The VISES of Garage Journal

[Kevin54]

Looks a lot like the one I bought a year or so ago from Machine Mart, mine says Clarke on it and I'm pretty sure its Chinese but its still quite handy all the same.
I even put it onto the section of wenge worktop I got for my roll cab.

I do have other vices (I'm English so before anyone gets to berating me on my spelling of vice, its correct over this side of the pond) but that's quite a handy item to have on the rollcab.

I have a Record number 6 which is way too big to go on there and a Record number 74 Auto Vice which won't mount on there either cos the mounting bolt/spindle is way too long and its better suited to a stronger bench.
Plus I need to blast the 74 to strip the paint before re-painting it.

Is that vice PINK

 

[mjozefow]

Here are a couple of mine. The 5" Craftsman was a gift from my uncle when I bought my house. The green 4" job I picked up the yesterday. No name on it, just V20 & V21 cast into the jaws and V22 under the base. Never seen one like it before. Works smooth and doesn't seem to have been abused.

The consensus seems to be that those are Milwaukee vises, made in the USA.

 

[demographic]

Is that vice PINK

Err, umm. I've been asked that before.
Naah, its just that my mobile flash washed the colour out of the picture, same as its done with the Kawasaki green plastics off my 500 nearest the camera, the vice is actually red.


















Pastel red

 

[ersatzs2]

When I was a kid, reading everything I could find about cars, I remember Ralph Buckley's account of the Bugatti factory. He said that Bugatti made all it's own vises, and they were serial numbered and carried the Bugatti badge. A machinist could be fired for getting a file mark on a vice. They must rank as the ultimate vise find, I have never seen or heard of one surfacing.

However now we have the internet and a quick search yielded
http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/displayimage.php?album=29&pos=9

Anyone ever seen one?

 

[mjozefow]

When I was a kid, reading everything I could find about cars, I remember Ralph Buckley's account of the Bugatti factory. He said that Bugatti made all it's own vises, and they were serial numbered and carried the Bugatti badge. A machinist could be fired for getting a file mark on a vice. They must rank as the ultimate vise find, I have never seen or heard of one surfacing.

However now we have the internet and a quick search yielded
http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/displayimage.php?album=29&pos=9

Anyone ever seen one?

Very cool!

 

[pfbz]

He said that Bugatti made all it's own vises, and they were serial numbered and carried the Bugatti badge.

Anyone ever seen one?

Seems very similar in design to an early Wilton machinist vise!

(but unsupported jaws...)

 

[pfbz]

I was bidding on several Wiltons today at a local auction. I actually hoped to score a few more, but ended up with this C2 Combination vise. In my opinion, the only decent deal of the over 26 vises in the auction! At $136, I still would have liked it to be a few bucks less, but I'm happy with the deal. It's hard to get a sense of size with Wilton's, as they all sort of scale up or down and without any reference, they all look the same! This one is about 115 pounds. Better pictures coming soon!

There were several other Wilton's I wanted, but they went for way too much. I would have liked the 600S they had, but gave up well before the bidding topped even $300. Not that nice of an example. It looked like it had been used fairly regularly to hold work for an Oxi torch!

I was also a bit shocked to see Wilton Tradesman's go for more than I thought they were worth, one for more than I paid for the C2! For example, this 6" tradesman, a bit rough, missing the pipe jaws, went for $145.

Even more amazing, there were several "Made in China" Wilton's that pulled stupid money as well, like over $100 for this Chinese Wilton with the wrong jaws!

And almost $100 for this pair of Chinese Wilton's, both missing parts:

I had really hoped to come home with half a dozen new Wilton's of different flavors, but instead only came home with one. I also bid on two drill presses, a band saw, both of which also ended up selling for stupid money as well.

 

[bgott]

It sounds like that auction had shills bidding.

 

[autopts]

I think you did great. That C-2 is a big vise. Were they on welding tables? Auction prices on vises are going thru the ceiling!

 

[mjozefow]

Good score on the C-2. Those don't seem to bring as much money on the Bay.

 

[rsieracki]

When i went to the SK plant to pick up my aution winning yesterday i saw some huge reeds, simplex, wiltons etc... the wilton c2 is friggin huge it was on a rolling base... before anyone asks about pics, i had the guy who works there following me around presumably thinking i was trying to swipe stuff becasue he kept asking if i needed help finding the stuff i "actually" bought... there were also tubs of sockets and ratchets everywhere some in various states of manufacture... almost like they just closed one day without warning and left everything where it was... guys toolboxes with pictures of their families in them, personal affects etc. rather sad

i go back on thrusday to pick up the rest... including my 5" desmond vise... looks to be in great shape cant wait to show you guys

 

[243]

I received my American Scale No. 4 yesterday, I am a little disappointed in the condition. This side looks ok but there is pretty large chunk out of the jaw on the other side, the screw threads are very worn where they first emerge from the static side and the jaw inserts are trashed.

