The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

New Acquisition Report (N.A.R)

Was doing a job in a house for sale and saw this bolted to a bench in the basement. Belonged to the owners ex-husband, she said take it for $5!

I know they were Sears bottom of the line but a nice little 3-1/2" vise that will find a place to be useful. It's a 5244 with a covered screw.

Apparently they came with pipe jaw inserts that just sat atop the screw cover but doubt I'll ever find a set of those.

That is a great size for a top of a roller vise. big enough to do many jobs, small enough to not make the roller box collapse or lean.

 

[Benji]

Hi Stew, since you made the effort of going to the store to take a picture, I took picture of the English side of my old box for comparison. The graphics on the box changed over the years but only slightly. The fact that this vise is still sold and still guaranteed forever says, it can't be too bad.

Here is your picture again of present-day box

And this is blast from the past

The newer ones have a Mastercraft tag on the side and the older ones have no markings on them so when they break they won't replace them without the box because Canadain Tire don't know what brand they are. If you like yours don't use it for annything heavy I can pretty mutch look at one and break it they are pretty mutch plastic. I have had 5 or 6 and the jaw broke off most of them not from abuse but use they crack after a verry shot time on the inside where you don't see until you go to use it then the jaw falls off. Happens more in cold weather.

 

[kukko]

i took the big Wilton vise apart and saw the date 2-76 on the slide. thanks for the tip as to where to look.
when i had the handle/spindle assembly out ( #1 in this pic http://www.grainger.com/java/images/9480GP1ATH2PART.GIF ), i noticed it looked like it might have been repaired near where the end meets the threaded part. the metal did not look continuous and there seemed to be a small gap at one point. i will try to post some pics of that shortly. i must say that i have used the vise several times and put a LOT of force on the spindle, so if it is repaired, it was done fairly well.
attached is a pic of me pressing the control arm bushings into the lower control arm from my car. worked very well, nice and smooth. i still have not found a good place to mount this monster, so when i have had to use it, it's just been on the floor.

 

[bgott]

Thanks for the heads-up guys. Sounded a little odd, maybe I'll send him an email offering $25, along with a link to this thread

If he doesn't believe you or us, send him this link...http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-multi-purpose-vise-67415.html

 

[ncautoshop]

i took the big Wilton vise apart and saw the date 2-76 on the slide. thanks for the tip as to where to look.
when i had the handle/spindle assembly out ( #1 in this pic http://www.grainger.com/java/images/9480GP1ATH2PART.GIF ), i noticed it looked like it might have been repaired near where the end meets the threaded part. the metal did not look continuous and there seemed to be a small gap at one point. i will try to post some pics of that shortly. i must say that i have used the vise several times and put a LOT of force on the spindle, so if it is repaired, it was done fairly well.
attached is a pic of me pressing the control arm bushings into the lower control arm from my car. worked very well, nice and smooth. i still have not found a good place to mount this monster, so when i have had to use it, it's just been on the floor.

I've hot one just like it, it may be a touch bigger. Broke not long ago

 

[Recoil Rob]

That is a great size for a top of a roller vise. big enough to do many jobs, small enough to not make the roller box collapse or lean.

I was considering that also, how much reinforcement do you think would suffice, 1/4" plate top and bottom?

 

[Outlawmws]

I was considering that also, how much reinforcement do you think would suffice, 1/4" plate top and bottom?

That should suffice, or you can go with 1/2" or 3/4" Plywood on top, and use slightly recessed T nuts in the Ply, or drill through the box's top, and use the plate.

 

[Gary Indiana]

The newer ones have a Mastercraft tag...

Benji, I know they are ****. And I feel somewhat guilty about posting it in this magnificent thread dedicated to real beauties with a character and a soul.

However, it's good too to see it all - which makes the real vises shine even more in comparison.

 

[47p2]

Woden 190/8 with 5¼" jaws opening to 5½"


Woden started life as Steel Nut and Joseph Hampton Ltd in Wednesbury around 1952 according to British Planemakers. However this date may only apply to their plane line, which started with their takeover of WS Manufacturing Co Ltd in that year. They went on until 1964 when C & J Hampton took them over, better known as Record Tools. Woden was SN&JHs trademark, possibly chosen as it was a lot quicker to say than Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton, and they worked out of the Woden Works. Evidence suggests they changed their name to Woden Tools Ltd around 1958. Well known for their range of vices, cramps and so forth.

 

[Freeborn John]

According to Scott Landis's 'The Workbench Book' Joseph Hampton started Woden around 1870 in Birmingham.
Then in 1898 some other members of his family started up in Sheffield, shamelessly copying his vice design, Hampton sued but failed, and the new company became England's premier vice manufacturer, the company was Record.
Incidentally, Record later begat Paramo and absorbed Woden, if you ever wonder why English bench vices all look the same, it's the ******...

 

[balane]

Wow, interesting stuff. I guess dysfunctional families have been around for a long time.

 

[47p2]

Wow, interesting stuff. I guess dysfunctional families have been around for a long time.

