The VISES of Garage Journal

[navymech]

Very cool! My shop has a heavy as **** 6" Yost on our workbench. It's a swivel, but it's completely seized in place :/ I'm pretty sure it's recent though. Not terrible condition, especially considering the abuse it takes. I'll snap a pic some time.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm guessing whatever brand used stickers or a badge instead of casting the name? I see no indication of rivets being used, so the best I can gather is maybe they used a sticker like my Babco.

I've seen ones that look almost identical from a variety of companies, but they all have brand names cast into them. I don't see any with this set of V numbers, and the similar ones with V numbers all have brand castings. Bit of a mystery.

Many, if not all vise makers also would make them sans their own label just for that: sell them to a hardware store chains and the like, under the store brand name, either with stickers on the vise, or just on the box...

 

[navymech]

Interesting. Wish there was some way to find out more, but it'll probably just end at that. Either way, it's a solid vise and plenty good for my occasional use

 

[Jeanke]

My Parker vise, as identified by the members on this fantastic board. Dated somewhere prior to 1900...

Picture:

Brought this one back from the dead, restoration thread is here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232135

 

[oldldh]

Jeanke---

Ya Dun Gud---

Nice vise...

 

[wrenchguy]

nice, and fast too.

 

[bigcaddy]

The "V" numbers have been leading me to Milwaukee vices based off some info from another GJ member. Still trying to find more info on figuring out what I can about it, but here's some pictures after I cleaned it up a bit.

I have a Power-Kraft bench vise identical to yours. I'll see if I can grab any info off it's castings

 

[bigcaddy]

Here is the weekends finds so far. I went to a few sales this weekend and found a few items worth dragging home. The sales around here are starting to pick back up from the holidays but i still don't see that many that i really want to get out of bed early for.

The little 3.5" Wilton was still available at the 3rd day of a sale, because it was "broken". It needed a 60 cent e-clip and, voila, fixed! The Wilton shows almost no wear to any surface except a small cut with a hacksaw blade. I might just sell it as is.

As i was stuffing that vise into my shopping bag, i got a text from a friend that wanted to meet up and show me a vise he picked up.

The vise he grabbed was a 614 ½ Athol in great shape, minus the 18 layers of paint slathered onto every surface.

Its gonna need a bit of love but it should come out looking great soon enough.

 

[ooba tooba]

So who's got the biggest (width)? I think 6" is the leader so far...

Have a craftsman vise from '30s or 40s with a 7 1/4 opening

 

[Drtdino]

Just mounted my vise last night and wanted to share a couple of pictures. As you can see I welded bolts to the table instead of drilling holes.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[ooba tooba]

Have a craftsman vise from '30s or 40s with a 7 1/4 opening

here it is. needs mounting yet, but it is a solid ol craftsman.

 

[oldldh]

OOBA TOOBA---

How wide are the jaws on your Craftsman???

Please see the attached brochure...

If your vise has 4 1/2" or 5" jaws I HATE YOU!!!

 

[ooba tooba]

the max opening is 7 1/4 inches. you'll really hate me when i tell you that i was doing a job at a lady's house and remarked about the vise in her garage, and she told me to take it if i liked it.

 

[ooba tooba]

only 3 1/2 wide jaws

 

[ooba tooba]

OOBA TOOBA---

How wide are the jaws on your Craftsman???

Please see the attached brochure...

If your vise has 4 1/2" or 5" jaws I HATE YOU!!!

do you know when that ad is from? wonder why my jaw size doesn't match the opening size listed?

 

[bluebolt]

do you know when that ad is from? wonder why my jaw size doesn't match the opening size listed?

The advertisement opening size listing is for full support of the slide. If you open it wider and start clamping down hard and hitting or bending something in the vise you risk breaking the vise.

 

[ooba tooba]

The advertisement opening size listing is for full support of the slide. If you open it wider and start clamping down hard and hitting or bending something in the vise you risk breaking the vise.

duly noted

 

[exmaxima1]

New guy here. I have this old Craftsman I bought at a yard sale around the corner for $15. It weighs maybe 15 pounds or more. "7823" is stamped on the bottom. Would anyone be able to date this vise?

Definitely early 50's---my father had the exact vise when I was kid. Very cool looking design in it's day

 

[drivesitfar]

Just mounted my vise last night and wanted to share a couple of pictures. As you can see I welded bolts to the table instead of drilling holes.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

very nice Snap on Wilton tradesman and takes some talent to mount a vise that way. by the way nice bench too.

here it is. needs mounting yet, but it is a solid ol craftsman.

really nice looking Craftsman vise and for "free" too.

