The VISES of Garage Journal

[Tarnished]

CTyankee: Great old Shop King! There's one just like yours sitting in a junk shop near me I keep telling myself I don't need.
They just have so much style though... Nice catch.

 

[Steroblan]

How about this one. I've been googling "made in china bullet vises" japan bullet vises" "cheap bullet vises", can't find anything like it. That cap in the back looks shotty. Ideas?

EDIT: looks to be a DuraCraft. I'll pick it up. Guys asking 20. I just got that 2hp DuraCraft bench grinder, so they can be a couple. Here's the link from this thread on another 5" one. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1613611&postcount=2569 gotta love GJ.

Hey JMann2380, if you're listening, has that DuraCraft been a decent vise?-or anyone else that has one? Good enough to add to the collection? I don't need it...just kinda cool. Thanks!

Yes it's a Duracraft. Here is my 4" I've had 35 years. made in Japan.

 

[Steroblan]

Yes it's a Duracraft. Here is my 4" I've had 35 years. made in Japan.

Correction: made in Taiwan.

 

[bluebolt]

Dear friends at GJ,
Just finished this Lakeside 25 and thought I would post it here since you don’t see too many Lakeside vises. I recall seeing a few lakeside vises but never one like this. This one looks like a miniature old Reed or Prentice. Most lakeside vises are more like a utility or home shop vise. Lately I have seen a few red vises on “the vises of garage Journal” and I liked the way red looks on a small vise so I decided to do this one in red (and I found a can of red paint so I didn’t have to buy one….). It has 3 3/8 wide jaws, opens to 4 ¼, it weighs 21 lbs.

Doesn't the black knob on the main screw look way to big for the vise?

Nice restoration! Yep gonna have to call that vise "schnozzer" LOL!

 

[gatewaysysop]

Dear friends at GJ,
Just finished this Lakeside 25 and thought I would post it here since you don’t see too many Lakeside vises.

Very nice, haven't seen a Lakeside in that configuration either, what a treat.

 

[tomshep]

I know some folks here don't particularly care for these vises. Personally, the first time I saw one...I knew I had to have one. I paid too much for this one off Ebay, but it's complete and I wanted it.

Definitely a style of a time gone by...but style none the less.

I've been eyeing those Shop Kings also lately. I like the design. Kinda a throw-back. It reminds me of the old diners or something. Nice score.

Tom

 

[Mark in Indiana]

My name is Patrick and I'm new to the forum. This is my first post,,,,, this is my Columbian 604m2 vise that I restored...... I enjoy the "HUNT" finding a quality American made Vise and restoring it to its original condition.

I know some folks here don't particularly care for these vises. Personally, the first time I saw one...I knew I had to have one. I paid too much for this one off Ebay, but it's complete and I wanted it.

Definitely a style of a time gone by...but style none the less.

You have a cool looking vise. Being complete is a major plus. Most of the time that I come across these smaller vintage vises, the base is missing.

 

[mdkingsley]

Here is my Charles Parker 106 that I just finished. Picked it up for $75 at an auction, $20 for media blasting, $20 for a new stem bushing in the dynamic jaw, another $20 for paint and primer. All I have left is to put the handle in the press and try to get it as straight as possible.

I need one pin for the jaw if any of you guys have one I would appreciate it.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Vise Friends

OK...I know that this isn't "The Bookends of Garage Journal". However, I repurposed a
Chief Model: L-4 vise in order to save it from being melted down and turned into a HF tool.
I could have restored it for use as a vise, but I have no use for it and I would loose money if I tried to resell it.

I bought this vise from a scrapper for $3.00, as a good faith purchase so he would sell me more vises as he got the, it was missing the base and a jaw face. Although it would open and close, the moving jaw was very sloppy.

First, I pressed a bushing (made from a plastic pipe) into the dynamic jaw to hold the spindle and handle tight. Then I cut the spindle and yoke in half and mounted them into the vise halves to make it look like it was holding the books. The jaws are made from utility grade ABS plastic that I sand blasted and painted.

I plan to make another set of vise bookends, so I can give each of my sons a set.

Attached are the before and after pictures.

 

[TreePointer]

Outstanding, Mark!

 

[gatewaysysop]

Outstanding, Mark!

Awesome.

 

[coolreed]

Mark,

That is a very kuul idea for bookends. My compliments.

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
Looks like someone else needs a good rub, Katie says "finish the vise and rub me under my chin".....she has been sitting next to me the whole time I was fixing this vise.
Greg

Katie looks as though she's been the ordeal of you finishing your work once or twice before. *grin*

Thanks for sharing your vise...... and Katie with us!

