York vise history thread

[honza.vosalik]

Following information comes mostly from an email conversation with York. Some information also comes from their website.

This is work in progress in will be filled in with more details later on, especially I'll be trying to add pictures.

There are multiple versions of the York vise with a patent # on it. The vises with patent # 685893 were first produced in 1934, with some changes in 1946 up to 1956 when the body what changed and the patent # wasn't on the body anymore.

Patent info: http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=685893&id=54150

1934-1956

This is most likely the oldest version of the York vise. You can see how similar Wilton vises are including the collar. The founder of Wilton was a hand tool retailer in Prague, Czechoslovakia and was selling York vises. He was of Jewish origin and eventually moved to the US and started producing the copy of York called Wilton.

A modernized version of the "Patent" marked vise

Another version of the "Patent" marked vise

"ZAKONEM CHRANENO" = protected by the law.


1956-1972 - York 60, 80, 100, 125, 150

1972-1975 - Stronger body, new jaws. These jaws are still in production till today.

1975-1988 - York 60A, 80A, 100A, 125A, 150A. Did have the A letter on the body. This model has "triangle" pipe jaws.

1988+ Model L


YORK Standard

fastening to base plate by nuts
no special surface finish


YORK Lux

fastening to base plate by levers
main screw and levers zinc-chromated

YORK T

with pipe jaws


And more on their website...
http://www.york.cz/en/product-catalog

 

[woody 73]

Very interesting thank you for sharing that.

 

[joe.striper]

I've been in touch with the York company trying to get some details of their history from them. This is work in progress in will be filled in with more details later on, especially I'll be trying to add pictures.

1934-1946 vises marked with patent#

1946-1956 different body, vises marked with patent#

1956-1972 - York 60, 80, 100, 125, 150, "round body".

1972-1975 - York 60A, 80A, 100A, 125A, 150A . Did NOT have the A letter on the body. New body

1975-1988 - York 60A, 80A, 100A, 125A, 150A. Did have the A letter on the body. Same body as previous

1988+ Model L
TBD

Honda you Da Man!

 

[trijeff]

Subscribed!

 

[Fierljeppen]

Awesome job and many thanks! Looking forward to future posts.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Thank you Honza!

Added this to my other vise thread subscriptions.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Those are sharp looking vises!

 

[honza.vosalik]

York 60 with patent# on the left and York 60 with "60" on the side of the body.

 

[1foxracing]

I love my York 100!

 

[trijeff]

Wow, and it looks like the factory finish DID come with the York sticker ... there's been a lot of chatter on various threads about whether the stickers were original or not. Looks like yes.

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[honza.vosalik]

Wow, and it looks like the factory finish DID come with the York sticker ... there's been a lot of chatter on various threads about whether the stickers were original or not. Looks like yes.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

I think they were original for the US market. They were not for the Czech market, therefore you won't see them on my vises since I import them

 

[CTyankee]

Thanks for putting this info together. I never could find an answer as to the age of mine. Some of the YORK sticker is still visible.

 

[honza.vosalik]

Thanks for putting this info together. I never could find an answer as to the age of mine. Some of the YORK sticker is still visible.

Yours would be until 1956 based on the fact it has a patent # on it.

 

[honza.vosalik]

This York 100 arrived in the mail this morning. It will need to get cleaned up, but should turn out nice.

 

[CTyankee]

honza, I realize your research is an ongoing project and appreciate your efforts .
I'm wondering if there are more different manufacturing periods. My vise has YORK enclosed in a square border and others show it in a circular/oval border. Curious if you have found any info in regards to this and if it refers to an older or newer time frame. Would also be interested in seeing the opposite side of the vise that has "ZAKONEM CHRANENO" on it. Also, were these vise only manufactured overseas and shipped here?. Thanks for any additional you can provide. Nice new addition you picked up. Care to share the price you paid?

 

[honza.vosalik]

York 80A that arrived in the mail this morning. I'll take more pictures once I dust it off

 

[1982fxr]

Wow how many total yorks in your collection?

 

[1982fxr]

Also, the last blueish vise in post #1, where the pipe jaws are integrated into the main jaw inserts other than if it maybe keeps price way down or profits up I can't think of a single thing I'd like about that as a user.

That is assuming they're not made of something harder than Joe rogans head?

 

[honza.vosalik]

Wow how many total yorks in your collection?

I have a 80, 80A and 100. Another 60 on the way.

The 100 seems like a good user size vise.

I sold/traded two 60s earlier to other vise collectors earlier.

