Another aluminum vise...marked this time

[mikeswrenches]

Here is another aluminum vise that is similar to the one I posted several months ago.  This one is different in three ways.

First it is marked with KAL cast into the fixed jaw.  Secondly, the jaws are offset to the left as you face the handle.  I'm not sure why the jaws are offset, maybe a special purpose or perhaps to allow long pieces to be clamped without interference from the screw and guide rods.  Thirdly, there are no steel jaw inserts like the first one had.  Other than these three differences, they appear to be from the same manufacturer.

I googled KAL but didn't find any references that related to vises.

Anybody have any thoughts?

Mike

[Bill Houghton]

Be very, very careful...you're going to wind up as a collector of, and authority on, KAL vises.

[rusty]

>I googled KAL but didn't find any references that related to vises.

Try Kaiser Alumnium

[RWalters]

The only pertinent hit I got on Google was a link to a November 2010 post on Garage Journal where a member posted that he had an aluminum table clamp vise marked only KAL and asking if anyone knew anything about it. Sadly, he got no reply. So the mystery continues. There is a KAL Aluminum in South Africa, but it doesn't appear they make vises. Looks like doors, windows and other extruded products. Also, I'm afraid Kaiser Aluminum may be a dead end as well. They make aluminum plate, tube, rod etc. (and aluminum nails) but I can't find any reference to them making tools, including vises. I know that jewelers sometimes use aluminum vises, but yours appears bigger than I'd expect a jeweler's vise to be. If you find anything out, please post it. I'd like to know more about this vise.

[RWalters]

You're right about the offset jaws, to hold long items vertically without interference from the vise tube, according to several current manufacturers of offset vises.

[mikeswrenches]

Bill, there is an old adage that says something about having more than one of an item that it makes you a collector.  It would be nice to be an authority on something...even if it was KAL vises.

For some reason, that I can't explain, I think these may be Japanese.

RW, this could be a jeweler's vise.  It is not as big as it may seem.  The jaws are only 2 in. wide and have a max. opening of 1 1/2 in.

Mike

[fflintstone]

Bill, there is an old adage that says something about having more than one of an item that it makes you a collector. 

I dont collect tools, I have multiple spares of some thought.

[keykeeper]

Don't think it is Kaiser Aluminum, Rusty. The only thing they manufactured was aluminum plate, aluminum can stock, aluminum foil, etc. My father retired from their plant here after 38 years. I toured the facility several times, myself. In their heyday, they were the go to producer of aluminum, from ore to finished raw product for industries all over the world. They had a plant in Ghana, Africa. My uncle was a supervisor at that one, and helped get the plant here running after it was built. He worked for several years for them after retirement as an independent consultant. They would fly him all over to solve problems for their various plants.

If they made vises, I'm sure I would have seen one or two in this community or at least in my family.

Most notable of their products was large plates for constructing the space shuttle and it's components.

[rusty]

>Don't think it is Kaiser Aluminum, Rusty
Hmm, was a weak guess anyhow...I remember they made some finished products, but to be fair, never seen any tools...

Another perhaps is KAL tools....dunno

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60098

[skipskip]

KAL tools were a Japanese brand in the 70's.

I have quite a few, pretty good quality for an import.

I don't remember vises tho.

Skip

[mikeswrenches]

It looks like Rusty and skipskip are going to wind up as the authorities on KAL tools...not me.

Thanks for the help!!

Mike

[rusty]

Perhaps a date

google books snippit, Hardware Age, 1947:

" 'Kal' Wood Vise "Kal" Wood Vise has a 6%-in. jaw with a 5 in. opening. It is made of aluminum castings. Model 200 is suggested to retail for S4.69. Units are packed in a case containing 24 ..."

[carlmorrell]

Joined this forum to add to this discussion.

I just revived an old KAL vise and decided to see if I could get any info on it.  It was my Dad's, and really seems like my first toy.  Very well used. Given all the other tools my Dad had, I would guess it was made in the New England (NY) area.  This vise was old in the 60's.  I would not be surprised is it was made before 1950, but just a guess.

Mine is identical to the pics posted in this thread. KAL stamp, offset, aluminum, 2" jaws.