The VISES of Garage Journal

[micahd1997]

Micah, those jaws are tiny. I use to sell the Prentiss 209 jaws and they were the smallest C style jaws I’ve seen till yours. Quite a rare vise you have there. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks a lot, Kevin! I've been lucky enough to handle a 209 before, and it's size and proportions are certainly mesmerizing. I've half-heartedly tried to remove the flathead screws from the jaws of my vise before, but in fear of marring them up, I haven't been successful. I'd love to know how many Prentiss made

 

[bulletpruf]

Can anyone identify this Columbian 6" vise? I'd also be curious to hear any thoughts on value. It's local to me, looks well-used, but not abused. No damage evident.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Can anyone identify this Columbian 6" vise? I'd also be curious to hear any thoughts on value. It's local to me, looks well-used, but not abused. No damage evident.

Looks like a Columbian 606M3, which seems to be around (1990-2015). But if you can take a better photo of the ends of the handle it would help

 

[bulletpruf]

Looks like a Columbian 606M3, which seems to be around (1990-2015). But if you can take a better photo of the ends of the handle it would help

It's not a 606M3. Older than that.

Here are the rest of the pictures from the ad.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The Colombian vises are a bit under appreciated since they do not weight as much as similar Parker, Rock Island, Prentiss or Athol vises. But they used more robust malleable cast iron. I would expect them to sell in So Cal for $125 (deal) or $300 (will take a while to sell)

 

[tool_scrounge]

It's not a 606M3. Older than that.

Here are the rest of the pictures from the ad.

Agreed. That is the earlier handle style.

 

[fishwatcher]

My Wilton C0 came with a swivel base inner ring with no teeth. The base has teeth that are in good condition. Because of this, I have been able to make the vise slip while working on a stubborn bike wheel and cassette.

I can get just new cleats with teeth or a new inner ring with teeth. The inner ring would have the centering post which my vise has a hole for.

For the best, non-slip solution.. what would GJ’s vise experts recommend?

Also.. why does my inner ring not have teeth when the bottom swivel base has teeth? Did the inner ring maybe get swapped in here at some point before I owned it?

As posted before, I didn’t have a teeth on teeth connection in my swivel base set up. See details about this problem above.

I got a new inner ring with teeth. It fits and I think it will make the vise more solid when locked down.

Rather than a ring with a cross bar, it is a solid plate and has an adjustable centering post.

You can see my vise’s base is smooth, with the centering hole and no machined lip. This is why I wanted a solution with teeth.

I also got new swivel locks. I’ve been using acorn nuts (which look nice) or have borrowed the swivel locks from my 4.5” Cadet. The new ones are much beefier and the handles are longer.

There is about 5/8” of thread engagement with the 2.5” carriage bolts.

Here she is all reassembled. The only issue with it now is that the tops of the jaws are not even. You can see that there is a little gap under the jaws of the static side, so I guess when Wilton made this.. the holes for the jaws in the vise (not the jaws themselves) were made just a little too high.

New parts (including the jaws from a previous purchase) from @autopts who is great to deal with.

 

[bulletpruf]

The Colombian vises are a bit under appreciated since they do not weight as much as similar Parker, Rock Island, Prentiss or Athol vises. But they used more robust malleable cast iron. I would expect them to sell in So Cal for $125 (deal) or $300 (will take a while to sell)

This one is for sale locally for $500 and it's been for sale for a while. I'd like to have it, but he'll have to come down significantly.

 

[micahd1997]

I know it’s not a vise, but let me explain…

This is a beautiful, 1903 aluminum and brass game counter owned by and likely made by Charles Darwin Bingham.

Bingham was oversaw production of Prentiss vises in the Bagley & Sewall vise department in Watertown, NY, and he even issued several patents that Prentiss produced, including the patent behind Prentiss’ “Anchor Line” vises (1902) and Prentiss’ detachable steel jaws (1911).

