The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
old salvage
Well-known member
i just clicked on it to check and the small clip of the page is gone... ?
I'm going to find it again and take a screen grab.
it wasnt much...
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Okay, here it is. I bet this is the steel slide vise and if it is then 1924 is the year it was introduced !
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Thats like new! I think those round nose old Craftsman were made by Reed. Post War. Very nice find
Yeah, the handle and dynamic jaw look exactly like my Reed.
old salvage
Well-known member
You guys sure ? looks Rock Island-ish to me.
If it is Reed it's before they started making them with that split nut retaining collar.
If it is Reed it's before they started making them with that split nut retaining collar.
Might be right, I'll post my 3" Rock Island in a few.. old Salvage. You might be "The Man" on this one!
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bczygan
Well-known member
There's no doubt thats a Rock Island but it looks as if Craftsman had different suppliers at times.
demographic
Well-known member
One thing I have noticed is that US made machinists vises don't often have a quick release mechanism but British many made machinists vices do.
Even the posh end of the US spectrum doesn't often have that feature where as many different British manufacturers (Record, Woden, Samsonia, Parkinsons, Fortis) do.
Even the posh end of the US spectrum doesn't often have that feature where as many different British manufacturers (Record, Woden, Samsonia, Parkinsons, Fortis) do.
old salvage
Well-known member
Yup. They do look almost the same though. I wonder when they switched.
Might be right, I'll post my 3" Rock Island in a few.. old Salvage. You might be "The Man" on this one!
Veeeery similar. Maybe Rock Island was made by Reed at some point?
View media item 8638
The Reed has larger balls on the handle.
The handle mounting ball is identical.
The half cover above the handle mount is identical.
The Reed has raised panels on the sides of the dynamic jaw.
The "bumps" on the lower side of the static jaw are larger and smoother on the Reed.
The main body of the vise is longer on the Reed.
The main body of the Reed appears a bit narrower.
Some of the differences may be age or machinist vs combo. Dunno how old the Rock Island is, but that Reed is early 1920's.
Edit - Just noticed a dead giveaway. The support lip underneath the bar is MUCH longer on the Reed. In that pic, the Reed isn't 100% clamped shut yet the support is nearly to the end of the dynamic jaw. Not so on the RI.
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Catalyze
Well-known member
The "bump" on the static jaw at the bottom is sure characteristic. It's like the scallops on the back end of a Parker. You don't see them on another vise brand.
Craig
Craig
Anyone ever seen a ratcheting vice? I saw one today at an estate sale and thought about buying it but there wasn't a manf name visible on the body. I figured it was probably underneath and I'd have to take it off the bench to find it. It was a small-medium sized vice with a stick shift knob that you ratcheted up and down to tighten. Pull it up level and you could slide the jaws apart. Pretty cool looking and I was going to take a chance on it but I've gotten burned on too many "I'll take a chance on it's" lately so I passed. Sorry no pics either. Just wondering if anyone's familiar with this vice from the description and if it's worth anything. I'd say about 4 to 5 in jaws and old, not a new vice at all.
Thought I would post this here too. I purchased this today from my place of business and would love to know more about it.
Prentiss Vice is pretty large I would say it has a 10"+ throw. It has a knob on the R/H side that houses a detent that allows you to swivel it. Smooth jaws and no other obvious markings.....looks VERY old.
Looks like this thing has some history and I would love to restore it, but want to know more about it.
Another poster found this which would indicate it is an 1890's Prentiss woodworking Vise:
Here are the pics before I restore it:
Prentiss Vice is pretty large I would say it has a 10"+ throw. It has a knob on the R/H side that houses a detent that allows you to swivel it. Smooth jaws and no other obvious markings.....looks VERY old.
Looks like this thing has some history and I would love to restore it, but want to know more about it.
Another poster found this which would indicate it is an 1890's Prentiss woodworking Vise:
Here are the pics before I restore it:
Catalyze
Well-known member
Well done! It is a very nice Prentiss indeed. Make sure to post a thread about it when you get around to refreshing it.
