dirtydogintex
Well-known member
Not sure of what you've got so guessing - shim stock.... or sand to length a bushing/washer(s) that's too long?
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
KesterHouse
Active member
Hi ho,
So a couple pages back I posted a photo of a 4" vise I was thinkin' about purchasing... $30 later and it's in the shop. Now the trouble is I have no idea what it is. I dug around the old Parker catalog images available on Dayid's wiki, and the only thing I could find that was close is the old #40 "Coachmaker's" vise. Seems too good to be true that this thing's a 100+ year old vise, so I'm hoping folks here will be able to help determine what it actually is.
"bl00" suggested it may be Howard Iron Works (HIW) vise, and from the few I've seen I agree that it could be that. Anyone else able to confirm that's what it is?
Regarding the photos, you'll see there's no name or numbers on either side. It does have the little fancy "ogee" bracket at the back of the static jaw, but both Parker and HIW seem to have those as well. The jaws are fairly tall compared to later Parker stationary machinist's units, and they clearly have removable jaws - that's what has me leaning toward their "Coachmaker's" unit. The reasons I doubt it's a Parker is the jaws on the one I have only show 2 screws in each, whereas the old catalog drawing shows what looks like 3 screws per jaw. Although there very well may be 3 holes under there and someone replaced the jaws with 2 screw pairs sometime in the past 120 years. The catalog drawing also looks to have a nice chamfer on the edges of the jaw castings as they rise from the body, which this vise doesn't appear to have. Finally, that "Coachmaker's" Parker is one of the few I've seen with a top entry handle screw, as opposed to later ones the have the front screw.
Anyway, I've also attached the 1890 Parker catalog page for comparison, so you can see what I'm talking about. Looking forward to seeing what this might be.
Thanks for looking,
-JeffK
So a couple pages back I posted a photo of a 4" vise I was thinkin' about purchasing... $30 later and it's in the shop. Now the trouble is I have no idea what it is. I dug around the old Parker catalog images available on Dayid's wiki, and the only thing I could find that was close is the old #40 "Coachmaker's" vise. Seems too good to be true that this thing's a 100+ year old vise, so I'm hoping folks here will be able to help determine what it actually is.
"bl00" suggested it may be Howard Iron Works (HIW) vise, and from the few I've seen I agree that it could be that. Anyone else able to confirm that's what it is?
Regarding the photos, you'll see there's no name or numbers on either side. It does have the little fancy "ogee" bracket at the back of the static jaw, but both Parker and HIW seem to have those as well. The jaws are fairly tall compared to later Parker stationary machinist's units, and they clearly have removable jaws - that's what has me leaning toward their "Coachmaker's" unit. The reasons I doubt it's a Parker is the jaws on the one I have only show 2 screws in each, whereas the old catalog drawing shows what looks like 3 screws per jaw. Although there very well may be 3 holes under there and someone replaced the jaws with 2 screw pairs sometime in the past 120 years. The catalog drawing also looks to have a nice chamfer on the edges of the jaw castings as they rise from the body, which this vise doesn't appear to have. Finally, that "Coachmaker's" Parker is one of the few I've seen with a top entry handle screw, as opposed to later ones the have the front screw.
Anyway, I've also attached the 1890 Parker catalog page for comparison, so you can see what I'm talking about. Looking forward to seeing what this might be.
Thanks for looking,
-JeffK
Attachments
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
KesterHouse
Active member
Thanks! I think so too, although the real price was $50 since I had to pay $20 to have it shipped. They originally listed it as pick-up only, but even though they were in Conn. it would have cost more than that in fuel to go down there and back, so I got them to ship it instead - never hurts to ask!
Still, at $50 total I'm pretty happy with it so far. Hopefully that broken handle retainer screw will back out easy after a couple days in the electrolysis bath.
Oh, and I meant to ask:
@87Pomona - On that Reed 103g you restored on the previous page, did you remove the paint on the lettering to polish the casting and have it show through, or is that silver paint you applied to the letters over the grey? It looks really good!
-JeffK.
Canoe50
Well-known member
I have a large Howard Iron Works vise & the base is the same as yours, so you could be right on that. IIRC when I researched it, they were made by Parker, but don't quote me on that. Mine does have Howard Iron Works, Buffalo NY on it. Might be a date or patent also. I'd have to go take a look at it again to be certain.
87Pomona
Well-known member
Silver paint from a Sharpie oil based paint marker and thanks!
Can anyone identify this old Prentiss Vise? I believe it says 822 on the side but it could be 622. I can't find any info about it searching online.