I should have requested better photos but I didn't, the price was right at 54.00 shipped.

I might weld up a stand and mount it to the concrete outside the shop. I am not sure how much time I want to put into it but I may build up the missing corner with brass and make some jaw inserts. I won't feel bad if I need to beat on it though

 

[ersatzs2]

Sorry if it's already been observed, but

What were once vises are now habits...

 

[ersatzs2]

I was bidding on several Wiltons today at a local auction. <snip> In my opinion, the only decent deal of the over 26 vises in the auction! At $136, I still would have liked it to be a few bucks less, but I'm happy with the deal.

Dude, please! you are tough to satisfy! That's one of the great vises on the planet and ~$900.00 new. A real anomaly considering prices other bidders were willing to pay at your auction...

 

[pfbz]

Dude, please! you are tough to satisfy! That's one of the great vises on the planet and ~$900.00 new. A real anomaly considering prices other bidders were willing to pay at your auction...

You're right, now that I have it home and cleaned it just a bit, I'm thrilled with the deal! Ended up being about $150 with the buyers premium. Pipe jaws are nearly perfect, regular jaws are very decent, anvil area very clean, smooth & tight.

The Three Amigo's!
400N - 9450 - C2

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

You're right, now that I have it home and cleaned it just a bit, I'm thrilled with the deal! Ended up being about $150 with the buyers premium. Pipe jaws are nearly perfect, regular jaws are very decent, anvil area very clean, smooth & tight.

Nice! Those are pictures are neat.

 

[blue dog]

What does that C2 tip the scale at if you guys do not mind me asking?

 

[pfbz]

What does that C2 tip the scale at if you guys do not mind me asking?

#107 on my garage scale...

 

[blue dog]

That's a biggin!

 

[PCO6]

I picked up a Record No. 8 on the weekend for $75. It works great but I plan to restore it. It goes well with my Record No. 4.

 

[autopts]

I picked up a Record No. 8 on the weekend for $75. It works great but I plan to restore it. It goes well with my Record No. 4.

Thats a big one! I never really ever heard a bad thing about that Record vise. I had a 4" Record and I sold it 2 years ago at our garage sale for $20.

 

[PCO6]

Thats a big one! I never really ever heard a bad thing about that Record vise. I had a 4" Record and I sold it 2 years ago at our garage sale for $20.

It's big alright ... 21" long when closed and 30.5" when open. I bought my No. 4 new in the 70's and have been very happy with it over the years.

 

[blue dog]

I hate this website, not only have i purchased a ton of tools ever since i found this place, now i have the desire to find a big old american vise that needs some love to bring it back from the dead.
You guys ****!

 

[Davefr]

Mother and baby:

 

[autopts]

Mother and baby:

That C-2 is in nice shape for its age. I'm guessing 55+ years old?

 

[autopts]

Here's one. Is his asking price a bit infated?
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/tls/2041949974.html

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I want a baby bullet so bad!!!!

 

[bad5x8]

What about the quality of the Bessey vises sold at Lowes?

Hard to find a good american one around here for a good price...

 

[Davefr]

That C-2 is in nice shape for its age. I'm guessing 55+ years old?

Good guess!! It was made in 10/52.

The previous owner must have painted it every year. There wasn't a but of rust on it and no signs of abuse. It restored pretty easy.

 

[rsieracki]

I want a baby bullet so bad!!!!

i have a 930 i want to sell just redone in hammertone black, let me know how bad you want a baby bullet

 

[mjozefow]

I hate this website, not only have i purchased a ton of tools ever since i found this place, now i have the desire to find a big old american vise that needs some love to bring it back from the dead.
You guys ****!

Good man!

 

[rsieracki]

When i went to the SK plant to pick up my aution winning yesterday i saw some huge reeds, simplex, wiltons etc... the wilton c2 is friggin huge it was on a rolling base... before anyone asks about pics, i had the guy who works there following me around presumably thinking i was trying to swipe stuff becasue he kept asking if i needed help finding the stuff i "actually" bought... there were also tubs of sockets and ratchets everywhere some in various states of manufacture... almost like they just closed one day without warning and left everything where it was... guys toolboxes with pictures of their families in them, personal affects etc. rather sad

i go back on thrusday to pick up the rest... including my 5" desmond vise... looks to be in great shape cant wait to show you guys

and here we are

hoisting that onto my bench gives all new meaning to 10 inches the hard way ... the jaw depth ofcourse

 

[mjozefow]

and here we are

hoisting that onto my bench gives all new meaning to 10 inches the hard way ... the jaw depth ofcourse

Nice vise!

