The VISES of Garage Journal

[john.k]

The Paramo appears to a quick adjust/fitters type ............although costly when new ,these type are not much appreciated now ........mainly due to fragility of the nut when abused.

 

[ranger08]

Got this one at a local carboot sale for £60



4.5" quick release Paramo, in very good condition. One of the later models with the angled running surface on the slide.

They are very high quality

 

[dutchgray]

dutch: That's a great deal in either GPB's or USD's.

In what has to be an amazing coincidence, while you were posting your vice, I was discovering this 1910 patent for a vise (vice) slide with angled running surfaces. Mr. Stearns' object was to reduce "the amount of labor and expense" of fitting the slide to the vise (vice) body. Oddly, Stearns & Co.'s 1924 ad states, "Patent Applied For".

To be fair vices are cheap over here, I could probably get £100 for it on ebay but that would be about the maximum.

 

[dutchgray]

The Paramo appears to a quick adjust/fitters type ............although costly when new ,these type are not much appreciated now ........mainly due to fragility of the nut when abused.

Luckily it hasn't been abused and as I don't abuse my tools and fix things when they start to play up rather than using something until it doesn't work, I expect I won't have any real issues.

The QR type is plenty strong for normal use.

 

[IRQVET]

Classic vise prices are going through the roof, I'm really shocked at what people are asking for some of them that look like they've been through hell.

I recently found a 5 inch Craftsman's Vise on eBay from a non-tool seller that looks like he mostly sells thrift store finds. Paid $79 for this one. Thought it was a decent deal.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I think it depends on your region. I saw this 6” Athol at a garage sale this morning for $400. I think a few years ago if this was on CL at that price it would go pretty quick. Maybe it’s just the 6” range that seems to me to be dropping. Anything bigger than that still goes sky high. I paid $60 for a 4” 204R that would have probably been three times the price a few years ago as well.

 

[ALLFAST]

Got this one at a local carboot sale for £60



4.5" quick release Paramo, in very good condition. One of the later models with the angled running surface on the slide.

NICE !!!

 

[ALLFAST]

Happy Weekend GJ’ers,

I refurbished my second 542-BX exactly three years ago last month ( sold it to a good friend a few months ago ) and was looking/hoping to find something I could simply “conserve/clean” without getting crazy stripping, preparing, painting for zillions of hours…

Shiftless has had a nice BX on his shelf for about seven years, and I’ve been trying to catch up with him for the past two years to give it a new home…Finally made it happen about three weeks ago.

This one was born in March 1941 as evidenced by the perfect stamp on the underside of the forward dynamic jaw base….Don’t be surprised to find these marks in other places!

It is a very solid vise which obviously was well used in its life:

It has a very nicely repaired section on the upper rear slide…looks like a many decades old silver brazed repair….No scars no stories.

It functioned perfectly and has great jaw alignment, but I was surprised to remove the slide and find the dovetail nut to be very sloppy within its channel-no damage, just about 3/16” of side to side play.

What’s a hack to do? Lacking any shim stock , I took a random 1/2” wide copper pipe clamp, flattened it down ( the natural curve of the clamp had a slight crown left in the center of the strip, which was perfect for tensioning the fit) and put it in the center of the dovetail channel-the nut went in halfway by hand, and I gently tapped it home with a wooden wedge/mallet. It now has perfect alignment and 1/8” of overall play).

I failed to photograph this procedure as I had pre cleaned the inner body and reinstalled the nut/shim before tacking the rest of the work; the copper shim is visible in the one picture though.

While the lead screw shaft collar was in fine shape ( perfect threads and original set screw) , at some point in its life it was installed backwards-there was a large gap between the back of the snout and the dynamic face.

I contemplated making a shim but then I realized the taper of the collar was reversed - flipped it around and the snout gap and minor slack improved 1000% .

The only other issues are the wallered out jaw screws on the dynamic-I’m awaiting my new fancy Allen style East outs to arrive so I can send the jaws out to get resurfaced by Mr. Kendrick. The other two are fine, and the jaws are obviously fine to work with as is for 80 more years.

This vise as many, is missing the original pipe jaw inserts, so Mr.Kendrick has been contacted about machining a set in the coming months-fortunately the retaining screw threads are all perfectly fine.

Here are a few pictures of Ole Blue before work began….One on Shift’s Viseoleum Shelf, and a few on the old garage carpet, lurking in the shadows…I’ll post the finished photos up soon, as well as my patina preservation process on this one.

The vise is basically done but I need to organize the pictures first.

Thank you Shift for not selling her on me, and for all of you here who provide me with constant inspiration and ideas!

Have a great weekend, and Happy Veterans Day to those who have served and sacrificed for our great Nation !

 

[ALLFAST]

Copper shim visible here

 

[ALLFAST]

These pictures were right after a good WD40/clean rag forty minute heavy sponge bath, and power wire wheeling of the slide and lead screw, jaws.

 

[ALLFAST]

Next group is after power wire wheeling the surface rust and deep cleaning around the old paint that I wanted to remain…..particulars on this work to follow soon.

 

[ALLFAST]

After about seven coats of Rustoleum Stop Rust Satin Clear enamel, shot from their new 4 level custom spray nozzle.

 

[ALLFAST]

Post drying, baked in the sun for two hours, greased and assembled, and back to the carpet for a comparison shot. Pardon any duplicate pictures!

I’ll detail what I did with my preparation and clear coat this evening. Thanks for watching

 

[dutchgray]

Another carboot score I don't need, Parkinson's "Handy" No1 3" jaw width

It was £3, couldn't say no really.

 

[Outlawmws]

It was £3, couldn't say no really.

That's a USUCK in my book

 

[ALLFAST]

Another carboot score I don't need, Parkinson's "Handy" No1 3" jaw width

It was £3, couldn't say no really.

