The VISES of Garage Journal

[Mr. Wonderful]

I've never seen a sweetheart era catalogue with the removable Jaws. Earliest I've read is 1949 a completely different style of clamp on though, everything earlier from what is available to read is "fitted". If you find anything I'd like to see it good buddy

akasrick

I'm not very knowledgeable on the Stanley stuff. Hopefully one of the gurus will chime in on this one @Smitty said it's early 40's.

 

[Shiftless]

Here's a few goodies I picked up from an auction on Friday. Pretty happy about finding a certain post vise! Also a few good bases to be used for stands.

I like comic understatement. “Pretty happy” to find an apparently complete and undamaged Fisher Norris chain vise is AMAZING ! Needless to say, you ****.

 

[SkyPuncher]

Ok, maybe a little more than pretty happy.... It needs a good cleaning but overall is in pretty good condition. First one I have come across that I could afford. It is a No. 3 and this one appears to have the date. What do you guys think, 1917? Totals for the auction was
semi rim - $6 2 semi drums w/hubbs - $16 and the vise was $115.

 

[Smitty]

I'm not very knowledgeable on the Stanley stuff. Hopefully one of the gurus will chime in on this one @Smitty said it's early 40's.

I’m a big fan of these little vises and i have quite a few of them some dating back to the early Jersey Vise days. Here’s a catalog from 1941 showing that these were still in production at the time but there’s no mention of replaceable jaws. Like Rick I have yet to see an ad or catalog page touting removable jaws for the original sweetheart models but the vises do exist. It is my personal belief that replaceable jaws were the next logical step for these little vises but the plan changed once we entered the war. Stanley retooled their factories to help the war effort and never put the sweetheart models back into production. Hopefully an ad surfaces someday that refers to the replaceable jaws.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I’m a big fan of these little vises and i have quite a few of them some dating back to the early Jersey Vise days. Here’s a catalog from 1941 showing that these were still in production at the time but there’s no mention of replaceable jaws. Like Rick I have yet to see an ad or catalog page touting removable jaws for the original sweetheart models but the vises do exist. It is my personal belief that replaceable jaws were the next logical step for these little vises but the plan changed once we entered the war. Stanley retooled their factories to help the war effort and never put the sweetheart models back into production. Hopefully an ad surfaces someday that refers to the replaceable jaws.

Very cool! thanks for the info!

 

[jjenri]

Today’s restoration along with my
Modest collection/ back up vises.

 

[jjenri]

Today’s restoration: Pre-1926 Columbian 504

 

[Chrisuk]

Jet engine starter needed???

Haha yes, that was a project from a few years ago @lowdowndodge

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Today’s restoration: Pre-1926 Columbian 504

Is that a hammered blue paint??

 

[jjenri]

Is that a hammered blue paint??

Rustoleum metallic deep blue … hard to find nowadays unfortunately

 

[jjenri]

Is that a hammered blue paint??

Found a link to it!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0876HVVLV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[jjenri]

Really love this color

 

[paulsomlo]

Chinese Prentiss Anyone? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3091456877822154/

 

[va.grouseman]

Congrats on the Fisher, SkyPuncher.---Rare find.---Yep, you can still find people that just don't know what they are setting on.---But it's the only way to find a deal within reason anymore.---Of course yours wasn't a deal, you stole that one.

 

[jjenri]

Still have touching up to do but leaving this one naked

 

[jjenri]

Today’s restoration. Erie 104 for my dad-yellow was per his request lol

 

[454ragtop]

Refurbing a 2 of 77 Wilton C0 combo vise, anybody khow what the original color was? Verde Green? Mine was gray and rust, but It wasn't OEM paint, all over the swivel lock handles and anvil.

As regards the Stanley vises with removable jaw faces, are we sure the catalog listings with "steel faced jaws" aren't referring to screwed on jaw faces? I have a bunch of the Stanley/Victor/Jersey vises, some with removable jaw inserts, most just cast iron jaws.

 

[Plastikosmd]

A Columbia and a starrett

More importantly, the PO aligned them on the bench that I bought off of him.

It has been most handy to have two in alignment

 

[paulsomlo]

Brought this home today, FB Marketplace, $10. 3 1/2", has some issues. Front and rear jaws don't meet laterally, there's a bit of an offset, along with a crack at each corner of the rear jaw ledge. What's the remedy for the crack - braze, pin, or do nothing?

 

[akasrick]

Refurbing a 2 of 77 Wilton C0 combo vise, anybody khow what the original color was? Verde Green? Mine was gray and rust, but It wasn't OEM paint, all over the swivel lock handles and anvil.

As regards the Stanley vises with removable jaw faces, are we sure the catalog listings with "steel faced jaws" aren't referring to screwed on jaw faces? I have a bunch of the Stanley/Victor/Jersey vises, some with removable jaw inserts, most just cast iron jaws.

That is the other probability.
I think there are 6 vises posted with removable steel faces, and none with the welded inserts.
Just kind of odd that them being screwed on aren't mentioned in their advs.

akasrick

 

[akasrick]

Refurbing a 2 of 77 Wilton C0 combo vise, anybody khow what the original color was? Verde Green? Mine was gray and rust, but It wasn't OEM paint, all over the swivel lock handles and anvil.

As regards the Stanley vises with removable jaw faces, are we sure the catalog listings with "steel faced jaws" aren't referring to screwed on jaw faces? I have a bunch of the Stanley/Victor/Jersey vises, some with removable jaw inserts, most just cast iron jaws.

These links may save some searching, maybe more out there. Just the wacky world of vises and jaw styles.

