The VISES of Garage Journal

[autopts]

Hi guys:

While I didn't read all 115 pages of the thread, I think I'm in the right place. I have just inherited (sort of) a Parker 435. I intend to sell it but its important that we maximize our price without ripping off a buyer since the person receiving the money for the unit is really hurting financially. My intention is to sell it on fleabay or craigs. Someone has already offered $100 but after reading your posts I'm thinking that is WAY under. Can you guys help me with a suggested asking price range - I don't want to be too high but I do have some time to wait for the right buyer. Does it swivel? I'm actually not sure. It does have the original wrench. What do I have? Is it rare? How heavy are these? I'm between Chicago and Detroit in Kalamazoo.

Here are the photos:

Thanks in advance,

Sheila

Thats a big vise. I sold one last year for a friend for $350 but it was refurbished. Untouched, maybe $200. I'm sure Craig will be running up there to take it off your hands for a song and a dance!! Here's the next size bigger and check its final bid when the auction ends,
http://cgi.ebay.com/BIG-VINTAGE-187...798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c5c6126e

 

[willyk57]

Here is my first attempt at a restoration. I found this #43 1/2 Columbia in a dumpster attached to a work bench top and figured I would give it a little sprucing up. Most of the clean up work was done with a wire wheel on the bench grinder. I will admit that I should have worn a dust mask, I was hacking up black and red crud for the rest of the night. I was able to get the jaw off of the slide side but the screws on the base side were about to strip.

Before:

My wife picked out the color scheme and I am really happy with the way it turned out ( I love her too).

After:

The one thing I thought was rather unique was the Hardi hole on the side of the aveil.

Enjoy,
Willyk57

 

[autopts]

Here is my first attempt at a restoration. I found this #43 1/2 Columbia in a dumpster attached to a work bench top and figured I would give it a little sprucing up. Most of the clean up work was done with a wire wheel on the bench grinder. I will admit that I should have worn a dust mask, I was hacking up black and red crud for the rest of the night. I was able to get the jaw off of the slide side but the screws on the base side were about to strip.

My wife picked out the color scheme and I am really happy with the way it turned out ( I love her too).

After:

The one thing I thought was rather unique was the Hardi hole on the side of the aveil.

Enjoy,
Willyk57

Great dumpster recovery and restoration!!

 

[ZRX61]

I've noticed a couple of comments lately about stuck screws on the jaws. My *go to* for that problem is a 30year old impact driver, the kind with interchangable tips & you hit it with a hammer..

 

[Catalyze]

Nothing special, except the price ~$80 about 10 years ago. I'm quite sure it's made over there, but I like the features.

I have a US of A Wilton on the floor, waiting for a re-paint and new jaws.

If it squeezes and pleases then its a good vise! Don't trip over the Wilton in the mean time.

autopts - you have no worries about me being in Illinois anymore, all the green grass/trees was sensory overload, the Columbian vise was pretty funny in that I called the owner from Glen Ellyn and met him at a truck stop in Bristol....at night...in the darkness.....with cash ($35.00).....it was just like those "deals" I see on Southern Fried Stings...who knew it was vises that the dealers have been selling?

willyk57 - Great Rescue! Very nicely done....love the color and lettering....that is a great vise and the price was right

zrx61 - anyone that worked on a Japanese motorcycle in the 60's and 70's has a hand impact.....remember all those screws holding the case covers on?

 

[zekers59]

Willyk57 -

Nice choice of colors.........well done!

 

[Catalyze]

Hi guys:

My intention is to sell it on fleabay or craigs. Here are the photos:

Thanks in advance,

Sheila

Greetings!
You have a very nice vise known as a "combination vise". The jagged jaw inserts are there to hold pipe and tubing for folks while the regular flat jaws above hold the usual items. It is a swiveling vise and you have the original type of wrench which should help you when selling. Finally, it is larger and a bit more out of the ordinary so that should help you too. Autopts is a reliable source for pricing in your area just like zrx61 is on top of things in the West Coast. Since you are considering using "my list....Craigslist", I would suggest that you meet me in Springfield. Once I have your vise, I will put it on my list for you.....trust me.
Craig (really...it's my list)

 

[ZRX61]

zrx61 - anyone that worked on a Japanese motorcycle in the 60's and 70's has a hand impact.....remember all those screws holding the case covers on?

