Wilton vise date ???

[sprinter86]

Hi, I just bought a Wilton vise off ebay and the date code is 3-945.

This looks to be pre-Chicago markings and cast with:

WILTON VISE No.4
Pat Pen USA

You can see full pictures here (incl. date stamp):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190722763037

Can someone help to identify the date of manufacture?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[thundermug]

I'm no expert, but it was probably made in 1941 or 1942. Others will know for sure.

 

[sprinter86]

Thanks. I have tried to research as much as possible but I havent found anything listed about this date code. I was also thinking one of the very early vises before they unified the date codes?

Hopefully a resident expert here will chime in...

 

[autopts]

made before their Pat was approved in 1942. They may have had old castings laying around in 1945 but thats unlikely. I also had a No 3 and someone stamped 3-51 on the key and which I knew was not right. That is a very nice lowboy. That was 1st generation from the 5 total as of today. Smaller base and small throat makes that relec sit about as high as the 300S of today. Nice original jaws also. That thread on the collar is 10/24 hardware and see if you can get the proper head that actually fits into that countersunk hole on the collar. Get 3 new ones

 

[sprinter86]

Thanks Autopts! I thought it was an old one when I bought it. This one appears to be in great condition, so I didn't want to see someone else buy it while I was off posting on forums checking the date...

Thanks for the tip on the collar screws - I will replace all 3. Do you know where I can get the swivel base locking nuts that have the short handles?

 

[autopts]

Thanks for the tip on the collar screws - I will replace all 3. Do you know where I can get the swivel base locking nuts that have the short handles?

Don't worry about handles. Those locking nuts actually date that vise to a older year. Wilton didn't put handles on the Pat Pending vises that I know of.