Found an old Wilton Vise on Craigslist.org

[Grizzly]

I purchased an old Wilton vise for $50, which is $10 less than than the seller wanted because it doesn't have a swivel base. It is a machinist vise and it's banged up a bit. The screw works great without a glitch. It will open to almost 8" and weighs 62 lbs. I'm happy with it. I'm trying to figure our when it was made, which was in Schiller Park, Illinois. The seller gave me two bolts with nuts, which he said came with the vise. The bolts have #10 stamped on the heads. He's not the original owner because he doesn't know about the Wilton name and he's only in his late 20's or so. The Model # is 60176. I'm going through the internet trying to figure out it's age and worth, although it's not for sale. I've been wanting a Wilton Vise for many years and now I've got one.



Can anyone shed some light on this gem?



Thanks, george

 

[seafish]

NICE vise... I have the exact same one with a swivel base AND replaceable aluminum jaw inserts. I love it !!! Sorry don't know the history, but it is an excellent vise!!
Stole mine for $75 on Craigslist many years ago.

Check out post#21 at the top of page #2 on this thread... .

Wilton Vise History - Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web

 

[seafish]

Also check out this link... . cool photos on the "WILTOMATIC" air operated vise--

VintageMachinery.org - Photo Index - Wilton Corp. - Wiltomatic 5S450 pneumatic vise

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks seafish, your two post gives me much information to work with. I need to take it apart to check out the end of the 5 year warranty date. What bothers me however is that I have read that Wilton has a lifetime warranty.

 

[rMetzger]

I bet the old "5-year" warrantee was in effect before they ever saw a 70-year-old piece still functioning well. Hindsight would have told'em "lifetime" is still no risk.

 

[Dl5treez]

Maybe a tad late here, but the model # is odd.



60176 is also the zip code for Shiller Park, Illinois, where Wilton was located after 1955. Before '55 they were in Chicago.



Zip codes weren't "invented" until 1963, so I'm guessing--just guessing here--that without seeing the vise, the model # is actually the zip code of the address... making the vise no older than 1963.



The oldest Wiltons I've seen have Chicago USA cast into them... the next said Shiller Park, Ill... . after that was Shiller Park, Ill 60176.





I'm just a youngster (34) but unfortunately am a bit of a tool geek. :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

Maybe a tad late here, but the model # is odd.



60176 is also the zip code for Shiller Park, Illinois, where Wilton was located after 1955. Before '55 they were in Chicago.



Zip codes weren't "invented" until 1963, so I'm guessing--just guessing here--that without seeing the vise, the model # is actually the zip code of the address... making the vise no older than 1963.



The oldest Wiltons I've seen have Chicago USA cast into them... the next said Shiller Park, Ill... . after that was Shiller Park, Ill 60176.





I'm just a youngster (34) but unfortunately am a bit of a tool geek. :-laf

Dl5treez, From what I have gathered from another web site called, The Garage Journal, is that this vise is a 450N model. I did confirmed that 60176 is the zip code for Shiller Park, Ill. Also thanks to seafish posts, I found a date stamped on the bottom of the 2 3/8" steel tube on the key. That date is 277, which means Feb 1977.



I'm still trying to find out all I can on this vise. Thanks for all the replies.



george

 

[GCroyle]

Makes me want to post a pic of my Parker. It's pretty old, DL5treez will probally know what it is. Jaws are more tapered up, but it a keeper.



DL5treez is a tool Geek, who'da thunk that. I have a Wright socket set that is older than YOU are!



That's a great addition to a shop Grizzly.

 

[Dl5treez]

Grizzly's vise is 6 months older than me..... :-laf

My father has a C. Parker vise on his welding table, circa late 1800's to early 1900's.

8" jaws, weighs in the neighborhood of 200 pounds... . bought it at a Richie Bros. auction along with the welding table and about 2500 pounds of Grade 8 fasteners for $155. 00 and other folks in attendance thought he was insane..... amazing how people work sometimes.

 

[Grizzly]

Also check out this link... . cool photos on the "WILTOMATIC" air operated vise--



VintageMachinery.org - Photo Index - Wilton Corp. - Wiltomatic 5S450 pneumatic vise

seafish, this link doesn't work any longer.

 

[seafish]

That's wierd... . looks like somebody pulled the photo... I can't find it, even independently of the link.

 

[seafish]

Grizzly,I finally had time to check the date and model on my Wilton.



