Old Wilton Vise

[georgegab]

I purchased an old Wilton vise for $50, which is $10 less than the seller wanted because it doesn't have a swivel base. It is a machinist vise and it's banged up a bit. The screw works great without a glitch. It will open to almost 8" and weighs 62 lbs, not 80 lbs like the seller advertised on Craigslist. I'm happy with it. I'm trying to figure our when it was made, which was in Schiller Park, Illinois. He gave me two bolts with nuts, which he said came with the vise. The bolts have #10 stamped on the heads. He's not the original owner because he doesn't know about the Wilton name and he's only in his late 20's or so. The Model # is 60176. I'm going through the internet trying to figure it out. Can anyone shed some light. Thank you.

 

[warmpancakes]

first off you ****

 

[Displaced Hokie]

That's not banged up, it's in great shape! No big loss on the swivel - some folks actully like mounting them down solid like that. I don't think those bolts have diddly to do with the vise.

If you take it apart, there will be what looks like a big piece of keystock that fits in a groove and keeps the moveable jaw on track. Clean it off well and it should have a date code stamped in it. It could be "174" like mine (Jan 1974) or more detailed. Check it out.

 

[georgegab]

first off you ****

As you can see by my 1st post I'm new to this site and I have no idea what you mean by your post. I hope it's a friendly site.

george

 

[mrbreezeet1]

As you can see by my 1st post I'm new to this site and I have no idea what you mean by your post. I hope it's a friendly site.

george

don't worry,
You do ****!

Just means We/There jealous and you got a good deal................................

 

[georgegab]

That's not banged up, it's in great shape! No big loss on the swivel - some folks actully like mounting them down solid like that. I don't think those bolts have diddly to do with the vise.

If you take it apart, there will be what looks like a big piece of keystock that fits in a groove and keeps the moveable jaw on track. Clean it off well and it should have a date code stamped in it. It could be "174" like mine (Jan 1974) or more detailed. Check it out.

Thank you. Can the average Joe figure out how to take it apart. I've never had a Wilton before, but always wanted one.

george

 

[canuckian]

Thank you. Can the average Joe figure out how to take it apart. I've never had a Wilton before, but always wanted one.

george

Just keep opening it till the 2 parts separate. Be sure to support the end you're unscrewing or you'll have sore toes!!

 

[warmpancakes]

As you can see by my 1st post I'm new to this site and I have no idea what you mean by your post. I hope it's a friendly site.

george

earning a you **** is a badge of honor around here

 

[Amitygravel]

George ,
Welcome to the GJ !
Your first post involves a big Wilton , and earns a " You **** ".
You fit right in !

 

[autopts]

Welcome aboard! That might be what Wilton calls today a 450N, 4 1/2" wide jaws. Thats a fine vise and a great buy. Good luck!

 

[Catalyze]

Hi George! Welcome to the site.....and You ****!
See...that didn't hurt did it? LOL Wait until you start reading the garage sale threads....the ***** fly like leaves in the wind when folks get Snap On tools for a buck. Anyway...go read this website thread and it will give you a better understanding of what is inside the Wilton. Yours may be a touch different when it comes time to remove the main nut inside...but you are a sharp person and will get it figured out. I did on my first Wilton and I have proof that I am an idiot. Just ask folks on this forum....
Craig
Okay...that site is blocked from linking. So .....go to Google and put in "Wilton vise disassembly guide" and it will pop up with photos...LOL

 

[cool50]

Welcome aboard, I have been on here for a while and I never got a "you ****" you must have done real good. Don't worry some day you'll be giving out a "you ****" too. Enjoy the moment and the GJ.

 

[bgott]

That's good for a "You ****" for sure! You don't have to take it apart to check the date stamp, run the slide out like you have it in the picture. Then turn it over and check the bottom of the key that runs the length of the bottom of the slide. It should be stamped along there somewhere.

