The VISES of Garage Journal

[sho92]

Here are 2 of my 3 vises. The 3 1/2" Craftsman, I just picked up off Craigslist today. I think I might try a restoration on it after getting inspiration from this thread. I wasn't really in the market, but with the price the seller was asking, I couldn't pass it up.

The other vise is an Oswego Tool Company model 24 1/2. It was my grandfather's, but I have no idea where he got it from and he doesn't remember anymore unfortunately.

My 3rd vise is another Craftsman that is out in my shed/machine shop and it's been pouring all day, so no pictures of that one.

 

[va.grouseman]

A big Sawyer---You lucky dog.

 

[J HAV]

sho92- that's awesome you got your grandfathers vise! That's a big boy too.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Any ideas on what this one is ?? Looks like a replacement handle and jaws. I have a 3" Erie Tool that has a similar shape but not the I beam slide and screw going out of the rear. 7" jaws & about 150 lbs.

 

[bl00]

I have one of those too, but don't know who made it. Yours looks just a bit different where the screw comes out the back. Here's another one that's been on ebay since last year. Link

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I see why the E Bay one hasn't sold $1200 ??
I wonder how it fastened with no holes in the base, maybe something on the inside of the bottom channel. Odd there is no maker marks on any of them. I just got the pictures from the guy who has it, and haven't made a deal yet.

 

[bl00]

A square headed bolt or similar would be used to hold it down. If you wanted to move or swivel the vise you would loosen from under the workbench. Here's a pic of similar vises.
The one at the top left of the right page is the closest I've found. It was made by Union whose factory burned down in 1871 if I recall correctly. They had 41 vise models at the time. Backus bought their patents and continued the vise sales until they in turn were bought/merged with Millers Falls.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Thanks for the info I have a Parker EE that has that type of mounting from the bottom.

 

[va.grouseman]

bloo----Is that an American Scale with the copper jaws?

 

[bl00]

bloo----Is that an American Scale with the copper jaws?

Yes, it was my first big vise. It's a number 79 with a 6" jaw and weighs about 190lbs. The copper jaw caps were made for a Wilton and don't stay on very well.

 

[va.grouseman]

Thought it was, but I couldn't make out the 79. Believe that's the cleanest one I've ever seen. I like yaws old unions to, they look like they were built like a tank, could take the abuse.
Oh by the way, meant to thank you for history info on the Versa---Gyro---Jacobson---and Rock Island self locking vises. That is some good stuff.

 

[bluebolt]

J Hav with the Karas Electric Co vise and sho92 with the Oswego Tool Company model 24 1/2 vise nice scores on vises I have never heard of!

 

[p0lar]

I hate to start another ID thread, but this one looks interesting so I thought I'd try it out here... Most of these have a pin that is spring-loaded and inserts into the rear to keep its position. I don't see this one here, and the anvil on the rear looks to be square rather than rounded. There are so many makers of these, and so many are chicom, that it's difficult to discern.

Scratch that - just discovered what it is. Olympia, chicom special, overpriced at ANY price.

 

[Duct Tape Man]

Too bad on the chicom boat anchor. Use it like a rented mule, beat on it, weld on it, torque your projects down until they warp. When the chicom vise is REALLY shot a few years down the road, you can actually use it as a boat anchor!

 

[J HAV]

Picked this 3" bullet up this morning. Wilton No. 3 Patent Pending, and in a nice very original condition.

 

[ricleh]

Most recently restored Pow-R-Arm junior. Now I need another Wilton baby bullet vise to put on it.

 

[Nightshift]

Most recently restored Pow-R-Arm junior. Now I need another Wilton baby bullet vise to put on it.

Nice Pow-R-Arm there. Autopts (Nick) is your man for a baby bullet. He found me a beauty! Good luck, Bill

 

[bigcaddy]

Yep, freeze plug, good eye. The original cap was missing. It barely clears but worked nicely and stays in firmly.

