Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The Petersen Vise Grip is another iconic American hand tool. But, where did it come from?
And what happened to it?
Can I survive "Five Nights" in the abandoned Vise-Grip factory?
And why are there eagle ghosts flying around everywhere?
Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
All the Eagle Grips (that are still available on Amazon):
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
amzn.to/3TDgGPs
Eagle Grips at Epstein's: harryepstein.com/products/10-curved-jaw-eagle-grip-malco-locking-pliers-lp10wc
Moar History:
web.archive.org/web/19990904022614/http://www.americantool.com/feature.asp?feature=6
alloy-artifacts.org/petersen-mfg.html
progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2017/01/vise-grips-versus-mole-grips.html
history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/petersen-manufacturing-company-dewitt-neb-rg5623-am
newspapers.com/image/46050153/?clipping_id=20751345
Old Vise Grip Catalogs:
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Petersen+Manufacturing+Co.%22
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22American+Tool+Companies%2C+Inc.%22
Patents:
Wrench: patents.google.com/patent/US1392443A
OG Vise-Grip: patents.google.com/patent/US1489458A
Lock-Out Lever: patents.google.com/patent/US2201918A
1940 Revision: patents.google.com/patent/US2280005A
Curved Jaws: patents.google.com/patent/US2563267A
Welding Clamp: patents.google.com/patent/US2731932A
Release Lever: patents.google.com/patent/US2514130A
Welding Clamp: patents.google.com/patent/US2731932A
Sire & Petersen 1923:
google.com/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Commissioner_of_Pat/FnLTtOddhGQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=sire+%26+petersen+wrench+company&pg=PA785&printsec=frontcover
WWII Ads:
google.com/books/edition/Western_Aviation_Missiles_and_Space/Rwc-AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA3-PA157&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/National_Hardware_Bulletin/mlvFgwDZz0IC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA246&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/Nebraska_Conservation_Bulletin/Ys90MP5sbGAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA10-PA62&printsec=frontcover
Liberty Ship construction Photos:
rarehistoricalphotos.com/building-liberty-ships-1941
Newell buyout & plant closure:
web.archive.org/web/20030201104521/http://www.americantool.com/feature.asp?feature=46
google.com/books/edition/The_Betrayal_of_the_American_Dream/GuQ2Z_ASJrMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover
Stanley Buys Irwin 2016:
web.archive.org/web/20220202225057/https://www.newbritainherald.com/nbh-new+britain+news/252702/stanley-buys-tool-division-of-atlanta-company
Chapters:
00:00 FNAF Parody Intro
00:35 Bill Petersen
01:13 Early Vise-Grips
02:10 Sire & Petersen
03:06 WWII Growth
04:32 Design Revisions
06:18 American Tool Companies Inc
08:09 Newell Rubbermaid
10:29 Eagle Grips
11:50 Outro
The Petersen Vise Grip is another iconic American hand tool. But, where did it come from?
And what happened to it?
Can I survive "Five Nights" in the abandoned Vise-Grip factory?
And why are there eagle ghosts flying around everywhere?
Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
All the Eagle Grips (that are still available on Amazon):
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
amzn.to/3TDgGPs
Eagle Grips at Epstein's: harryepstein.com/products/10-curved-jaw-eagle-grip-malco-locking-pliers-lp10wc
Moar History:
web.archive.org/web/19990904022614/http://www.americantool.com/feature.asp?feature=6
alloy-artifacts.org/petersen-mfg.html
progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2017/01/vise-grips-versus-mole-grips.html
history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/petersen-manufacturing-company-dewitt-neb-rg5623-am
newspapers.com/image/46050153/?clipping_id=20751345
Old Vise Grip Catalogs:
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Petersen+Manufacturing+Co.%22
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22American+Tool+Companies%2C+Inc.%22
Patents:
Wrench: patents.google.com/patent/US1392443A
OG Vise-Grip: patents.google.com/patent/US1489458A
Lock-Out Lever: patents.google.com/patent/US2201918A
1940 Revision: patents.google.com/patent/US2280005A
Curved Jaws: patents.google.com/patent/US2563267A
Welding Clamp: patents.google.com/patent/US2731932A
Release Lever: patents.google.com/patent/US2514130A
Welding Clamp: patents.google.com/patent/US2731932A
Sire & Petersen 1923:
google.com/books/edition/Annual_Report_of_the_Commissioner_of_Pat/FnLTtOddhGQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=sire+%26+petersen+wrench+company&pg=PA785&printsec=frontcover
WWII Ads:
google.com/books/edition/Western_Aviation_Missiles_and_Space/Rwc-AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA3-PA157&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/National_Hardware_Bulletin/mlvFgwDZz0IC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA246&printsec=frontcover
google.com/books/edition/Nebraska_Conservation_Bulletin/Ys90MP5sbGAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA10-PA62&printsec=frontcover
Liberty Ship construction Photos:
rarehistoricalphotos.com/building-liberty-ships-1941
Newell buyout & plant closure:
web.archive.org/web/20030201104521/http://www.americantool.com/feature.asp?feature=46
google.com/books/edition/The_Betrayal_of_the_American_Dream/GuQ2Z_ASJrMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover
Stanley Buys Irwin 2016:
web.archive.org/web/20220202225057/https://www.newbritainherald.com/nbh-new+britain+news/252702/stanley-buys-tool-division-of-atlanta-company
Chapters:
00:00 FNAF Parody Intro
00:35 Bill Petersen
01:13 Early Vise-Grips
02:10 Sire & Petersen
03:06 WWII Growth
04:32 Design Revisions
06:18 American Tool Companies Inc
08:09 Newell Rubbermaid
10:29 Eagle Grips
11:50 Outro