It looks over-extended in the picture. It could be the pics though. The slide should touch the entire inside of the vise body. For pictures it doesn't matter, but over-extension is how the bottom supports get busted off.

 

[mofo62]

Mother and baby:

Beautiful ,awesome ,Great!!!!

Good Vise Wilton


Congratulations!

 

[autopts]

I sold a 600S this week and its heading to Chesapeake VA. This big Wilton has some massive jaw towers

Well, I had my 1st today. I shipped this vise in into 2 boxes. I have doublewall (240 Max Load lb) boxes specially made, put the body on waffle board and wrapped it tightly with new construction paper, filled in all 4 corners with waffle and the top. I guess the Fed Ex boys maybe tried to see who could throw it farther. Its my 1st in about 250 shipped.

 

[bmwpower]

What's waffle board?

 

[autopts]

What's waffle board?

Waffle board is that 1" cardboard with paper on both sides and what looks like a bee hive pattern of cardboard in the middle. It cushions well but I guess in this case. Handling abuse overcame my careful packing.

 

[rsieracki]

Nice vise!

It looks over-extended in the picture. It could be the pics though. The slide should touch the entire inside of the vise body. For pictures it doesn't matter, but over-extension is how the bottom supports get busted off.

ya i opened it until it unthreaded all the way and then turned it back one full turn after the threads but i wasnt really sure. seems pretty smooth and not in bad shape, jaws dont look too bad either... all in all a good deal.

 

[blue dog]

Came across 2 big vises today, first was a big lion vise with a adjustable base, it was at a weld/ fab shop i was dropping something off at this morning, i asked the owner about it, he told me he had not used it in 10 years, said it was to big. I am guessing it had 5" or 6" jaws and was probably a 75 pounder.
I asked the welder if he wanted to sell it?, he said he would think about it and tell me when i go back to pick up my welded stainless parts.
Then i was in Gardena picking up some steel and stopped by a used machinery place just because, outside was a old rusty, nasty workbench with a good size Athol on it, it looked like it just steamed across the ocean from Portugal, i asked the guy what he wanted for it and responded $200. Crack head, the thing was frozen and completely hammered. I wandered in to look at machines when i spotted a giant vise, could not read the name on it because it was facing the other direction and was on a shelf way over my head, again i asked the guy how much and he responded $200 again. This one was in good enough shape that restoration would not be that bad and would turn out a nice big vise, this one had 6" jaws and was easily a hundred pounder.
I am going to go back when the owner is there and see what he can do for me, i have bought a few machines there, maybe he will give me a break.
I am on my way to restore a good old american vise, today was promising, i thought you guys in the mid west were the only ones that could find these vises at farm auctions and such.
what can you guys tell me about the Lion vise, never seen one before.
Stay tuned.

 

[mjozefow]

Came across 2 big vises today, first was a big lion vise with a adjustable base, it was at a weld/ fab shop i was dropping something off at this morning, i asked the owner about it, he told me he had not used it in 10 years, said it was to big. I am guessing it had 5" or 6" jaws and was probably a 75 pounder.
I asked the welder if he wanted to sell it?, he said he would think about it and tell me when i go back to pick up my welded stainless parts.
Then i was in Gardena picking up some steel and stopped by a used machinery place just because, outside was a old rusty, nasty workbench with a good size Athol on it, it looked like it just steamed across the ocean from Portugal, i asked the guy what he wanted for it and responded $200. Crack head, the thing was frozen and completely hammered. I wandered in to look at machines when i spotted a giant vise, could not read the name on it because it was facing the other direction and was on a shelf way over my head, again i asked the guy how much and he responded $200 again. This one was in good enough shape that restoration would not be that bad and would turn out a nice big vise, this one had 6" jaws and was easily a hundred pounder.
I am going to go back when the owner is there and see what he can do for me, i have bought a few machines there, maybe he will give me a break.
I am on my way to restore a good old american vise, today was promising, i thought you guys in the mid west were the only ones that could find these vises at farm auctions and such.
what can you guys tell me about the Lion vise, never seen one before.
Stay tuned.

Lion vises are Monarchs. Monarchs are Prentiss vises re-branded. I have been hunting a good size Monarch for almost a year now.