A dust cap from a Ford passenger car brake rotor works even better then the freeze plug. It has a domed rear, similar to the original, and fits in place with minor adjustments.

I used one on my swivel jaw and explained how on this very thread a number of pages ago. If you look for it, i even included the part number. I bought the vise on April 1st so the post should be the following weekend or so.

 

[autopts]

Here's one for the Journal. Nothing special. Its a Morgan Chicago 150 with new jaws and painted a Satin black.

 

[Craptain]

Nice paint job. In fact nice job overall. I really like the satin paint job.

 

[garthg]

I hate to start another ID thread, but this one looks interesting so I thought I'd try it out here... Most of these have a pin that is spring-loaded and inserts into the rear to keep its position. I don't see this one here, and the anvil on the rear looks to be square rather than rounded. There are so many makers of these, and so many are chicom, that it's difficult to discern.

Scratch that - just discovered what it is. Olympia, chicom special, overpriced at ANY price.

My brother gave me one of these back in the '80's. It wouldn't hold clamping force on anything; you had to keep re-tightening it. That's when I decided I had to have an American made vise. I searched out an industrial supply and bought a Wilton for $181, which was a lot of dough back then. I think it's still worth about the same.

 

[t4runner]

Picked this up today just not sure of what I have in terms of it being collectable . It looks to me as if the stationary jaw can come off and the pin in the top holds it together but I was wondering if anyone knows how to disassemble the vise. I have removed the pin but it doesn't come apart it is lose but thats it

 

[J HAV]

I got another small Athol today

Athol No. 0
Pat. Nov 14 1871
1" quick adjustable jaw

 

[bigcaddy]

I picked up another Littlestown vise today at an estate sale. I don't know what i paid but its going to need some work to make it pretty again.

 

[KMScott]

Picked this up today just not sure of what I have in terms of it being collectable . It looks to me as if the stationary jaw can come off and the pin in the top holds it together but I was wondering if anyone knows how to disassemble the vise. I have removed the pin but it doesn't come apart it is lose but thats it

Here is mine and the same vise as yours, you might have to soak it in PB Blaster or some thing similiar. Note how the jaw rotates in a arc. I am sure other members will have ideas on what to soak your vise in. If yours has the text where mine is then Catalyst mentioned to me that this vise is kind of hard to find. Good luck and nice find.
Kevin

 

[kc-steve]

Someone sent me these photos of a vise and they have no idea who made it, when, or what it might be worth. I looked at about 10 pages of the 463 total pages and decided maybe a passerby might know something. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[bluebolt]

Someone sent me these photos of a vise and they have no idea who made it, when, or what it might be worth. I looked at about 10 pages of the 463 total pages and decided maybe a passerby might know something. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

Import! Probably China or Taiwan made.

 

[bluebolt]

I got another small Athol today

Athol No. 0
Pat. Nov 14 1871
1" quick adjustable jaw

Tell the truth that penny is one of those oversize souvenirs!

Nice find I have my big 6" Reed now I need a small one like that!

 

[rusty65]

Someone sent me these photos of a vise and they have no idea who made it, when, or what it might be worth. I looked at about 10 pages of the 463 total pages and decided maybe a passerby might know something. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

But it says american so it must be made in a American plant right? . But on the other side blue bolt is correct import and you can even still see the bondo under the paint from the factory.

 

[t4runner]

Thanks KMscott for the info

 

[kc-steve]

Import! Probably China or Taiwan made.

But it says american so it must be made in a American plant right? . But on the other side blue bolt is correct import and you can even still see the bondo under the paint from the factory.

Thanks guys. I suspected as much and let the guy know.

Steve

 

[bassbone52]

Why so much Vise discussion?
Which vise to buy, how to repair them, old vs. new, etc. For you pros out there (or anyone else), what makes a vise so important? I'm not trolling, just trying to start a discussion. I have an old USA made Cman vise in the garage but it seems like the choice of a vise is the most important decision in the shop, given all the threads on the topic.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Why so much Vise discussion?
Which vise to buy, how to repair them, old vs. new, etc. For you pros out there (or anyone else), what makes a vise so important? I'm not trolling, just trying to start a discussion. I have an old USA made Cman vise in the garage but it seems like the choice of a vise is the most important decision in the shop, given all the threads on the topic.

