Wilton Tool Corp No. 3 Bullet Machinist Vise, Early Chicago Pat Pend Rare
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:42979134 | Jaw Width: 3 in |
| Brand: Wilton | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| UPC: Does not apply |
This is a very early Wilton Tool Corp Pat Pend No. 3 (3" wide jaws) vise that is made even more rare by having a date stamp on the key. This is extremely unusual because early versions like this are generally never found with a date stamp on the key. Wilton started making vises in late 1941, the patent was issued in early 1942 and not long after that they changed their molds to remove the Pat Pen or Pat Pend (depending upon version) from the vise markings. Back then p...eople paid attention to things like whether a patent was pending, or already issued. Wilton started date stamping vises in January of 1945. This vise is stamped 2-945, which is for February of 1945.
The Chicago era Wiltons are getting very hard to find, and the Pat Pen or Pat Pend vises are even more desirable!
That makes this a rare Pat Pend example with the earliest shape and logo, and one of the very first vises Wilton ever date stamped. I've owned well over 100 Wilton vises and have never seen one with this combination of early logo and a date stamp much less a second month date stamp.
You can read more about the history of Wilton vise date stamping on my website where I also have many examples of my other vise restoration projects as well as tips and tutorials on vise evaluation, restoration, etc: mivise.com/wilton-vise-date-stamping/
I bought this vise from the original owner's daughter. I happened to be buying a welder from her husband and saw this vise on the floor in the corner, and asked about it. Her father was a machinist after WWII and she had sold off most of his old tools, but never thought anybody would want the vise. I sure did!
I disassembled the vise, stripped it to bare metal, made a replacement tail cap for it, then gave it two coats of primer and two coats of paint that is similar in color to the very early Wiltons....it's a bit of a blue/gray/green that is hard to describe. Wilton didn't start using the now famous Verde Green until many years later and it wouldn't be correct on this vise. The jaws were worn so I replaced them with a new set that have the old style horizontal lines. There was no hidden damage, everything lines up nicely, the dynamic jaw has only a slight bit of movement that falls within normal tolerances and it opens and closes with one finger. I did note a bit of a wiggle in one of the jaw lines near the bolt hole, so I took a closeup picture to show it clearly. In short, she's ready to go back to work for another 75 years!
I will carefully box this and send it via FedEx Ground as they have been the most reliable for me when shipping vises.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to see additional pictures.
Thanks for looking!
The Chicago era Wiltons are getting very hard to find, and the Pat Pen or Pat Pend vises are even more desirable!
That makes this a rare Pat Pend example with the earliest shape and logo, and one of the very first vises Wilton ever date stamped. I've owned well over 100 Wilton vises and have never seen one with this combination of early logo and a date stamp much less a second month date stamp.
You can read more about the history of Wilton vise date stamping on my website where I also have many examples of my other vise restoration projects as well as tips and tutorials on vise evaluation, restoration, etc: mivise.com/wilton-vise-date-stamping/
I bought this vise from the original owner's daughter. I happened to be buying a welder from her husband and saw this vise on the floor in the corner, and asked about it. Her father was a machinist after WWII and she had sold off most of his old tools, but never thought anybody would want the vise. I sure did!
I disassembled the vise, stripped it to bare metal, made a replacement tail cap for it, then gave it two coats of primer and two coats of paint that is similar in color to the very early Wiltons....it's a bit of a blue/gray/green that is hard to describe. Wilton didn't start using the now famous Verde Green until many years later and it wouldn't be correct on this vise. The jaws were worn so I replaced them with a new set that have the old style horizontal lines. There was no hidden damage, everything lines up nicely, the dynamic jaw has only a slight bit of movement that falls within normal tolerances and it opens and closes with one finger. I did note a bit of a wiggle in one of the jaw lines near the bolt hole, so I took a closeup picture to show it clearly. In short, she's ready to go back to work for another 75 years!
I will carefully box this and send it via FedEx Ground as they have been the most reliable for me when shipping vises.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to see additional pictures.
Thanks for looking!
