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Mystery Vice Grips

Posted by 141drew Posted onJun 18, 2015 at 11:43 AM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on May 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM


What you see above is a pair of vintage vice grips that a buddy of mine got from an old locksmith. What makes them special is that no matter the thickness of the material you are clamping, the jaws stay parallel to each other. This is done through an intricate cam system hidden by it’s stamped and riveted body.



The benefits here are obvious… The vice itself is very small, but it’s gripping power is excellent. My buddy uses them for fine detail work on things such as stainless trim work, keying, etc…

Anyway, as you can tell from the images below the manufacture stamping has long since worn away. What you can see is that the vice was made in Illinois and it is sized as a #7 – a good indication that other sizes were available.

Anyone know anything about this thing?




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Strouty

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I have crimpers that have a scale like that, except it is gauge not inches. Interesting find, hope some people know more about them.
 
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coljar

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I need to look in the drawers of my older shop which contain some of the tools I don't use that belonged to my Grandfather. I'm thinking there is one of these vintage models in there.
 
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4

4xdog

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I have a pair of those -- they were old when I rescued them thirty-five years ago. My pair may be broken or worn out, but I'm pretty sure they don't lock closed like Vise-Grips. I'll have to dig them out and try. IIRC, on mine there's an imprint from the maker somewhere.
 
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Private Lugnutz

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Botnick Motor Corporation (B.M.C.) has a fascinating history, Ryan.

"BMC originally stood for Botnick Motor Corporation, which was the prominent Binghamton Chevrolet dealership founded by Saul Botnick in 1922. This dealership, still operating today, has been in its current Front Street location since 1930. "Mr. Botnick started a tooling shop, located here in the basement of the dealership facility, in October 1944," explains Todd Wilson, Botnick Chevrolet's parts manager and an avid local historian. "The tooling shop specialized in making 'Precision Locking Pliers,' which were like Vise-Grips; they were advertised in magazines like Popular Mechanics."


Read more: http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2011/09/01/hmn_feature16.html
 
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carhunter

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wow, I have a set of those but the grips are purple instead of orange. Found them at an auction years ago.

Great tool, but I have to be careful not to over-stress the jaws. They grip so well you want to use them on tough jobs. Guess you'd call it a parallel jaw design.
 
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2nrguy

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Wonder what it would take to make a new batch to original specs of course.
 
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ren71

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I have one of those at home. I'll get a better pic in the afternoon. got mine from an ol timer neighbor.

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Bob Hall

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Here's my pair. They were my dad's. I don't really use them for anything, just like that they were his. I think you can read the manufacturer. Glad you mentioned these, I need to get the rust off!

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Strouty

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I think the interesting part about the ones that Ryan showed is the Illinois. Everything else I could find was all New York.
 
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jask

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Those are pressure lock pliers... my Grandpa always said vice grips were a poor substitute for a better tool! I never knew why until he showed me a set of these.
 
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coljar

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[/url][/IMG]

I've been looking for these things since I came home from work tonight. I know it's not that big of a deal, but some thing's become a quest.
 
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Raven GT

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Facom has something like this.
Sort of a cross over between channellock and vise grip, where you set the range manually and can keep the jaws parallel.

I have an older model which i use a lot when welding.
Wonderfull pliers, which reminds me, i need to get some more :lol_hitti
Facom 500 series Locking Pliers.

 
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Jim_No_Garage

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I have a pair of #9's with RED handles by this manufacturer.

I have used them a few times and like them.

Below is a crappy picture of them.

Jim


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C

Cor3

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Ryan said:


What you see above is a pair of vintage vice grips that a buddy of mine got from an old locksmi...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
Click to expand...
I like those. I've been trying to find a good MultiTool.. tried sog,leatherman,armyswiss.. etc.. and well I am getting to the point where I am thinking of carrying around locking pliers a fixed bladed utility knife and just going from there. Those look to be slim and perfect for the job. Well except for the nose.. needle nose would be better.
 
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mtnkrake

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I've got both the large and the small version. The larges were my grampas I found the smalls at a yard sale.
 
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scooz14

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i have a pair of those. they were patented in the early 30s. i found mine in an antique shop in arizona and was intrigued by the way the jaws work. i use them all the time. ill snap some pics
 
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msgtsmithret

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Raleigh NC
I don't have a pair of those, but did find these old vise grip pliers. I've collected tools for several years but have never seen these before. Is there a new thread about old vise grips starting here?
 

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bagged89s10

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Found them but now I remember my dad gave them to me. It's the No. 7. They are awesome how they clamp parallel!

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1435060299.653815.jpg
 
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autobon7

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Raven GT said:
Facom has something like this.
Sort of a cross over between channellock and vise grip, where you set the range manually and can keep the jaws parallel.

I have an older model which i use a lot when welding.
Wonderfull pliers, which reminds me, i need to get some more :lol_hitti
Facom 500 series Locking Pliers.

Click to expand...

I have the Facom version......very nice tool. Picked up from the zoro site.
 
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pclark

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I have two similar grips Models #10 & #7 that I've had since the 70's although they seem to be an updated design and are curved jaw. They are called LeverWrench and manufactured by Leverage Tools Inc. Glenvil, Nebraska. I have no idea if they are still in business. I say updated because the material thickness is determined automatically as soon as the jaws contact the surface of the material to be clamped and the only adjustment is for how much clamping pressure you want to apply, similar to vise grips. They do not work well on material that can compress, but on rigid material with varying thickness they are a real time saver.
 
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jockeylot

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I have a pair like them but I couldn't make out the BMC Mfg. I could make out the Binghamton NY. Thanks for posting.
 
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2oolhound

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I used to keep a pair of those on my motorcycle in the 70's. The jaws stay square on the nut. Lost mine long ago but I saw a set of the large ones at a flea market that were fairly rusty. I wanted them bad but the seller wanted about $25 or $30 for them so I passed. What got me is how freakin large they were. By memory they were at least 12" long if not longer and proportionately that much bigger all around than those number 7's.

Can someone post a big set with a ruler in the shot to show just how big they are?
 
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mattoehler

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I've got a pair of #9's, got them from my dad who got them from my grandad. He probably bought them new back in the 30's or 40's. One of the few tools that my uncles didn't scavenge when he passed away back in 79.
 
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BlueBomber

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I've got six different brands of locking pliers, including the BMC type that started this thread.

d125dff1c03cebd211499ac5d14482ed.jpg
Left side:
BMC Manuf Corp No 9
Petersen 7CR ViseGrips, USA-made
Kobalt locking pliers, bought new at Lowes in a moment of weakness
Right side:
Channellock 910
Dunlap, w/o release lever, my oldest
Craftsman 9_45324

Can't say which one is my favorite, as I haven't used all of them yet. The Channellock 910 looks intriguing...

ea8d292de8f45c94b0bb667dbf748acf.jpg
73128f59ba538d345fd487e092c7b93f.jpg
 
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Knyte Tyne

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Here is my set - old No.9 BMC - dug this out of one of those "Filled with random **** boxes" stored in my grandfathers basement "work hole". Have had them for years and never used them, Almost threw them away once. Funny how a little education provides a greater appreciation

Tried to get a clear shot of the engraving...

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