The VISES of Garage Journal

[asp]

It was steel? Wow. That must have been hard over rough spots. Mine was brass and was worn to the shape of the handle.
I hope it works good for you.

I made the steel piece... When I got the vise there was nothing at all in the threaded hole. I should have realized how hard it would be over anything rough. I don't have any brass and the ball bearings I had in mind were a touch too large. I'll stop at the local hardware store on my way home from work tomorrow and find a bearing that fits inside a 7/16-14 nut.

 

[autopts]

I thought I would post some pics of some of my vises,hope they show up.

You've got a great collection going. They are ALL nice!!

 

[LoFlow]

Columbian. A nice versatile vice.

 

[autopts]

Columbian. A nice versatile vice.

I had the bigger brother to that one. I sold it to my friend in oregon.

 

[demographic]

hey they all look great would also like to know if anyone has seen an all aluminum table clamp vise i belive i came across one that i bought for 7 dallors only letters on it are on the jaw KAL does anyone have an idea

The only clamp on aluminium table vice I know of (that doesn't mean there are no others though) are made by Zyliss and look like this photo I found on the internet.

They are a very versatile item for a woodworker as THIS PDF manual shows.
Not heavy enough duty materials for serious metalworking though but I would like one all the same.

 

[mazak mark]

I could sure use some help from the vise experts in semi dateing a wilton #250.No date on the key,took key off and looked on the back of it and had a 17 stamped on it?It has original gray paint and chicago casting and a Schiller Park decal.When did the castings change from chicago,and when did they go from gray to blue? Thanks in advance for any help Mark

 

[autopts]

I could sure use some help from the vise experts in semi dateing a wilton #250.No date on the key,took key off and looked on the back of it and had a 17 stamped on it?It has original gray paint and chicago casting and a Schiller Park decal.When did the castings change from chicago,and when did they go from gray to blue? Thanks in advance for any help Mark

I might be able to guess wth a photo.

 

[disaster1277]

thanks for the the info still trying to get the hang how this works hopefully in the next couple of days ill be putting up some pictures the vise and others that i've found thanks again

 

[mazak mark]

I might be able to guess wth a photo.

Hello autopts
Here are the Wilton photos,I hope

 

[autopts]

Hello autopts
Here are the Wilton photos,I hope

Don't touch or clean that vise!!!!!!!! Its old and in A-1 original condition. That vise is 1955 ish or older. Many were unmarked in their date. Their castings were stamped "Chicago" until 1957 when they moved their plant to Schiller Pk. They must have had some overstock that they took from their Chicago plant and this model was one. Wilton vises that still have that sticker in back can go for double the money easy. They painted some models gray and some an off green. Auction value could be anywhere from $150-$250 depending on who is looking that particular week. Very nice

 

[mazak mark]

Don't touch or clean that vise!!!!!!!! Its old and in A-1 original condition. That vise is 1955 ish or older. Many were unmarked in their date. Their castings were stamped "Chicago" until 1957 when they moved their plant to Schiller Pk. They must have had some overstock that they took from their Chicago plant and this model was one. Wilton vises that still have that sticker in back can go for double the money easy. They painted some models gray and some an off green. Auction value could be anywhere from $150-$250 depending on who is looking that particular week. Very nice

Hey Autopts
I thankyou for the quick reply,and I am surprised its that old.Thanks again Mark

 

[Brad54]

<img src="http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9838/4finished.jpg" width="800" height="552">

What a great color for a '50s-style vise! I'd have never thought of that, but it's perfect.

-Brad

 

[Gary Indiana]

Their castings were stamped "Chicago" until 1957 when they moved their plant to Schiller Pk.

It says "Schiller Park" on the sticker though. So, this might be made in Schiller Park with their old equipement from Chicago factory.

Beautiful original piece. I'd keep it in a climate controlled safe and guarded 24/7

 

[Gary Indiana]

What a great color for a '50s-style vise! I'd have never thought of that, but it's perfect.

-Brad

Thanks. I like it a lot.

 

[jon619]

I was checking the CL ads and there was what appeared to be a Wilton bullet vise 5 minutes from me for $10. The ad title was Large Vise. Here's the pictures of the craigslist ad. I called and asked him to read off the side and he said Wilton, so I was there within 15 mins. It was about 730pm.

Here's a few better pictures after bringing it home. It needs new jaws. I thought one side was welded on, but not sure. I'm going to smack it with a hammer and chisel tomorrow. The back cover plate is missing. The lever for the swivel is missing and I think there might have been another lever on the other side. The guy said he bought it from his employer (General Dynamics) in 1996 when they closed down in San Diego. He was a painter and painted many things including Air Force missile components. It's cool because I'm from San Diego and in the Air Force. The jaws are 4in wide and the vise weighs about 47 lbs.

You can kinda see the plaque over the Wilton name. It has USAF and a serial number on it.

 

[blue dog]

What do i have here guy's?

 

[Even 11]

The Mercury 4" off of the LA Craigslist? Cool looking Vise!! Autopts has its twin!

-Dane

 

[blue dog]

The Mercury 4" off of the LA Craigslist? Cool looking Vise!! Autopts has its twin!

