The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

I’m not sure where mine stands in the generations of C0s with original vs improved features.

What is the date on the slide key?

 

[jawstight]

Reinstalled.. Will they qualify as “tight?”

I won't be reusing them. Although the dynamic jaw was locked in place and all the way forward, the jaws didn't meet, there was a gap all the way across. I've got some steel checkered jaws on order, and the some aluminum bar stock coming that I'll use to make soft jaws for it.

 

[ATL86]

Here is another i recently restored. A very old Colton Patent.

 

[jawstight]

Hammered finish?

Well you can either buy hammered paint. Or rely on decades of neglect and rust to do it for you. Can't see it well here but the top half of the dynamic jaw is properly hammered.

 

[PeterPeter]

I’m in love. 1946. All lines look crisp, no chipped jaws., no rust. Even has the rubber bumpers on the handle. Only fault is a couple of dings on the movable, andthe OEM paint is pretty much trashed, with of course, it has the obligatory spatter of white paint. Hoping I can clean it without stripping. What grade would you give it? I'm thinking B+.


Have to say it’s the nicest bullet I’ve bought.
Peter

 

[ATL86]

I’m in love. 1946. All lines look crisp, no chipped jaws., no rust. Even has the rubber bumpers on the handle. Only fault is the OEM paint is pretty much trashed, and of course, it has the obligatory spatter of white paint. Hoping I can clean it without stripping. What grade would you give it? I'm thinking B+.

View attachment 2342833View attachment 2342834
Have to say it’s the nicest bullet I’ve bought.
Peter

That's awesome!!!

 

[jawstight]

Your C1 was definitely well cared for over the years. And sheltered too. Nice score!

 

[PeterPeter]

Your C1 was definitely well cared for over the years. And sheltered too. Nice score!

Unusual for New England, where unheated work spaces are common. Oxidation.
Peter

 

[designer485]

My latest vise project has arrived.

American Red Seal No 62. 3.5in jaws (opens to 6-7in) and weighs 46lbs.

This one is in pretty good condition. It opens and slides super smooth and someone has replaced the steel jaws with some custom made brass ones (they are pretty chewed up and the screws are stripped, but I don't think they will be too hard to remove). Looking forward to working on this one.

















A few photos with my 3in Wilton for some perspective on how large of a 3.5in vise this is.

 

[fishwatcher]

What is the date on the slide key?

10-76

 

[CRSINMICH]

designer: From a 1956 catalog. Nice find.

​

 

[ATL86]

My latest vise project has arrived.

American Red Seal No 62. 3.5in jaws (opens to 6-7in) and weighs 46lbs.

This one is in pretty good condition. It opens and slides super smooth and someone has replaced the steel jaws with some custom made brass ones (they are pretty chewed up and the screws are stripped, but I don't think they will be too hard to remove). Looking forward to working on this one.

















A few photos with my 3in Wilton for some perspective on how large of a 3.5in vise this is.

Everytime I turn around I'm seeing another vise I've never seen before!! Love it man!!

 

[colmal]

I've been ticking a few vices of my bucket list the last few weeks, a 2" Dawn I've been trying to find for the last 3 years arrived today. Dawn sold 2 clamp ons -the Dawnette and the Dawn- good nick just a quick clean-up and had to drill out the retaining screw for the handle, need to find a better screw but that's all I'll do.

1.37 kg/ 3lb - Dawn

1.2 kg/2.lb - Dawnette

 

[colmal]

And while looking thru my files came across this Dawn 4" filers vice thought it was a bit ratty at the time and I'd wait for a better one- haven't seen another and damn it's got a swivel which is uncommon on older Dawns. In my defence I was just starting and knew no better - but damn it was a good price as well

Made me laugh, as I bought this Stanley today, think I can bring it back and it's a 1911-1915 version, don't know what size, maybe it's a Leavens ? (have I got that right ?) you can just see the retaining bar for the main screw which makes it a pre 1915

No other bidders, cheap and not ratty at all -

No idea what size, but figure it's a bigger brother to my 743, was listed as a 'unbranded carpenters tool approx 18 by 9 cm' 7" by 3.5"

I'll find out when it arrives

 

[Shiftless]

When did American red seal vises become American Scale Co. red seal vises? Or did American Scale simplify the name to be just “American” ??

Here are pics of my only American Scale vise. I decided that a Red Seal vise should have the recessed star painted red so that’s what I did.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks to Vintage Machinery where I found this.

American Scale Co. manufactured a combination vise-drill-anvil, combination vise-anvil, and machinist vises in 1922. The firm dated to 1895, with a main office in Kansas City, MO, and plant at Pleasant Hill, MO. The company used the brand name Red Seal on the body castings of its vises.

