Vanderman's Combination Pipe Vise, 1893

William Vanderman was a master plumber, inventor, business owner, and manufacturer. Vanderman invented several vises which he manufactured, initially as a sideline. He opened a plumbing shop in Willimantic in 1879, incorporating it in May, 1892 as Vanderman Plumbing & Heating Co. Although this business was primarily a plumbing contractor, it was described as manufacturing Vanderman vises in 1893. In 1899 Vanderman purchased a foundry which he presumably used in manufacturing vises. On May 25, 1908 the company discontinued its plumbing contracting and changed the name to Vanderman Manufacturing Co. A Hartford branch of the plumbing business was turned over to his sons. Vanderman concentrated on developing inventions and manufacturing vises, pipe bending jigs, and large job-site tool chests. Vanderman died in 1914, and the company operated until 1966.

Information Sources

• Archived articles by Todd Werts (ToolArchives.com) Vanderman Manufacturing Co. and Vanderman Plumbing & Heating Co.
• Power Vol. 13, No. 7, Nov. 1893, Pg. 15.
• Hartford Courant, May 27, 1908, Pg. 6.
• A Modern History of Windham County, Connecticut: A Windham County Treasure Book, Volume 2, by Allen B. Lincoln, 1920, Pg. 1690-1692.

  In 1908 he turned over the Hartford business to his sons and in Willimantic gave up the work of plumbing and steam fitting, after which he devoted his time entirely to the operation of the Valley street shop in the manufacture of articles of his own invention, among which were iron boxes for mechanics, a device for the bending of pipe, and bench vises. The foundry was also operated, the work being on contracts for the manufacture of parts for mill machinery. Mr. Vanderman possessed notable mechanical skill and ingenuity and made for himself a very prominent position in the industrial circles of the city.