Wilton No3 vise date

[qtrmirob]

Help me out guys. I inherited some old tools from my nearly 100 year old grandfather. One is a Wilton No3 vise. Its completely original. I unscrewed it all the way and found the date 8-45 stamped on it. I did find a thread that mentioned this could be an expiration date for a five year warrantee. Well if Wilton started production in 1941 then why is mine stamped 45? That would throw that theory out the window unless mine is extremely early! What do I have and what is it worth? I would hate to use it as a vise if it has value to a collector!

 

[jreb10]

There is a theory that the 5 year expiration thing began after WW2. In fact, there is a whole thread about dating Wilton Bullets, where owners are asked to post photos and the results are being compiled.

If you can, please post photos here, as we all like to drool over Wiltons. And it will very much help the "experts" weigh in on what you have.

 

[Fretters]

What do I have and what is it worth? I would hate to use it as a vise if it has value to a collector!

I would have thought that sentimental value would far outweigh any other worth? Besides, an unused tool is a worthless tool. Keep it and use it in the manner and purpose for which it was designed, and that's something which can then be passed onto your kin when the time comes. Vices can be bought and sold anytime. Sentimental value is unique, and once gone is gone for good.

 

[McBrownie]

I would have thought that sentimental value would far outweigh any other worth? Besides, an unused tool is a worthless tool. Keep it and use it in the manner and purpose for which it was designed, and that's something which can then be passed onto your kin when the time comes. Vices can be bought and sold anytime. Sentimental value is unique, and once gone is gone for good.

This^^^^^^^^

 

[zkling]

I would have thought that sentimental value would far outweigh any other worth? Besides, an unused tool is a worthless tool. Keep it and use it in the manner and purpose for which it was designed, and that's something which can then be passed onto your kin when the time comes. Vices can be bought and sold anytime. Sentimental value is unique, and once gone is gone for good.

Sentimental value is 2nd to cold hard cash for many these days.

 

[1930]

This^^^^^^^^

^^x3

 

[exmaxima1]

Help me out guys. I inherited some old tools from my nearly 100 year old grandfather. One is a Wilton No3 vise. Its completely original. I unscrewed it all the way and found the date 8-45 stamped on it. I did find a thread that mentioned this could be an expiration date for a five year warrantee. Well if Wilton started production in 1941 then why is mine stamped 45? That would throw that theory out the window unless mine is extremely early! What do I have and what is it worth? I would hate to use it as a vise if it has value to a collector!

The 1945 date is correct. Unless it also reads "guar exp" there is no 5 year pre-dating.
There's a huge thread on this:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269079&highlight=Wilton+dating