He served as Mayor of Watertown from 1903-1905, so it might’ve also been a gift to commemorate his acceptance of office.

 

[Patrickm82]

I grabbed this Wilton 9400 at an estate sale this weekend. She is crusty but smooth. Has about 4 different paint jobs on it that I can see. Should clean up nice. GUAR EXP 12/30/66.

 

[micahd1997]

I’m stoked to’ve recently obtained this 1891 Prentiss catalog from a friend of mine. To my knowledge, it’s the earliest OEM Prentiss catalog in private hands.

Full scans can be found here: https://archive.org/details/new-illustrated-catalogue-prentiss-vice-company

 

[KMScott]

Wow Micah, this catalog could not have landed in better hands. I’m sure some info can be used on the Spreadsheet.

Kevin

 

[micahd1997]

Wow Micah, this catalog could not have landed in better hands. I’m sure some info can be used on the Spreadsheet.

Kevin

Very kind of you, Kevin, thank you! It’s a bit of a missing link as far as Prentiss’ vise offerings and several specific features go, so I couldn’t be happier.

 

[colmal]

Anyone have a thought about this- looks like a cross between a wood workers and drill press vice

3" jaws, 3 kg/ 6.6lb, no markings but looks well made.




And full confession, I'm , ah only kind of interested cause I have 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9", 10" wood workers vices- it extends my set

And no thoughts on my lunacy's please, that's already established.

I was incorrect, I didn't have a 4", I do now, I got me a Durham -

Another one off the bucket list

4" 1.8kg/ 4lb

Didn't know what size it was till it arrived 20 mins ago, just bought it, it's tiny - a couple of pics next to a 5" Dawn.





My main seller wanted to keep his so I've been looking for my own for a couple of years. Don't know anything about them other than being a Aussie company.

 

[colmal]

While I'm on Aussie makers

Silex wood workers 4.5" 3.2 kg/ 7.4lb




I'd bought a half of a 'no name' pipe vice to resize a new pipe jaw for my Dawn universal, for peanuts and reused the handle as well.
Removed the handle by machining down the ends and whacking them off, so easy in a lathe, matched the handle to another Silex I'd seen-kinda-cheated in the end, was going to lathe the handle down to fit the Silex hub hole when I had a Colwave- just drill the hole larger stoopid. peened the ends on - easy peasy

This is the one I bought, may even be it, but had no handle when it arrived.



Actually looking at the marks on the leading edge to the right of the Silex name, it is the same one. Well there you go, now I know. learnt something posting this.

 

[colmal]

Mental glich - it's 6.5" for the above silex- won't let me edit it.

 

[KMScott]

Mental glich - it's 6.5" for the above silex- won't let me edit it.

Oh good, I’ll change the spreadsheet. Jaw opening would be nice to know.

 

[colmal]

Oh good, I’ll change the spreadsheet. Jaw opening would be nice to know.

I can do that, I'd already done the post a few times, just didn't want to start over again, normally it's good, maybe just a slow connection last night.

Silex 6.5" jaw opening 10.5cm/ 4.1"
the original weight would be closer to 3 kg/ 7lb I'd think, the replacement handle is a larger diameter, heavier.

 

[Mike007]

Damn. How does this happen?

New Old Stock Wilton Bullet Vises 4-1/2" or 4" 1970S & 80S - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

750 each I have 4 left CALLS ONLY Do not message me I won't answer

boston.craigslist.org

 

[Beerhippie]

^He knows what he has....

 

[Mike007]

He does. But really, assuming the 6" is a 600s, $900 for NOS is reasonable. They go for almost $2K last time I checked.

^He knows what he has....

 

[neophyte]

Damn. How does this happen?