OOBA TOOBA---

How wide are the jaws on your Craftsman???

Please see the attached brochure...

If your vise has 4 1/2" or 5" jaws I HATE YOU!!!

Oldie, there are some of us that may have your Craftsman vise and not know it. would you like to post another picture of the one you have been searching for so the new guys and I know if you have one to post. or have you posted it too many times already. sounds like ooba's vise was close to the look of it?

 

[oldldh]

Drivesitfar---Your request is my command...

I've had a "Wanted Thread" posted since 17 Jul 2013, which, as of this writing,
has had 2.993 views...one PM from a fellow that wanted me to tell him how much his "Father's vise was worth, and would I please send him the money---or something along those lines...Oh, and he didn't have any pictures...

The two I'm looking for are the 5197 (4 1/2") and the 5198 (5")...

Not doing too well, so far, but I have a Starrett 925, from the Great Colorado Vise Stash, to tide me over...

I've put it all over this forum for the last three days...but here I go again...

If you've had Chicken Pox, you already have the SHINGLES virus hiding in your nerves somewhere...and you can get SHINGLES!!!

If you haven't gotten one, yet, GET A SHINGLES VACCINATION!!!!

I have SHINGLES all over my head and in my right eye...worst pain I've ever had...

GET THE SHINGLES SHOT!!!!

 

[drivesitfar]

thanks for the pics and I do like that badge and design on the swivel and main handle. unfortunately I don't have one today or the shingles. wishing you the best on a quick recovery because always like your positive comments and funny dreams you post about this vise.

let's just say I do find the red one in similar condition. what is it worth? i'm guessing a bit more than it's $32.09 catalog price when it was new.

Navy: there are a ton of vises that look similar to your V vise and i'm guessing the guys saying it probably was left unmarked to have a box or sticker made for it by the store selling them. no Walmarts in those days. I just saw a Columbian that was fairly close to the same style. good luck in your search and nice quick restoration.

 

[balane]

Craigslist was generous today! Have some work ahead of me now. That blue Craftsman is a big 'ol guy.

.

 

[Carlos Iglesias]

Chas Parker 205 4-1/2

I've seen Chas Parker 204 and 206 vises but not any 205 version, so here's the newest member of my crash of tools. Since it's seemingly impossible to purchase quality tools from CL here in CT before the industrial competition snaps them up, I had to resort to eBay.

Overall fairly happy with the condition:

• There were no crack of weld repairs
• All of the moving parts (spindle, main screw, lock handle, swivel components, et) were in excellent shape

That said, the vise was showing it's almost century of age:

• The back half of the dynamic slide had obviously been unforgivably abused as an impromptu anvil over the decades. The calipers confirmed that the top of the rear half was slightly mushroomed. Repairs would have to be judicious to preclude functional/structural stress in the back half of the slide.
• The rear shelf of the static jaws had also been uses as an anvil. I was less worried about grinding a solution here.
• There were initials in the front of the dynamic jaws that I couldn't live with. Grinding those meant smoothing the entire front for uniformity and of course, OCD required that the dynamic jaw facing also be brought to the same finish.
• The tension spring and set screw were gone. Thanks to the Info on Parker 974 Vise" thread, this one was an easy fix after a visit to the local hardware store and minor friction brake fab.
• Two of the jaw pins crumbled on removal. This timeGregThor's excellent "Chas Parker 974 1/2 Vise Restoration" thread provided the solution. That same hardware store visit, this was an easy one.
• The spindle handle definitely shows some it's wear. However, I decide to live with it after about 20 minutes of simple brush wheel cleanup.
• Finally the jaws! Since the serrations on both are very worn, I became incredibley enamored by KMScott's manufactured jaws. After a couple of emails back and forth with him on Sunday, I quickly found out that my "champaign taste" for Parker jaw inserts was trumped by my "beer budget." I might have even been able to afford MR Scott's beautiful jaws were it not for the disproportionately expensive costs of shipping. Well, maybe in the future.

Some mechanical cleaning of the heavy build-up, 24 hours in the electrolysis tank followed by some wire wheel brushing and it was ready for paint. The paint was two coats of Rustoleum Primer flowed by three coats of Rustoleum Hammered Silver. Finally, the lettering was painted with Testors white model paint. Finito!

 

[jakemac]

So, the other day I got a PM from wrenchguy about a vise in my area that he was interested in. He wanted to know if I would pick it up for him and hold it until he had a chance to come back east. Hey, a chance to get out of the house ?! It was local so heck yeah, I'm in.