Thought I would re-post this to see if anyone had some info or history behind this particular model vise or even just the type of vise.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Zeppe807
Well-known member
I wish I could afford this one right now: (bad timing)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/3474735059.html
Here is a $120
DESMOND STEPHEN MFG CO. SIMPLEX UTILITY 33SJ BENCH SWIVEL VISE
URBAN OHIO,
MADE IN U.S.A.
The Vise is 15 1/2" closed, Opens to 6" Wide Has 4" Replaceable Jaws.
Base Locking handle has slight bend,but does'nt effect operation.
Excellent used Condition Very smooth operating condition.
Vise weighs 36 lbs
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/3474735059.html
Here is a $120
DESMOND STEPHEN MFG CO. SIMPLEX UTILITY 33SJ BENCH SWIVEL VISE
URBAN OHIO,
MADE IN U.S.A.
The Vise is 15 1/2" closed, Opens to 6" Wide Has 4" Replaceable Jaws.
Base Locking handle has slight bend,but does'nt effect operation.
Excellent used Condition Very smooth operating condition.
Vise weighs 36 lbs
87Pomona
Well-known member
Found this under alot of rust on my Hollands 52 1/2 vise
Bell System
Bell System
Provincial
Well-known member
bigcaddy
Well-known member
Vise thief checking in with todays nice find. Went to one estate sale and was #1 at the door. There was no real garage so i didn't know where to look. Once i found the room with the most tools, i started digging. It wasn't mounted on the bench but stuffed back on a bottom shelf of a storage rack.
Its in great shape and looks like a very well built vise. There's a Birkman Electric Co tag on the side and a faint USN on the back. Both the father and son were mechanics in the Navy so i don't think this was just stamped on for fun.
The Columbian was in the gardening shed and even though its not nearly as nice as the Rock Island, i couldn't say no for 5.00
Its in great shape and looks like a very well built vise. There's a Birkman Electric Co tag on the side and a faint USN on the back. Both the father and son were mechanics in the Navy so i don't think this was just stamped on for fun.
The Columbian was in the gardening shed and even though its not nearly as nice as the Rock Island, i couldn't say no for 5.00
Attachments
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Callling jeffmoss26 !!!
It's junk. Send it to Cleveland where it will get a proper disposal, er, home.
Dr.HairyOlds
Active member
Here's mine. Got it for the princely sum of $15. Just missing a handle which I made at work out of some scrap stainless.
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
$15 bucks? Heck yeah man!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
coolreed
Well-known member
Looks like that Charley Parker Vise has some potential. Don't worry if you got a good deal or not as there will always be someone who got a better deal or a worse deal. I think the important thing is to make that old vise the best it can be. Enjoy the journey of restoring it.
Catalyze
Well-known member
Ditto Coolreed's posting!! My first Parker was not anything close to a "deal" but I don't care. I still pat it when I walk by and wonder what zeppelin parts it help make. Yours looks really nice. Just don't think that you will out live it.....not ****** likely.
Bigcaddy or whatever your wanted poster says now days......great deal....great vise....yawn....so boring watching you Hoover up the good old iron....come to NM and try to find a vise!
Craig (wondering if Autopts is forgetting me at Christmas just like last year)
Bigcaddy or whatever your wanted poster says now days......great deal....great vise....yawn....so boring watching you Hoover up the good old iron....come to NM and try to find a vise!
Craig (wondering if Autopts is forgetting me at Christmas just like last year)
Outlawmws
Well-known member
You got from 4 - 10X the vise a C-note would have bought new, so you did fine. Was it a "Steal"? No but you don't have to feel like you screwed up at all.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
BKO5,
You did fine with your CP. Consider what kind of new vise you would get for $100.00. Then consider how much you would have to pay for a new vise of the same quality as your CP. I rest my case.
You did fine with your CP. Consider what kind of new vise you would get for $100.00. Then consider how much you would have to pay for a new vise of the same quality as your CP. I rest my case.
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I have it's 4.5" brother, and these are really nice, well built vises, definitely worth the $100 you paid. Great find!
yea i mean the vise is in awesome shape for its age no play, very smooth and heavy. i dont have alot room on my bench so it fits perfect. im very happy with it and no plans to restore it i like the look for now ill just give it a light cleaning and just lubricate the screw
KesterHouse
Active member
Hi ho,
@nine4gmc - That looks an awful lot like a Bonney vise from around the turn of the century. I've been researching small clamp-style Stanley vises a bit lately which is why it seemed familiar to me. If it's a Bonney No. 01, then it should have 1-1/2" wide jaws, according to the ad I found...