Been happening south of Hadrians Wall for centuries

 

[47p2]

According to Scott Landis's 'The Workbench Book' Joseph Hampton started Woden around 1870 in Birmingham.
Then in 1898 some other members of his family started up in Sheffield, shamelessly copying his vice design, Hampton sued but failed, and the new company became England's premier vice manufacturer, the company was Record.
Incidentally, Record later begat Paramo and absorbed Woden, if you ever wonder why English bench vices all look the same, it's the ******...

Thanks for the info, very interesting

 

[Benji]

Benji, I know they are ****. And I feel somewhat guilty about posting it in this magnificent thread dedicated to real beauties with a character and a soul.

However, it's good too to see it all - which makes the real vises shine even more in comparison.

It is good to see them all I wasn't trying to put your post or annyone who has a mastercraft vise down but to tell of my experince with them. I still have my last new one. Oh and a 1960's Record #3 Nice thread now I need more quality vises but they are really hard to find here without spending big money.

 

[Brad54]

... if you ever wonder why English bench vices all look the same, it's the ******...

So they really are the "royalty" of English vises.

-Brad

 

[Pupuhd]

Prentiss Vise Co. Monarch 6" Vise #223

Picked this one up on Saturday at a antique/flea market place for $90. It's a Monarch #223, 6" wide jaw and made by Prentiss Vise Co., NY. It's weighs 95.5#.

The Crafstman 4-1/2" utility vise next to it I will most likely keep. I'll put the Monarch on the left side of this metal bench. The Craftsman I've had for 20 years and seen another post where the same model is 28 years old. These were made in the US and from recent research most likely made by Reed for Sears.

This is my original link for the Monarch vise when I first saw it over a week ago, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118774

 

[ncautoshop]

Here is our wilton, broke a few months ago.

 

[Freeborn John]

So they really are the "royalty" of English vises.

-Brad

You are too generous Sir, I was thinking more of the mad cousins in the attic...

 

[amec0406]

I've had the word 'vise' on my 'Stuff to Get' list for a while (it's a long list...). After being inspired by all of the great vise restorations in this thread, I decided to give it a try. I picked up an old Yost 203 on eBay. It was in good shape mechanically but wasn't much to look at.

For rust/paint removal I used electrolysis followed by a wire brush. The electrolysis worked great. Primed with Dupli-Color self-etching primer. Painted with Dupli-Color Old Ford Blue engine paint. I hit the handle and lockdowns with some Flitz polish. I used Moly-Graph to lube the screw and swivel assembly, and Teflon/silicone spray on the underside of the dynamic jaw.

I'm happy with how it turned out. The only gripe I've got with it is that the lockdowns don't index right - the lockdown handles are 90 degrees out when they're tight. Any ideas on how to fix this? I was thinking of adding washers or filing some material off the lockdown.

 

[ZRX61]

Friend just scored this:

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP

I'm happy with how it turned out. The only gripe I've got with it is that the lockdowns don't index right - the lockdown handles are 90 degrees out when they're tight. Any ideas on how to fix this? I was thinking of adding washers or filing some material off the lockdown.
SNIP

They are carriage bolts; take them out, shift 90 deg, and done.

 

[zer01]

[/QUOTE]

I am from Muskegon Michigan, that yost is nice. Great job, guess I had no idea Muskegon was a place of origin for yost. I realized they are in Holland, but new information for me. Now I have to find one.

 

[amec0406]

They are carriage bolts; take them out, shift 90 deg, and done.

Doh! Great idea, thanks!

 

[amec0406]

I am from Muskegon Michigan, that yost is nice. Great job, guess I had no idea Muskegon was a place of origin for yost. I realized they are in Holland, but new information for me. Now I have to find one.

Thanks! I talked to a guy at Yost and he said they moved from Muskegon to Holland 25 years ago. I've also seen older Yost vises marked Meadville, PA.

 

[Commando]

I picked up this vise about two weeks ago and is going to be a real project. I attempted to lighten it by disassembling and took the the handle right off, handle unthreaded off and vise jaw is rusted solid. It doesn't look that bad, but it weighs 116 pounds and is going to be a monster to work on. It also has the blot broken off that allows you t turn it on the base.

It is a Chas Parker no. 435.

Any advice other than some PB Blast to free the parts before working on it?

 

[ert01]

I'm curious if anyone knows anything about this unique vise... It's for sale near me for $90 which is probably a bit high but I'd like to know more about this one anyways.

It says "Murray Tool Co" on it and that's pretty much it. It's got 4" wide jaws but it's quite a huge vise. That other vise hiding behind it in the picture is a 6" Alltrade just for reference.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm curious if anyone knows anything about this unique vise... It's for sale near me for $90 which is probably a bit high but I'd like to know more about this one anyways.

It says "Murray Tool Co" on it and that's pretty much it. It's got 4" wide jaws but it's quite a huge vise. That other vise hiding behind it in the picture is a 6" Alltrade just for reference.

Looks a bit like a massive post vise without the post. Is it intended to be bolted to a bench in that position?

