The VISES of Garage Journal

[Wins Churchill]

so long story short this girl didn't have a spindle nut when I got her. searched high and low, ended up buying one off ebay that was correct threads but to short. So I cut me a new dove tail with a band saw, (oddly accurate). And had a machinist buddy take to old dove tail off, and another sure enough jam up welder buddy weld the new dove tail on with some nickel rods, did the hole pre and post heat jazz. And I have to brag just a little on how accurate my measurements I gave the welder were, I figured I would only have a 50/50 chance of getting it Right! came out great though. buffed her down and put a cot of bee's wax and mineral oil on it (my new favorite metal coating). Planning a cool pedestal for it, I'll post if I ever get to it!

 

[kkrbell]

That doesn’t look like any Wilton nose I’ve ever seen. I’d guess that it’s a replacement.
My Cadet I posted last night is an earlier Chicago era model but I bet they didn’t change the shape of the nose. Does anybody have a Schiller Park Cadet in order to verify my assumption?

Makes sense. I was hoping that I found another unicorn and was thinking about pulling the trigger, but at 250, no way. I appreciate your insight!

 

[kkrbell]

Outta a Cadet… normal cylindrical, meatball.
🫡 “trust, but verify.” Go navy. ️

Yes, I just recently did a minor resto on a Cadet and it had this handle as well. Thanks for the clarification!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Looks like a double pipe vise, Mr. W.---I think you ought to bird dog that unit down.---That's a Unicorn.

Ottawa is a bit far for me lol!

 

[SkyPuncher]

Wasn't as lucky as Mr. Wonderful with the price of FREE, but picked up this Cole vise for $23 bucks at an auction. Comparing it to a similar vise, no name except #8, the Cole vise is just shy of 20 pounds more and feels way more stout.

 

[va.grouseman]

Yea, Mr. W, that is a long hall.---And the way things are now, they would detain you for smuggling contraband, trying to come back across.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Wasn't as lucky as Mr. Wonderful with the price of FREE, but picked up this Cole vise for $23 bucks at an auction. Comparing it to a similar vise, no name except #8, the Cole vise is just shy of 20 pounds more and feels way more stout.

Well that answers the question I had about the original paint color for the Cole lol.

 

[fishwatcher]

Yes, I just recently did a minor resto on a Cadet and it had this handle as well. Thanks for the clarification!

I like all of the recent Wilton Cadet posts. A Cadet was my first old vise purchase and my second completed restore.

Here's a link to my Cadet restore post.

@kkrbell, would you mind sharing an update on your restored Cadet with pictures?

From your original post on that Cadet, it's neat that you got an inaugural model without the Wilton Cadet name on it.

Thanks!

 

[CRSINMICH]

LAKE SIDE 6796 (?)​

Another addition to the HOMEOWNERS/GARAGE sub-collection. It shows up in a 1941 catalog and it still has its "Durable Green enamel finish". The cutoff tool is missing but the pipe jaws are still there. The catalog has it listed as P484 A 6796. The V7 on the static jaw and the V6 on the dynamic are likely parts numbers. Interestingly, the name in block letters, is LAKE SIDE and not LAKESIDE.

 

[TheRealZeus]

LAKE SIDE 6796 (?)​

Another addition to the HOMEOWNERS/GARAGE sub-collection. It shows up in a 1941 catalog and it still has its "Durable Green enamel finish". The cutoff tool is missing but the pipe jaws are still there. The catalog has it listed as P484 A 6796. The V7 on the static jaw and the V6 on the dynamic are likely parts numbers. Interestingly, the name in block letters, is LAKE SIDE and not LAKESIDE.

That is weird extra spacing, and cannot recap if I seen it before. different! The lakeside speaks to qualities.. it was lower quality-“eclipse,” middle- “lakeside,” and high- “Master” qualities. they contracted many foundries, for there production. I’ll get ya a list. Just because they seem common/abundant, still, check the bottoms for; ‘a lot of text,’ specific to “Milwaukee Tool Company.” I cannot remember what it all says. (I’ll dig up an example, I hope.)

 

[TheRealZeus]

Here is one from eBay. This one does not have cast lettering “lakeside.” But I did see one with lakeside, that had the same base as pictured here… Now.. I wonder if this base was a parts swap/replacement for there lakeside. who knows? Disclosure; IDK/nor vouch for this seller. It is to much for me to even look at.

 

[Shiftless]

I have 2 Lakesides. Both of them have script lettering. Here is the one I repainted.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Beautiful example. I love them, and their usually reasonably priced. They are great starter vises for anyone, while they find their own gem big old ready-user gal.

 

[TheRealZeus]

If I’m not mistaken, I’ve seen them say static/dynamic, respectively… V1 & V2, V3 & V4, and I believe V6, & V7, or nothing, but my memory is terrible, & I cannot recall the significance of the top of noggin’. No quoting me!

 

[twagler]

I don't know where it came from, but for $210 I'd have trouble keeping the speed limit to go buy it!

So it looks like I'll have to thank Mr. Wonderful and VA. Grouseman for enabling my relapse into the vise buying addiction. Their comments tempted me to go and check out the vise for sale that I had posted about a bit above (Post #90,028). I ended up buying it, but was able to bargain the price down to $150. It turned out to indeed be a Columbian 206 M2 Combination Pipe Vise, except modified with the odd pipe jaws as shown below. It was the first vise that I've purchased that has been heavy enough (at 165 lbs) to make it necessary to take it apart before trying to carry it. Also shown in the picture for size/scale are: (1) the obligatory can of beer, and (2) a Record #6, also with a 6" jaw width, which I used to think was a big, heavy vise until now.


