The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

I posted this AMF Float-Lock Mity7 Vise about a year ago. It was by the same company. That might be what you remember.

​

 

[PeterPeter]

Certainly it does


​

Thanks for the ‘dirty paper’. You’re the fastest patent producer in The West. How do you do it?

I see quick release or ‘Instant Change’ is an option. I guess that’s why they call it Standard. Theres a longer version with Instant Change, too.
I’ve chased a few of these vises, first time I actually caught one. It came attached to a complete, with pulley guard, Walker Turner bench press. I was tickled pink.

peter, peter

 

[CRSINMICH]

I often find vise patents while searching for other things and I file them in case it should come up in the future.

Here's a case in point. Just yesterday I found this patent while researching pipe vises and saved it just in case.
Wilbert Trethewey was a plumber in Boston. In fact, his great-grandchildren are still running Trethewey Brothers Plumbing. One of them is a TV star.

​

 

[PghJKB]

I posted this AMF Float-Lock Mity7 Vise about a year ago. It was by the same company. That might be what you remember.

​

Bowling Balls, Harleys, and Float-Lock.

Quite an ensemble...
JKB

 

[Outlawmws]

Bowling Balls, Harleys, and Float-Lock.

Quite an ensemble...
JKB

Bowling alleys and Radial arm saws too.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Bowling alleys and Radial arm saws too.

And sailboats and nuclear reactors.

 

[colmal]

I'm in love

My next mission, got his phone number, my friend who sent it to me isn't able to drop it off

There is a 7th shelf on the ground.

 

[Outlawmws]

New addition: A Will Burt Versa Vise Gunsmith vise $35!

3-1/2" jaws opens 4-3/4" (thisb one you open toth e stop to measure) about 15-1/2 Lbs :

 

[PeterPeter]

The PO describes the condition of this 404 1/2 as “fair”. Seems a lot better than that to me. To my eye, looks like original japanning, crisp tail edges and fairly smooth jaw faces. Besides the missing lock handle, and a random dings, anyone see something I don’t? How would you describe the condition?

peter, peter

 

[micahd1997]

New addition: A Will Burt Versa Vise Gunsmith vise $35!

Congrats! Never had the pleasure of owning one, but they’re meat vises. And at that price…no brainer

looks like original japanning

Even though the paint is old, it’s not original. No vise manufacturers I’ve ever seen (understandably so) painted the slides of their vises, and that one shows clear traces on the slide. That said, all things considered, I’d probably still put the condition at higher than “fair”.

 

[neophyte]

Congrats! Never had the pleasure of owning one, but they’re meat vises. And at that price…no brainer

Even though the paint is old, it’s not original. No vise manufacturers I’ve ever seen (understandably so) painted the slides of their vises, and that one shows clear traces on the slide. That said, all things considered, I’d probably still put the condition at higher than “fair”.

I’ve seen enough old vises that appear to have been assembled, and then painted, including the slide, that I think painting the slides was occasionally done.
I don’t know how common it might gave been, and mostly it is less expensive vises where I’ve seen the issue.
Whether Reed would have done it, I don’t know, but it would not surprise me if dome Industrial manufacturers did it, just to get vises out the door at slightly lower cost.
The paint would also have helped protect exposed areas of the slide from rust.

 

[Outlawmws]

I’ve seen enough old vises that appear to have been assembled, and then painted, including the slide, that I think painting the slides was occasionally done.
I don’t know how common it might gave been, and mostly it is less expensive vises where I’ve seen the issue.
Whether Reed would have done it, I don’t know, but it would not surprise me if dome Industrial manufacturers did it, just to get vises out the door at slightly lower cost.
The paint would also have helped protect exposed areas of the slide from rust.

Reeds have a tight enough slide fit that it could cause binding from bunched up scraped paint, so unlikely.

the only painted slides from a factory I've seen are cheap homeowner's models and cheap imports.

 

[PeterPeter]

Turns out, the OP’s “fair” description of the 404 1/2 was an over estimate. It is all there, and original, but there at least one problem I identified by taking out the slide. I offered $30, even though he wanted to give it to me.
The screw is in inaccessible right now, so not sure how bent it is. The retaining sleeve bolt lacks a head, or slot for screw driver. Not the first time I’ve seen this.

Later… Well, it’s out and it’s not pretty. Not surprised considering the condition of the nut. This pic of the tail end was taken with the meatball end flat on the table.

Peter, peter

 

[colmal]

I'm in love

My next mission, got his phone number, my friend who sent it to me isn't able to drop it off

There is a 7th shelf on the ground.

, sending a deposit in a few days delivered in a few months, finger crossing has commenced.

I think he said the base isn't original and the 7th shelf has a crack in it, LOL I didn't even haggle, just said I'm happy with everything, struggling on the phone with hearing and no transport, I'm just happy he is OK with dropping it off at the big Bendigo swap in a few months, a few more pics are coming.