The VISES of Garage Journal

[Shiftless]

Mark:
Thanks but
I don’t see a link…just the cover page

 

[Fierljeppen]

I have scanned Illinois Iron & Bolt Co. Catalogue No. 51 circa 1924. Link will open to the vise section, with 7 models.

Mark:
Thanks but
I don’t see a link…just the cover page

Try the following link.

https://archive.org/details/illinois-iron-catalogue-51/page/84/mode/2up



Thanks Mark!

 

[Willy Wilson]

Pretty rough shape but did it anyway.
II&B Woodworker.

 

[master Zoda]

Pretty rough shape but did it anyway.
II&B Woodworker.

I love the slide on those.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Willy: If you follow the link to the Illinois Iron and Bolt catalogue above, your No. 4 1/2 is in it.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Wrong thread! same needle!
Disregard!

 

[fishwatcher]

I picked up a used Wilton CBV-100 for $50. For the condition it’s in, it’s a little more than I wanted to pay.. but still, I took it home.

I gave it an initial cleaning and light lube. The opening action starts a little tight, but then opens freely, with no slop. It will get further cleaned, restored and polished when I have time.

I didn’t “need” another vise but rationalized it would be easier to use a clamp-on for messier jobs outside than lugging my heavier vises that are bolted down on benches in my workshop.

Why I would restore and polish something I’m going to use for messier jobs?

 

[jjenri]

Alright guys, won a new round of vises. I like to keep a modest collection and have no more than 7 total:

Would you rather keep the 624 4 in Starret or 4.5 in jaw 204 1/2 R Reed? Both are in exceptional condition.

Let me know your thoughts and opinions!

 

[TheRealZeus]

624

 

[RTM]

Starrett

I already have two Reeds

 

[Shiftless]

I would keep them both. Why not keep your collection to 8 instead of 7?

If you insist, keep the Starrett.

 

[master Zoda]

I agree if you really only want to keep one I would keep the Starrett.

 

[Willy Wilson]

Willy: If you follow the link to the Illinois Iron and Bolt catalogue above, your No. 4 1/2 is in it.

I found a catalog page when i got my machinist.

 

[PierceA]

jjenri: I'll differ with the current consensus: I'd keep the Reed 'R'.
While the Starrett looks a little cleaner, the Reed is also in very good condition.
And the Reed is a better vise in my opinion.
The reed has an infinitely adjustable backlash split nut holding the Mainscrew in the dynamic.
And the mainscrew nut in that Reed will have an adjustable stop to take up any play in the dovetail for the nut.
Reeds have very good machining, and good metalurgy.
A Reed R is the last version before Columbian started making some of the Reed models.
The Reed will have a date stamp on the dynamic and Static, very faint on the side opposite the name and lettering.

The Starrett uses a spring-loaded thrust washer to take up endplay on the mainscrew, it adds a constant additional drag to
the effort needed to turn the handle.. I find it annoying that I can't just spin the handle like a propeller to move the static in a hurry.
The mainscrew nut has a conventional bent-to-shape pin holding the nut in the dovetail. Ok but not as nice as the Reed's setscrew.

From a collection or history standpoint, both of the vise makers have a long and interesting history, If you don't have either in your collection yet, maybe one in your current collection is less interesting than either of these?

I sometimes will buy or keep a vise that is an 'example' of a maker I don't have yet.. But I also don't limit the number of vises in my collection..

From my perspective both are equal from a collector standpoint, But the Reed has better and useful features for a vise to use..

PierceA

 

[jjenri]

jjenri: I'll differ with the current consensus: I'd keep the Reed 'R'.
While the Starrett looks a little cleaner, the Reed is also in very good condition.
And the Reed is a better vise in my opinion.
The reed has an infinitely adjustable backlash split nut holding the Mainscrew in the dynamic.
And the mainscrew nut in that Reed will have an adjustable stop to take up any play in the dovetail for the nut.
Reeds have very good machining, and good metalurgy.
A Reed R is the last version before Columbian started making some of the Reed models.
The Reed will have a date stamp on the dynamic and Static, very faint on the side opposite the name and lettering.

The Starrett uses a spring-loaded thrust washer to take up endplay on the mainscrew, it adds a constant additional drag to
the effort needed to turn the handle.. I find it annoying that I can't just spin the handle like a propeller to move the static in a hurry.
The mainscrew nut has a conventional bent-to-shape pin holding the nut in the dovetail. Ok but not as nice as the Reed's setscrew.