The back story on this particular vise is that the previous owner had gotten it from his uncle, who lives in a town in Quebec, Canada named "Asbestos". As you might imagine, the main attraction in this town is a former asbestos mine, the Jeffrey mine which produced half of the world’s asbestos, operating from 1879 until 2001 and was the largest open pit asbestos mine in the world. The uncle worked as a pipefitter in the Maintenance Shop where the vise was used to hold piping sub-assemblies upright while additional pieces were threaded or welded on.

The special pipe jaws (see picture below) appear to be expertly fabricated, likely in the mine maintenance shop, from blocks of steel, machined to hold pipe jaws that are normally part of a Ridgid tri-stand pipe vise.


It appears that a slightly more modern version of Columbian Combination Pipe Vise, the 206 M3, was sold by Wilton, after they bought the Columbian vise company in the mid-90's (see advertisement below) but it is now discontinued. Seems like $150 was a pretty reasonable price after all.


One last interesting tidbit from the person I bought the vise from - when I first saw the vise I said, "Wow, that's a big vise!". He then said, "No, that's the small one that my uncle gave me. He has another much bigger vise that he is also wanting to sell." I'm guessing it must be a heavy industrial 8" vise. I'm currently waiting for photo's and pricing on the "big vise".

Regards, Tom

 

[Shiftless]

Vintage 8 inchers from good companies in decent shape often sell for over $1000

 

[drivesitfar]

Wins Curchill: care to share your formula in ratio of bees wax and mineral spirits to make that old naked Reed 105 shine?

Nicely done on making the new vise but and one day I need to make a few for some of mine.

I haven’t lost my love for vises and still following along as I can and loving the good vise conversations.

That said I did just pick up this old Athol from the original owners son who was almost 90.

 

[Outlawmws]

Another addition to the HOMEOWNERS/GARAGE sub-collection. It shows up in a 1941 catalog

I have that same vise. Lake Side and all; 3" jaws. Its been my welding vise/primary ground for several decades. The longer throw of the slide is always appreciated.

I lube the screw with anti spatter spray.

Interestingly, the name in block letters, is LAKE SIDE and not LAKESIDE.

There were many companies that used the Lakeside Lake Side moniker in many variants. Apparently it wasn't trademark-able back then?

That is weird extra spacing, and cannot recap if I seen it before. different!

See above.

V6, & V7,

My exact marking, and CRS's also (see last pic) - I'm assuming that was the 3" vise.

 

[va.grouseman]

Good looking Athol, Drive.

 

[PierceA]

twagler: You have a rather unique combination vise there!
If you want, it looks like you can remove the custom-made jaws and install regular knurled jaws or soft jaws.
Your vise uses 'T' jaw inserts. You can see the outline of the sideways 'T' through the paint at the end of the jaw insert.
This type of jaw insert is usually retained with two vertical pins driven in from the top, going through the horizontal leg of the sideways 'T'.

I too am waiting to see photos of the 'BiG' vise.

PierceA

 

[Woods_Wanderer]

Well seeing as this is my 3rd vise of the type, I guess I'm collecting steamfitter's vises now.
Here's a 4" Vanderman No. 0 to match my 6"

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a cute little guy. Nice score W.W.

 

[va.grouseman]

Really good shape, WW.---Did you remove the pipe jaws or were they missing as most combos are?---If the POs only knew.

 

[flyingblind]

New to me today

 

[jjenri]

New to me today

Nice 5163…. I also have one! Somebody did good job putting new jaws on yours

 

[flyingblind]

Nice 5163…. I also have one! Somebody did good job putting new jaws on yours

I will eventually restore it, probably over the winter. Need a source for replacement jaws. I really like the blue color.

 

[jjenri]

Scored a swivel jaw pre-1926 Columbian from a nice gentleman for $60!

 

[jjenri]

Wanted to show more pics of my 5153 Craftsman (made by RI). It was hard to find something in this condition that I wanted as a daily driver. Spent a little more than I wanted to but it was well worth it. Vise clearly was not abused

 

[TheRealZeus]

She is gorgeous, Boss.
hmm… drop a hammer, or something. Scuff up that work bench… make the vise even prettier.

Z.

 

[jjenri]

Thanks Zeus! Blame my dad and upbringing…. He made me OCD!

 

[Shiftless]

We all love the pics. Great job and thanks for posting.

 

[Outlawmws]

79 years old! Looks new!

 

[jjenri]

79 years old! Looks new!

Jaws as well!

 

[master Zoda]

Here is my little hall from a flee market I had not visited befor. I would love some help identifying some of the unmarked ones. Also I would like to know how the Athol no. 70 would be fastened down.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shiftless]

An Athol 70 has a slot on the underside to I suppose engage with T slots on a milling machine or drill press table.

 

[master Zoda]

An Athol 70 has a slot on the underside to engage with T slots on a milling machine or drill press table.

That was my fist thought but how would you tighten it and why use a vise of that style on a precision machine. The spreadsheet calls it a farm vise.

 

[RTM]

. Also I would like to know how the Athol no. 70 would be fastened down.

catalog show a single screw thru the bottom

Athol Machine Co. : Catalogue No. 31 : Athol Machine Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

34 p., illus., 22.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[master Zoda]

So this one is a Sweatheart that is awsome. I cant read much on there it has 1.5 inch jaws.

 

[RTM]

So this one is a Sweatheart that is awsome. I cant read much on there it has 1.5 inch jaws.

Chalk it, and or use a low angle raking light source, moving it around, to bring up different parts of the image.

 

[TheRealZeus]

wow. Not only does my flea market not have many vises at all, most all of the tools there, are harbor freight, or Milwaukee.. both ends of a spectrum, and both are all still online retail prices.