KMScott
Well-known member
If so then Parker didn’t design it. They might have cast it and had their Toolmakers machine it but it isn’t a Parker design. Most of these Bonney Rapid Transit vises have the anvil area broken. Thin wall construction.
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
akasrick
Well-known member
Heck of a project Kevin. The 1886 catalog only mentions the jaws as being interchangeable and of cast steel. No detail of the jaw profile in the catalog cut.
`
akasrick
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neophyte
Well-known member
I thought Bonney started out as a vise manufacturer before starting the hand tool line.
akasrick
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Didn't know that. Must have got out of casting and into forging at some point, or why involve Parker? Maybe the cast iron plant burned down as so many did back then, and was never rebuilt.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Looks like it was voluntary if you can trust AI:
History of Bonney Vise & Tool Works
History of Bonney Vise & Tool Works
- 1876: Charles S. Bonney founded the company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, initially making hardware for horse-drawn wagons.
- 1877: The company started producing vises and tools.
- 1909: The company moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and expanded its operations, focusing on drop-forged wrenches.
- 1921: The name was changed to Bonney Forge & Tool Works to reflect its focus on drop forging.
- 1922: The company introduced the first full line of alloy steel wrenches.
- 1930s-1950s: Bonney expanded its product line to include a full range of mechanics' hand tools.
- 1953: The company was purchased by Miller Manufacturing Company.
- 1964: The tool division was sold to Kelsey-Hayes Corp..
- 1984: The remaining operations were sold to its president, John Leone, and the company continues today as Bonney Forge, a manufacturer of pipe fittings and valves.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
akasrick
Well-known member
Looks like they skipped making the blacksmith leg vises, at least I've not seen any advertised.
akasrick
I began machining a new screw retaining plate for my big Parker 208 vise the other day... the original was missing and had been replaced with a flat piece of scrap steel.
I'm done with what needs to be done on the rotary table... I need to set my mill vise back on the mill to finish the plate.
While I had the rotary table set up, I decided to make a part for another old vise...
Back in June, I had picked up an old unmarked oval slide vise from a junk store...
The slide was seized and the screw retaining plate and nut was missing. I clamped a piece of mild steel on the rotary table and machined a replacement plate...
Now I need to figure out a fix for the missing nut. The screw is 7/8"- 4 threads per inch... I haven't been able to find a nut that will fit that.
-Bear
I'm done with what needs to be done on the rotary table... I need to set my mill vise back on the mill to finish the plate.
While I had the rotary table set up, I decided to make a part for another old vise...
Back in June, I had picked up an old unmarked oval slide vise from a junk store...
The slide was seized and the screw retaining plate and nut was missing. I clamped a piece of mild steel on the rotary table and machined a replacement plate...
Now I need to figure out a fix for the missing nut. The screw is 7/8"- 4 threads per inch... I haven't been able to find a nut that will fit that.
-Bear
micahd1997
Well-known member
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- Apr 27, 2022
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Wow, that’s a rare beauty, Kevin! I can’t say I’ve seen more than a couple of those. Looking forward to seeing the jaws finished
micahd1997
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Following a 6-month dry spell, I scooped up an Athol 618 and a Prentiss 58.
I’ve been looking for a 58 without a cracked slide for some time now, so this one will be my new user. The 618 is frozen and has a thin crack in the side of the slide. However, it is usable otherwise, and will ultimately be up for sale.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve been looking for a 58 without a cracked slide for some time now, so this one will be my new user. The 618 is frozen and has a thin crack in the side of the slide. However, it is usable otherwise, and will ultimately be up for sale.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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2001ZR2
Well-known member
Found this one at an estate sale a while back...missing the swivel base unless the wood base is a rare option. It's a Reed 204 1/2 in decent shape.
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Looks familiar.
I could be wrong but I remember when I picked up my 204 1/2 with a meatball it's an early example.Found this one at an estate sale a while back...missing the swivel base unless the wood base is a rare option. It's a Reed 204 1/2 in decent shape.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I'm liking the rear wing mount for the vise.Found this one at an estate sale a while back...missing the swivel base unless the wood base is a rare option. It's a Reed 204 1/2 in decent shape.
