Wilton 920 vice questions

[X-77Keith]

Hi relatively new here. I picked up a little bullet vice the other day. I would like to ask the experts how modified it is. First off it's red. I assume that red was not an option based on what I have read. It also has screws holding the rear section on. I have only seen pins on the Internet. Lastly it has aluminum jaws. Could those be original? I have heard both yes and no. Thank y'all for any information .

 

[exmaxima1]

I've seen red Wilton vises, but the only bullet versions were Snap-On (doubtful they went back to 1952). No aluminum jaws. No screws holding the end cap. It looks like the original paint may be seen under the red.

 

[X-77Keith]

Thank you. I doubt the red is original. For some reason I can't attach any more pictures.

 

[Shiftless]

Yes, Wilton made some vises for SnapOn and painted them red. But they were a different shape.
The Wilton 820 baby bullets were all painted some shade of green and came with steel jaw inserts.
Here is a pic of the Snap On red vise I grabbed from the interweb.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a pic of one of mine that I believe to be still in original paint. You can see the ends of the pins holding the rear section on. It is a popular modification after complete disassembly, to replace those pins with screws to facilitate future disassembly. I don’t really understand the need to remove the tailpiece on a regular basis, but … whatever….

 

[X-77Keith]

You have a great collection. Thank you for the information. I have a 2.5" with the original greenish paint still visible. I assumed the 2" would be the same color as well. I wish I could post more pictures. The site won't let me.

 

[Shiftless]

I wish I could post more pictures. The site won't let me.

That’s weird.
Can you PM me and attach a pic to that? Go ahead and try.

 

[X-77Keith]

That’s weird.
Can you PM me and attach a pic to that? Go ahead and try.

I sent you a pm. It won't let me send you photos or let me attach as files.

 

[Shiftless]

I sent you a pm. It won't let me send you photos or let me attach as files.

I got the PM. I understand the problem but can’t explain it,

 

[RTM]

Are the pics too large to attach?

 

[X-77Keith]

Are the pics too large to attach?

I have tried a few different ways. I'll try again.

 

[X-77Keith]

 

[X-77Keith]

So it let me post only if I took the picture and posted it from my camera. Not my gallery. Weird, but hopefully y'all can see what I'm working with.

 

[X-77Keith]

 

[FJ 432]

Congratulations. You have a baby bullet that someone painted red at one time and I believe you are correct that someone added aluminum jaws. Nice Rock Island vise BTW and welcome to where vise nerds hang out.

 

[X-77Keith]

Congratulations. You have a baby bullet that someone painted red at one time and I believe you are correct that someone added aluminum jaws. Nice Rock Island vise BTW and welcome to where vise nerds hang out.

Thank you. Since it shouldn't be red I will clean it up and paint it as close to the original green as I can find. I am currently vapor honing the powerarm. I may try and polish it since it's aluminum. I'm plating cycle parts so I'll just plate the parts that are steel.

 

[FJ 432]

 

[FJ 432]

Or you can go crazy and polish it all.

 

[X-77Keith]

Nice. Very nice.

 

[Shiftless]

I made an attempt to match the hospital green color of the early bullets. I bought a Chicago bullet with an early 50’s date code that somebody had over the years repainted red and the blue. I dissolved the spray paint a layer at a time using acetone and uncovered the original factory paint on a few square inches of paint. Not the whole vise. WAY too much effort.
I then took the vise to my favorite paint store and got a custom mix which was VERY close to the patch of factory paint I uncovered. I used that paint to paint a 3 inch bullet.
Here is the pic of that vise on a shelf next to one (on the right) I painted with Rustoleum satin sage spray paint. Pretty close isn’t it?

 

[X-77Keith]

Very close. I ordered a can of sage. I hope to be playing a batch of bike parts Monday. I'll do some of the vice parts too. I definitely appreciate the help and information.

 

[Shiftless]

Keith:
Good luck with your various projects. Please post your results on this thread when you get a chance.