 

[Pupuhd]

For rust/paint removal I used electrolysis followed by a wire brush. The electrolysis worked great. Primed with Dupli-Color self-etching primer. Painted with Dupli-Color Old Ford Blue engine paint. I hit the handle and lockdowns with some Flitz polish. I used Moly-Graph to lube the screw and swivel assembly, and Teflon/silicone spray on the underside of the dynamic jaw.

You used Flitz polish, which I have, for the handle and lock down, but what did you use to apply it with? Large buffing wheel on a bench grinder? I would like to do the same for the Monarch vise I got above. Would like to polish the handle and bulb shape end it goes through.

Thanks-David

 

[Westernhunter]

How much did you pay for that vice Commando.

 

[Outlawmws]

Can't help you with that monster, but I'm curious to know what vise is that behind it? Looks similar to the one I currently have, a Craftsman 4-1/2" Utility vise. Any info? Thanks-David

Did you read the second paragraph that you quoted?

 

[amec0406]

You used Flitz polish, which I have, for the handle and lock down, but what did you use to apply it with? Large buffing wheel on a bench grinder? I would like to do the same for the Monarch vise I got above. Would like to polish the handle and bulb shape end it goes through.

Thanks-David

I used a microfiber cloth and a bunch of elbow grease. The electrolysis and wire brush did most of the work. I'm sure a buffing wheel would have been a lot easier and produced a better result (adding that to my 'Stuff to Get' list).

Good luck with the Monarch. Can't wait to see the 'after' pics on that one.

 

[KershawMan]

Would you pay over $1,000 for a vise? This vise recently sold on ebay for $1020. It is certainly different than most other vises I have seen on this thread. The seller described it as weighing 198 pounds with 7-1/2 inch jaws. No manufacturer was mentioned.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Would you pay over $1,000 for a vise? This vise recently sold on ebay for $1020. It is certainly different than most other vises I have seen on this thread. The seller described it as weighing 198 pounds with 7-1/2 inch jaws. No manufacturer was mentioned.

Was watching that one just for kicks... just WOW.

 

[Commando]

How much did you pay for that vice Commando.

I found it in the scrap pile, my assumption is the Army Corps of Engineers chucked it there as they dump their stuff in the same place.

I looked at a some other pictures and am now thinking that what I thought was a broken bolt is actually the stud and the one to stop from swiveling with the wrench is entirely missing.

 

[spongerich]

Any advice other than some PB Blast to free the parts before working on it?

I have a huge Morgan that was completely seized. Like yours, it was a bit too large to easily put in an electrolysis tank. I hit it a couple of times a day with PB and tapped it with a hammer for a couple of minutes to work it in.... it helps if you can stand it up in a few directions and let gravity help. Mine took about a week, but I eventually worked it loose.

 

[Commando]

I have a huge Morgan that was completely seized. Like yours, it was a bit too large to easily put in an electrolysis tank. I hit it a couple of times a day with PB and tapped it with a hammer for a couple of minutes to work it in.... it helps if you can stand it up in a few directions and let gravity help. Mine took about a week, but I eventually worked it loose.

Ok, thanks that's good to know, would probably have sprayed it and waited 15 min before going to town in freeing it. Will now give it time to work its way trough all the rust.

 

[Lump]

Would you pay over $1,000 for a vise? This vise recently sold on ebay for $1020. It is certainly different than most other vises I have seen on this thread. The seller described it as weighing 198 pounds with 7-1/2 inch jaws. No manufacturer was mentioned.

HEY! That's the big vise I saw Sept 24th at the Troy, Ohio swap meet (actually the Quad State blacksmith show next door). The seller wouldn't set a price on it, telling me that he was just showing it around before listing it on eBay. He told me that his eBay seller name was "matchlessantiques," so this is definitely the same one...just polished up a little now.

I meant to watch it on eBay, but forgot about it until I saw it on this post. One of our members has one just like it, and posted a photo on my thread. Good for him!

I went back on Sunday and took additional photos of it. Maybe I will post some of those, to see much he cleaned it up for sale.

PS: Did you SEE all those anvils and other blacksmith tools in the background of his eBay photos?!?!?

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Picked up this old athol 731-looks to be a ratcheting handle version w/pivot head-was told by the seller it was used by blacksmith for making parts for the buggy industry?? Came apart pretty easy and found old patina under the jaw where it was broken off-other jaw looks to have what's left of a removable jaw? Question I have for the vise gods-how do you get the rotating out to clean it? Possibly a set screw or allan bolt in the bottom of the plate inside the vise body?? Don't want to screw it up and would like to get it cleaned up asap. Any help appreciated.......Thanks......Cranky

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Picked up this old athol 731-looks to be a ratcheting handle version w/pivot head-was told by the seller it was used by blacksmith for making parts for the buggy industry?? Came apart pretty easy and found old patina under the jaw where it was broken off-other jaw looks to have what's left of a removable jaw? Question I have for the vise gods-how do you get the rotating out to clean it? Possibly a set screw or allan bolt in the bottom of the plate inside the vise body?? Don't want to screw it up and would like to get it cleaned up asap. Any help appreciated.......Thanks......Cranky

Need to add more pictures!

 

[All Systemz]

My first post here
and my vise...