Tool Talk

Catalog Forum => Catalog Forum => Topic started by: lbgradwell on February 12, 2013, 08:42:48 PM

Title: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 12, 2013, 08:42:48 PM
I won this cool old Vise-Grip advertising tri-fold pamphlet on eBay last week and it was waiting for me when I got home today...

It's undated, but I'm fairly certain it's from 1947 or earlier.


(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/Vise-Grip-2Small.jpg)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/Vise-Grip-1Small.jpg)


I also compiled a higher-resolution PDF file and it can be downloaded here: EDIT! See below...

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: john k on February 12, 2013, 09:21:08 PM
I like it,  admire the bulk of those early vise grips.   Trivia:  Did you know that vise grip silver plated their tools during WWII?    Chrome was considered a war material.   It was a thin phosphate looking finish, would not polish up.  A the state fair here in Nebraska, the company put up a large display of nearly 200 vise grips, clear back to Mr. Petersens prototypes.  Wish I had a camera with me. 
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 12, 2013, 09:56:15 PM
Wish I had a camera with me.

So do I!!!
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 13, 2013, 12:53:32 PM
Damn.

So I guess I was pretty tired last night when I got home since I failed to realize I only scanned & posted half the pamphlet! 

Here's the other side:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/lbgradwell/Vise-Grip-2b.jpg)


Of course, that means the PDF linked to above has also been updated, so I apologize to the 4 people who have already downloaded it!

Try again here: http://www.mediafire.com/?pqx4htisajh9zdq (http://www.mediafire.com/?pqx4htisajh9zdq)
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 13, 2013, 01:07:47 PM
Trivia:  Did you know that vise grip silver plated their tools during WWII? Chrome was considered a war material. It was a thin phosphate looking finish, would not polish up.

Hmmm...

I had more time to take a look at my files today...

I can confirm the above pamphlet is 1947 or earlier, but it is NOT from the war years as it specifically says the finish is Cobalt Nickel. My collection of old ads show nickel was used both before & after the war, but not during...

For example, a 1941 ad claims "nickel", while a 1944 ad says "silver", a 1945 says" "zinc", 1946 is simply "electro-plated", and we are back to "nickel" again in 1947!
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: Plyerman on February 13, 2013, 08:00:11 PM
I love these old advertisements, thanks for posting it.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on January 09, 2014, 09:18:16 AM
Does the decal near the jaw mean that there is no stamped marking? Or is that a stamping?
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: mvwcnews on January 09, 2014, 06:51:46 PM
Does the decal near the jaw mean that there is no stamped marking? Or is that a stamping?
There are some late 1940s / early 1950s Vise Grips without stamped markings ... and once in a great while you'll see one with a fragmentary remainder of the decal.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: john sbiegay on February 26, 2014, 08:37:30 PM
Just stumbled onto your Forum page and enjoyed the old pamphlet.  Was doing a search on Vice Grip...  I have had one in my tool box for years and the other day, I realized that it did not have a release lever on it.  On closer examination, I saw that it had a patten date of Apr 14, 1942... Not sure what actual year that it was made.. john
ps  On the lower jaw it has NO 10C
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: DM11 on February 27, 2014, 06:41:19 PM
That is a cool old pamphlet. The VG pictured still has the hex nut adjustment screw.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 27, 2014, 07:23:57 PM
The VG pictured still has the hex nut adjustment screw.

That's true. I have print ads back to 1940 and they all show the familiar round, knurled knob. A 1935 mention in Popular Mechanics show the hex nut...
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: DM11 on February 27, 2014, 07:40:19 PM
The VG pictured still has the hex nut adjustment screw.

That's true. I have print ads back to 1940 and they all show the familiar round, knurled knob. A 1935 mention in Popular Mechanics show the hex nut...

That is interesting. I have a old Vise Grip with the nut adjustment screw. It is what was later called the 7" size. If you want I can post a pic of it.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 27, 2014, 07:43:43 PM
If you want I can post a pic of it.

Please!
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: DM11 on February 27, 2014, 07:47:45 PM
I'll go dig it out and try to get one up tonight but it may be tomorrow. Unless I can find an old pic of.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: lbgradwell on February 27, 2014, 07:52:06 PM
No rush; whenever you can!
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: DM11 on February 27, 2014, 08:52:38 PM
Here are some pics. It has the Pat No 1,489,458 issued in 04-08-1924. Which it is certainly a later model than the 1924 model. Here is a link to the  Pat No.  (http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?set=1) look at pic #3. This one is a little latter than the one pictured as it does not have the slot in the back. Otherwise it is the same other than the bent locking lever.
Title: Re: Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s
Post by: Farmall450 on August 19, 2014, 07:00:24 PM
Wish I had a camera with me.

So do I!!!

+1 that'd be great to see!