 

[gabbyduffy]

I just picked up my new project.....a Morgan chicago #150 Vise, 5" jaws, about 91 LBS......
It looks like its forged steel not cast but I'm not sure. Does anybody know which is better forged or cast?.....
Also does any body know which color the chicago morgan vise originaly was....... I think the Morgans were painted gray when they were being made in Chicago...... any body know what shade gray?

 

[autopts]

I know some folks here don't particularly care for these vises. Personally, the first time I saw one...I knew I had to have one. I paid too much for this one off Ebay, but it's complete and I wanted it.

Definitely a style of a time gone by...but style none the less.

I bet most of that paint is original. That's very nice and I see less then 50% complete like yours. It won't command a lot in resale value but its a good piece of working functional art. Can't beat that retro look either. Its still a very usable vise. Sometimes you have to buy and don't look back.

 

[gabbyduffy]

Here is another photo of the Vise..... I can't find much information about this vise on the net, any info you can give me is greatly appriciated.... Thanks in advance for what ever info.......
One more question, does this look like the original handle?

 

[Low Friction]

Here is another photo of the Vise..... I can't find much information about this vise on the net, any info you can give me is greatly appriciated.... Thanks in advance for what ever info.......
One more question, does this look like the original handle?

http://www.milwmal.com/v_mach.htm

 

[Outlawmws]

I just picked up my new project.....a Morgan chicago #150 Vise, 5" jaws, about 91 LBS......
It looks like its forged steel not cast but I'm not sure. Does anybody know which is better forged or cast?.....
Also does any body know which color the chicago morgan vise originaly was....... I think the Morgans were painted gray when they were being made in Chicago...... any body know what shade gray?

I'm pretty sure it was ordinary Tool Gray.

 

[gabbyduffy]

Here is a photo of another vise I picked up this week, my buddy liked it so he took it....... stay tuned cause I'm going to be posting before and after photos of both vises. we're going to do some custom stainless handles aswell..........this is an ATHOL...5" jaws.

 

[kapster]

Beautiful Katie, i dont think id get much done on the vise with her starring at me. Looks like a good sport.

 

[gabbyduffy]

Has anybody ever seen one on these vises before?.......It has a star and the #140 on the side.......

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Has anybody ever seen one on these vises before?.......It has a star and the #140 on the side.......

Never. Someone on IForgeIron has one...only other one I can find on the web...my interest is piqued...

I'm assuming it was a Jewish toolmaker...which isn't turning up to much in the way of vises. May not be Jewish, but the Star Of David assumes it is.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Check this out. Found it while searching for the Star Of David vise above.

From the website: Here's the link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38480/38480-h/38480-h.htm

The novel vise shown in the engraving was recently patented by Mr. William Starkey, of Pittsburg, Pa. STARKEY'S VISE

The fixed jaw is supported by two standards from the base piece, and has a square boxing or tube for receiving the slide of the movable jaw. This slide is hollow, and contains a rack which is engaged by a pinion on the short vertical shaft, which is supported by the fixed jaw. At the lower end of the vertical shaft there is a worm wheel, that is engaged by a worm on the horizontal shaft on which is placed the hand wheel. By turning the hand wheel the vertical shaft is rotated and the movable jaw is drawn against the object to be clamped by the vise.

<a href="http://imgur.com/wwzGblw"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/wwzGblw.png" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

 

[Lump]

Wow, Mohawk. Just....wow!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

The Star of David is also referred to as the Star of Bethlehem...train of thought leads to Bethlehem Tool Steel...can't find that they made vises...leads to Bethlehem PA...lots made there in the Industrial Revolution...

EDIT: From http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioBarton.html
David R. Barton & Co.: 1849 - 1874.
Adzes, axes, carpenter tools, chisels, cooper's tools, drawknives, hammers, hatchets, picks, tinsmith tools and wooden planes.
Marks: D. R. BARTON (with and without the CO.) and ROCHESTER (with and without the N.Y.). Some included "1832" and some a star figure. There was a variety of shapes used with the lettering: straight line, oval and half-circle.
Location: 136 Mill Street

Might be nothing..but a lot of "MORGAN" and "ERIE" in there...

Also found this...once again, maybe nothing, but it might connect some dots...http://www.ablastfromthepastandmore.com/molding/drbarton.asp

EDIT: Morgan has a star on a vise, but just a regular star. Maybe be no correlation. http://www.milwtool.com/v_star.htm

 

[gabbyduffy]

Here is another photo, I'm having a hell of a time trying to identify this vise?????? (its the one on the right)........

