The VISES of Garage Journal

[bl00]

Marked "Waugh" & "Gould". Both respected names in RR equipment. What is cool about it is the Hardened Steel top. Really pretty ring when hammered. Bottom sounds dull when struck. I am guessing that the top is a forging that was incorporated into a sand casting mold. Iron would then be poured into the mold and would harden around the steel. 19 1/2 high. 187 lbs.

That looks like it would make a great anvil.

 

[cmpillars]

Hello all. New to the site and have really enjoyed reading your posts and perusing the the pics of the great vise restorations. Great work!
I've always enjoyed refinishing old items...just about anything that needs to look better and get put back to use. Here are two vises that I recently restored. A tall jaw Will-Burt Versa-Vise and a Desmond Stephan Simplex 33. I'm currently working on three Parker vises, a Rock Island, and an Oliver woodworking vise. I'll post pics of them when I'm through.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mr. b100, that is a great job on a great vise. I love those anvil, combination vises with the swivel base. They are all inclusive, they have everything you could ask for in a vise except the swivel jaw, and I don't think that would be mechanically possible. I think Charles Parker and Hollands made similar vises. Yours is in exceptionally good shape, even before the restore. Now it's a 10.

 

[va.grouseman]

Welcome cmpillars. This may be your first post but your restorations are the work of a seasoned veteran. Among the other things, it looks like you've been restoring vises for years. Excellent work.

 

[cmpillars]

Thanks Grouseman! I forgot to post a before pic... I'm terrible at remembering to take them. I'm usually too excited to get working on the new project to take a picture. I do have the before of the Versa-Vise.

 

[autopts]

Here's a Yost 41C with before and after pics. The color is Rustoleum safety red from a can that's been in the garage for several years, so I was looking for a reason to use it.

I think the jaw came as shown in the last pic. I've seen two more of these vises that had very abused jaws, but you could still see remnants of the grooves.

<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/Yost41CdirtySmall_zpsf16e6755-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/Yost41CdirtySmall_zpsf16e6755-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost 41C photo Yost41CdirtySmall_zpsf16e6755-1.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/Yost41CcleanSmall_zps6f7e74aa-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/Yost41CcleanSmall_zps6f7e74aa-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost 41C photo Yost41CcleanSmall_zps6f7e74aa-1.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/Yost41CjawSmall_zpsde676d2c-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/Yost41CjawSmall_zpsde676d2c-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost 41C jaw photo Yost41CjawSmall_zpsde676d2c-1.jpg"/></a>

Your Yost came out awesome!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello all. New to the site and have really enjoyed reading your posts and perusing the the pics of the great vise restorations. Great work!
I've always enjoyed refinishing old items...just about anything that needs to look better and get put back to use. Here are two vises that I recently restored. A tall jaw Will-Burt Versa-Vise and a Desmond Stephan Simplex 33. I'm currently working on three Parker vises, a Rock Island, and an Oliver woodworking vise. I'll post pics of them when I'm through.

Welcome to our family. Those are great colors (very rich). What did you use for the red & green?

 

[bl00]

Mr. b100, that is a great job on a great vise. I love those anvil, combination vises with the swivel base. They are all inclusive, they have everything you could ask for in a vise except the swivel jaw, and I don't think that would be mechanically possible.

Your Yost came out awesome!

Stop calling me Mr. It makes me feel old. I agree about the "all you could ask for in a vise." This style is a fantastic do it all shop vise. I had another 41C lined up from "anothervise" before I found this one. Unfortunately his house was pummelled by the Colorado floods and he has other things to worry about. I blame my fixation on this particular Yost with autopts. He posted one a few years ago and I've been trying to get one ever since. It's hard to find a vise when you only want one particular obsolete make and model.

cmpillars - nice vises!

 

[humanbeingexpert]

Wondering if it is better to leave a nice USA vise alone that is in good shape with a patina or refurbish like these, I like them both...but is keeping it original possibly better?

 

[demoman]

Fred - Nice job on the yost. I must say I do not have one of them,,,,, yet
I like the rear jaw that is cut out for holding round stock.

I looked at a gas compressor plant demolition job today and there were 6 - 3c Reed vises on benches and a lone 4c and a broken Wilton tradesman that had the whole jaw tore off. They go with the job and they would not sell them outright. I hope we get it!!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Ok just b100. Here's my Yost contribution for today.-----#208------291 lbs.------15 1/4'' tall------33 3/4'' long------8'' jaw-------opens 12''.
Same number as my Reed 208R, and exact same weight. I wonder if Yost was trying to compete with Reed. It looks like this is one of their first attempts at a big casting. Although it looks like little wear and little use, the casting is not smooth and crisp like the Reeds. Kind of looks like it had a bad case of acne. Yost made and makes top notch vises, but this one may have been a trial run. At any rate, it is big, heavy, and solid, and turns with your little finger. Never saw a vise that cranks that easy. Other than the casting complexion, I was very pleased with it. b100, I don't suppose you would have a chart on the 208 would you? Kind of like to know when it was made.