Craig
Craig
a990dna
Well-known member
Someone pointed me to this Web site and thread ...
Here's my old Craftsman vise that's been in my storage since 1979... it belonged to my bother in law that passed away at the age of 24. He was a machinist and had just got out of the Air Force and a month later died of an aneurism.
After searching around it appears this was manufactured by Reed or Rock Island...
I would appreciate any info you may have, i.e. year made, original color, parts availablity, etc.
Also, is there a place that restores old tools like this in Southern California?
Thanks
.
Here's my old Craftsman vise that's been in my storage since 1979... it belonged to my bother in law that passed away at the age of 24. He was a machinist and had just got out of the Air Force and a month later died of an aneurism.
After searching around it appears this was manufactured by Reed or Rock Island...
I would appreciate any info you may have, i.e. year made, original color, parts availablity, etc.
Also, is there a place that restores old tools like this in Southern California?
Thanks
.
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demographic
Well-known member
SweetD
Well-known member
If it was mine, I would lube up the screw, and give it a nice thin coat of the oil of your choice. Really nice patina on that one. Nice vise!
Dave
a990dna
Well-known member
Thanks for the replies....
It has some surface rust, should I take some fine steel wool and lightly remove the rust? or will oil penetrate the rust? .. The last time I used it was to clamp two bolts in the jaws before I stored it away.
I looked at several Craftsman vintage tool catalogs from 30's-40's-50's...
It appears it was made in the 40's, but I can't I.D. this exact model. Note there's no Craftsman nameplates on it, just the brand and model cast into the mold.. could be an industrial version. IDK.
Again, thanks
.
It has some surface rust, should I take some fine steel wool and lightly remove the rust? or will oil penetrate the rust? .. The last time I used it was to clamp two bolts in the jaws before I stored it away.
I looked at several Craftsman vintage tool catalogs from 30's-40's-50's...
It appears it was made in the 40's, but I can't I.D. this exact model. Note there's no Craftsman nameplates on it, just the brand and model cast into the mold.. could be an industrial version. IDK.
Again, thanks
.
SweetD
Well-known member
I would just oil it, maybe it would take a couple of coats, but if it's just surface rust, the oil should penetrate it. I've done it with great results on a couple of really old, patina'd vises.
I think the steel wool would take that beautiful patina right off of it.
Typically, guys restore vises that are really beat up - and that includes stripping it down. I don't think you need to do that.
I'm sure someone will chime in as to the model / age of your vise...
spongerich
Well-known member
That thing is way too far gone for a restoration. About the only thing it's good for is scrap. Since gas is so expensive, I'll save you the trip to the scrapyard and send you $25 for it.. you can even keep the change.
a990dna
Well-known member
I appreciate the insight... I was ready to strip it down and repaint my old vise.
That thing is way too far gone for a restoration. About the only thing it's good for is scrap. Since gas is so expensive, I'll save you the trip to the scrapyard and send you $25 for it.. you can even keep the change.
Thanks for your kind offer, I wasn't born yesterday...
... lol..
Very nice. I'm with the rest. If its going to be your personal vise, maybe lube the jack screw, its great the way it is. The Reed/Rock Island debate might still linger for a while. Here's maybe another Reed disguised as a Craftsman.
Catalyze
Well-known member
Did you mean Reed or Red? Just kidding
Craig
Craig
Very nice. I'm with the rest. If its going to be your personal vise, maybe lube the jack screw, its great the way it is. The Reed/Rock Island debate might still linger for a while. Here's maybe another Reed disguised as a Craftsman.
That ones Awesome Nick!! You still have that one around?
-Dane
Actually I never did. I pulled that photo off of either one of the threads on GJ, or off of Ebay. I'm not sure. I did have this identical Reed which was in excellent condition. It had a stainless steel plate to fit underneath composite benches and the jaws were perfect. I even threw in a pair or $30 copper liners. Final bid............$76. I was thurghly disapointed.
Strange that so many Records emerge accross the water when US made some amazing Vic(s)es.
And over here in the UK I reckon I have one of the best of 'em.
