William Petersen:

The original locking pliers were patented by the late William Petersen, a blacksmith, who learned his trade in Denmark.

In 1924 Mr. Petersen founded a small family business in DeWitt, Nebraska, USA, to manufacture his unique hand tools. Today (1980), Mr. Petersen's "family" has grown to include his children, grandchildren, and hundreds of employees. His idea has been expanded to include many different VISE-GRIP tools that are used and respected by laymen and professiopnals throughout the world.

The quality of VISE-GRIP tools remains unchanged; they are still made with Mr. Petersen's dedecation to old-world family pride and quality--the kind of quality you will not find in other brands that merely resemble the Original Locking Pliers.

Taken from an old VISE-GRIP™ package.

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VISE-GRIP is a trademark of Petersen Mfg. Co., Inc., DeWitt, Nebraska
Copyright © 1980 Petersen Mfg. Co. was owned by American Tool Companies, Inc. in 1998, now Irwin Tools.

HTML Copyright © Jock Dempsey, anvilfire.com

Links:

Vise-grip pliers Hold Down by Jim Paw-Paw Wilson.

iForge Anvil Work Hold Downs


Even birds get in on the Vise-Grip action in this Frank Tabor cartoon.



Custom made drill fixture clamp from a pair of Vice-Grips - Jock Dempsey, 1980
304 Stainless plates and block welded through plating with stainless rod.
Clamp is used for the drilling station then moved over to the countersinking station.
Originally used to make 100's of Nut and Bolt pins, modified to make rocker plates in 2008.