Notice the distortion in the lettering and the rough surfaces. But I still like it!

 

[Craptain]

Damn that is big!!

 

[wrenchguy]

Ok just b100. Here's my Yost contribution for today.-----#208------291 lbs.------15 1/4'' tall------33 3/4'' long------8'' jaw-------opens 12''.
Same number as my Reed 208R, and exact same weight. I wonder if Yost was trying to compete with Reed. It looks like this is one of their first attempts at a big casting. Although it looks like little wear and little use, the casting is not smooth and crisp like the Reeds. Kind of looks like it had a bad case of acne. Yost made and makes top notch vises, but this one may have been a trial run. At any rate, it is big, heavy, and solid, and turns with your little finger. Never saw a vise that cranks that easy. Other than the casting complexion, I was very pleased with it. b100, I don't suppose you would have a chart on the 208 would you? Kind of like to know when it was made.


Notice the distortion in the lettering and the rough surfaces. But I still like it!

Real nice, i got a 977 R I with that same texture on alot of its dynamic jaw. almost looks like gas bubbles that got smoothed off on the surface.

 

[autopts]

Ok just b100. Here's my Yost contribution for today.-----#208------291 lbs.------15 1/4'' tall------33 3/4'' long------8'' jaw-------opens 12''.
Same number as my Reed 208R, and exact same weight. I wonder if Yost was trying to compete with Reed. It looks like this is one of their first attempts at a big casting. Although it looks like little wear and little use, the casting is not smooth and crisp like the Reeds. Kind of looks like it had a bad case of acne. Yost made and makes top notch vises, but this one may have been a trial run. At any rate, it is big, heavy, and solid, and turns with your little finger. Never saw a vise that cranks that easy. Other than the casting complexion, I was very pleased with it. b100, I don't suppose you would have a chart on the 208 would you? Kind of like to know when it was made.




!

That big and beautiful Larry as so many of yours are!

 

[EOC_Jason]

You ****!!!

 

[bl00]

b100, I don't suppose you would have a chart on the 208 would you? Kind of like to know when it was made.

That thing is huge! Where did you get it? No, I don't have any Yost catalogs or ads that show the models and sizes, but I wish I did. I really like the style of the old Yosts.

 

[balane]

va.grouseman, that's the most beautiful thing I've seen all day. I would marry that vise and sip margaritas with it on the beaches of Acapulco for weeks on end during our honeymoon.

 

[oldldh]

va.grouseman, that's the most beautiful thing I've seen all day. I would marry that vise and sip margaritas with it on the beaches of Acapulco for weeks on end during our honeymoon.

Have you considered increasing your medication???

I could see a long weekend in Miami, but marriage???

 

[balane]

Have you considered increasing your medication???

I could see a long weekend in Miami, but marriage???

Haha, yeah, maybe but I think that could be the one.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK it's not a restoration and its not a monster vise (man you guys are still rolling them up!), but it is my latest acquisition from an estate sale today. A VERY old Colton Patent vise. My second, (The first was a 1-1/2" jaw clamp on, this one is 2-1/2" jaw)

A little rough around the edges, but after a century, who wouldn't be?

 

[va.grouseman]

Thanks for the kind words fellows. I just wished it had that fine tuned Charles Parker finish. I remember someone reposting a Yost #99 several pages back, from a Practical Machinist's posting, and it was 300 lbs.. Wished there was some history on them somewhere. Am I right that Hollands owns Yost now?
b100------got it off E-bay. Couldn't afford it, but it was the same size, weight, and number as the Reed. Had to have it. Wouldn't have bought it if it hadn't of been for Uship.com. Not trying to plug anyone, but I contacted UPS first, with a business to business, dock to dock shipment. Won't tell you how much I paid to ship it, but the difference in the two was $703.00. It was the difference between biding and not biding.

Still looking for a #209 Reed,------a 300 lb. Sawyer,-------the 345 lb. Craftsman, and Sasquatch. Yaw know where to find me.

 

[balane]

There's a 345 pound Craftsman vise out there?

 

[thundermug]

Outlaw - Damn cool vise. Been looking for something like that at garage sales. No dice.

 

[oldldh]

There's a 345 pound Craftsman vise out there?