 

[slap29]

Thank you Honza!
A really interesting thread. Good job!
I have a york 100 in restoration at this moment
Just for information, Robert Svirk from York told me that the red color is RAL3020

 

[honza.vosalik]

Thank you Honza!
A really interesting thread. Good job!
I have a york 100 in restoration at this moment
Just for information, Robert Svirk from York told me that the red color is RAL3020

Cool! I wonder if it changed over the years though, the older ones don't seem so bright.

 

[slap29]

Yes, they don't seem so bright!
I finished my york 100 today!
I bought new jaws.

 

[honza.vosalik]

Here's the difference between 80 and 80A. The A models have stronger body around jaws for some sort of pipe jaws or holding odd shaped objects.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I was fortunate enough to find a NOS York 125 and get it shipped to my home. It's a very nice vise.

 

[honza.vosalik]

This is an older York 100 I had shipped. I like the raised letters on it!

 

[honza.vosalik]

This York 60 has a really nice old patina on it, I like it that way!

 

[honza.vosalik]

My five Yorks with four different body styles

 

[honza.vosalik]

Here's a couple York 60 pictures. The vise is really nice and clean plus it has original swivel locks! I found it for another vise collector, so it's on the way to his collection. Sometimes I'm having a hard time letting these things go, lol.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I got another couple of Yorks 60 in the mail last night! One of them is what I believe to be the very first version of the York vise. I think we all know now where Wilton copied its design from, including the collar and slide guide which York changed later on. The first Wiltons even had horizontal shaped jaws just like York has.

 

[honza.vosalik]

And a little group photo...

 

[JGarcia]

Hello there,
I am new to the forum and I think I am probably posting in the wrong subforum.
Please advice if I did.
I discovered york vises and happen to find a used one in my city, I am in Ottawa - Canada.
As much as I like the history of the used vise, wondering how does one go around importing one? Does York ship internationally?

Thank you Honza!
A really interesting thread. Good job!
I have a york 100 in restoration at this moment
Just for information, Robert Svirk from York told me that the red color is RAL3020

 

[MikeF2316]

I don't know how I haven't seen this thread up until now. A few years ago I picked up a York 150 from Kijiji. I dismantled, cleaned and lubricated it. I detailed that over here.

Now that I've used it for a while, there is one thing I don't like about it, the part of the dynamic jaw that sits below what you're clamping, being round does not support what you're about to clamp very well, it tends to roll off. The flat surface that's there on other designs is better.

 

[JGarcia]

I don't know how I haven't seen this thread up until now. A few years ago I picked up a York 150 from Kijiji. I dismantled, cleaned and lubricated it. I detailed Now that I've used it for a while, there is one thing I don't like about it, the part of the dynamic jaw that sits below what you're clamping, being round does not support what you're about to clamp very well, it tends to roll off. The flat surface that's there on other designs is better.





Hi Mike,
Can you educate me on the asking price for a york that needs some tlc. I am looking at a 100 model for $250 which seems excessive for an old beat up vise.
I emailed york today to see if I can buy a new one too.
Has anyone tried this?

Mike are you interested in selling me your vise?

New guy here asking lots of questions. Haha
Sorry

 

[MikeF2316]

Hi Mike,
Can you educate me on the asking price for a york that needs some tlc. I am looking at a 100 model for $250 which seems excessive for an old beat up vise.
I emailed york today to see if I can buy a new one too.
Has anyone tried this?

Mike are you interested in selling me your vise?

New guy here asking lots of questions. Haha
Sorry

Hey, no problem. My vise is not for sale, I was really lucky the previous owner was only asking $30 for it. I immediately told him is was sold and met him that evening to pick it up. I was the first to contact him, he had 5 more after me. I don't know what a fair price would be, but I think $250 is too high for a 100 in less than perfect condition.

 

[JGarcia]

Yes that is what I thought.
Could someone guide me and tell me what is the best way to find a fairly priced York vise in Canada?
Thank you

 

[Jo3]

Hi all.

Could anyone tell me if the "York standard" model (actually sold) is made of steel or cast iron?

 

[Filly]

My latest thread covers a little bit more history I received from York, and includes some of the early Doko vises.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=472838

 

[bagged89s10]

Good info on this thread. I just got my first York today.

 

[Kyle.nolte]

I just picked up a 125 at a swap meet! Mine doesn't have any size cast into the body. Only York on one side. Any info on dating that? It has Moravia and York 125 stamped into the top of the jaw too.

 

[Kyle.nolte]

I was fortunate enough to find a NOS York 125 and get it shipped to my home. It's a very nice vise.

This looks like mine, any idea on date?