, as dad claims he remembers using it back then. It was supposedly purchased used too... unless dad is confused. Either way i do not know the actual age. It is one of 5 different vises i have found so far in the garage. It needs cleaned and new jaws (I'm not very knowledgeable about vises, but hope that is the correct term, and i can find some). It's been well used for sure. I'll add a few pictures of it and the eclipse i found while cleaning today. I'd love to know the exact model/year. The Wilton looks like it had a blue gray paint? The Eclipse looked green in spots, but again. .both look to be well used. I also have a vise that is in the box and says made in Japan. It looks like it's been on the shelf for years... maybe early to mid 90's at the latest? The other two are in the barn... I'll have to dig them out and see what they are. Unfortunately, i don't think any are valuable or sought after. Those Wilton bullets look cool.... perhaps I'll run across one of those one day... who knows... i may have one here... my garage has been stuffed since the 40's.. pap never parted with anything, and I've barely had time to scratch/clean the surface.

 

[nglauer]

I guess i forgot the other picture