Wilton C1 pipe jaw question

[supramisfit]

Hello all. So I've been lurking on this forum for years for information and this is my first post.

I just purchased this c1 vise attached to a workbench from a local auction. I was only able to see the vise in a couple photos and they weren't very detailed. So it was a gamble. Well when I picked up the workbench I quickly noticed that the vise was missing one pipe jaw. Otherwise I feel the vise is in overall good condition. Used but not abused.

So one thing else I noticed was that the remaining jaw sits very deep in it's pocket. So much so that if you clamped some pipe in there it would contact the main body of the vise. I found a fellow on the big auction site selling reproduction jaws for Wilton vises and his measurements for the C1 match my existing jaw size so what am I missing? This casting on the inside of the jaw pocket seems perfectly intact. Any thoughts?

 

[1982fxr]

Take it out and have a look.

 

[JradM]

Is that the casting from the part behind the remaining jaw or from the other side with the missing jaw? Try pulling out the jaw you have and putting it on the other side.

The jaws are held in place by a spring clip - you have to pry them out. Yours looks like it has a set screw too. I'm 90% sure mine doesn't, but I'm not at home to look.

 

[supramisfit]

The casting is identical on both sides and I've swapped the remaining jaw into both pockets and it sits the same depth in both pockets. This model vise predates the c1 with clips on the back of the jaws. It only has the single set screws. The problem is easily solved by just putting a plate behind the jaws to shim them out. I'm more curious as to why it's like this to begin with. Hard to believe it left the factory like this.

 

[KMScott]

I use to build and sell Wilton pipe jaws. On your model I had to send a 3/16 thick plate matching the outer pipe jaw dimensions. Wilton messed up that model cast depth dimension. I’d be curious to know the height of the pipe jaw and if they used a spacer. I added my drawing mentioning the spacer plate And gave length and width. I’m retired now and out of the vise parts business.

 

[supramisfit]

I use to build and sell Wilton pipe jaws. On your model I had to send a 3/16 thick plate matching the outer pipe jaw dimensions. Wilton messed up that model cast depth dimension. I’d be curious to know the height of the pipe jaw and if they used a spacer. I added my drawing mentioning the spacer plate And gave length and width. I’m retired now and out of the vise parts business.

KMScott I appreciate your input on this! That definitely shines a little light on this. The dimensions of my existing jaw matches your schematics exactly other than the two holes in the side. I believe that's the earliest c1 with two pins to hold the jaws.

Mine obviously had no spacer and was missing one jaw so no telling what the original equipment was.

My vise has the 8C1 casting on the moving jaw and dated 1975 on the keyway. I'm curious if anyone with similar casting/date would be able to chime in.