GX460DIYguy
Well-known member
My father in law has this old Reed 3C in his back yard. How hard are they to find parts for? I’d love to restore it for him as much as I can. He bought it at an equipment auction where he worked and that was probably at least 30-40 years ago so it’s seen some use. It’ll probably never be like new, but it would be nice to get all the rust off of it and maybe get a better set of jaws on it.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
My father in law has this old Reed 3C in his back yard. How hard are they to find parts for? I’d love to restore it for him as much as I can. He bought it at an equipment auction where he worked and that was probably at least 30-40 years ago so it’s seen some use. It’ll probably never be like new, but it would be nice to get all the rust off of it and maybe get a better set of jaws on it.
Reed is still in business, and I think still make these vises, so parts likely available. What are you missing? It looks complete.
Shiftless
Well-known member
O
Sometimes worn out looking jaws can be refreshed to become useable just by wire brushing the crud out of the grooves.
Outlaw is right. I’ll second the opinion that it looks complete to me. It has a nice looking set of pipe jaws which are sometimes missing. I have 2 Reed 1C’s in my collection and I used to own a 4C. They are just about the best combination vise ever built.
Sometimes worn out looking jaws can be refreshed to become useable just by wire brushing the crud out of the grooves.
GX460DIYguy
Well-known member
Yeah it’s complete and still gets used. Just figured it might be a good idea to replace some of the old stuff. Planned to take a wire wheel to it and clean it up and repaint it and clean up the insides.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Old stuff when it comes to Reed vises is plenty good now. A 75 or so year old Reed vise once is is cleaned up, lubricated and adjusted will outperform just about any new vise on the market today. I can’t say enough good things about the entire line of Reed vises with the C series at the top of the heap.
Take it apart and clean the crusty dirty old grease out of the nut and main screw. Get all the sliding surfaces clean and smooth. Lube it up and put that great old vise back to work.
four.cycle
Well-known member
just my lousy two cents, but...
wire wheel will remove any patina on the metal.
fine brass brush and WD-40 will remove the rust and leave the original finish. (lots of work)
Simple Green (straight) will remove paint and not change the finish of the metal one iota.
pics
then just wipe it down with BLO.
again, just my lousy two cents.
PeterPeter
Well-known member
Here’s one i haven’t found in the catalogs, but there is an open spot in the spreadsheet for this no. 71 C.Parker that I spied in the wild today. 
Another Parker, missing the screw retaining ring as usual.
Still has the chain holding the key that locks the swivel jaw.
peterpeter
Another Parker, missing the screw retaining ring as usual.
Still has the chain holding the key that locks the swivel jaw.
peterpeter
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Got a catalog page below the No. 51 that is very similar - table on the right has # 71.
TheRealZeus
Well-known member
Idk.. confused.. is it possible there was a 70s series below the 80s?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Idk.. confused.. is it possible there was a 70s series below the 80s?
Yes, single swivel jaw vs the double swivel jaw.
TheRealZeus
Well-known member
•Deleted off the cuff speculation•
four.cycle
Well-known member
1894 W. Bingham Co. catalog Parker vise ad pp 301
* note that the 1928 Francke Hardware Co. catalog shows a swivel attachment for a model 71.
Parker at International Tool Catalog Library
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TheRealZeus
Well-known member
learn something every day.1Bad55Chevy
Well-known member
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My father in law has this old Reed 3C in his back yard. How hard are they to find parts for? I’d love to restore it for him as much as I can. He bought it at an equipment auction where he worked and that was probably at least 30-40 years ago so it’s seen some use. It’ll probably never be like new, but it would be nice to get all the rust off of it and maybe get a better set of jaws on it.
Ya impossible to fix... Definitely not worth your time... my time is basically worthless so it would be best to give it to me!
Super cool vise man!
