Snap rings- How long have they been around?

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Hey guys,I have an American made Wilton Vise that I just purchased and restored. (will post pictures of the resto soon) When I tore it apart it had one snap ring in it holding on the threaded rod that opens and closes the vise jaws. I'm wondering how long snap rings have been used in American manufacturing, since i'm trying to date my vise (at least to what decade it was manufactured). I found one patent that uses them as early as 1952, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the vise is that old. I'm pretty confident that the vise is older that me, since i'm only 20 years old. But how old?By the way the tilt swivel vise model Number is 121079.This is the type of snap ring
Reply:They have all been around, have not seen any square ones yet.
Reply:Well a quick Google reveals the first retaining rings were patented in Germany in 1928.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:I work on tugs from the 60's and the Vickers hydraulic pumps are loaded with snap rings.
Reply:Originally Posted by bigbWell a quick Google reveals the first retaining rings were patented in Germany in 1928.
Reply:I'm surprised they weren't patented earlier... they are so common. I would have guessed around 1905... wasn't that the year they wanted to close the patent office. If you really want to blow your mind... o-rings weren't patented until 1937! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-ring
Reply:I Google d it as retaining rings patent date and got a number of responses too. Its all in the wording of your request when searching. This is where having bad grammar, spelling or sentence structure can work against you.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Good question. I was thinking that snap rings probably date from the 1800s; if not Roman chariot  times. The first ones were probably a  horseshoe shape that was bent closed, or else wire. Probably the first time a washer wore a groove in a shaft, the snap ring was invented. Snap rings are also known as  "Circlip" and "E-clip," that may help in chasing down their origins. I'll bet that there's a very early SAE standard for ‘em.----I'm surprised that the o-ring patent is so recent. I'm sure I've seen soft copper "o-rings" in stuff built way before ‘37 and also round packing grooves too. Wouldn't seem like much of a jump from there to a rubber o-ring. Maybe the patent was for the ring-making process rather than the seal's design?Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by WI fire 10Thanks, when I searched google for "when were retaining rings patented" and "who invented retaining rings" I didn't come up with the same information. I'm very surprised that they are that old. Are these german rings that you found the same type I pictured? Could you include the link? Thanks bigb
Reply:Well a quick Google reveals the first retaining rings were patented in Germany in 1928.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepGood question. I was thinking that snap rings probably date from the 1800s; if not Roman chariot  times. The first ones were probably a  horseshoe shape that was bent closed, or else wire. Probably the first time a washer wore a groove in a shaft, the snap ring was invented. Snap rings are also known as  "Circlip" and "E-clip," that may help in chasing down their origins. I'll bet that there's a very early SAE standard for ‘em.----I'm surprised that the o-ring patent is so recent. I'm sure I've seen soft copper "o-rings" in stuff built way before ‘37 and also round packing grooves too. Wouldn't seem like much of a jump from there to a rubber o-ring. Maybe the patent was for the ring-making process rather than the seal's design?Good Luck
Reply:Stevens point? Thought I would never see anyone from my town on here! We need pics of the wilton!