And I thought the Craftsman 5198, 5" and 107 lbs, that I've been looking for, was a big one!!!

 

[wrenchguy]

There's a 345 pound Craftsman vise out there?

I believe outlawmws has posted the craftsman ads and brochures that indicates that 348 pounder. i don't think anyone has actually posted photos of one.

 

[zoomieport]

Thanks for the kind words fellows. I just wished it had that fine tuned Charles Parker finish. I remember someone reposting a Yost #99 several pages back, from a Practical Machinist's posting, and it was 300 lbs.. Wished there was some history on them somewhere. Am I right that Hollands owns Yost now?

Yost still owns Yost, but they are located in Holland, Michigan. Give them a call, they might be able to help you... 616-396-2063

ZOOM

 

[Lump]

Hey guys, I'm gonna need some help from my vise-guru buddies. I went to an auction couple weeks ago, and got these N.O.S. parts for vises. Can anyone help me ID specifically which vises any of them fit?







I'm heading out of town, to set up deer camp. Won't be checking GJ till Sunday, most likely. So don't give up on me if I don't respond right away.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Filson]

Still looking for a #209 Reed

You and me both.

 

[bl00]

Ryan at Yost sent me these old catalog pages this morning. He said they don't have much of the old stuff since the company changed hands and moved several times over the years. If you want larger/clearer images send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send you a zip file with the originals.

<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-02_zps892df377.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-02_zps892df377.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost Vises catalog photo YostOldCatalog-page-02_zps892df377.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-03_zps7d6d2dc1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-03_zps7d6d2dc1.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost catalog page photo YostOldCatalog-page-03_zps7d6d2dc1.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-032_zps90e16074.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-032_zps90e16074.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost catalog page photo YostOldCatalog-page-032_zps90e16074.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-033_zps630164b8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-033_zps630164b8.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost catalog page photo YostOldCatalog-page-033_zps630164b8.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1226.photobucket.com/user/fgrefe/media/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-034_zps157633f9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee420/fgrefe/Vises/YostOldCatalog-page-034_zps157633f9.jpg" border="0" alt="Yost catalog page photo YostOldCatalog-page-034_zps157633f9.jpg"/></a>

 

[va.grouseman]

Thanks Zoom and b100.

 

[Outlawmws]

I believe outlawmws has posted the craftsman ads and brochures that indicates that 348 pounder. i don't think anyone has actually posted photos of one.

Yep it was listed in 1942. I seriously doubt anyone was ordering those big one's from Sears as the War effort was in full swing. and the catalog listing may have been dropped due to materials rationing to the war effort only...

The full thread is here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2308593

 

[arturo7]

Cool ads, fellas!

 

[Bret888]

That is a cool Ad. They list a Cambridge Springs address, which is not far north of Meadville, but I have only seen Meadville on the castings(before the move to MI). Meadvillle used to be famous, as the toolmaking capitol of the world, so maybe they used Meadville for name recognition, since it was nearby?

 

[autopts]

Hey guys, I'm gonna need some help from my vise-guru buddies. I went to an auction couple weeks ago, and got these N.O.S. parts for vises. Can anyone help me ID specifically which vises any of them fit?







I'm heading out of town, to set up deer camp. Won't be checking GJ till Sunday, most likely. So don't give up on me if I don't respond right away.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Lump, that 3rd piece matches one of these two pieces I have here out of a old Wilton Utility Triple Duty 4"

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Jeez, so you are the guy thats sucking up all the vises off of CL. I keep an eye on it but i guess i'm not looking often enough.

Btw, that Prentiss happens to look like ****. You should drive by my house and just toss it over the fence so you won't have to look at it anymore.

Hey bigcaddy, that Prentiss is pretty wild. IDK what's going on with it. It looks like someone maybe sanded down the stamped lettering ???

If you're interested in it, let me know. I'm always passing through your areas. I'd be interested in just getting my money back or trading.

 

[balane]

Here's a 1987 5" Wilton Tradesman I just finished up with. It was a really nice unit underneath all the grime. I did replace both the regular jaws and the pipe jaws. I can't thank Nick (Autopts) for his generosity not only with helping me get parts for my Wilton overhauls but also with sharing his vast pool of knowledge.

.

 

[balane]

Some more photos.

.

 

[Filson]

Looks amazing, Bart! Keep up the great work.

 

[autopts]

Some more photos.

.

I Like that color. Another nice restoration bud!

 

[balane]

Thanks guys. Bill, I got this vise from Dean. I gave him some cash and a little labor on another vise for it. Here's a couple before shots;

.