New Old Stock Wilton Bullet Vises 4-1/2" or 4" 1970S & 80S - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

750 each I have 4 left CALLS ONLY Do not message me I won't answer

boston.craigslist.org

The simplest answer is vises were “bulk” purchased at some point, and then never needed, or forgotten about.
A bulk purchase could be a manufacturing company wanting tools to stock a tool room, or for a trade school, but the variety of sizes makes me think maybe a local Industrial Hardware store.
The vises were purchased in bulk, because when ordered in case or pallet quantities, the price was way better, as were the shipping charges.
Due to the higher prices for Wilton bullet vises, even back in the day, only some of the vises got sold.
Someone probably bought the old stock when whatever business it was was closed.

 

[StLouisJC]

Hi fellas. I have been reading this thread a long time but this is my first post. I have loved old vises since I was a boy beating around on my Grandpas Colombian 504. I am not a collector but have acquired a handful of bench vises and woodworking vises. Some do the actual work in my shop and others are there to do the easy stuff and bring me joy. It’s nostalgia for me. I love the idea of using something that’s 80 years old and I think about the hands that made it and the hands that used it. I think about what our country was like then. Here are a few of my favorites that I was able to buy from Joe. A great guy that loved them as much as I do.

Wilton C2 with Chicago, not Schiller Park. Date is worn but it appears it says “Guar”.

Wilton C1 dated 12-46 (can only imagine Christmas in 1946 right after the war ended)

Reed 224 1/2 R Coachmaker dated 6-47.

I hope my grandkids love them like I do.

Have a good day guys!

 

[TheRealZeus]

Beautiful!

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice set of vises!

You do know 3 or more is a collection around her?

 

[Patrickm82]

Looks like a collection to me!! A very nice one at that @StLouisJC

 

[StLouisJC]

Looks like a collection to me!! A very nice one at that @StLouisJC

Thank you!

 

[ararat]

Oh no, not another one...

 

[Outlawmws]

Oh no, not another one...

I do not know how anyone can be that stupid...

 

[TheRealZeus]

Oh no, not another one...

“Chag…”

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I do not know how anyone can be that stupid...

Price or color?

 

[Outlawmws]

Price or color?

The 100% paint coverage.

 

[bryson]

“Chag…”

There was one listed for a while here locally that was a "Chab Parker"...

 

[Shiftless]

The 100% paint coverage.

Quickest way to paint a vise is to simply dip it into a big vat of paint and then hang it up to dry.

Not long ago, I bought a Craftsman 5196 that had the same 100% coverage but in black.
Even the serrated faces of the jaw inserts were painted black.

 

[Outlawmws]

Shift, they missed the swivel lock bar!

 

[Shiftless]

Shift, they missed the swivel lock bar!

No they didn’t. The clean section used to be stuck inside the lock. I had to oil it and give it a few taps to free it up so that I could use it to start the disassembly. At that point I remembered to take a picture for the “before “ shot to compare when I finally finish the resto. I have been delayed several months with a fence building project.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here I've been wasting time masking off parts of the vise!

 

[Shiftless]

Shift, they missed the swivel lock bar!

That part is looking better now. The vise is in primer and waiting for better weather to apply the light blue top coat paint.
I need a better badge but those are quite hard to come by. ( Anybody got a spare? ) The badges on the craftsman vises are half an inch smaller than the more common badges on toolboxes etc. which are 3 1/2 inches wide. Too bad for us vise restorers.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Speaking of waiting for better weather and needing a better badge -
I found this Rock Island 591 on the bottom shelf in a dark back room of an antique mall.
All I have done to it is removing approximately 5 lbs. of grease which was slathered everywhere even on parts that didn't move.
The Birtman badge wasn't even visible before that.
Further restoration, in my unheated garage shop, will have to wait until spring.

​

 

[neophyte]

Quickest way to paint a vise is to simply dip it into a big vat of paint and then hang it up to dry.

Not long ago, I bought a Craftsman 5196 that had the same 100% coverage but in black.
Even the serrated faces of the jaw inserts were painted black.

I’ve seen this done to keyless drill chucks.