School me on Wilton 4" vise's please

[Tarnished]

Picked up another Wilton vise today at a Garage sale, and I have a question for the Wilton experts. This Wilton is a 1945 4" swivel in good condition.

PO said he had removed all the paint and cleaned it up and greased it. Said only thing I had to do was paint it. So being the sucker for these things that I am, it came home with me. Not a u-****, but reasonable for a Wilton in this area.
Once I got it home, I got to comparing it to the other 4 incher's I have, and this one seemed significantly SMALLER.

The 1970 4" is in the back ground, 1945 closer

1970 on right, 1945 left

After further checking and the bath scale trick it turns out that the 1945 vice is about 10-12 pounds lighter than my other 4 incher's.

1945 vise

1970 vise

From looking at it, I can say that the bottom swivel plate is defiantly shorter (by ¼ in or so) but I don't see anything else significant. Just looks like this vise is just smaller all way around.
This vise is from 1945, and my other 's are from 1968, and 1970. Were there other differences in these vises from the earlier years? I pretty much though a 4" was a 4" regardless of the year.
Please help me to understand.
Thanks

 

[tedsters]

whats the model numbers should be on the right side looking at the front of it

 

[tedsters]

i can see the No.4 on the 45 that was the 4in before the 9400 whats the bigger one a 101028

 

[Tarnished]

Tedsters: Yes that is correct. 101028. Both of my other 4" are 101028's. One a 1968, the other 1970.

 

[bigcaddy]

The one from 1945 was an earlier model and Wiltons have gone under many revisions over the years. I think its around 4-5 total but the would usually rework the jaw towers and that would effect the weight.

I would also think it has something to do with a company changing its design to better cater to its customers. It they are breaking them under warranty, make a heavier duty vise.

 

[tedsters]

1) No.4
2)9400
3)101028
4)?
5)400

there is one in between 3 and 5 i think i can't remember what it is, but the kept getting bigger thru the years not gonna say better but we have 8 400's at work and there nice and bigger vise just still a 4in. jaw

 

[tedsters]

i think there was a model 940 between the No.4 and 9400

theres a couple guys on here that are sharp on that i am sure they will chime in and if i am wrong i am sure i will get corrected

 

[autopts]

These were the 4 generations of Wilton 4" swivels from 1945 to 1998. Changes came in 1954 with a resigned swivel base. Bigger jaws, heavier to about 52 lbs. In the 60's Wilton made a few improvements making a slightly higher base, and giving the bullet a new numbering numbering system. 9400/101028 9450/101033 etc. The major changes came in about 1975. That vise is heavier, had more jaw surface bigger anvil etc. One newer bullet that isn't shown here is their latest. It has no end cap assembly. They moved it inside the casting. One thing remains constant. Their quality

 

[tedsters]

i just got educated a little

 

[Tarnished]

Thanks guys. I did not know this about the Wilton's. I also just learned something new!
Autopts, appreciate the help. Pics really say it all don't they. You can see that they significantly got larger & heaver. Guess I will have to keep buying them to complete my collection...
Would be interesting to see the latest model just to see how the end cap is made now. Anyone have a pic showing this? Actually, is there anyplace that shows the entire Wilton line over time? I have probably seen the entire line up in the "Vises of GJ" post, but not all together. Need to know what to search for next!
Thanks again guys, great to have this this place. It's a huge data base!

 

[autopts]

This is the latest model 400S out and its been out since about 1998 . Its the same exact vise from 1975 specifications have not changed .Notice, no end cap housing.

 

[Tarnished]

Thanks autopts: Learned somthing more... I had seen the newer 400's before and had always thought they looked a little funny. Didn't get close enough to figure out what it was. Now I know... The missing tale cap assembly. How much shorter does this make it then? So the lead screw is non removable then? It looks like they still use the pressed in end cap. Correct?
+1 on the quality. The ones I have range from 1945 up to 1970 and they are all built like a brick out house. And at a mere 65yrs old, I would expect them to be only at there 1/2 life, with just minimal care.
And the hunt goes on for the elusive (affordable) 6"er.
Thanks again Autopts, good to know stuff...