That’s a good save! You can always trade it for other stuff later. What’s it weigh? I was shocked to rescue a 3-1/2” Swivel Jaw American Scale No.75 on Friday ($25) and it weighs 59 pounds. It’s a little BEAST.

 

[Outlawmws]

I was shocked to rescue a 3-1/2” Swivel Jaw American Scale No.75 on Friday ($25) and it weighs 59 pounds. It’s a little BEAST.

AS Vises are always beefy!

 

[dutchgray]

That’s a good save! You can always trade it for other stuff later. What’s it weigh? I was shocked to rescue a 3-1/2” Swivel Jaw American Scale No.75 on Friday ($25) and it weighs 59 pounds. It’s a little BEAST.

It's 12lb

 

[joel_400]

Just picked this up this am. Even has the quick sliding jaw.
Joel

 

[CRSINMICH]

joel: Nice find! Here's a cut from Athol's 1911 catalog.

 

[joel_400]

Also picked this one up just a bit ago too. No name on this one.
Joel

 

[NJ Marty]

Got this cool rifle vise at an estate sale. It was out in the open on a tool bench on the second day of the sale. Never saw anything like it, a Fin out of my pocket and it was mine. I dont do any gunsmithing and it will find a new home to be used instead of sitting on my workbench.

 

[Outlawmws]

Also picked this one up just a bit ago too. No name on this one.

That's a Colton patent vise. some were made with no markings, but with several other company names as well

Got this cool rifle vise at an estate sale.

This a nice one! Setup for doubles with the padded jaws too! A buddy of mine would die for that -H specializes in vintage/antique doubles

 

[colmal]

I do have another, Cast in P brand, made in England Vice ? Merchandise item ?

Solid cast iron, well made, really nice movement, replaceable jaws, .860 lb, 390 gm,

Smaller than the similar vice in next post 30cm jaws, 10 cm, 4" long



And on second look, the P inside a spade is same as described below, but cast

Came up OK, just started with a new batch of Molasses, probably going to leave it as it is, did have a gentle little attempt after sitting in molasses a few days and WD-40 for a few more to unscrew the jaws and front retainer-but not game to do any more as the screws are so tiny-don't want to break them

Henri Picard and Frere Watchmakers vice - 1853 to current

 

[colmal]

This is elsewhere which started me looking around, can't find anything about the brand and would think It's Taiwanese/China just cause of the name-but appears better built/older



Can't weigh much as postage low-can get more info dealt with seller before and is good.

The Ok works really nicely, much, much better than the similar design cheap Asian imports- if they could do nicely aligned small vices in the 1950's why not now ?

Anyway came up OK as well, it's going to be my first attempt at using Tung oil at some stage.

 

[justintendo]

Just got a miniature forged vise...couldnt say no...they seem kinda rare?

 

[Maui]

They weren't retrieved from the dumpster - she prevented them from going there in the first place. I'll see if I can dig them out and take some photos.

Here are the photos of the Holland copper stamps that were used to produce their literature. I suspect that many of these are well over 100 years old.

 

[Outlawmws]

Just got a miniature forged vise.

I have one I picked up a month or so back that is near identical. They are very cool little vises.

 

[Outlawmws]

I suspect that many of these are well over 100 years old.

Those are very cool. if you can tie the image to an ad or catalog, that should pin the date down pretty well

 

[Jayman17]

Here are the photos of the Holland copper stamps that were used to produce their literature. I suspect that many of these are well over 100 years old.

These would be really cool to have, how did you end up with these?

 

[justintendo]

I have one I picked up a month or so back that is near identical. They are very cool little vises.

I fractured the leaf spring inside..need to fab another or make a coil to go around the main nut for some return action. Have you ever seen many of these? Mine is marked in roman numerals but they dont mean anything.

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you ever seen many of these?

A few in pics and the one I bought. Thats it.

 

[Maui]

These would be really cool to have, how did you end up with these?

I drove many hours to Erie PA to go to a sale that was being held by the former president of Erie Tool Works and I bought them (as well as a bunch of other equipment) directly from her. The one thing she wouldn't sell me was an original sales brochure that these stamps were used to print, but she did send me photos of some of the pages. I have them somewhere...

Success! I found several of them.

 

[justintendo]

That is awesome...i feel Hollands gets neglected..thank you for preserving. That 07-08 probably right for my model 70. Yes, thats a freightliner drum.

 

[RTM]

Have you ever seen many of these?

Several in European flea market stalls, rarely here. Regret not grabbing one.

 

[Overanalyze]

Found this site researching this vice. Was cleaning out my dads shop and decided I wanted to clean this up. Thinking of doing a black metal oil finish on it. The tag on it says it used to belong to Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. Also has some hand stamped letters JB on a few of the parts. My dad owned it for as long as I can remember and not sure where he got it from.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks to be in decent shape! Welcome to GJ.

 

[Overanalyze]

Yeah it was smooth when I tore it down. I only expect it to be better now! I did find it's missing the bottom bolt so I will need to find a replacement for it.

 

[ALLFAST]

Found this site researching this vice. Was cleaning out my dads shop and decided I wanted to clean this up. Thinking of doing a black metal oil finish on it. The tag on it says it used to belong to Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. Also has some hand stamped letters JB on a few of the parts. My dad owned it for as long as I can remember and not sure where he got it from.

That my friend, is an awesome momento of your Dad. One you can use which is all the better.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Over: Samson was a Sears brand way before Craftsman. Here is a Samson 5213 vise in a 1919 catalog except it's not a swivel base. Just below it is a drawing of a swivel base vise one of which has the number 5231. Samson vises of this type seem to have disappeared from Sears catalogs around the late 1930's.

Congrats and welcome to the vise thread.