My Morgan Vise

[mercman86]

I've been searching for a large vise for a while. Every good one I find, the owner thinks its gold, especially for a Wilton, Morgan or Columbian. Today at the flea market I got lucky. I first saw this Morgan a couple weeks ago. The seller wanted $60 and I didn't have the money on me. The following week, I did and I offered 50 and he kept insisting that it was 500 bucks new blah, blah. Today I offered him $40 and he accepted. I think he was tired of lugging it around! I think I did ok for 40 bucks.

Its in really good shape, opens and closes smoothly and the jaws have very little wear. It must have seen light duty for most of its life. Its just dirty and has a little bit of surface rust. After I move, ill give it a good cleaning and a nice coat of Ford engine blue. We have these same vises at work and they are all blue, similar to Ford's blue. I'm not sure how old it is but the ones at work date to the 50's and it is the same as mine. Well, how'd I do?

 

[gatewaysysop]

I've been searching for a large vise for a while. Every good one I find, the owner thinks its gold, especially for a Wilton, Morgan or Columbian. Today at the flea market I got lucky. I first saw this Morgan a couple weeks ago. The seller wanted $60 and I didn't have the money on me. The following week, I did and I offered 50 and he kept insisting that it was 500 bucks new blah, blah. Today I offered him $40 and he accepted. I think he was tired of lugging it around! I think I did ok for 40 bucks.

Its in really good shape, opens and closes smoothly and the jaws have very little wear. It must have seen light duty for most of its life. Its just dirty and has a little bit of surface rust. After I move, ill give it a good cleaning and a nice coat of Ford engine blue. We have these same vises at work and they are all blue, similar to Ford's blue. I'm not sure how old it is but the ones at work date to the 50's and it is the same as mine. Well, how'd I do?

Very nice, especially for $40!

What's the jaw size on that thing and rough weight? Looks to be pretty good shape.

And you're right, people tend to think some vises are worth their weight in gold. I've wanted for a big, 6" Morgan for a while, but nothing in my price range as of yet. New ones are expensive, and that probably drives the secondary market up since people can compare to what they sell for new.

In any case, great find!

 

[Outlawmws]

Good deal on the Morgan! What is it; a 3-1/2 or 4"?

 

[mercman86]

The jaw width is 4 1/2" It is stamped "45" just to the right if the name. I assume they based their model numbers on jaw width. I just went out and gave it a good coating of WD40 to get rid of some of the surface rust. There is no pitting and the screw is nice and shiny with no rust at all. Gave that a spray too. I looked them up and apparently they are still in business sell replacement parts for this vise. Now they are out of Milwaukee. Thanks for the compliments!

 

[oldldh]

May I be the first to add---YOU ****!!!

 

[Bret888]

That is a nice one. I don't have a Morgan yet... I never see any around here? Where I work, there are lots of Reeds(70mi from Erie), but also lots of Wiltons, but only one lonely Morgan 6".

 

[WWIIjeep]

The jaw width is 4 1/2" It is stamped "45" just to the right if the name. I assume they based their model numbers on jaw width.

Yes. And if it was a swivel-base instead of stationary, it would be a model 145.

I looked them up and apparently they are still in business sell replacement parts for this vise. Now they are out of Milwaukee.

They left Chicago in the 70s or 80s. Now the vises say "Morgan Milwaukee" instead of "Morgan Chicago" and the parent company is Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co.

 

[mercman86]

Yes. And if it was a swivel-base instead of stationary, it would be a model 145.




They left Chicago in the 70s or 80s. Now the vises say "Morgan Milwaukee" instead of "Morgan Chicago" and the parent company is Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co.

That's good info, I didn't know that about the model number. I was checking out craigslist and found one of those. They wanted 100 bucks. I actually wanted the stationary base. Makes me feel even better!