A Reed 206 beast.
I thought that you might enjoy it.
Looking at the collections on here I am very tempted to paint mine up. Some of your vices are truly spectacular if a bit 'Girly'.
I think I prefer my tools 'In the rough' and looking like they have been used.
Anyway, I can't even pick mine up and put it on the bench now (My age is catching up with the vice) so she is going to have to go.
Sad though as there is a bit of a story connected with this ol' girl.
Imagine, 25 years ago, out on my Honda CX500 (Silver Wing), cruising round the countryside one weekend and I came across an old barn which had burnt down many years before. Diggers and dumpers had been clearing the site during the week and it looked like the barn would be next.
Not being able to resist a 'nose' I walked into the remains, most of which had now collapsed into a heap, and saw this old metal workbench on it's side and absolutely covered in surface rust, as was the Vice.
I looked around and found an old adjustable and set about removing it from the mangled bench.
A bit dishonest, I know, but there was no-one to ask and I thought, What the hell!!
Ah, now, how to get it home?
I then found an old Stainless Rolls Royce hub cap that had been used for burning something in.
Sat the Hubcap on my bike, very carefully placed the vice on top of that (spreading the weight, you see) and manoevred my bike to the roadside, started up and drove home with one hand on the vice and the other on the throttle, kicking the gearchange into gear on the revs rather than the clutch.
THAT was some journey.
I think I EARNED that vice.
I haven't the means of weighing it but I would estimate a 150 pounds at least.
And over here in the UK I reckon I have one of the best of 'em.
A Reed 206 beast.
I thought that you might enjoy it.
Looking at the collections on here I am very tempted to paint mine up. Some of your vices are truly spectacular if a bit 'Girly'.
I think I prefer my tools 'In the rough' and looking like they have been used.
Anyway, I can't even pick mine up and put it on the bench now (My age is catching up with the vice) so she is going to have to go.
Sad though as there is a bit of a story connected with this ol' girl.
Imagine, 25 years ago, out on my Honda CX500 (Silver Wing), cruising round the countryside one weekend and I came across an old barn which had burnt down many years before. Diggers and dumpers had been clearing the site during the week and it looked like the barn would be next.
Not being able to resist a 'nose' I walked into the remains, most of which had now collapsed into a heap, and saw this old metal workbench on it's side and absolutely covered in surface rust, as was the Vice.
I looked around and found an old adjustable and set about removing it from the mangled bench.
A bit dishonest, I know, but there was no-one to ask and I thought, What the hell!!
Ah, now, how to get it home?
I then found an old Stainless Rolls Royce hub cap that had been used for burning something in.
Sat the Hubcap on my bike, very carefully placed the vice on top of that (spreading the weight, you see) and manoevred my bike to the roadside, started up and drove home with one hand on the vice and the other on the throttle, kicking the gearchange into gear on the revs rather than the clutch.
THAT was some journey.
I think I EARNED that vice.
I haven't the means of weighing it but I would estimate a 150 pounds at least.
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Once you bend the copper jaws to fit are they easy to take on/off?
You sure that was stainless? It looks very "white" in the photo, like aluminum.
Catalyze
Well-known member
Lovely Reed that you posted photos!
Memories always seem to make things harder
to part with.......except my ex wife....no problems there.
Craig
Memories always seem to make things harder
to part with.......except my ex wife....no problems there.
Craig
micah68kj
New member
I'm new to this forum. Looks like a nice place. I have a question about a couple of vises I ran across while helping a friend clean out their garage. She wants to know if these vises are of any value. Here are the pics. One is marked "Rock Island No. 98". (or possibly No 93) It is pretty dang heavy probably 50lbs. Other one I didn't look for markings but it has a lever type swivel system that I didn't really show when taking the pics.
Thanks for any and all help
Joe
Thanks for any and all help
Joe
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Yes,they are worth something. I'd probably put them out at my next garage sale. So much depends on the condition of the jaws. The Rock looks to have forged jaws maybe worn smooth, the other one if cleaned up might be a keeper if its USA made.