Hope that helps,
-JeffK.
@nine4gmc - That looks an awful lot like a Bonney vise from around the turn of the century. I've been researching small clamp-style Stanley vises a bit lately which is why it seemed familiar to me. If it's a Bonney No. 01, then it should have 1-1/2" wide jaws, according to the ad I found...
Hope that helps,
-JeffK.
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BlindViper
Well-known member
WXM that is def a wilton.
maddawg308
Banned
Snagged a Wilton 5" jaw at the junkyard this past week. The jaw opening is 4-1/4" inches, label says MADE IN USA, which is always a plus for me. The swivel base was cracked apart, so I left it in the junkyard with the rest of the scrap. I don't see any model number on this, any hints?
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toomanytoyzz
Well-known member
My father-in-law picked this one up for me yesterday at a flea market. Snagged it for $30 (was hoping for $25
), and the coolest thing was I sealed the deal with the seller over a cell phone.
It's a #93 in really good shape. Only has some grind marks on the top, but no cracks or repairs that I could see. My dad has a monster RI with 7" jaws. I believe it's a #975. I'll take a pic of it next to it next weekend when I head to his bodyshop. This #93 had smooth jaws which will be good for sheetmetal, and will not be the "go to" vise when I want to lock something down and get the BFH out!! I'll leave my Chinese manufactured vise for that purpose.
), and the coolest thing was I sealed the deal with the seller over a cell phone.It's a #93 in really good shape. Only has some grind marks on the top, but no cracks or repairs that I could see. My dad has a monster RI with 7" jaws. I believe it's a #975. I'll take a pic of it next to it next weekend when I head to his bodyshop. This #93 had smooth jaws which will be good for sheetmetal, and will not be the "go to" vise when I want to lock something down and get the BFH out
!! I'll leave my Chinese manufactured vise for that purpose.Attachments
Does anyone have a suggestion of how I could get a new tab added to the side of this vice? It was cut off at some point, and the rest of the vice is in good condition so I'd like to be able to use it.
Otherwise I can just use the rear hole, and one side hole to keep it mounted, but I would really like to have the 3rd side anchored.
I recognized that welding a new piece isn't a great idea, so hopefully others have a suggestion?
Otherwise I can just use the rear hole, and one side hole to keep it mounted, but I would really like to have the 3rd side anchored.
I recognized that welding a new piece isn't a great idea, so hopefully others have a suggestion?
Rusty Musket
Well-known member
balane
Well-known member
If you have enough lip left you could fabricate a little clamp like this to hold it down.
.
Attachments
Rusty Musket, I like your idea. I don't imagine I will hammer on this think to hard, so the threaded rod might work. I'll have to see how much depth I have in the bottom of the vise to drill/tap if I go that route.
Balane, I like the idea, but there is not enough of a lip to grab onto. My original thought was to do something similar but without much of a lip I don't think I'd be able to anchor it securely.
This thing is a 200lb beast, so I need something that will be strong.
Balane, I like the idea, but there is not enough of a lip to grab onto. My original thought was to do something similar but without much of a lip I don't think I'd be able to anchor it securely.
This thing is a 200lb beast, so I need something that will be strong.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I would make a tab like Balane has shown, only a bit higher, and then use two screws into the bottom base where it is solid laterally. those could be countersunk into the tab and I'd use hex or torx, head counter sunk to do the deed. The remains of the edge there would also help keep it secure, as long as the lateral bolts hold it in tight to the vise body.
Make the tab slightly short (just barely) so it does apply downward pressure at all times.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
After hanging around on this thread, I bet you'll restore it. I had my CP-205 for 20 years as a work vise until I came across this group. After seeing the beautiful restorations that were done, I had to try my luck. Since then, I've restored 4 vises, several c-clamps, several pipe wrenches and a table saw. I have a lot more scheduled for restoration. You can't beat working with the Vintage tools!
Don't come the chimney route to steal my vises like you usually do. Go thru the garage and also get the handles you forgot last year!
RivennHewn
Well-known member
I just found this guy selling vintage wilton vise reproduction stickers on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/114429466/wilton-vise-decal-40s-50s-reproduction?ref=v1_other_2
http://www.etsy.com/listing/114429466/wilton-vise-decal-40s-50s-reproduction?ref=v1_other_2
thundermug
Well-known member
Ha! That's me. I need to update those decals to the most recent versions. I offer a GJ discount.
I need to add all the other decals I've done, too. There are many.
I need to add all the other decals I've done, too. There are many.
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Cool.
Let me do my measurement. Will pm you later.Thanks RivennHewn for the reference.