Yup, thats exactly why I bought mine

 

[Nightshift]

I've noticed a couple of comments lately about stuck screws on the jaws. My *go to* for that problem is a 30year old impact driver, the kind with interchangable tips & you hit it with a hammer..

Totally agree. And if the impact driver doesn't loosen them, you're pretty much down to drilling a pilot hole and using an easy-out. But 90%+ of those screws will come out with the impact driver.

I think I bought mine in the early 60's when motorcycles was all I could afford for transportation. Bill

 

[Gary Indiana]

What do I have? Is it rare? How heavy are these? Thanks in advance,

Sheila

Some information on this kind of vise was posted here.

It is a beauty to a vise collector, and a solid ole' tool to regular mortal.

 

[autopts]

Greetings!
. Since you are considering using "my list....Craigslist", I would suggest that you meet me in Springfield. Once I have your vise, I will put it on my list for you.....trust me.
Craig (really...it's my list)

Your an impositer! The real Craig wouldn't spend a second with us meatballs.

 

[piccolopower]

Thanks so much...I appreciate your expertise! (And no, I'm not going to Springfield lol....)

Sheila

 

[Rickenbackerman]

Here is my first attempt at a restoration. I found this #43 1/2 Columbia in a dumpster attached to a work bench top and figured I would give it a little sprucing up.
Enjoy,
Willyk57

Check my post #1795 on page 90 - I have the EXACT same vise, and I've never seen another. Most of them are later and have the letter designation - D43 1/2, C43 1/2, etc. Gilbo said it's from around 1938. Yours is in much better shape than mine - nice resto!

 

[tbody321]

im a newbie so please be easy on me. Ide like to know if there is any way to fix/repair chewed up vise jaws, meaning the body of the vise and not the replaceable jaws. Can this be arc welded and smothed for repair etc... I have big collection of vise ready for repair. 2 I recently sold were bother emmert vises, one one slightly over a 100#s and the other about 50#s. both same style and had rotating jaws and could swivel up and down too. tony c.

 

[willyk57]

Check my post #1795 on page 90 - I have the EXACT same vise, and I've never seen another. Most of them are later and have the letter designation - D43 1/2, C43 1/2, etc. Gilbo said it's from around 1938. Yours is in much better shape than mine - nice resto!

That is pretty cool,I can't believe that I missed yours when i was reading through the Thread. I have never seen another one set up like it. Thanks for the note about the date, I would have not guessed that it was that old.

Here is a question for all of you parts scroungers. I am missing the swivel base locking nut and bolt, will the bolt and nut from a similar size vice work? If so where might i look for one?

Thanks,
willyk57

 

[ZRX61]

im a newbie so please be easy on me. Ide like to know if there is any way to fix/repair chewed up vise jaws, meaning the body of the vise and not the replaceable jaws. Can this be arc welded and smothed for repair etc...

My method is to put a thin smear of JBWeld on the top of the vise body. Then sand it with a DA sander so only the JB filling the divots remains & paint it. There's a few of pics of mine "mid-resto" in this thread.

Edit: Post# 2130 on page 107.

 

[mjozefow]

Wow, we sailed right past 2000 posts and on to 2300! I continue to be amazed at the variety.

 

[Catalyze]

You created this monster thread......we just keep adding body parts!
Craig

 

[brucercolbert]

Anybody out there have a Peddinghouse vise ?

 

[brucercolbert]

Looks like a Ridge Tool knock-off to me.

 

[torqueman2002]

After:

The one thing I thought was rather unique was the Hardi hole on the side of the aveil.

Enjoy,
Willyk57

Well done!

I like the colors also. What brand paint and color number did you use?

Thanks for posting.

 

[Catalyze]

Betting on Rustoleium Hammered Copper for the body color.
Of course I bet on Beta format to kill VHS.
Craig


bruce - after looking at a Peddinghaus vise, it looks a lot like a Ridgid vise indeed....German made so it probably is the same item

 

[torqueman2002]

Betting on Rustoleium Hammered Copper for the body color.
Of course I bet on Beta format to kill VHS.
Craig

Can I interest you in 100+ Beta tapes and a Sony Hi-Fi Beta machine?

 

[Catalyze]

Here is the "truck stop" vise purchase from Wisconsin last week.
View media item 9876
Here is my new Ultra ****** Tank. It is built with 1/8" metal and a bolt welded to it for the battery charger. It also will pass enough current that the mechanic's wire to the vise part got hot enough to melt through the tub edge. Time for a bigger wire instead of a toaster wire imitation. The ****** water was also heated up to about 90 degrees or so.
View media item 9878
Finished vise in Safety Red Rustoleum. I am feeling pretty froggy about this one for $35.00 in autopts backyard.
View media item 9877View media item 9879
Craig

 

[domain]

Here is the "truck stop" vise purchase from Wisconsin last week.

