The VISES of Garage Journal

[asp]

That bevel you're talking about is one of the things that makes the old parkers so indestructable. It's a trade off - cut into your bench- have a super strong vise.

 

[spongerich]

A lot of the older non-swivel vises have that protrusion on the front edge. I beveled the front of my bench to mount my Reed 204. It was a bit of a pain, but it's rock solid.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Found this at a garage sale:

Cardinal 3B Speed vise, made in Glendale, California. The jaws are 3" wide and it is very quick to clamp parts. From what I have read, they were available with and without jaw plates. This one does not have the jaw plates - I would like to find a set if they are still available. The 3" is the smallest version I have seen. It weighs about 8 pounds. They are available up to 8" with a 103 lb weight.

 

[Steevo]

I'll add a new entry here.
I just picked up this Columbian combination vise today for $40 from a Craigslist ad.

The model number is 203-1/2 M2

The jaws appear almost unused.

It only has one screw-down thingy to hold it from rotating, and it doesn't look like it ever had one on the other side

and it came with a set of copper soft-jaw caps

The screw is in excellent condition, too

The battleship gray color and not appearing to have been previously rebuilt/painted makes me think it may have been military/Naval hardware.


Seemed like a good deal to me.

 

[toolsd]

Here's a nice old Reed I saved from the scrap heap. I brazed the broke part back on, and machined and scraped all the bearing surfaces. Works REALLY nice.

Tools

 

[Gary Indiana]

I just picked up this Columbian combination vise today for $40 from a Craigslist ad.

It's in a perfect shape. $40 for it was a money well spent.

Here's a nice old Reed I saved from the scrap heap. I brazed the broke part back on, and machined and scraped all the bearing surfaces. Works REALLY nice.

This looks like it broke not because of work stress but when someone dropped the heavy vise on a concrete floor.

Nice fixing of a great vise.

 

[toolsd]

I agree, maybe overtightening it in a poor mounting situation. It's funny, I restore a LOT of old tools. People always ask what I'm going to do if it breaks in the future, as parts are not available. Well, this nice old stuff DOES NOT break... UNLESS... you drop it, run into it with a forklift, tip it over, or something like that.

Once you fix it, it's likely gonna stay that way.

Since we all like pictures... and I do have somewhat of a vise vice...

Here's a milling machine vise I had to make a new nut for.

Here's an interesting one. Someone milled half the bed down a little. Well, I thought I'd mill it all down to match, but then realized that that would misalign the screw and the nut, so had to braze it all back up.

That, in turn, warped the whole thing. So I had to flip it over, remachine and scrape the base, then machined the scraping, and refit everything. Came out REALLY well, saved it from the scrap heap, which is where I got it.
Can't find the after pics....

Here's a little lot of them I fixed up. An Atlas mill vise, an Atlas shaper vise, a little old Brown and Sharp tilter, an angle plate and a Cincy wheel dresser.

Tools

 

[kc-steve]

FWIW, we found the "death certificate" of the Columbian Vise & Mfg Company dated December 31st, 1972, when it merged with Warren Tool Corporation of Ohio. Wilton's management must have offered to purchase the trademark rights at some later point in time.

posted;
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1311234&posted=1#post1311234

Steve

 

[bobadame]

Nothing fancy but here's one of mine. It's from China, so far it has held up.

 

[autopts]

I'll add a new entry here.
I just picked up this Columbian combination vise today for $40 from a Craigslist ad.

Thats a great vise for $40!! I might be wrong but I think the 200 series combos came with dual lockdowns. Might want to take the base off and investgate. Viseparts.com has them.

 

[Slowboat]

Here's a little lot of them I fixed up. An Atlas mill vise, an Atlas shaper vise, a little old Brown and Sharp tilter, an angle plate and a Cincy wheel dresser.

Tools

Let me know if you are interested in selling the Shaper Vise. I have an Atlas 7B shaper and no vice. You rebuilds look great.

 

[demographic]

I agree, maybe overtightening it in a poor mounting situation. It's funny, I restore a LOT of old tools. People always ask what I'm going to do if it breaks in the future, as parts are not available. Well, this nice old stuff DOES NOT break... UNLESS... you drop it, run into it with a forklift, tip it over, or something like that.

Once you fix it, it's likely gonna stay that way.

Since we all like pictures... and I do have somewhat of a vise vice...

Now that's a hell of a paternmakers vice, Emmert universal?

Any chance you could show it tilted as its a really excellent bit of kit and they hold so much at differing angles its worth showing off.

I'm sure the people who are afraid of working with wood can avert their eyes for a while

 

[toolsd]

Here's the only other pic I have handy.

It is an Emmert. Not only does it tilt, but the movable jaw pivots, so you can hold tapered pieces. It also rotates, all the way around and there's a little set of metal holding jaws on the other side.

Notice the wood handle, it's there for a reason. This thing is meant to hold things, not squeeze them. It's hoped that the handle will break before you break the vise. A very common reason for breakage in these things, trying to clamp something.

Tools

edit: here's a web pic.