PeterPeter
Well-known member
Funny that they would design a swivel lock unique to one model - at least i haven’t seen this style before.
peterx2
KMScott
Well-known member
Peter, I bet they had failure’s in the early designs. The swivel jaw support is not backed up with cast beef like the newer designs. They used a large round as the swivel under the support held in with a pin in a groove on the round.
four.cycle
Well-known member
@PeterPeter -
^ You're above my pay grade there.... I don't know anything about vises. One of the other members might better provide some insight on that.
if you meant THIS:
"* note that the 1928 Francke Hardware Co. catalog shows a swivel attachment for a model 71."
That little widget also fit other models of their vises.
^ You're above my pay grade there.... I don't know anything about vises. One of the other members might better provide some insight on that.
if you meant THIS:
"* note that the 1928 Francke Hardware Co. catalog shows a swivel attachment for a model 71."
That little widget also fit other models of their vises.
Ultradog MN
Well-known member
Well,
Since the Holidays are approaching I thought I would display my vises in the form of a Christmas tree.
From bottom to top is a 6" Wilton C3 bullet, an 8" Cardinal 8B Speedvise, a vintage 6" Bridgeport machinist vise, a pair of 6" Heinrich 6SV drill vises, a 4" Floatlock and a little 2-1/2"Craftsman machinist vise.
There's also a 5" blacksmith vise on my grinding stand outside - and a couple of other small ones around here that were too shy to get in the photo (or I couldn't find at the moment.)
Since the Holidays are approaching I thought I would display my vises in the form of a Christmas tree.
From bottom to top is a 6" Wilton C3 bullet, an 8" Cardinal 8B Speedvise, a vintage 6" Bridgeport machinist vise, a pair of 6" Heinrich 6SV drill vises, a 4" Floatlock and a little 2-1/2"Craftsman machinist vise.
There's also a 5" blacksmith vise on my grinding stand outside - and a couple of other small ones around here that were too shy to get in the photo (or I couldn't find at the moment.)
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TheRealZeus
Well-known member
Best keep that picture on ya.. show to people, when they’re whining about the cost of Christmas 
trees. Ornaments?
.. I’d skipped the tinsel cause it might end up gettin’ in the screws.
trees. Ornaments?.. I’d skipped the tinsel cause it might end up gettin’ in the screws.
Plastikosmd
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- Nov 17, 2016
- Messages
- 1,254
Well,
I hope they don’t come in 3s (2/3 this month)
The tree it came from, red oak
Sanded, 340+ lbs (18x18x30)
Poly
Morgan 60 w brass jaws
I hope they don’t come in 3s (2/3 this month)
The tree it came from, red oak
Sanded, 340+ lbs (18x18x30)
Poly
Morgan 60 w brass jaws
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Well,
I hope they don’t come in 3s (2/3 this month)
The tree it came from, red oak
Sanded, 340+ lbs (18x18x30)
Poly
Morgan 60 w brass jaws
I was expecting an anvil to land there... Looks great!
Think about binding it in iron straps like the old black smiths did. It will continue to split...
1Bad55Chevy
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- 623
Did the tree fall?Well,
I hope they don’t come in 3s (2/3 this month)
The tree it came from, red oak
Sanded, 340+ lbs (18x18x30)
Poly
Morgan 60 w brass jaws
four.cycle
Well-known member
So.... you secured the vise to the block with 5/16" or 3/8" lag screws?
Plastikosmd
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Yep, could not find my long zip ties
Chevy = no, it was taken down by request, I just benefited from the wood
Chevy = no, it was taken down by request, I just benefited from the wood
rocksnstumps
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- Mar 20, 2024
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- 157
^^^ Would have liked to pick up a nice bigger Morgan vise cheap but did get a deal on this Craftsman 5191 in decent shape. Bit of dirt binding it up but no cracks in any parts. Just took it apart to clean the insides at this point. Still looking to get a deal on something like a Heinrich 6SV drill vise above in the Christmas "tree". My recent addition of a 20" Clausing looks bare without a decent drill press vise on the table.
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