I was in my dad's basement workshop area and noticed this vise. It was covered in sawdust so I cleaned it off a bit and noticed it said "US NAVY" on it. It used to belong to my 95 year old grandfather who was in the Navy. In fact, the whole workbench belonged to him. He was a machinist. Anyhow, the vise was made in Cleveland by Colombian Vise and MFG. Co. (model 604). Any thoughts on this? Anyone have a guess on how old it is and what its value may be?
old school COLUMBIAN vise. US NAVY issued.
- Thread starter ssig2222
- Start date
fatfillup
Well-known member
Value would be detrmined by condition and size and it looks very nice. I'm assuming you don't want to sell it, but I'd guess value would be $125. or so. But the Navy wants it back or your Grandfather goes to the brigg.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Yeah, the Navy doesn't like people walking off with their property! 
jwitt
Well-known member
The Navy quit using the term Bureau of Ordnance (BU. ORD. on your vise) in 1959. So it's older then that if that helps.
Jim
Jim
Adam McLaughlin
Well-known member
I got that same vise on my trans bench, it is a beautiful old tool!
I would cherish that!
Adam
I would cherish that!
Adam
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
Just to be clear, dont paint it, wire brush it, wire wheel it, strip it, sand it, evaporust it, clean it, vinegar it or anything else that would destroy the patina....That thing is too cool, esp to think the kinds of things your granfather made using it!
OT- In regards to the Pawnstars thread, I am amazed at the stuff people have had for generations and take chump change for it.
Not saying you would sell it... Just since I was on the soap box. Nice find!!
OT- In regards to the Pawnstars thread, I am amazed at the stuff people have had for generations and take chump change for it.
Not saying you would sell it... Just since I was on the soap box. Nice find!!
91FE
Well-known member
...priceless
BanjoSavesTheDay
Well-known member
How did I miss this thread? That thing is so cool! I would trade every vise I have just to own one with the history like that. My grandfather has a little old Craftsman that he's had for years. Someday I'll have it and it will be worth more to me than all the other ones that I've bought. In short, don't sell it!!!
That being said, if you are absolutely determined to sell it, send me a PM.
That being said, if you are absolutely determined to sell it, send me a PM.
Scout Driver
Well-known member
Cool vise and a great piece of history!
Scott
Scott
K5blazer83
Well-known member
A piece of Navy history....I'd keep it it. I have so much **** from when I was in, if you were to go in my garage and yell "attention on deck", things would stand up.
Adam McLaughlin
Well-known member
Square bolts are old school; I would say mid 1930s or prior.
Adam
Adam
Wow, I kind of forgot about coming back to check this thread out. Ya know, things get hectic. Thank you, everybody for checkin' it out. My parents were getting ready to move and my father thought he wouldn't have enough room for all of his tools and whatnot. So, he went and post the whole workbench including the vice for $125 and instantly got a buyer. I made it pretty clear I wouldn't let that vice go even if I had to nab it and bury it in nowhere land. The deal changed to just the work bench for 75. The work bench was ancient, awesome, and made in Pittsburgh by Carnegie. A shame to see it go.
dfndr
Well-known member
This is a great thread. It shows the two sides of the forum. To some, these things are just hunks of metal. To most of the GJ members, they mean much more. Glad you were able to save it from the buyer. Seems like he was reasonable. Rick
arkangel06
Banned
Nice looking vise!
mjozefow
Well-known member
Very cool! Don't sell it unless you sell it to me! 
Actual value on an old vise like that is around $100. MAYBE $150. What does it weigh?
Actual value on an old vise like that is around $100. MAYBE $150. What does it weigh?
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
The 52-9 is probably the date of the contract, so it would likely not be any older than that.
Charles
Charles
autopts71045
Banned
That Vise is a beauty. I found this one in Hammond In. on CL about 2 weeks ago. 15" high, 28" long, 6" jaws and I think it spent its life on the floor being used. Myabe they didn't have a table big enough for it.
Last edited:
Nightshift
Well-known member
ssig2222, I have a Columbian 605 swivel vice like this only 1" wider. I love it!
Doug Wooding
New member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1
My dad worked for consoladed freightways in 1939 and was sold an old
used Columbian Vice #504 and I am still useing it for Auto repair.
I found " The Columbian" 604 1/2 in my Father's work shed it's on a metal 3 leg pipe stand and it must weigh at least 125lbs or more .It's in great condition..doesn't say anything about the US Navy ...but on closer examination you can see on the other side some grinding marks...Dad was in the Navy during WWII and he worked for American Aviation and Rocketdyne as a machinist ..This Vice looks pretty old maybe from the 40's
JohnFreeman
Well-known member
I agree with this 100%
JC23
Well-known member
OK, here's what ya need to do.
I wuz in the Navy and I live near Cleveland so send it to me and no questions asked.
I wuz in the Navy and I live near Cleveland so send it to me and no questions asked.
american lockpicker
Banned
[email protected]
New member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2011
- Messages
- 3
Hi everyone. Wow what a great site this is. I got here via Google as I have a Colombian vise that I inherited from my father-in-law when he passed away. I will take some pictures and upload them in the next day or two.
I have some other things he left me that I would love to share.
Thanks again for allowing me to join.
I have some other things he left me that I would love to share.
Thanks again for allowing me to join.
Welcome aboard, if you have any pics comming of vises, post them in the "vises of GJ thread. Alot more people will see them.
Toymeister
Well-known member
First time poster and 25 year DoD COntracting Officer, purchasing agent if you prefer.
Current Government contract numbers and say any contract from the 1960's are formatted this way DAAEO7 (contracting officer identifer)-12 (fiscal year, 2012 in this example)-C (contract type)- 1234 (sequential Contract number)
So DAAEO7-12-C-1234 Means Contracted by the Army Tank-Automotive Command in fiscal year 2012 by Firm Fixed Price Contract number 1234
This vise does not have a contract number like this, however it's likely they used a similar number sytem pre-Vietnam so this is likely a 1952 contract vice produced some point between 1952 and contract expiration likely in 1957
Current Government contract numbers and say any contract from the 1960's are formatted this way DAAEO7 (contracting officer identifer)-12 (fiscal year, 2012 in this example)-C (contract type)- 1234 (sequential Contract number)
So DAAEO7-12-C-1234 Means Contracted by the Army Tank-Automotive Command in fiscal year 2012 by Firm Fixed Price Contract number 1234
This vise does not have a contract number like this, however it's likely they used a similar number sytem pre-Vietnam so this is likely a 1952 contract vice produced some point between 1952 and contract expiration likely in 1957
camarotoolman
Banned
I have've had some of grandpas tools for 40 years now, smile evey time I see one. There're priceless to me. Wish i had the hole farm.
Toymeister
Well-known member
Camarotoolman: Sometimes you need to make your own memories. I was just at the DRMO -a military surplus yard. And I found a new in the box yost 33C. It certainly will look good on by bench, I thought. At 96 pounds it is too heavy to ship home so I took it apart and when I went to ship it the postal inspector (all packages from Afghanistan are inpected before the package is sealed) got grease all over herself, she was convinced I had hidden something on the bowels of the vise. That little tidbit will make a nice story for my son to tell his about Grandpa's vise!
Super Sport
Well-known member
Very cool! Don't get rid of it!
I'm sure my grandfather had a neat old vise, but I don't remember it and it either went to my uncle or sold. I was lucky to inherit a few of his tools. It's too bad I never got to know the man very good...
I'm sure my grandfather had a neat old vise, but I don't remember it and it either went to my uncle or sold. I was lucky to inherit a few of his tools. It's too bad I never got to know the man very good...