For me they are my second set of hands. Be it for delicate work or for when I need to beat the ever living snot out of something. Unfortunately I'm just one guy and rarely can I stop and find someone to ask, "Hey, can you come here for a minute to hold this?"

 

[J HAV]

Tell the truth that penny is one of those oversize souvenirs!

Nice find I have my big 6" Reed now I need a small one like that!

No bubba.... It's a real penny!

 

[Low Friction]

If you think new vise prices are going through the roof in the U.S.A., check the prices on new Bugatti vises!!!

www.tula-bug.co.uk/test.html

Made to order/12 weeks lead time/looks like a Wilton/made out of unobtainium...

£3500 or $5384...that takes the fun out of it. Who is their customer?

 

[oldldh]

Low- I deleted the post..it was also posted in February...

As to who would pay nearly $6,000.00 for a vise...someone with a Bugatti would "have" to attach one to his workbench (held up by $800.00 Bugatti legs, no doubt...)...

You see there is necessary stuff, and then there is REAL necessary stuff...

If you can afford ANY Bugatti...the price of the vise and bench legs comes out of petty cash...

 

[Outlawmws]

Why so much Vise discussion?
Which vise to buy, how to repair them, old vs. new, etc. For you pros out there (or anyone else), what makes a vise so important? I'm not trolling, just trying to start a discussion. I have an old USA made Cman vise in the garage but it seems like the choice of a vise is the most important decision in the shop, given all the threads on the topic.

Most important choice for the work shop? No, but I'd say it's certainly in the top ten...

Leaving aside the collectability of them, which is simply a personal thing, A vise is your third hand, your assistant, your anchor to holding a work piece solidly so you don't Eff it up while it walks away from you. Then there is the safety issue, as so often it is an accident waiting to happen to not use a vise to hold something...

A good assistant is invaluable. One that is a mouth breathing, drooling, fool is a liability, not an asset. It is the same with a vise; a bad one will leave a bad taste in your mouth, and can eff up the job at hand, and a good one is a trusted assistant that all too often you may take for granted, or even abuse because you trust it so much and sadly, sometimes you over-strain that trust...

Why have more that one vise? Some vises are specialized, like the difference between a machinist vise, wood workers vise, a DP vise, or the venerable blacksmith's post vise.

Beat on an ordinary vise like you can a post vise, and you all too often see the vise broken.

Even within a "breed" like say a DP vise, you have small medium and large vises for the size of job, but then you can have angle vises for specialized drilling requirements, or a vise with an X-Y table built in for drilling patterns.

That is what there are so many treads and why this one is so popular...

VISES!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Why so much Vise discussion?
Which vise to buy, how to repair them, old vs. new, etc. For you pros out there (or anyone else), what makes a vise so important? I'm not trolling, just trying to start a discussion. I have an old USA made Cman vise in the garage but it seems like the choice of a vise is the most important decision in the shop, given all the threads on the topic.

Aside from their utility purposes, a quality, or classic iron vise is the center piece of the shop, along with the quality tool box. They give us a reason for bragging rights and something to pass down in the family.

Vises are also a work of art, by design of the manufacture or the owner who chooses to restore it. They are a lot like a classic automobile that the owner can make it into his own work of art. There are many examples here and on other forums like ours.

Finally, quality & classic vises give us something from the past where we were not flooded cheap import, rebranded and knock off tools.

 

[J HAV]

Well put Mark and Outlaw

The invaluable quality assistant... The classic piece of iron, and center piece of the garage shop... All good points

 

[bassbone52]

Excellent responses. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on the topic. It wouldn't be much of a shop without a vise.