Finished vise in Safety Red Rustoleum. I am feeling pretty froggy about this one for $35.00 in autopts backyard.
View media item 9877

Craig

Wow looks great! You brought that vise back to life. Well done.

 

[outlander800]

That vise looks awesome, I am very impressed. Now lets see the new reed all cleaned up......

 

[autopts]

Here is the "truck stop" vise purchase from Wisconsin last week.
View media item 9876
Finished vise in Safety Red Rustoleum. I am feeling pretty froggy about this one for $35.00 in autopts backyard.

Craig

A beautiful restoration Craig! Remember, I'm holding a warrent!!

 

[autopts]

Here is the "truck stop" vise purchase from Wisconsin last week.

Finished vise in Safety Red Rustoleum. I am feeling pretty froggy about this one for $35.00 in autopts backyard.

Craig

A beautiful restoration Craig! Sorry, I poated the wrong photo.

 

[Even 11]

Picked up this one today... and a beaten Rock Island for $15 each!! 4" jaws and pretty solid shape. Might get to degreasing it tomorrow.

-Dane

 

[Catalyze]

Thanks for the good words folks! Everytime I think about taking up knitting, someone posts up another vise and it starts all over again.

Reed 3C - I can't bring myself to strip it down, I wish you fellows could see the goofy thing close up....not one mark on the slide....handle doesn't have a single ding on it...it might be the "lube job" vise project

Even 11 - great looking Craftsman there....love the styling....reminds me of the late 50's when cars had jet plane influences in their styling sort of like the Olds F88
Craig

 

[ZRX61]

Sold the black Craftsman today for $70, see photo album on here for before/after pics

 

[jcm44]

I finally got around to stripping and painting this Prentiss 454 1/2.

 

[Catalyze]

jcm44 - very nice later Prentiss, one of the Meridan, Ct ones. It came out looking very stately and handsome. Where did you find the old beast?
Craig

 

[mjozefow]

I finally got around to stripping and painting this Prentiss 454 1/2.

Nice job. Kinda makes me want to smack the idiot who put those HUGE grinder marks in it though.

 

[Even 11]

Sold the black Craftsman today for $70, see photo album on here for before/after pics

Nice looking Cman you had there ZRX where did you pick that one up?

-Dane

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Here is my latest project,It's a Wilton 3 1/2" jaw Swivel base.I got this for free from my job after someone bent the handle.I broke it all down painted it,straightened the handle and re-greased it,Can't beat a USA made vise for free!!

 

[jcm44]

jcm44 - very nice later Prentiss, one of the Meridan, Ct ones. It came out looking very stately and handsome. Where did you find the old beast?
Craig

A friend of mine bought a compressor from a guy that tended to buy everything under the sun tool related. When we went to pick up the compressor, I asked about the vise and he was happy to sell it.

Nice job. Kinda makes me want to smack the idiot who put those HUGE grinder marks in it though.

I like to think they were removing some of the welding slag that was on top of the jaws.

 

[fm2176]

I've been wanting a good vise for some time. No pics, but I currently make do with a Home Depot 4" like the one found here: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...googlebase-_-D25X-_-202214085&locStoreNum=367

Sadly, outside of lucking out in the classifieds or at a garage sale it seems good vises are hard to find. Choices are either spend a little for a big one at Harbor Freight or spend a lot for one that is not much higher in quality at a big box store.

 

[Catalyze]

05Carbon - Great to be in the right time and place! Very nice Wilton there....if dumpsters could talk, the things that folks throw away....sigh

fm2176 - never give up....one thing is to let folks that are friends in on your desire for an American vise. My wife found me a 4 1/2" Wilton bullet through her booth in a craft shop. She told all the folks that had booths that her husband was mentally ill and wanted an American vise.
Craig

 

[Nightshift]

I've been wanting a good vise for some time.(snip)
Sadly, outside of lucking out in the classifieds or at a garage sale it seems good vises are hard to find. Choices are either spend a little for a big one at Harbor Freight or spend a lot for one that is not much higher in quality at a big box store.

... or you could buy one of Nick's or Mitch's 'ole American vices when they have them up for sale. Just a thought. Bill