The VISES of Garage Journal

[Mohawk Dave]

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;

.

What date would you say this one is. I just picked one up myself and was wondering.

 

[balane]

It's a Oct. 1987 vise.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

It's a Oct. 1987 vise.

Thanks. So the date is stamped on it? Where shall I look? I have yet to clean grease and paint off mine. Thanks.

 

[balane]

If a date is going to be on a Wilton bullet style vise it will be located on the keyway which is on the bottom of the round slide. Walk out the slide, flip it over, clean off the keyway and have a look.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

If a date is going to be on a Wilton bullet style vise it will be located on the keyway which is on the bottom of the round slide. Walk out the slide, flip it over, clean off the keyway and have a look.

Yessir. Googled just now as well. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69365

And I'm still reading, but I'm wondering if mine was one of the SO ones... yet. And is yours stamped "MADE IN USA"? B/C I did not see that on mine...quick check albeit.

 

[va.grouseman]

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?

Did anybody ever answer humanbeingexpert's question? Does anyone have an answer for him? I never thought about it, but how do we decide?

 

[balane]

Mine is not cast anywhere as being made in USA. Many Wiltons don't have this. Typical Bullets have Wilton and the city, state cast on them.

As far as painting it's up to the user imo. If a person is going to keep a vise then he has to decide whether to restore it or not. If he's going to sell it there's no question in my mind that cleaning and painting them will make more money. I've bought tons of un-restored vises on ebay, cleaned and painted them and then sold them for a profit. Guys who want nice vises for their freshly remodeled garages are the ones who pay top dollar. That's just my opinion based on my personal experience.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Vise Friends,

Pictured below is (larger than normal) clamp vise that I bought at an estate sale. To me, the vise is cool because it's large. old and well made. It also features an anvil surface and (what I assume) are pockets for pipe jaws. However there is no name, numbers or any other clues on information about it.

Does anyone know who manufactured it and how old it is?


Thanks in advance.

Ps; The other 2 clamp vises are a Littlestown and a Stanley.

 

[neophyte]

Hello Vise Friends,

Pictured below is (larger than normal) clamp vise that I bought at an estate sale. To me, the vise is cool because it's large. old and well made. It also features an anvil surface and (what I assume) are pockets for pipe jaws. However there is no name, numbers or any other clues on information about it.

Does anyone know who manufactured it and how old it is?


Thanks in advance.

Ps; The other 2 clamp vises are a Littlestown and a Stanley.

Brink and Cotton was the main manufacturer of that type of vise, and they manufactured them in a number of sizes, but I've never seen one with replaceable pipe jaws, and most, but not all, have a birds beak behind the anvil. The teardrop hape behind the anvil is also common on the Brink and Cotton vises.

 

[Jeeper75]

Picked up this Prentiss No 50 vise today. Has 50-90 on the side. Can anyone help me out with some information. The jaws are 3 1/4 wide. Thanks

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Brink and Cotton was the main manufacturer of that type of vise, and they manufactured them in a number of sizes, but I've never seen one with replaceable pipe jaws, and most, but not all, have a birds beak behind the anvil. The teardrop hape behind the anvil is also common on the Brink and Cotton vises.

Thanks a million. Attached is a picture the moving jaw with the place for a pipe jaw insert...I think. I Googled it and found that it was made as early as 1929. Now that the cool factor has been raised, I hate to sell it
BTW: Was wrinkle black the original color?

 

[autopts]

Quote:
Originally Posted by humanbeingexpert View Post
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?

Did anybody ever answer humanbeingexpert's question? Does anyone have an answer for him? I never thought about it, but how do we decide?

That could be a split jury call. I'd say leave it if its your user and weather to paint or refurbish will differ from owner to owner. I think its a "nothing set in stone" reply

 

[bluebolt]

Just scored a Parker 974 for $30 from a pawn shop. Needs a retaining collar and no telling what's under the thick black paint. Jaws are so smooth they have been that way to begin with. Pics when I get home

 

[neophyte]

Thanks a million. Attached is a picture the moving jaw with the place for a pipe jaw insert...I think. I Googled it and found that it was made as early as 1929. Now that the cool factor has been raised, I hate to sell it
BTW: Was wrinkle black the original color?

Honestly I'm not certain. Most Brink and Cotton vises I've seen are red, possibly with a black swivel base. The later vises are usually painted silver. Brink and Cotton also re-branded their vises for other manufacturers so it might be possible.