In late 1953, following the death of company president William S. Swift, the American Scale Co. was sold to Cromb & Gagel, Inc., which operated it as its American Scale & Vise Co. division. In 1961 the plant was shut down and the business entered bankruptcy. In 1963 the American Scale & Vise Co. was purchased by the Marley Co. and became a division of that firm. Production of vises, at least, were resumed, and production continued until about 1971 when ads and directory listings cease.

 

[Outlawmws]

In 1963 the American Scale & Vise Co. was purchased by the Marley Co. and became a division of that firm. Production of vises, at least, were resumed, and production continued until about 1971 when ads and directory listings cease.

Shift, do you know if they used the American and Red Seal branding, or did they go with Marley something?

 

[Shiftless]

Shift, do you know if they used the American and Red Seal branding, or did they go with Marley something?

I don’t know.
I checked the mega vise spreadsheet and there is nothing under Marley.

 

[Shiftless]

Interesting story involving an American Scale vise…

My FIL (RIP) told me a story. After WWII ended there were a lot of surplus equipment sales. His boss bought a small trailer full of American Scale vises for a dollar each. His plan was to flip them and resell for $5 each. My FIL (a veteran Navy man) knew what his boss paid for them and refused to pay the inflated price. So his boss let him have just one for the original price of $1.00

That vise went to another of his son-in-laws where it is on display. He is 80 years old but promised to not sell it to anybody but me.

 

[CRSINMICH]

These two journal items, one from 1954 and the other from 1964, might clear things up a little or, just make things murkier.

​

 

[Outlawmws]

Thx CRS.

The later one is pretty clear that the AS and Red Seal names continued. I wonder if there were any other tells for original under Cromb and Gagle, vs Marley? or year date markings? I don't recall seeing any on the 61 and 66 I have.

 

[KMScott]

Seeing how I am workin on American Scale vises on the Spreadsheet. I thought I’d add this American Scale #58 with 8” jaws that opens to 12” and weights 237 lbs.

This one I shipped to Royce in Fairbanks. He did his magic on it. I think I made jaws for it.

 

[colmal]

Another off the Bucket list is this Rapier copy of the Record Imp, made by the Anglo Scottish Tool Company 1946-66

Really like the Imp and it's operation but it's a bit too good being 80ish years old, wanted a poorer one as my inside user and found the Rapier, took me 9 months but eventually got it at my price, mind you as it's the only one I have come across maybe it's worth more.

Rapier 2 Kg / 4.4lb

Record 1.9Kg / 4.2lb

Both 2 1/4" Jaws

 

[colmal]

This is all I've been able to dig up, if anyone knows any more ?, come across a few planes and tools painted black so I may paint the vice the same

 

[colmal]

arrived 3 days ago, a quick clean-up, no idea of original colour had primer on it only.

 

[micahd1997]

I’ve come across many vises made by technical schools, but as a Prentiss lover I was very happy to find this one.

It’s a 3” (equivalent to a № 2). In impressions too faint for the camera to pick up, there is a “ETHS” on either side of the swivel jaw (looks to have been carved into the original wood pattern of the swivel jaw). There are several weird points about this vise.

The static jaw is a perfect match for any Prentiss that I have in my collection. However, the swivel jaw wasn’t made with the same “wingspan” as the static jaw (you can see that there is some clear overhang of the static past the swivel jaw). The meatball is cylindrical, the spindle isn’t held in by the traditional Prentiss collar/grub screw hardware, the jaws are C-style, the cheeks of the dynamic jaw are flattened compared to a traditional Prentiss, and…the swivel jaw has no swivel pin or even a hole. This was what specifically interested me about this vise.

As best as I can tell, none of the pieces of this vise were made by Prentiss, but their imitation of a Prentiss vise can’t be denied. For a technical school vise, it seems remarkably unfinished (the long handle, lack of fit between static and swivel jaw, no swivel pin or hole, etc.). It’s a funky one, but one that I’m very glad to have.

 

[Eric Brown]

Fulton 5190 vise. 3" wide smooth jaws and opens about 3". Cleaned up and will nickel plate this summer. Its for my Fulton collection of various tools. Was looking for a small vice with smooth jaws and a nice horn. This one fits the bill.

UPDATE: Just nickel plated it. The screw was held by a crimped U shaped washer that fits into a groove. This was replaced with a split collar that was counterbored. There was also a tiny bit of bronze thrust washer that was replaced with a new oil impregnated one.

