Help with vise ID?

[B17E1943]

I bought this 4" jaw vise for $5 at a yard sale today, but I can't find a manufacturer name on it. It's embossed V22 on the base; V20 on the movable jaw, and V21 on the stationary jaw. On the slide it is stamped 545 24 7191.

It's gotta be American-made, but I sure can't ID it. Thanks for any help.

 

[Outlawmws]

The stamped numbers on the slide look like someone's Social Security No. The others are casting/Part numbers, but I don't recognize who.

Might be US, might not. Those pipe jaws/teeth, are they removable? Looks like they got a lot of use.

 

[B17E1943]

You're right, that does like like a SS# - didn't even dawn on me. The pipe jaws do not appear to be removable.

 

[Outlawmws]

That looks to be a fairly small vise. What width jaws? are you going to clean it up/paint it and use it? I have one that looks to be about that size, other than it will open a lot wider that I had any right to expect. It sits on the corner of my welding bench (Fully grounded) and is immensely useful for what it is...

 

[B17E1943]

The jaws are 4" plus or minus a tad. Opens pretty wide, didn't measure that. Not sure what I will do with it, probably use it as is.

I thought it looked kind of Art Deco and I like that look. Couldn't pass it up for five bucks.

 

[gregthor]

Look at post #1198 (page 60)on "The Vises of garage garage Journal" That vise looks like yours. Maybe you can send the poster a message and ask if he ever figured out who made the mysterious V marked vises.

Greg

 

[B17E1943]

That looks like it, Greg. I will ask him and report back. Thanks!

 

[bluebolt]

You're right, that does like like a SS# - didn't even dawn on me. The pipe jaws do not appear to be removable.

And the "545" was assigned to California for SS numbers.

 

[bobbleheadhillbilly]

Up to this point I have been unable to identify the manufacturer of the "mysterious V vise". I have found a few small 3-4" more traditionally shaped vises with the "V" markings, but still no names. The only ones I have seen with the art deco style casting were some smaller Stanleys. Mostly the little clamp on type.

 

[Acacia]

That is a SSN. The person it was assigned to passed away in 1987 at age 83 in Shasta, CA.

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

 

[B17E1943]

Thanks. The mystery continues ...

It's kind of strange - most manufacturers are proud to put their name on their products.

 

[Outlawmws]

Might have been a sticker that is long gone...

 

[B17E1943]

Re: Help with vise ID? *solved* kind of

Mystery solved - sort of ...

This one is a different model/size, but looks exactly the same as mine:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380404160288?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

So, we know it's a Wards Powr-Kraft, but the question remains - who made them for Wards?

 

[gregthor]

Good detective work!!! And outlawmws was right... it was a sticker!