Also, notice the backside view of the Wilton quick acting woodworking vise in the right of the underside view of my Emmert. Also, in the above post (the main pic of the emmert, notice the "holdfast" laying on the floor of the bench. THAT is one of my favorite types of vises. It just sits in a through 3/4" hole in the bench, whack it on top to hold, smack the back of it to release. VERY handy. HAS to be forged, a cast one from China WILL break.

 

[asp]

I'm not much a fan of woodworking vises, but someday when I need one, that's the one I want. Thanks very much for sharing.

 

[mjozefow]

one from China WILL break.

Speaking from experience?

I LOVE that patternmaker's vise. Too cool!

 

[Steevo]

I'll add a new entry here.
I just picked up this Columbian combination vise today for $40 from a Craigslist ad.

Thats a great vise for $40!! I might be wrong but I think the 200 series combos came with dual lockdowns. Might want to take the base off and investgate. Viseparts.com has them.

Thanks for the info and the link. I will be takiing it all apart for cleaning, de-rusting and painting, and I'll see about a second lockdown.

 

[scott_one]

A little Green Vise (No Markings)

A Little Red Vise (Also no markings)

Craftsman made in Japan

Palmgren Machinist Vise

I have two more out in the barn but it's too cold to go out there this late!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

My Mega Vise Little fellow with 1" wide jaws!

 

[jeepmattb]

$10 on CL, I've had it a few years but now I have the time to clean it up.

 

[shocksystems]

Noticed a Stanley Picture Frame Vise for sale on craigslist, haven't seen one like this on this thread yet.

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/tls/2188254503.html

Cheers!

Jim

 

[gilbo]

i got this Yost 55C a while back , but finally got around to mounting it to the bench.

 

[r07d24]

I love this thread...really awesome vises on here.

Here are a few of my current projects in progress...

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[autopts]

I love this thread...really awesome vises on here.

Here are a few of my current projects in progress...


Yes! They are all very nice and diverse!! That anvil vise? Is that a Wards vise?

 

[r07d24]

The last one on the left is a Wards Master Quality. I just put the final coat of paint on it last night!

 

[autopts]

The last one on the left is a Wards Master Quality. I just put the final coat of paint on it last night!

I thought so. I liked that anvil design and I'm suprised there wern't more anvil type vises is the 50's & 60. Great addition!

 

[r07d24]

It is a nice little vise, although this one does not have the pipe jaws it works really well and smooth, and still has some life left. I was considering painting the letters a different color, but maybe I'll just leave it alone.
I think I'll post it over on the classifieds to see if there is any interest.

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[LoFlow]

Nice vises Jeep. Love that small Wards.

 

[K and K]

This is a Columbian model 606 that I got recently. I would love it if anyone could tell me the approximate decade that it may be from.

 

[pirana]

i got this Yost 55C a while back , but finally got around to mounting it to the bench.



That's the vise i've had my eyes on if I can't find an old one & have to buy new.

 

[autopts]

This is a Columbian model 606 that I got recently. I would love it if anyone could tell me the approximate decade that it may be from.

That vise was made 50-60 years ago. The "Columbian" letters are in the shape of a semi-circle and they used that insigna even thru the 40's. Unfortunately Columbian did not date their vises. Nice vise!

 

[K and K]

That vise was made 50-60 years ago. The "Columbian" letters are in the shape of a semi-circle and they used that insigna even thru the 40's. Unfortunately Columbian did not date their vises. Nice vise!

Thank you, its definitely something I will take care of.

 

[mjozefow]

Autopts knows his stuff! Those old Colmbians are great vises.

 

[mjozefow]

i got this Yost 55C a while back , but finally got around to mounting it to the bench.

Is that paint line factory?

 

[old salvage]

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Another Woonsocket made Simplex. Nice.

 

[asp]

The 41S I gave to my father was made there too. Where in RI are you, Mr. Savage?

 

[r07d24]

The Simplex 41S is a very nice vise, solid & smooth. It will probably be my main working vise when I get it cleaned up...

although I did score another very interesting piece today with potential, Prentiss NO.19

So far I got vises from R.I., CT, & NY. What other New England states am I missing?

 

[old salvage]

The 41S I gave to my father was made there too. Where in RI are you, Mr. Savage?

I'm just outside the former industrial mecca known as Providence.

The Simplex 41S is a very nice vise, solid & smooth. It will probably be my main working vise when I get it cleaned up...

although I did score another very interesting piece today with potential, Prentiss NO.19

So far I got vises from R.I., CT, & NY. What other New England states am I missing?

Yup, Mine is a 41 s too. I think thats the only model I've ever seen. I wonder if they made other sizes.

You need a Vise from Massachusetts. That would be by Starrett or Athol Machine Co.

 

[asp]

I've heard of blacksmith vises made in Greenfield, MA too.

That's kind of a neat idea to get at least one vise by all the companies in the region. I've only got CT covered, but with 2 different ones. (Parkers and a small Stanley Sweet Heart that I haven't posted)

 

[Kirbot]

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What kind of paint is that?
Looks really nice!

 

[whelenfan]

that is a realy sharp looking vise. so is the bottle of saranac!