From a collection or history standpoint, both of the vise makers have a long and interesting history, If you don't have either in your collection yet, maybe one in your current collection is less interesting than either of these?

I sometimes will buy or keep a vise that is an 'example' of a maker I don't have yet.. But I also don't limit the number of vises in my collection..

From my perspective both are equal from a collector standpoint, But the Reed has better and useful features for a vise to use..

PierceA

Man very thorough- this is why I love you guys! I am getting rid of one of my Rock Islands in mint condition to take either one of these in it’s place and it is tough!

Decisions decisions…..

Once I get hands on, I think I will be able to take a decision that will make me ultimately happy!

 

[TheRealZeus]

Always could get rid of the wife….
No one else gonna say it I will.

 

[Shiftless]

 

[paulm12]

Picked up this Desmond Stephans 500 vise recently. It was very built up with grease and sawdust and barely moved. After a good cleaning and some work with a wire wheel it works well, though the leadscrew has a slight bend. I am giving this vise to my brother for his welding bench, so I'm not doing any more work to it. But 2 questions:

1. what is the brass piece? It fell out once I got the moving jaw out. Is it a homemade stop of some sort?
2. why is the leadscrew so long? replaced?

thanks

 

[fishwatcher]

I had posted in another thread a while back about a good vise to bolt to a toolbox. Well, I found the perfect vise and this is it. It is a Wilton SBV-100. The perfect size in my opinion for a toolbox. Small enough so it doesn't get in the way but big enough to hold most things you would work on at your toolbox.

I made a custom base because the base it comes with I was not happy with the design.

I also increased the jaw capacity slightly with a little machining. I made a video on how I did that.

I just picked up a used CBV-100, saw your videos and this post. Great job with your customizations @737mechanic. How is your little Wilton holding up?

Here’s the finished product from my Simplex 61CP restoration. It took 21 hours from start to finish.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Okay.. this is obviously an old post, and I found it looking for the small Wilton, but this is an amazing transformation! 21 hours.. almost an entire day's worth of work! @Smitty

 

[N_Jay]

Just picked this up today.
No markings other than a small gold colored sticker that say "China".
Looks pretty well made, but really don't know how to judge a vice.
Any information would be great.
Thanks

 

[TheRealZeus]

Old timer asked me to fix one them up. It was a doorstop outside in the hills for a decade, or two before he asked.

 

[TheRealZeus]

The only marking was Chinese text on a flat washer behind this nut.

Go no go. They are not particularly valuable, or sought after in my opinion, but when there’s one bolted properly to the corner of a bench, they can be mighty handy. They can be a good “beat on” if she is not all sloppy. Meaning if she is fairly ridgid/tight.

对于美国来说已经足够好了

 

[Shiftless]

“对于美国来说已经足够好了”

Ha ha.

 

[N_Jay]

So??? How much play should it have in any particular direction?

It looks like it was not used particularly hard, and had been inside a fairly clean garage.

 

[Shiftless]

A quarter turn of free play is Ok for most guys. There are some vises with springs inside to take up any slack so there is no free play at all. Some Reed vises have adjustable lash to take out axial free play.
That rotating head vise is popular and is in use in I‘m sure many tens of thousands of workbenches worldwide. It‘ll get the job done.

 

[PierceA]

N_Jay: Your vise is a fairly common style or type of imported vise.. sometimes called a 'rotator' or double-swiveler. This style vise is a common vise found with many different names on the vise, or with no name on the vise.. Often under the paint is a layer of filler or 'bondo' that is smoothed over and then painted, covering a fairly rough cast surface.

The vise design seems to have started with an American made vise Oswego NuTYP. The same style and design.

Sawyer Tool Co. 603-1/2 Nutyp Vise

Hello all, I've been a casual member and used this site to look up some things and learned a great deal. However, I'm stumped! I picked up a Sawyer Tool Co. Vise #603 1/2 and I cannot find much information about it. It is a combination "NuTyp" unit. The base swivels and locks in any desired...

www.garagejournal.com

Vise Info Thread

Need pictures of any Trenton Post vises if you have them. Thanks Akasrick.

www.garagejournal.com

I use one of this style or type of imported vise as my welding vise, the welding spatter and grinding dust on it does not bother me, like it would on a more collectible vise.

