America is famous for its developed manufacturing industry and the world's leading tool brands. Among those brands, we cannot fail to mention a prominent name - Wilton . The sturdy, masculine vises are always on the wishlist of tool players, and this is also the typical product of this tool brand. Wilton vises are always welcomed and highly appreciated by a large number of users, the quality of Wilton vises is so good that, there are old versions that have been used for a long time, people still hunt for them and consider them as valuable collectibles. In today's article, let's learn about the development history of Wilton vises.

I. Development history of Eto Wilton
II. Buy genuine Eto Wilton at Phu Thai Tech

I. Development history of Eto Wilton

The Wilton story begins in 1941 when Czech immigrant Hugh W. Vogl founded a company that manufactured vises. The company's building at the intersection of Wilton and Wrightwood streets in Chicago was where the company got its name.

Hugh Vogl’s first vise design was a 4-inch bullet vise known as the Machinist 40S. The spindle had fine, precision threads with a flexible nut anchored horizontally, which could not be broken. This provided a uniform, centered pull, eliminating dead motion and unnecessary tension on the nut. The thread was completely sealed, keeping out dirt and dirt, while retaining a long-lasting layer of lubrication, providing years of smooth vise operation. A steel key was built into the base, guiding the movable jaws along a keyway precisely machined to a tolerance of .002”, preventing wear and lateral twist.

From 1941 to 1945, Wilton 40s were produced only in Chicago and supplied exclusively to the United States Government. They were used in factories producing weapons and equipment used in World War II.

After the war, the government sold surplus tools to the public at a huge discount. Because it had only sold to the government and had not focused on developing its own sales network, Wilton almost went bankrupt.

Hugh Vogl and his son Alex focused on building their own sales network. They aimed at distributing to the automobile manufacturers, whose demand had increased after the war, and they also saw the need to develop new Wilton vise product lines. In 1950, the 540 series of light clamps and the 900 series of heavy clamps were introduced. These products were highly durable with a tensile strength of 80,000 lbs psi. The spindles were machined from high quality cold rolled steel and fitted with well proportioned handles, all sizes were fitted with modern precision cut acme threads.

The Wilton factory remained in Chicago until 1957, when they moved to suburban Schiller Park, Illinois on Irving Park, just west of River Rd. You can tell by the date stamped on the keyway which location vises sold during this time were made.

In 1952, with the support of Bill Ferrick and his nephew Charles Vogl, Wilton expanded into industrial distribution. By 1960, Wilton had become a recognized brand in the market. And by 1965, Wilton had become the preferred eto brand in the industrial market.

In the 1970s, Wilton saw demand from the retail market and opened a manufacturing facility in Winchester, TN. This facility focused on smaller, less expensive vises for personal use. At the same time, Wilton began manufacturing metalworking machinery at the Winchester facility. The first products in this category were drill presses and band saws.

In an effort to continue to dominate the retail vise market, Wilton acquired Warren Tool Group in the late 1990s. The “Vise Columbian vise,” manufactured in Cleveland, OH, was the “made in USA” vise created with this merger.

In 2002, Wilton was acquired by WMH Tool Group (Walter Meier Holding Company AG).

In 2008, the Walter Meier, JET, Powermatic, Wilton brands merged and moved offices to Lavergne TN outside of Nashville from Elgin, IL.

In 2014, Tenex Capital Management New York City, NY acquired the JET, Powermatic and Wilton brands from Walter Meier and renamed the company JPW Industries , where they continue to grow and outperform the competition with innovative, quality products and services.

Through all the changes over 73 years, the original bullet vise designed in 1941 by Hugh Vogl remains the best-selling industrial vise on the market.

II. Buy genuine Eto Wilton at Phu Thai Tech

From 2023, PHU THAI TECH officially became the official Wilton distributor in Vietnam. PHU THAI TECH is a unit specializing in providing and distributing high-end hand tools with more than 7 years of development. PHU THAI TECH brings customers products from leading European brands such as Wera, PB Swiss Tools, Knipex, Facom, Garant, Hazet... through a system of showrooms in all 3 regions, convenient online Eshop and a team of enthusiastic and professional staff.

Now users in need of Wilton in Vietnam will have a secure shopping address with a commitment to authenticity, the best prices on the market, and full service and warranty from PHU THAI TECH.

All Wilton products at PHU THAI TECH are imported directly from the manufacturer with full documentation. Prices are clearly listed, equivalent to the prices listed on the Wilton homepage, meaning that customers do not need to worry about high shipping costs from the US to Vietnam.

For products that are not available and need to wait for import, PHU THAI TECH will also clearly notify the time of arrival and support payment methods suitable for users. And most importantly, if there is any problem with the warranty policy, customers only need to contact PHU THAI TECH, the staff will receive the information and handle all subsequent issues.