Oldest Vice Grip pliers?

[Shiftless]

Are there any vintage Vice Grip collectors out there? What can you tell me about this example?

I found this model 7 hiding near the bottom of a box of mixed tools I acquired while garage saling back in the pre Covid days.

I see markings of Patent Pending and a date of April 14, 1942

Notice the lack of the usual release lever. A bit of research told me that the release lever came into play after 1957

I didn’t do any polishing or even clean up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Shiftless,

I was about to direct you to use the Index to find the 'Vise Grip' threads, but after double-checking, I realized that it's in the category of others I missed in the first iteration of the Index in the Sticky.

Note to Self: Add links to the 'Vise Grip History' and 'Holy Vise-Grips, Batman!' threads to the Sticky Index. Include links to threads about other locking plier-wrenches. See Lang 'Sure-Grip', Basford 'GRIPSO', Samson 'Lever-Jaw', Seymour Smith 'Snap-Lock', and Botnick Motor Corporation or B.M.C. 'Precision Locking Pliers'.

The oldest Petersen "Vise-Grip" dates to 1921. He had eight (8) patents after that. You could google 'DATAMP William Petersen' and it would take you to the Petersen page there listing all the patents in order, which kind of gives you the chronology, and click on each one to see what was changed, improved, etc, from patent to patent.

SilverDeck is the resident expert, being a local boy who also did some deep diving on the subject here.

 

[3baygarage]

The pre-lever are old, however the oldest models are quite different than these.

 

[r_olson_06]

They are earlier but the really early ones often refered to as the "hump backs" are very elusive. I managed to buy a pair at a farm auction a few years back similar to these and they are highly desirable.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Following as I have a few pairs of these as well.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve had a few pre release lever vice grips as well. I listed one on eBay thinking that their age and rarity might equate to increased value. Apparently not.
The release lever was a big improvement in operation.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Don't make me go full Woody Rant on you guys!

Petersen-oriented 'Vise Grip History'.

Petersen-oriented 'Holy Vise Grip, Batman!'

And these will be future Index sub-links as well...

Threads on "Vise-Grips" (locking plier-wrenches) Not Named Petersen

American Plierench Corporatoin Eifel-Geared PlieRench

Botnick Motor Corp Precision Locking Pliers

Samson Locking LeverJaw Pliers

Wm Truman Company (Samson OEM)

Seymour Smith Snap-Locks

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for all of the info guys...especially Lugz.

With r_olsen 06’s photo, I know what to look for once I get back to lookin’ Thanks for that.

 

[woody 73]

I have seen the "lugz" rants also...

Old post of mine:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397715&highlight=vise+grip

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have seen the "lugz" rants

Too true, Mr President Wilson, too true. But it's easier to scapegoat it on you, sir!

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for the link, Woody!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a pretty early one. Found the patent online.

 

[bonneyman]

Geez, I've never seen a VG like that, OTG!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup no lever. Apparently you just crank it

 

[RTM]

Yup no lever. Apparently you just crank it

People probably felt you can't grab tight enough to FUBAR stuff, so they added the lever to inflict more damage.

But seriously, nice old find, never knew of that style until now.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I suspect it was more of a hybrid between an adjustable wrench and a hand vise initially. The lever was added in 1924, leading to the subsequent rounding and mutilation of millions of innocent nuts and bolts!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Geez, I've never seen a VG like that, OTG!

I thought it was interesting. Still has the spring and pushrod just no cam action lever.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

After climbing through the rabbit hole. Is it possible that Peterson had companies like Williams forged these vise grips such as SilverDecks pair? I have found patent 1,489,458A and 1,489,458B as being forged and mine 1,489,458 pressed steel.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

After climbing through the rabbit hole. Is it possible that Peterson had companies like Williams forged these vise grips such as SilverDecks pair? I have found patent 1,489,458A and 1,489,458B as being forged and mine 1,489,458 pressed steel.

Could these be the first Vise Grips stile that Petersen actually made in their factory?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I don't see the ones posted by Silverdeck, but the jaws on them were forged until Irwin took over.