PierceA

 

[Outlawmws]

Like this one: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/first-vise-howd-i-do.223989/#post-3553473

 

[TheRealZeus]

jjenri: I'll differ with the current consensus: I'd keep the Reed 'R'.
While the Starrett looks a little cleaner, the Reed is also in very good condition.
And the Reed is a better vise in my opinion.
The reed has an infinitely adjustable backlash split nut holding the Mainscrew in the dynamic.
And the mainscrew nut in that Reed will have an adjustable stop to take up any play in the dovetail for the nut.
Reeds have very good machining, and good metalurgy.
A Reed R is the last version before Columbian started making some of the Reed models.
The Reed will have a date stamp on the dynamic and Static, very faint on the side opposite the name and lettering.

The Starrett uses a spring-loaded thrust washer to take up endplay on the mainscrew, it adds a constant additional drag to
the effort needed to turn the handle.. I find it annoying that I can't just spin the handle like a propeller to move the static in a hurry.
The mainscrew nut has a conventional bent-to-shape pin holding the nut in the dovetail. Ok but not as nice as the Reed's setscrew.

From a collection or history standpoint, both of the vise makers have a long and interesting history, If you don't have either in your collection yet, maybe one in your current collection is less interesting than either of these?

I sometimes will buy or keep a vise that is an 'example' of a maker I don't have yet.. But I also don't limit the number of vises in my collection..

From my perspective both are equal from a collector standpoint, But the Reed has better and useful features for a vise to use..

PierceA

Spring Loaded thrust as example.

 

[jjenri]

Part of the haul

 

[master Zoda]

I guess I will just post this here. More than a bit off topic but I picked up these anvils today. One is I believe a Columbian salesman sample the other is brass and has been used. I don't think the brass one was meant to be used and more likley a sample or display item it has no markings.

I think the Columbian was a steal at under $20

 

[TheRealZeus]

I heard they made vises, so you MIGHT get an honorary pass.

 

[jjenri]

Spring Loaded thrust as example.

Thanks! Very familiar- I have restored a Paramo and Record … no slop and I love these

 

[Draftpick1]

Picked up my first Record steel vice No35 quick release, someone refurbished it. It's an older model has the patent number on it, aslo any one know if they were using some sort of casting mark or Proof of some kind the older ones have a little square usually above the made in England

 

[Get A Grip]

Here you go. This is from a 1941 catalog. These are really cool little vises, I finally found one a couple of months ago and it’s in great shape.

Smitty, I can't thank you enough! It's very interesting that Prentiss introduced the 622 the same year that Montgomery Ward introduced their Powr-Kraft anvil vise; both models look so similar. I'm glad your 622 is in good condition. Mine, on the other hand, is going to make a welder out of me. Thanks again!

 

[F-22]

I picked up a used Wilton CBV-100 for $50. For the condition it’s in, it’s a little more than I wanted to pay.. but still, I took it home.

I gave it an initial cleaning and light lube. The opening action starts a little tight, but then opens freely, with no slop. It will get further cleaned, restored and polished when I have time.

I didn’t “need” another vise but rationalized it would be easier to use a clamp-on for messier jobs outside than lugging my heavier vises that are bolted down on benches in my workshop.

Why I would restore and polish something I’m going to use for messier jobs?

Think these are made by York in the Czech republic (the original manufacturer of the Bullet vise). For the cost I think they're still quite good vises overall. Sadly they changed the design in the 80's or 90's to a more blocky shape that you have. Old Yorks look exactly like the early fish hook Wilton vises.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a picture of a real oldie. The guy is the grandfather of my friend’s wife. This is when he was fighting in France during WWI. Notice the vise mounted on his truck. It looks like a Prentiss to me. What do all of you think? Prentiss or something else?

 

[F-22]

I wonder if there's any leftover US vises in Europe from the WW2 time. The used to be (still are) loads of Jeeps and Harleys (the Army WLA and the Canadian WLC) from that time, some vises probably also came over? Never saw one though.

 

[esben57]

I wonder if there's any leftover US vises in Europe from the WW2 time. The used to be (still are) loads of Jeeps and Harleys (the Army WLA and the Canadian WLC) from that time, some vises probably also came over? Never saw one though.

A good 15 years or so ago I was helping a joiner/carpenter mate clear his older items from his outbuilding.
One was a vice from the US, quite old and IIRC reddish coloured with a tubular slide. British have mainly been square slides.
Big old lump, Wilson perhaps? Had a trawl on the web with no luck. Couldn't find a buyer and I have a bad feeling that it went for scrap.

 

[TheRealZeus]

‘Random metal tools’ fb market.
Stanley maybe? idk
Pointing her out. Out of my price range.

 

[master Zoda]

‘Random metal tools’ fb market.
Stanley maybe? idk
Pointing her out. Out of my price range.

Sure looks like a Stanley that someone drilled a hole in for that bolt.