-Dane

CAn anyone give me a little history lesson on this unit. era, is it a USA vise? anything.

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

CAn anyone give me a little history lesson on this unit. era, is it a USA vise? anything.

It is an anchor originally intended to be used in tandem with Mercury boat motors. The 4 on the side means that it was not to be used with motors greater than four horsepower.

Actually I have no idea who made that. It kind of looks like a Morgan to me.

 

[autopts]

It is an anchor originally intended to be used in tandem with Mercury boat motors. The 4 on the side means that it was not to be used with motors greater than four horsepower.

Actually I have no idea who made that. It kind of looks like a Morgan to me.

You still haven't lost it!! Morgan, Yes, Columbian, No. American Scale, Ridgid, Simplex, Rock Island, Maybe. I think we all know there was no Mercury Vise Co.

 

[blue dog]

So, did i do good, can we say it is a USA vise? any idea how old?

I have it apart, being degreased, later some steel wool and a wire wheel, then a nice new coat of paint. I have a couple of cans of metallic bronze that are used on commercial door frames, nice color, subtle. Or do you think a original color is better? looked to be some kind of bluish green pastel.

 

[blue dog]

After poking around on the web, it sure looks to be a dead ringer for a few morgans that i found pics of. There were Milwaukee morgan's and chicago morgan's.

 

[ZRX61]

The jaw supports/shoulders on the Mercury look identical to Morgans...

 

[tncatadjuster]

Off Topic:

Is there a story about this?

 

[demographic]

Off Topic:

Is there a story about this?

Quite a lot of woodworking vices are like that, you can buy the hardware for them and make your own so its an excuse to use a small section of fancy timber it a few cases.

Some bench joiners use differing timbers on the bench or somewhere else in the shop (drawer fronts being another one) so they have a good example of what different timbers look like to the customer.

That looks like a burr of some sort but I can't identify it

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

It looks like it was made from bowling alley wood!

 

[Muffduster]

My new $2.51 vise. Its a Royal vise. Made in Japan.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=270670426400

 

[blue dog]

I can not find any information, zero, zip, nada on the mercury vise. It is a dead ringer for the Aurora era of morgans from the pictures i came across. where can i hunt for more info? trying to figure out an era for this thing. should be back together by the end of the day sunday with a clean coat of paint and in perfect working order.

 

[blue dog]

Mercury #4 restoration complete. went with a anodized bronze color,red lube on the screw, de rusted best i could with what i had. This was my first restoration, very satisfying bringing something back from a time forgot.
Just wish i could figure out how old this thing is.

 

[mazak mark]

Mercury #4 restoration complete. went with a anodized bronze color,red lube on the screw, de rusted best i could with what i had. This was my first restoration, very satisfying bringing something back from a time forgot.
Just wish i could figure out how old this thing is.

That vise is SWEET and a great resto!!!

 

[blue dog]

Thank you Mark!

 

[blazsawgras]

columbian 6 inch sorry no pic may take one tommorrow.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Great restore on your Merc. Also a lot of great looking restores that I've seen while following this thread. I've noticed that when I go into a shop, flea market, etc., I pay attention to the vises that are present. Has anyone else experienced this?

Mark in Indiana

 

[Even 11]

Looks great Blue Dog! Lets see some more pics of your Hollands 4.5R Mazak!

-Dane

 

[mazak mark]

Looks great Blue Dog! Lets see some more pics of your Hollands 4.5R Mazak!

-Dane

Hey Dane
Here are a few more photos of the Hollands offset Vise. Mark

 

[blue dog]

What is the deal with the offset

I use some Lucas #2 red and tacky to give the screw a smooth ride, what do you guys use?

 

[blue dog]

Oh yeah! you guys ****. I did not need an other obsession to be OCD about, how did it get to this.

 

[spongerich]

Hey Dane
Here are a few more photos of the Hollands offset Vise. Mark

I love that thing. Now you need one that's offset to the left for the other end of your bench.

Oh yeah! you guys ****. I did not need an other obsession to be OCD about, how did it get to this.

Oh, you have no idea what a slippery slope you've started down. I've got 4 vises that I'm using, 3 that are just on display in my barn, and 6 more in various stages of restoration. That's not counting the 2 I've sold and one I've given away this year.

 

[mazak mark]

I love that thing. Now you need one that's offset to the left for the other end of your bench.



Oh, you have no idea what a slippery slope you've started down. I've got 4 vises that I'm using, 3 that are just on display in my barn, and 6 more in various stages of restoration. That's not counting the 2 I've sold and one I've given away this year.

I wonder if they made a lefty?

 

[Brad54]

I pay a lot more attention to vises now... I'm casually looking at Craigslist, and I see EVERY single vise at swap meets now.

The sad part is that I have a 4-inch swivel-base Columbian on my vise table, and a 93 pound, 5-inch swivel-base Reed on the floor waiting for me to build my welding table.

I do NOT need another vise... but damned if I can't stop looking for them. I guess the problem is that I've wanted a good American-made vise for ten years, and finally found the Reed and the Columbian for $40 each this summer, so now it's become addictive.

I blame this thread and every one of you guys!

-Brad