 

[ZRX61]

earning a you **** is a badge of honor around here

What he said.... & btw, we also hate you already. You'l fit in just fine around here well, so long as next time you get a deal like that you call me first

Nice score

Swivel Wiltons are the 400S, 500S etc, non swivel base are 400N, 500N etc.

 

[rickairmedic]

George first welcome to The Garage journal and second " A Wilton Bullet for 50 bucks " yes you sir **** .



Rick

 

[georgegab]

Thank you. Can the average Joe figure out how to take it apart. I've never had a Wilton before, but always wanted one.

george

don't worry,
You do ****!

Just means We/There jealous and you got a good deal................................

Thank you, that sounds more assuring.

 

[kc-steve]

I don't know if this would help you much, but your vise was made after 1957-58 based on the fact it has Schiller Park on the casing. More history can be found here . . .
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86615

Steve

 

[bluebolt]

Welcome aboard! That might be what Wilton calls today a 450N, 4 1/2" wide jaws. Thats a fine vise and a great buy. Good luck!

Autopts, could it be a 4" vise? I just picked up a 3 1/2" wide jaw bullet, it has 101160 on the main body and 101161 on the dynamic jaw versus this one with 101162 on the main body and 101163 on the dynamic jaw.

 

[georgegab]

Thank you all for all the "you ****". I'm starting to catch on to the Garage Journal lingo and I like it.

I pulled the jaw off and found a date stamped on the key at the bottom of the 2 3/8" round tube. That number is 277, which means Febuary 1977. I assume it's the date it was made and not the date the 5 year warranty expired, as I read somewhere, because a Wilton Vise is supposed to a lifetime warranty. Is that right?

 

[pfbz]

*Great* find, and as you have probably figured out, a steal at $50.

I use a slightly smaller version, 400N, as my primary medium-duty workshop vise.

For the date, just unscrew until it won't unscrew anymore, pull the movable jaw out, flip it over and look on the bottom. Should be a date stamped in it.

For example, this pic is from a July 1979 Wilton vise.

And this from an earlier June 1970 Wilton 9540

 

[bluebolt]

Nice vise George. How wide are the jaws?

 

[georgegab]

Nice vise George. How wide are the jaws?

The jaws are 4 1/2" wide. By the way, I flipped the jaws upside down and reinstalled. them Now they look like new jaws on the top side.

If the model of this Vise is a 450N, what does 60176 mean?

 

[georgegab]

I just added another Wilton vise, which is a bullet shap to my collection. I now have two Wilton Vises. The one I purchased in Sept 2011, which is a mod #450N (see pictures on post 1) and the new to me vise. The new one is 20" long and has a 5" jaw. It's a bit bigger and heavier, 96 lbs, than the first one. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I can't find the stamped date on the key because I can't seperate the front end from the main body. This one does have a swivel. It has layers of paint, which I plan on removing and restoring.

george

 

[bigcaddy]

The jaws are 4 1/2" wide. By the way, I flipped the jaws upside down and reinstalled. them Now they look like new jaws on the top side.

If the model of this Vise is a 450N, what does 60176 mean?

Its the zip code for Schiller Park, IL

You picked up a heck of a deal on that vise. Any Wilton in that shape and size is always worth picking up for that price. Even ones that are missing parts are worth is because parts can be found for a fair price.

 

[franzdom]

I just added another Wilton vise, which is a bullet shap to my collection. I now have two Wilton Vises. The one I purchased in Sept 2011, which is a mod #450N (see pictures on post 1) and the new to me vise. The new one is 20" long and has a 5" jaw. It's a bit bigger and heavier, 96 lbs, than the first one. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I can't find the stamped date on the key because I can't seperate the front end from the main body. This one does have a swivel. It has layers of paint, which I plan on removing and restoring.

george

The date would be visible if you want to look on the underside when it's a bit extended, anyway, getting it to slide out all the way is a good project and then you could re-grease the screw.

 

[nine4gmc]

a year later and you still ****, even more that you have a larger one now to go with it