 

[Shiftless]

Eric:
I‘m probably not the only one here who would like to know the step by step details of how a guy nickel plates a bench vise.

 

[cpttuna]

brought this to Ohio with me when I cleaned out the family home in Pa.

 

[ChefRex]

Not mine but interesting,

1.9M views · 30K reactions | Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping oddly shaped parts. #rare

Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping...

www.facebook.com

 

[Beerhippie]

Mot mine but interesting,

1.9M views · 30K reactions | Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping oddly shaped parts. #rare

Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping...

www.facebook.com

Damn yer hide! Another cool tool I wasn't aware that I needed!

 

[Eric Brown]

Eric:
I‘m probably not the only one here who would like to know the step by step details of how a guy nickel plates a bench vise.

I'll keep it simple. Disassemble, clean, polish. (You can't plate rust and paint acts as a mask) Take part(s) and put into a 200 Degree F degreaser for about 15 minutes (Mine is a 6 1/2 gallon bucket). Hang with copper wire. Remove part while rinsing with distilled water. Never touch part. Put into etching solution for about 5-10 minutes. Rinse with distilled water. Nickel tank should be about 110 degrees F and have circulating pump. Put part into middle of nickel tank (6 1/2 gallon) hanging on copper pipe. Connect copper pipe to negative of DC power supply. Connect positive to nickel anode plates hanging on each side of tank. Calculate current. 0.07 amps per square inch for nickel or copper. Turn power supply on, adjust current, let plate for about an hour. Remove part while rinsing with distilled water. Dry part. Do final polish. Repeat. I generally put another part into the degreaser about a half hour before the nickel plate tank is done giving some time to both degrease and etch. That way when the plating is done another one is ready.

I get most of my supplies from https://caswellplating.com/

After the initial chemicals are bought about all that is required is to top off the tanks with distilled water and change nickel anodes. I spend about $150 a year on supplies.

I can only plate iron, steel, copper, brass, bronze with my current setup. Different chemicals needed for aluminum, zinc, pot metals.
Chrome requires a lot more current and toxic chemicals.

The most important step is preparation. Any scratches will actually be magnified. Shiny is the result of super polished surface before plating. Using scotch pads can dull the shine if desired.

If time/effort no issue, some scratches can be "removed" by plating with copper first, then sanding that copper off. After multiple times the scratches will be filled.

Of course there are a lot of different situations that can be accommodated. For instance, I plated some steel bars about 3' long by putting them into a 6" tube about 40" long with cap on bottom. Heated up my solution and then poured into the tube. Put my anode (bent to curvature of tube) on one side at the top. Lowered the steel bars as they were being plated.

One last thing, once you start plating you are somewhat committed. If the process is stopped, the part has to be removed and the nickel has to be wiped with an activator to continue plating.

 

[colmal]

Not mine but interesting,

1.9M views · 30K reactions | Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping oddly shaped parts. #rare

Have you ever seen a vise like this? This was made in the 1950s by American Positive Grip Co. These adaptive jaw vises are super versatile and I use this one all the time for drilling and tapping...

www.facebook.com

Watched a vid on one a year or 2 ago and just found it again

 

[jawstight]

That is a very cool device. Or da-vise I guess

Still waiting on the collar and jaws for my 450S Wilton. Started on this today in the meantime. Rusty and grimy but unabused. I got everything apart but for on of the screws holding the static jaw in. Waiting to see if Evaporust will help. If not then I'll take an air hammer to it. Nothing else has worked so far. Impact driver wouldn't budge that one screw.

 

[PeterPeter]

Anyone recognize this one? Kind of looks like a W? in a circle. Did I ever mention how much I dislike one photo listings?

Thanks in advance, Peter x 2

 

[Beerhippie]

Anyone recognize this one? Kind of looks like a W? in a circle. Did I ever mention how much I dislike one photo listings?

Thanks in advance, Peter x 2

A local auction house that I occasionally buy through has an uncanny ability to take pictures which convey as little information about the things they're selling as humanly possible--especially for tools.

 

[Outlawmws]

Anyone recognize this one?

More light on the topic; I recognise the vise, but CRS on the name...

 

[colmal]

Put my vices away, tidied up in preparation for lunch with my other vice, and oh ooh, I've run out of space, the recent 8 additions have filled me up- going to have to start mounting some directly to the wall now - wall art with a difference

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

WM Vanderman on that vise with the W. I think that is one of the later markings they used.

 

[Outlawmws]

oh ooh, I've run out of space, the recent 8 additions have filled me up- going to have to start mounting some directly to the wall now -

Maybe less space between shelves?