Lane tech vice

[Skidonenko]

Someone wanted to see it bolted down. I swapped the metal jaws for some nylon ones (will do copper). Just use it for light work because its irreplaceable to me. Color is factory buell xb frame paint. Working on doing up the rest of my vintage power tools in the same color. The threads are soooo smooth and tight compared to any I've tried on main production models. My grandfather definitely did an "a" job on this.

 

[oak_park]

I'm guessing that Wilton was made for Lane Tech high school in Chicago.Thanks for posting.

 

[uniballer]

Very nice! Never heard of that brand before.

 

[CNGsaves]

MORE PICTURES . . . . . We can't live with just one !!!!

Very cool vise !! What is width of jaw ??

 

[drivesitfar]

SKI: nice vise and jaws on Gramp's old vise. did he maybe make that in High school or a tech school back in the 50's or 60's? i've seen several Wilton Bullet style vises that have school's names on them that probably work as good as an old bullet vise.

 

[Skidonenko]

I believe it was ealy 50's. Performed all procees to make it. (all the dates on his textbooks)

 

[Eds_tls]

Lane tech is a vocational high school in Chicago

 

[Pagan Wizard]

I'm guessing that Wilton was made for Lane Tech high school in Chicago.Thanks for posting.

Actually Lane Tech contracted Wilton. Wilton installed all the machinery in the school's metal shop, and changed the lettering on the molds that were used to cast the bodies to say LANE TECH instead of WILTON. The students in metal shop class were given the opportunity to cast, and build their own vise, and keep it. My father graduated from Lane Tech in the early 60's. He told me about those vises, and said he wished that he took metal shop, just to be able to make one for himself. I found one that has been restored to give to him. He said that his health was getting too bad to be able to use it for anything more than collecting dust, and wanted me to keep it for myself. That was about 10 years ago, and he's still on this side of the grass.

 

[RoninB4]

Interesting story about Lane Tech and the vise. I used to drive by Lane quite often as I lived in the area. Also worked at Wilton (Schiller Park) for a brief period as a toolmaker, didn't like the boss and went to work nearby. Thanks to Pagan Wizard for the story.

 

[Roberts210]

It is really impressive that High School boys could cast and machine those Lane Tech vises. These days most boys that age don't know diddley squat about tools unless they are farm boys, or they helped their dads work on cars. SkidOne, could you post more pictures of that vise? And how wide are the jaws? (edit) I just noticed the thread is 6 years old.

 

[oak_park]

Actually Lane Tech contracted Wilton. Wilton installed all the machinery in the school's metal shop, and changed the lettering on the molds that were used to cast the bodies to say LANE TECH instead of WILTON. The students in metal shop class were given the opportunity to cast, and build their own vise, and keep it. My father graduated from Lane Tech in the early 60's. He told me about those vises, and said he wished that he took metal shop, just to be able to make one for himself. I found one that has been restored to give to him. He said that his health was getting too bad to be able to use it for anything more than collecting dust, and wanted me to keep it for myself. That was about 10 years ago, and he's still on this side of the grass.

Thanks for sharing that info. Folks here would love to see a photo of your vise. I tried to get one at an estate sale several years back, but it was pre-sold before the sale opened, a pic of it here, interesting anvil on it, and the green and yellow was for sale locally awhile back but I didn't buy it. Chicago has alot of cool tool history!

 

[Pagan Wizard]

Yes, this thread is 6 years old, but I didn't find it until early this morning (insomnia). I was trying to find the proper green color for my vise, because I scratched the paint on it, and also looking for a swivel base. I have checked out 3 bases so far, and none of them fit. I would really LOVE to find a swivel base. The vise jaw inserts you see in the first pic, were found on eBay. They are aluminum, with magnets on the back side, and a rubber pad on the inside. As someone else said here, I also want to replace the steel jaws with copper jaws. Here are the pics as requested, and thanks for the replies.

It is really impressive that High School boys could cast and machine those Lane Tech vises. These days most boys that age don't know diddley squat about tools unless they are farm boys, or they helped their dads work on cars. SkidOne, could you post more pictures of that vise? And how wide are the jaws? (edit) I just noticed the thread is 6 years old.

Thanks for sharing that info. My grandfather graduated from Lane Tech in 1920's. Folks here would love to see a photo of your vise. I tried to get one at an estate sale several years back, but it was pre-sold before the sale opened, a pic of it here, interesting anvil on it, and the green and yellow was for sale locally awhile back but I didn't buy it. Chicago has alot of cool tool history!

 

[Pagan Wizard]

Someone wanted to see it bolted down. I swapped the metal jaws for some nylon ones (will do copper). Just use it for light work because its irreplaceable to me. Color is factory buell xb frame paint. Working on doing up the rest of my vintage power tools in the same color. The threads are soooo smooth and tight compared to any I've tried on main production models. My grandfather definitely did an "a" job on this.

Would you happen to know where I can get a swivel base for my Lane Tech Wilton vise?? I have one that fits, but it didn't come with the vise when I bought it, and swiveling the vise isn't very smooth. I'm afraid of damaging the vise, and like you said, these things don't become available very often. Also, you mentioned copper jaws.....do you have a link for those??? I think they'd really look nice on this vise.

 

[SkyPuncher]

pictures please!

 

[Pagan Wizard]

pictures please!

Scroll up a little bit, I posted pics of the vise earlier in this discussion. If you're talking about the swivel base I have for it, I'll need a few days, I'm heading out of town.

 

[Pagan Wizard]

Someone wanted to see it bolted down. I swapped the metal jaws for some nylon ones (will do copper). Just use it for light work because its irreplaceable to me. Color is factory buell xb frame paint. Working on doing up the rest of my vintage power tools in the same color. The threads are soooo smooth and tight compared to any I've tried on main production models. My grandfather definitely did an "a" job on this.

I have one of these, and am trying to find the correct swivel base for it. I have a swivel base, not pictured, but it doesn't seem to fit right. I also need to repaint my vise. The guy I bought it from did this paint job, and every time I accidentally brush something against it, the paint just flakes right off of it. You also mentioned getting copper jaws for your vise, can you share a link where I can get a pair?? Thanks in advance!!!!