Here's what he found - (I'm quoting the details I emailed back to him)

The vise weighs 90 lbs, has 7" jaws, and opens to about 12". The screw is gummed up, but turns. But it has an odd hiccup that I think is caused by the spring washers used as spacers at the retaining collar.

There is a logo of a C in an inverted triangle on the left side. Behind it there may have been some writing, but it seems to be worn off. It may have been just a rough casting though. There are other spots that look like rough casting as well.

A vise this large should weigh more than 90lbs, but most of the castings are hollow which accounts for the lighter weight. It's just as well, I threw my back out a few days ago and wasn't looking forward to lifting a 150lb vise. LOL

A pair of 3/8" plate steel has been welded to the jaws as a repair (?). The welds look solid, but a little sloppy. There is also a hole on the side of the static jaw, seen in the photo with the logo.

I'll leave it to wrechguy to decide if he'll tell what we paid for it. (it was really cheap)

What we would like to know is - Who made it, and about how old is it ?

 

[bl00]

That's a Columbian. Probably pre-1921. I have an old ad from 1917 showing that logo. Another ad from 1921 showing a vise with the same shape as above no longer uses the logo, but has Columbian cast into the side.

 

[jakemac]

I was wondering if the "C" logo referred to Columbian. It's older than I thought though.
Thanks bl00.

 

[bluebolt]

I thought Columbian as well as soon as I heard the weight, Columbian's seem to be lighter built than other vises of the same jaw width. There was an 8" Columbian swivel base sold at teh flea market recently that only weighed about 120ish pounds. Glad bl00 confirmed it.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Re: Chas Parker 205 4-1/2

I've seen Chas Parker 204 and 206 vises but not any 205 version, so here's the newest member of my crash of tools. Since it's seemingly impossible to purchase quality tools from CL here in CT before the industrial competition snaps them up, I had to resort to eBay.

Hi Carlos,

I have a 205 that I bought about 20 years ago. I restored it a few years back and mounted it on a pedestal that was used for a 1950's Chicago Rivet riveting machine. It's my daily work vise. I've have never seen one since.

Here are a couple of pictures:

 

[wrenchguy]

So, the other day I got a PM from wrenchguy about a vise in my area that he was interested in. He wanted to know if I would pick it up for him and hold it until he had a chance to come back east. Hey, a chance to get out of the house ?! It was local so heck yeah, I'm in.

Here's what he found - (I'm quoting the details I emailed back to him)



I'll leave it to wrechguy to decide if he'll tell what we paid for it. (it was really cheap)

What we would like to know is - Who made it, and about how old is it ?

1st I'd like to THANK plus add that it was a pleasure doing this recovery with jake, its great to be able to count on some fellow g-j'ers with vise missions like this. The item was on boston c-list spelled "vice" listed 4 $25. From what jake pm'd me, the seller pulls usable stuff out of a local scrap yard 4 resale. this was 1 of the 2 vises he had 4 sale. heres the pic from the add.




Anyone here get the real nice "DODGE 4" mishawka indiana" made vise on south bend c-list? I couldnt get away this weekend 4 that mission. ZOOMIE! did u travel south yesterday??

 

[Craptain]

Re: Chas Parker 205 4-1/2

[*] There were initials in the front of the dynamic jaws that I couldn't live with. Grinding those meant smoothing the entire front for uniformity and of course, OCD required that the dynamic jaw facing also be brought to the same finish.

I cannot believe that you smoothed out that finish as well as you did.
That is more patience than I have. And that Rustoleum Hammered Silver is one of my favorite paints.

 

[Craptain]

Well you have probably seen it the other threads but here is my "new" arrival. Wilton Bullet 3 1/2" bolted to a steel bench. It is in fair condition and the jaws have been protected by the copper soft jaws. The finish is good overall and does not require painting so it will just get a clean up and into service. Oh, duh, it is already in service I have been using it already. I still have my big Chinese Columbian for beating on and a couple of smaller vises, but this definitely fills a gap for everyday use.
I know there are supposed to be numbers on the slide somewhere to indicate date, but my search brought up nothing after I removed and examined it. Any Guidance please?

 

[flashman]

Question for those with Rock Island vises. I didn't have my phone on hand to take pictures so I failed already. I went to look at a Columbian which could not have been but maybe a 3" vise. Wasn't really worth my time for the price he was asking. He had some other vises and he is very proud of his stuff. I am shown this Rock Island 574 which he has used for decades. Not bad condition, dirty as all hell but not cracks I could see. Jaws would need replaced. My question is how much play should be in the dynamic jaw? I took it out of the static to look underneath at the screw and slide. It all appeared to be fine. But when you would screw it into the static jaw and pull the dynamic, it would move a good 1/2" or so. Didn't seem normal to me. Based on condition and being unsure with the movement in the jaw I didn't buy it. He is asking $125 but said he'd go to $110. That just seems high to me given the overall condition and uncertainty about the jaw movement. I wish I had my camera so I could have taken and posted some pictures, that would certainly help my question to you.