 

[neophyte]

Honestly I'm not certain. Most Brink and Cotton vises I've seen are red, possibly with a black swivel base. The later vises are usually painted silver. Brink and Cotton also re-branded their vises for other manufacturers so it might be possible.

While researching, I came across a picture of a Vindex vise. The design lacks the back beak common on the Brink and Cotton Vises. One example I found was also painted black although most seem to be green, I may have been mistaken about my attribution. Vindex also produced cast iron toys. The trademark was owned by the National Sewing Machine Co. which Wikipedia lists as manufacturing home workshop machinery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sewing_Machine_Company

 

[fullthrottle24]

Picked up this Prentiss No 50 vise today. Has 50-90 on the side. Can anyone help me out with some information. The jaws are 3 1/4 wide. Thanks

Prentiss went out in the 40's. You have the 50 version which is non swivel, 90 is swivel. Some have cracks at rear of slide. Nice, but kinda small.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Honestly I'm not certain. Most Brink and Cotton vises I've seen are red, possibly with a black swivel base. The later vises are usually painted silver. Brink and Cotton also re-branded their vises for other manufacturers so it might be possible.

Looking at this vise, it looks like it was originally krinkle black. I'm thinking of painting it a krinkle brown to match my Kennedy cabinet.

 

[va.grouseman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by humanbeingexpert View Post
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?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

balane----Autopts.----Both good calls. I'd never given it much thought. I've painted some, wire brushed and clear coated some, and some basted in oil and put away. I've always kind of decided spur of the moment. I've yet to electrocute one, but I've got to try that. Looks like they turn out so good that way.

 

[Bhfear]

Bought this from another member just recently, finished up the restoration on it. enjoy the pictures! 350 Wilton.

Before:


After:

 

[Nightshift]

Bought this from another member just recently, finished up the restoration on it. enjoy the pictures! 350 Wilton.

Nice job. U just need a couple rubber washers now for the handle! Cheers Bill

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Here's my Wilton I got late spring of this year. It was more of a neglected one than abused. I guess I'd consider that the lesser of two evils. Here's the pics showing the road to recovery. Said to say it's for sale. I have my eye on something else at the moment and selling this will help fund it.

 

[Bhfear]

Nice job. U just need a couple rubber washers now for the handle! Cheers Bill

I have them they just didnt make it for the photo shoot lol.

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk 2

 

[k p]

Just picked this up this past weekend. A 6" Eron No. 150. Got it from an older fellow who said it basically just sat it a corner for most of it's life. Jaws are near mint and there's no damage anywhere else, handle is straight too.

I took it apart to give it a good clean and grease and was surprised to find "JAPAN" stamped on the slide. Bonus.

Picture with Wilton vise is before I cleaned it.

 

[PCO6]

k p - Your 6" Eron is one of the many Record variants. I have a 6" Record and it's a great vice. Nice find.

View media item 34048

 

[k p]

k p - Your 6" Eron is one of the many Record variants. I have a 6" Record and it's a great vice. Nice find.

Not that it really matters but who was the original manufacturer? Record? I'm surprised this one was made in Japan.

 

[Outlawmws]

No, it was a Japanese knockoff, Record Vises are marked "Record"...

 

[PCO6]

Not that it really matters but who was the original manufacturer? Record? I'm surprised this one was made in Japan.

ERON is a Japanese company. I'm not sure who made what when but there are a lot of Record look alikes that as I understand were either made by Record or by others under some form of licensing agreement or through ownership.

Other names I am familiar with, and I know there are others, are ERON, Paramo, Woden, CANADA, Mastercraft and the current Irwin models. I have seen and heard of a few other Canadian look alikes and someone on GJ posted an Australian version (AUS?) awhile back. Yours certainly looks like a good quality vice.

 

[k p]

ERON is a Japanese company. I'm not sure who made what when but there a lot of Record look alikes that as I understand were either made by Record or by others under some form of licensing agreement or through ownership.

Other names I am familiar with, and I know there are others, are ERON, Paramo, Woden, CANADA, Mastercraft and the current Irwin models. I have seen and heard of a few other Canadian look alikes and someone on GJ posted an Australian version (AUS?) awhile back. Yours certainly looks like a good quality vice.

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I hope to have this beaut for a while.

 

[toddjb]

Has anyone ever used one of the Prentiss swivel bases as shown above? I have a line (sitting on a stump in my neighbor's yard) on one, that is missing the swivel base. But it seems like a very sub-par/clunky system in comparison to your standard swivel base. I'd like to hear thoughts from anyone who has used one. Is it worth fabbing up a base plate and locking screw?