"9400a" is stamped right below the stationary jaw and



"GUAR EXP 12-31-60" is stamped on the key, at the bottom of the cylinder...



So I guess that would mean mine was cast in 1955 .



I am also slightly embarassed to say that it's due for a good cleaning and another coat of paint... just another minor, winter maintenance chore. Oo.

 

[seafish]

Here is a link with a pic a some light info on one that has been restored



WILTON VISE 9400, 4″ NEW JAWS & CAPS, VINTAGE & NICE



You can see that ours look ALOT alike even though the model# is different...

 

[seafish]

And some MORE pics from one that sold on eBay for $150. 00--

WILTON 9400 HEAVY DUTY VISE - 4" JAWS - MADE IN USA | eBay

 

[Grizzly]

Here is a link with a pic a some light info on one that has been restored



WILTON VISE 9400, 4″ NEW JAWS & CAPS, VINTAGE & NICE



You can see that ours look ALOT alike even though the model# is different...

Very nice vise seafish. It does look like my 450N.



george

 

[Grizzly]

How's this Wilton Mill woodworking vise for $85. craigslist

 

[seafish]

I have FOUR of those in my woodshop. I got them from a public school shop class closing down for $50 each.

They work great!!

 

[Grizzly]

I found another Wilton Bullet style vise for my Workshop:



I just acquired Another Wilton Bullet Vise for my Workshop. The vise I purchased last week has 5" jaws, is 20" long and weighs 96 lbs. I don't know the model number nor the age. I know it's old, because it looks old and has layers of paint. I purchased it from a man who appears to be in his mid to late 40's. He said it was his dad's who recently passed away. He remembers it from when he was a little kid. I can not remove the dynamic jaw to check the stamped date on the key at the bottom of the 2. 75"+/-round tube, which contains the opening /closing screw.



My first Wilton Bullet Vise is a model # 450N and has 4. 5" jaws and is 18" long and weighs 62 lbs. The dynamic jaw on this one is easy to remove.



Seafish or DI5treez or any Wilton vise experts out there who can tell me the model number and how to remove the dynamic jaw so that I can check the date? I also want to clean out all the insides and re-grease it. I plan on stripping both of them down and restore them.



Thanks for your help, george

 

[Scrappy]

I purchased an old Wilton vise for $50, which is $10 less than than the seller wanted because it doesn't have a swivel base. It is a machinist vise and it's banged up a bit. The screw works great without a glitch. It will open to almost 8" and weighs 62 lbs. I'm happy with it. I'm trying to figure our when it was made, which was in Schiller Park, Illinois. The seller gave me two bolts with nuts, which he said came with the vise. The bolts have #10 stamped on the heads. He's not the original owner because he doesn't know about the Wilton name and he's only in his late 20's or so. The Model # is 60176. I'm going through the internet trying to figure out it's age and worth, although it's not for sale. I've been wanting a Wilton Vise for many years and now I've got one.

Can anyone shed some light on this gem?

Thanks, george

I found another Wilton Bullet style vise for my Workshop:

I just acquired Another Wilton Bullet Vise for my Workshop. The vise I purchased last week has 5" jaws, is 20" long and weighs 96 lbs. I don't know the model number nor the age. I know it's old, because it looks old and has layers of paint. I purchased it from a man who appears to be in his mid to late 40's. He said it was his dad's who recently passed away. He remembers it from when he was a little kid. I can not remove the dynamic jaw to check the stamped date on the key at the bottom of the 2. 75"+/-round tube, which contains the opening /closing screw.

My first Wilton Bullet Vise is a model # 450N and has 4. 5" jaws and is 18" long and weighs 62 lbs. The dynamic jaw on this one is easy to remove.

Seafish or DI5treez or any Wilton vise experts out there who can tell me the model number and how to remove the dynamic jaw so that I can check the date? I also want to clean out all the insides and re-grease it. I plan on stripping both of them down and restore them.

Thanks for your help, george

it looks to me that they are ALL swivel vises. just that the bases are missing?

 

[BIGNASTY]

So Grizz those are pretty good vice's ? I have my Dad's from his shop when he passed I took his tools and the vice along with them I can almost bet that he got it from the Navy discount store :-laf . We beat the crap out of things on that vice and it never seemed to bother the way it worked on bit. The thing I liked about it was for the size of the vice the jaws open REALLY WIDE.

BIG