 

[Jeanke]

Re: Chas Parker 205 4-1/2

Some mechanical cleaning of the heavy build-up, 24 hours in the electrolysis tank followed by some wire wheel brushing and it was ready for paint. The paint was two coats of Rustoleum Primer flowed by three coats of Rustoleum Hammered Silver. Finally, the lettering was painted with Testors white model paint. Finito!

Wow, I really like what you did there, beautiful!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Well you have probably seen it the other threads but here is my "new" arrival. Wilton Bullet 3 1/2" bolted to a steel bench. It is in fair condition and the jaws have been protected by the copper soft jaws. The finish is good overall and does not require painting so it will just get a clean up and into service. Oh, duh, it is already in service I have been using it already. I still have my big Chinese Columbian for beating on and a couple of smaller vises, but this definitely fills a gap for everyday use.
I know there are supposed to be numbers on the slide somewhere to indicate date, but my search brought up nothing after I removed and examined it. Any Guidance please?

See pic below.

 

[Carlos Iglesias]

Re: Chas Parker 205 4-1/2

Hey Craptain & Jeanke: Gracias!!


Hey Mark: Thanks for the connection. I was torn between painting it the hammered silver that I did and repeating the "arrest me" red of my Craftsman 51855. Now I KNOW that I would have love it in either color... Your 205 looks smokin! Especially since I covet the hallmark Chas Parker swivel wrench arrangement of you 205. Guess it was our model series during which the swivel lockdown evolved. Again, very nice!!

I've seen Chas Parker 204 and 206 vises but not any 205 version, so here's the newest member of my crash of tools. Since it's seemingly impossible to purchase quality tools from CL here in CT before the industrial competition snaps them up, I had to resort to eBay.

Hi Carlos,

I have a 205 that I bought about 20 years ago. I restored it a few years back and mounted it on a pedestal that was used for a 1950's Chicago Rivet riveting machine. It's my daily work vise. I've have never seen one since.

Here are a couple of pictures:

 

[balane]

Finished the Versa-Vise. Not really an enjoyable job imho but it's finished now and turned out decent. I had to make the label because the original was too far gone to save.

.

 

[Filson]

Finished the Versa-Vise. Not really an enjoyable job imho but it's finished now and turned out decent. I had to make the label because the original was too far gone to save.

.

Amazing job man, like always! Congrats on the numerous scores today too! Can you tell us how you made the label (especially so fast lol)

 

[69supercj]

Had some great weather today so I decided to head to my favorite salvage yard to see what "treasures" were waiting for me. I came across this Wilton Bullet Vise in the mud so I dug it out and gave it a quick once over and decided that it was going home with me. Its very smooth and feels really nice and tight but as you can see in the pics its got issues with the jaws. Every thing else is good, the swivel is nice, no broken ears on the mount and no weld marks and the handle is still straight. Is there hope for this one or is it just a parts vice?

 

[drivesitfar]

Balane you worked your magic once again. it looks like you can also set that vise on it's side on the post that you mount to the bench, but I can't see a way to tighten it. is there something inside or on the side you didn't show?
very cool vise and even better job restoring it.

Are you keeping Versa or PM me if you would maybe like a trade?

 

[balane]

Amazing job man, like always! Congrats on the numerous scores today too! Can you tell us how you made the label (especially so fast lol)

Thanks guys.

I took a digital photo of the original label and then opened it in a photo editing program. In there I put a transparent layer over the original image and just traced it with a line selection tool. After that I just filled in what needed to black or white. It was tedious, time consuming, probably not worth it and I hope I never have to do it again.

The Versa-Vise can be be slid on the post either from the bottom or either side. You can see a little lever like thing on the bottom of the slide, towards the front of the stationary jaw. There's a little set screw in this pivot lever, you snug that up and it pushes the lever into the pivot post. That locks everything into place. I think people who work on firearms or other small items like these vises.

Not looking for a trade but it will be up everybody's favorite on-line auction block ( ) soon, likely tomorrow or Wednesday evening.

Edit: Here's a video of a guy using one. It looks like once the set screw is properly adjusted it will lock on the pivot post automatically holding everything in place. I haven't played with this too much because I'm waiting for the paint to fully cure. Even though everything was baked it will take several days to get completely hardened.

.