 

[wrenchguy]

Has anyone ever used one of the Prentiss swivel bases as shown above? I have a line (sitting on a stump in my neighbor's yard) on one, that is missing the swivel base. But it seems like a very sub-par/clunky system in comparison to your standard swivel base. I'd like to hear thoughts from anyone who has used one. Is it worth fabbing up a base plate and locking screw?

if ur gonna mount on it a heavy stand i wouldn't use a swivel base. on a bench i lean 70% towards not using a swivel model. 2.5 cents worth.

 

[blacksuit99]

I just bout this vise the other day at a swap meet. I have been looking for a wilton for a while now. I had to make one of the jaws... One side was broke and I'm not paying $35 for new ones. I stripped this one down using a wire wheel, it was red. All and all I'm happy how it turned out

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[balane]

Just finished up this 1958 four inch bullet. It was in nice shape and works great. This is the first time I used the verde green hammered finish paint everybody uses. It went on nice and looks nice but wow, it's hard to photograph without it looking blue. It's definitely more a green tint than blue in person. I tried all kinds of different lighting and camera settings... blue every time.

 

[Swan]

I bought an unusual Parker no. 172 vise from 1867 at auction this weekend for $35. I restored it and it works beautifully. It has a removable pin on the static jaw which allows the static jaw to rotate to hold irregularly shaped objects. I have never seen this before and would appreciate any links, information, etc GJ members can provide.

Before





[URL=http://s170.photobucket.com/user/66triton/media/Parker%20vise%20restoration/IMG_5999_zpsb4e63de2.jpg.html]
[URL=http://s170.photobucket.com/user/66triton/media/Parker%20vise%20restoration/IMG_5998_zpsc4af7d4a.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[/URL]
Restored and ready for another 150 years of service.

 

[GPark]

I got this vice from my dad, who got it from his father. My dad used to have it sit on the shed floor. Him and my mom got a divorce. I took over the garage and proudly mounted it.

 

[Lump]

Just finished up this 1958 four inch bullet. It was in nice shape and works great. This is the first time I used the verde green hammered finish paint everybody uses. It went on nice and looks nice but wow, it's hard to photograph without it looking blue. It's definitely more a green tint than blue in person. I tried all kinds of different lighting and camera settings... blue every time.

Hmmm...Let me try it once. Nope, I dunno, your photo looks kinda green to me??

 

[kapster]

Anyone have a side by side picture of wilton tradesmans to see size difference? Anything with 1740/1745 to 1760/1765. They give the sizes but its hard to compare without seeing it.

 

[demographic]

ERON is a Japanese company. I'm not sure who made what when but there are a lot of Record look alikes that as I understand were either made by Record or by others under some form of licensing agreement or through ownership.

Other names I am familiar with, and I know there are others, are ERON, Paramo, Woden, CANADA, Mastercraft and the current Irwin models. I have seen and heard of a few other Canadian look alikes and someone on GJ posted an Australian version (AUS?) awhile back. Yours certainly looks like a good quality vice.

Alfred Herbert, Ajax, Fortis, Dawn, Parkinsons are others.
I am fairly sure that Record has used other companies designs for...Ahem...Artistic inspiration just as much as they have copied Record, which itself is closely tied to Woden.

I'm particular fan of the Alfred Herbert/Ajax/Fortis designs (all basically the same company) and the Parkinsons ones as well.

 

[autopts]

Just finished up this 1958 four inch bullet. It was in nice shape and works great. This is the first time I used the verde green hammered finish paint everybody uses. It went on nice and looks nice but wow, it's hard to photograph without it looking blue. It's definitely more a green tint than blue in person. I tried all kinds of different lighting and camera settings... blue every time.

Hmmm...Let me try it once. Nope, I dunno, your photo looks kinda green to me??

How did you do that my brother Lump?

 

[autopts]

I saw this vise on Ebay today. Until today, I only knew this vise as a Wilton 746. Seems like the parent company Water Meier wants to get in on some of the action.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walter-Meie...ltDomain_0&hash=item4d1475b874#ht_1580wt_1161

 

[PCO6]

Alfred Herbert, Ajax, Fortis, Dawn, Parkinsons are others.
I am fairly sure that Record has used other companies designs for...Ahem...Artistic inspiration just as much as they have copied Record, which itself is closely tied to Woden.

I'm particular fan of the Alfred Herbert/Ajax/Fortis designs (all basically the same company) and the Parkinsons ones as well.

Thanks demographic. I've heard of Dawn but the others are new to me.