I'm not sure how many color schemes "No. 763" wore over the production run although I imagine it was a few. If it helps, here's a full profile shot of mine, showing all the metal, top-to-bottom.!
Oh that's a nice one... Any idea on the age?
704 pounds?! You mean 70.4?
i came upon a 208r reed vise and want to learn all i can about it, its on a pretty stout base and all together weighs 704 pounds! Fill me in I cant find anything more than an occassional reference here and there. Should I restore it? would it be worth powdercoating?

This is what mine looked like when I got it:
https://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/312534_2186594437170_1162790560_n.jpg
It was a silvery/grey with red in the recessed stripes. I'm going with something "art deco looking"
I'm also wondering if those t-shaped jaw insert replacements are available or if I'd have to have them machined (expensive?) somewhere. I'm looking to replace 5" inserts on a Columbian.
ZRX,
I read elsewhere that the gray with red began circa 1950 & the blue w/yellow lettering began in '64.
Evidently, Stanley painted these small vices black prior to 1950.
If anyone knows otherwise, let us know!
-Bill
)...a newer version that I gave to my daughter for her jewelery making. She chose blue for this one, but it was red before:
Before:
![]()
After
![]()
here is my just bought it today
I'm also wondering if those t-shaped jaw insert replacements are available or if I'd have to have them machined (expensive?) somewhere. I'm looking to replace 5" inserts on a Columbian.
i came upon a 208r reed vise and want to learn all i can about it, its on a pretty stout base and all together weighs 704 pounds! Fill me in I cant find anything more than an occassional reference here and there. Should I restore it? would it be worth powdercoating?
Morgan Milwaukee still makes the T shaped jaws. You could see if they fit, although even if they do the pin holes probably won't line up. It should be cheap to get aluminum ones made if that will suit your needs.
You could probably get a basic set made pretty cheap, but would have to do the final fitting by hand with a grinder. Then once it fits just drill the 3 holes and re-pin.![]()

I have an early version of this vise, a No. 745. it has the Stanley Works "Sweet Heart" logo (S.W in a heart) which someone was able to date for me to 1920-1934. This one appears to have original paint: Giant's colors!(Or maybe Halloween...
)
![]()
!!!
115mm "Peddinghaus Matador" vice/vise
![]()
That look to be a forged vise. Very tough I bet!
Not sure if I posted these pics before, but here is a Wilton Shop King we use at the hardware store. No idea how old it is. It works great except for one thing...the clip on the movable jaw broke, so we put a retaining ring on, which is not the right size, so the vise does not close all the way. I will have to take a close up picture next time I am there.
![]()
![]()

i think the c-channel is not forged (?) but the rest is a drop forged/welded constuction. Surface hardened. Forever guaranteed not to break or you get a new one. 75.000 psi tensile strength. Removeable jaw covers can be attached to the rings you see under the jaws.
If I remember this right thats about the same tensile strength as the Record engineering vice's made from pearlitic malleable iron.
could be, but i´ve never seen a forged broken vise.
I'm guessing a forged vise will not just snap like grey cast iron. Will probably just yield and bend. How does a ductile iron vise fail? Do they snap or just bend.
You can't quite see it here, but the retaining clip is much wider than the hole in the jaw. This does not allow the screw to go all the way in. I will get better pictures over the weekend.
![]()