Just bought a Wilton 5" Triple Duty Utility Vice today for $60. It has the quick release feature. Can someone tell me about when this vice was made, and if it is a decent vice? I was satisfied that it was made in the USA and is in good shape and working condition. There isn't much information stamped on it - just the model name (no number), the Wilton address (Schiller Park), and a number that was stamped into the underside of the swivel base (13-685). My plan is to restore it.
Newbie here...can someone help me ID this Wilton vice?
- Thread starter Cubster
- Start date
Shiftless
Well-known member
So, how does the quick release feature work on that vise?
The dynamic jaw is pushed toward the static jaw by hand to contact the work piece, and then the vice is tightened using the handle. To loosen the grip on the work piece, the handle is used to back off the dynamic jaw a couple turns, which then allows the dynamic jaw to be pulled back away from the work piece by hand.
Last edited:
thehorse13
Well-known member
Your Wilton is considered modern to the folks around here. When I don't know how to date a piece, I always look up the patent number if there is one. That will give you a starting point.
Patent number is 2430458. This patent was applied for August 27, 1945 and granted November 11, 1947. The Patentee was Leo F. Farrell, South Haven, MI and was called "Automatic Screw Control." Per the source: "This patent number was seen on a Wilton 3½" Triple Duty Vise. The patent covers a quick-release mechanism where the threads engage when turned in one direction but release when turned in the other direction.
Mine is a 5" vise.
Here's a link to the patent details:
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=49758
In the patent detail, the manufacturer is listed as Wilton (Schiller Park, IL), and the "Assignee" is listed as Titan Manufacturing Company (Grand Rapids, MI). What is an "Assignee?" Does this mean the vise was actually made by Titan, or was the patent assigned to Titan for manufacturing other vises, or what? The Patentee is identified with South Haven, MI, which is about 60 miles from Titan Manufacturing's location.
From the little I can find online about this vice, it appears to have been made in the 1950s or possibly into the 1960s.
Just curious but what manufacturing date range is considered 'vintage' here?
Mine is a 5" vise.
Here's a link to the patent details:
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=49758
In the patent detail, the manufacturer is listed as Wilton (Schiller Park, IL), and the "Assignee" is listed as Titan Manufacturing Company (Grand Rapids, MI). What is an "Assignee?" Does this mean the vise was actually made by Titan, or was the patent assigned to Titan for manufacturing other vises, or what? The Patentee is identified with South Haven, MI, which is about 60 miles from Titan Manufacturing's location.
From the little I can find online about this vice, it appears to have been made in the 1950s or possibly into the 1960s.
Just curious but what manufacturing date range is considered 'vintage' here?
Last edited:
thehorse13
Well-known member
United States Patent Office. They have a lookup page.
