Vise-Grip Pamphlet from the 1940s

[lbgradwell]

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.







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

Enjoy!

[john k]

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. 

[lbgradwell]

Wish I had a camera with me.

So do I!!!

[lbgradwell]

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:




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

[lbgradwell]

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!

[Plyerman]

I love these old advertisements, thanks for posting it.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Does the decal near the jaw mean that there is no stamped marking? Or is that a stamping?

[mvwcnews]

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.

[john sbiegay]

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

[DM11]

That is a cool old pamphlet. The VG pictured still has the hex nut adjustment screw.

[lbgradwell]

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...

[DM11]

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.

[lbgradwell]

If you want I can post a pic of it.

Please!

[DM11]

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.

[lbgradwell]

No rush; whenever you can!