 

[TrooperJoe73]

I went to a metal recycling place this Thursday and spotted this Wilton vise (Wilton 643-1/2 [111098] Utility Vise). I asked the guy to set it off to the side and I would buy it from them later. I went this Saturday morning and the guy gave it to me for free. Now, I don't know the first thing about a vise, I have never used one before but I am getting more handy in the garage (self taught though). At any rate, I saw one that sold for $260 on ebay, so good find for me. First thing I did was spray it down with a rust remover (spray bottle type). Only for about a minute, because I had other things to do. I guess, I will do my best to restore it as soon as I research how to restore it. It seems to be missing a small piece, but it looks like I can order the parts. Here it is:

 

[mdkingsley]

Very nice find for free.

 

[AAC1992]

Does anyone have any information about this vise?

 

[I van putski]

It's an import. I should work fine if you need it.

 

[AAC1992]

aww thanks for the fast response. i want something that is made in the USA. i saw it on CL for $49 and i thought it would be a great deal.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Has anybody ever seen one on these vises before?.......It has a star and the #140 on the side.......

We have quite a few of those on benches at work, but I could never identify them. I think ours has an 'N' in the middle of the star.

 

[demographic]

I'll just throw a few pictures in here from Ebay adverts I've seen. NONE of these are owned by me, I've just hoovered the pictures up from the net and Ebay whilst doing searches for British made vice's.
For a start off I'll put a few details about Parkinsons, Based in Shipley Yorkshire.
This is a picture Parkinsons Perfect Vise patent in 1884 by Joseph Parkinson.

This is a small copy of one that a salesman could carry around with him to show customers.

Advert from 1907 showing their quick release metalworking fitters vice and their woodwork vice.

This is an advert from 1913 showing their range this also includes the Samsonia vice which was also made by the same company.

Then here's a couple of Parkinsons Perfect No 6's. Not sure what size but I'm guessing its six inches across the jaws, Ebay adverts don't always say.
Notice that there's a bump in the casting below the static jas.

1945 Parkinsons advert.

1951 Parkinsons advert.

Do you lot want me to carry on? There's quite a lot more to go through cos I've not really got to Woden, Record, Ajax and Fortis.

Again, I don't have much details about them as its mostly from snippets of info or adverts I've found on the internet.

 

[david17]

i got a vise for 25 dollers but not sure what it is no name on it i cleaned it up and paited it

 

[gabbyduffy]

Here is another photo of the Vise..... I can't find much information about this vise on the net, any info you can give me is greatly appriciated.... Thanks in advance for what ever info.......
One more question, does this look like the original handle?

I'm having a hell of a time getting one of the screws out of the Morgan jaws. I tried heat, oil, still will not budge......Any ideas fellows?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Do you lot want me to carry on? There's quite a lot more to go through cos I've not really got to Woden, Record, Ajax and Fortis.

Again, I don't have much details about them as its mostly from snippets of info or adverts I've found on the internet.

I personally would like to have the info on here...after all this thread seems to carry more info than any other on the web. I think it's great to save/share the history. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Low Friction]

Picked up this pristine Starrett 643-1/2 smooth jaw 3.5" vise. It weighs 42 lbs. I've always wanted a Starrett swivel jaw/base vise. Notice the coil spring spindle tensioner. There is a washer on each end of the spring with a retaining cotter pin through the spindle. The handle stays where where you put it and the only play left is in the vise spindle nut. These are really sweet vises. Haven't popped the jaw swivel pin out yet. It's in there pretty tight. All of the swivel jaw vises I've seen have a taper pin bore that goes all the way to the slide. So there should be a way to push it out from below if it is really stubborn.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm having a hell of a time getting one of the screws out of the Morgan jaws. I tried heat, oil, still will not budge......Any ideas fellows?

Hammer impact with a good fitting bit.

 

[Outlawmws]

I personally would like to have the info on here...after all this thread seems to carry more info than any other on the web. I think it's great to save/share the history. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked up this pristine Starrett 643-1/2 smooth jaw 3.5" vise. It weighs 42 lbs. I've always wanted a Starrett swivel jaw/base vise. Notice the coil spring spindle tensioner. There is a washer on each end of the spring with a retaining cotter pin through the spindle. The handle stays where where you put it and the only play left is in the vise spindle nut. These are really sweet vises. Haven't popped the jaw swivel pin out yet. It's in there pretty tight. All of the swivel jaw vises I've seen have a taper pin bore that goes all the way to the slide. So there should be a way to push it out from below if it is really stubborn.

I haven't had occasion to play with a Starrett vise, but they do look well made!