Universal Vise & Tool Co. - History (2024)

The history of Universal Vise & Tool Co. is tricky to research because there were multiple companies by that name. The only one of any consequence was based in Parma, Michigan, and was in business by 1941 and perhaps earlier. They were best known for their line of vises and other fixturing devices for the machine tool industry. They also manufactured the Swisher Wet Surface Grinder. In 1981 Crankshaft Machine Co. purchased and formally incorporated Universal Vise & Tool Co. Although the Universal company ceased to exist in 1996, Crankshaft Machine Group continues to manufacture Swisher grinders and Lindberg cylinders, another Universal product.

Information Sources

• 1921-22 Polk's Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory lists, under Detroit, "Universal Vise & Tool Co, John Maier pres. K Maier v-pres, C F Hummel sec-treas. 406 W Jeff av". We believe this company was short-lived and unrelated to the later Parma incarnation.
• 1959 Annual Report of the Federal Prison Industries, Inc. Board of Directors. "Mr. Berry N. Beaman, industrialist, was appointed to the board in 1954 and represents industry. He is senior partner of Universal Vise & Tool Company, Plastics Mold & Tool Company, and Jackson Machine & Tool Company. For four years he was a member of the Michigan Corrections Commission, serving as chairman for one year. Mr. Beaman resides in Jackson, Michigan."
• 1960 Decisions of the Federal Communications Commission, in a report on applications of the Triad Television Corp., Parma, and the Booth Broadcasting Co., Parma, for "construction permits for new television stations (Channel 10)". "77. Nelson B. Beaman...presently devotes approximately 90 percent of his time to the Universal Vise & Tool Co., Parma, of which he is an active partner and manager. 78. Mr. Beaman was born in Jackson in 1917 and attended public schools there... In 1941 he moved to Parma and became a partner in the Universal Vise & Tool Co. ..."
• A 1961 issue of American Machinist lists "Universal Vise & Tool Co 1957 Amach St, Parma Mich."
• 1963 U.S. Department of Commerce document R229-62, Simplified Practice Recommendation on Vises lists Universal Vise & Tool Co., Parma, Mich.
July 1971 Popular Mechanics has a writeup on "Swivel Blocks" from Universal Vise & Tool Co., 8500 East Michigan Ave., Parma, Mich. 49269. These vise accessories work go between vise jaws and a tapered or irregular work piece.. "Blocks automatically adjust to transmit force as needed to eliminate the need for shims."
• The opencorporates.com listing for this company shows that they were incorporated 1981-10-23. The most recent filing relating to their corporate registration was a 1996-01-22 certificate of amendment. The State of Michigan LARA Corporations Online Filing System database shows that the original filing is for "U.V.T. Inc.", with 50,000 shares authorized at a par value of $1 per share, all common shares. The incorporator was the Crankshaft Machine Co., 314 North Jackson Street, Jackson. The application was signed by Henry Garnaat, president of Crankshaft Machine Company. An amendment filed October 30 changed the name to company name to Universal Vise & Tool Co. A 1988 filing is their Annual Report; company address is 8500 W. Michigan Ave., Parma; resident agent was changed from Steven J. Miller to Thomas L. Jewett, both of Backson; Jewett was president, Judith E. Owen of Upland, IN, was secretary, Jacquelyn S. Duggan of Upland was treasurer, and the directors were Leland E. Born, Gene L. Hainen, and Jackquelyn S. Duggan, all of Upload, Indiana. On 1990-06-13 an amendment was filed to change the registered office from 314 N. Jackson St., Jackson, to 615 Griswold Street, Detroit, and seems to represent a change of residence of the resident agent. A 1993-050-06 filing changes the resident agent address to 30600 Telegraph Road, Bingham Farms, MI. The fee for changing was $52,000 which seems a tad high, but the resident agent was "The Corporation Company" and the filing affected "19,294 active profit and non-profit corporations". The 1996-01-22 filing was to amend Article VIII of the Articles to Incorporation to read, "The corporation's term of existence shall expire on March 1, 1996."
• 1979 trademark registration, S/N 73239732, reg # 1,161,626, to Universal Vise & Tool Company for the trademark "UVT" on "Vises, Work Holders, Clamps, Swivel Blocks for Vises and Shaft co*cks for Machines". The correspondent as "Beaman & Beaman, 601 Harris Bldg., Jackson, MI 49201" and the registration failed because "CONTINUED USE NOT FILED WITHIN GRACE PERIOD, UN-REVIVABLE".
• Sarah Joyner of Crankshaft Machine Group provided this information Mar. 3, 2020:

  In 1981, Crankshaft acquired Universal Vise & Tool Co., which included Swisher grinders and Lindberg cylinders. These products remain a part of the Company today. Swisher Finishing Systems manufactures vertical, horizontal and custom grinding equipment. It offers vertical spindle surface grinders for use in all types of surface grinding, resurfacing and sharpening applications. Swisher machines process a variety of materials including metals, plastics, glass and minerals. Users range from job shops and metallurgical laboratories to high volume, high precision production companies. While the Lindberg division designs and builds hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and rotary actuators, it is most heeded for designing and building custom cylinders. Lindberg cylinders are used throughout North America, primarily in steel and aluminum mills, the marine industry, and oil and gas mining industry.