Prentiss 1911

US Patent: 994,240 - Vise

US patent 994,240 Vise was issued to Charles D. Bingham of Watertown, NY. It was granted on 06/06/1911. This invention covers the means of "securing and removing face plates from the main jaws of vises."

www.datamp.org

Reed 1912

US Patent: 1,048,100 - Face for vise-jaws

US patent 1,048,100 Face for vise-jaws was issued to Henry Rorig of Erie, PA. It was granted on 12/24/1912.

www.datamp.org

akasrick

 

[Smitty]

I’ve only seen a handful of stanley vises with removable jaws. Stanley made subtle design changes over the years and I can tell that all of the removable jaws examples were made in the very late 30’s to early 40’s. Stanley basically sold two styles of vises in the early years. Simple cast iron jaws and cast in steel jaws. i have yet to see a set of removable jaws from the early years.

 

[ClydeSDale84]

We're major league downsizing and I'm thinning the herd. I've been trying to learn more about an old vise I have. It's labeled as a Hollands Erie PA 17-H as seen below. Undocumented history is that it came from the Chicago Great Western roundhouse in Rochester, MN when it was torn down. I have no idea of it's value or rarity. It's companion is a ~#375 anvil, but then this is a vise thread. I'd be interested in comments.






Roger

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

We're major league downsizing and I'm thinning the herd. I've been trying to learn more about an old vise I have. It's labeled as a Hollands Erie PA 17-H as seen below. Undocumented history is that it came from the Chicago Great Western roundhouse in Rochester, MN when it was torn down. I have no idea of it's value or rarity. It's companion is a ~#375 anvil, but then this is a vise thread. I'd be interested in comments.






Roger

Welcome to GJ. I guess when you jump in the pool it's a cannonball. That 17H is a monster! As for its rarity, we don't have an example on our vise info thread so that's saying something! That anvil is a beauty too!

 

[Shiftless]

Yes, Welcome to GJ
There is a Hollands 17 (not 17H) on the spreadsheet but we are missing the weight and the maximum opening distance. To measure that just close the vise all the way and measure how much of the tail sticks out past the main vise body.

Here is a link to the spreadsheet which is maintained by KMScott and a few others.

Vises 2024

docs.google.com

 

[ClydeSDale84]

That's quite a spreadsheet! I would feel privileged to be able to add to it. Here's a couple more pictures to gather information from.



As far as weight we'll have to throw it on a scale when we unbolt it to take it with us. Since I have no idea of the value of something like this I guess we'll hang onto it for a while until we learn more. The anvil like the vice has seen a lifetime of hard use and is going to go for $3/lb, there's a guy coming to look at it tonight.

I've been around this vise for at least forty years and never noted the detail seen stamped in the metal as seen in the picture above.

Your comments are interesting and informative. Thank you, I enjoy learning things like this.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

That's quite a spreadsheet! I would feel privileged to be able to add to it. Here's a couple more pictures to gather information from.



As far as weight we'll have to throw it on a scale when we unbolt it to take it with us. Since I have no idea of the value of something like this I guess we'll hang onto it for a while until we learn more. The anvil like the vice has seen a lifetime of hard use and is going to go for $3/lb, there's a guy coming to look at it tonight.

I've been around this vise for at least forty years and never noted the detail seen stamped in the metal as seen in the picture above.

Your comments are interesting and informative. Thank you, I enjoy learning things like this.

I don't think I've seen a Hollands with the threaded set screw on the spindle before????? Previous owner modification?

 

[ClydeSDale84]

Did a little cleaning with a pick, an air nozzle and some brake cleaner and there's definitely long unused threads. I'd guess maybe a way to keep the handle center balanced for faster opening and closing? Owner mod, you'd likely have to ask CGW railway.

 

[jjenri]

Finished my Modern and a RI 92 my wife picked up yesterday

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I just landed this very nice Reed 104-1/2. Marked October 1928! I’m not sure what the other stamp means. It looks like the zip code for a town not far from me. The initials come back to a substance abuse treatment facility, must be the wrong kind of “vice”. It needs some handle work but very smooth and tight action.

 

[Firstram]

I'd guess maybe a way to keep the handle center balanced for faster opening and closing? Owner mod, you'd likely have to ask CGW railway.

That's my favorite mod, a little plastic nubbin under a set screw does the trick.

 

[Outlawmws]

Parker used a spring and brass button

 

[CRSINMICH]

These vises were found in the wilds of Northern Ontario
They followed me home from a recent vacation. Total cost - $60 US​

Reed 203 R in very good condition
A homeowners vise from James Smart of Ontario. It's a 7-11. Lucky, eh?

 

[454ragtop]

CRS, I think that's a plain 203, I don't see the "R" features. Nice one, I'm still looking for a 203 static jaw, have one with the jaw support broken off.

 

[CRSINMICH]

There's an R on the dynamic jaw in the middle photo. I knew they were usually labeled as 203 R but I figured the R on the dynamic worked too. Perhaps not.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[dannyr]

We've seen the catalog view of this and a Record of similar capacity, but here's one in the present doing the rounds on a couple of UK vise threads - not sure where the image comes from (Rolls Royce Aero works?) or if it has been shown on this thread before.

 

[CRSINMICH]

CATALOGUE PAGE for WODEN FLOOR VICE​

 

[Outlawmws]

On wheels no less!

 

[CRSINMICH]

Outlaw and ClydeSDale: Here's a copy of an 1867 patent by Thomas and Henry Porter. The patent was assigned to Parker.

 

[jjenri]

She’s looking beautiful.

Here is a before shot: