The VISES of Garage Journal

[TreePointer]

Nice restoration, jgreen-fsi.

It may be an exposed screw Chief to some, but "Grandpa's vise" is priceless in my book.

When my father passed, my mother asked me what I'd like to have. With little hesitation, I claimed the Reed 204-1/2 that had initially belonged to his father. I hope to pass it on to yet another generation.

 

[jakemac]

When my father passed, my mother asked me what I'd like to have. With little hesitation, I claimed the Reed 204-1/2 that had initially belonged to his father. I hope to pass it on to yet another generation.

I'M another generation !

 

[zoomieport]

When I entered all the info to make the purchase, the shipping cost on them was $12.25....
$6.00 for the screws + $12.25 to ship it gave me a total of $18.25...
I was shocked and didn't complete the transaction. I didn't get it either...
I thought I goofed, so I started over and got the same cost again, unless I goofed again, it came to $18.25 the second time too...?
Take care!
ZOOM

 

[Alexbn921]

I had to look again, assuming still that I goofed...
I was wrong, it was for 8 screws not 4...
But the cheapest shipping option was $12.50.
I didn't call for another shipping cost, but I think I will take Kevin up on his offer, I'd rather pay him than them...
Let me know If I am crazy, Ive been called worse, LOL!
But here's what I got...

Take care!
ZOOM

I bought for them and they shipped the screws of $4. never hurts to ask.

 

[zoomieport]

When I entered all the info to make the purchase, the shipping cost on them was $12.25....
$6.00 for the screws + $12.25 to ship it have me a total of $18.25...
I was shocked and didn't complete the transaction. I didn't get it either...
I thought I goofed, so I started over and got the same cost again, unless I goofed again, it came to $18.25 the second time too...?
Take care!
ZOOM

I did goof on one part... It was for 8 screws, not 4.

 

[zoomieport]

I bought for them and they shipped the screws of $4. never hurts to ask.

Thank you!
I will call, I can deal with $4.00, just not $12.25 for shipping...
I still may be crazy...Not sure!

Take Care!
ZOOM

 

[zoomieport]

This is the info from the website...

PLEASE SELECT
UPS Ground $12.25
UPS 3 Day SelectSM $15.87
UPS 2nd Day Air® $21.06
UPS Next Day Air Saver® $36.70
UPS Next Day Air® $41.39
Shipping to [United States][MI][49048][Y] Subtotal: $6.00
Shipping & Handling: $12.25

Total: $18.25

 

[Provincial]

To translate into American...

What you have there is a 4 1/2" American Scale Vise...

I wonder how it got from Kansas City to the Netherlands???

Good Old U.S.A. Iron!!!

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

My money is that this vise came with the US Army in WWII and never left.

Nice to think it helped defeat Hitler and then helped rebuild Europe!

 

[Provincial]

posted by drivesit.
Jacob Marley search include Winchester or Smith and Wesson??
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Beware of the grouseman bearing gifts.

I'm a little late to this party, but my comment is:

With a screen name like grouseman, I would expect the vises to be defended by a Parker double barrel with buckshot!

 

[oldldh]

I did goof on one part... It was for 8 screws, not 4.

If I only goof up on one thing...

Then I consider that project...

A SUCCESS!!!!

 

[Hako86]

Hako: nice find and should fit nicely on the bench you just found. if i remember correctly the American Scale company was making vises up until the 50's and then had some labor issues or something like that and quit making vises.

yours looks like one of the older ones I've seen and I've seen a few. the casting they had on the later vises was not in a circle pattern and some didn't even have a name on them.

jaw doesn't look too bad and the rest looks like in great shape. clean and grease and use or do a full restore if you have the time and want to.

sweet price too

Zoomie: I need several of that style too so if anybody PM's you please post or PM me to. thanks

Thanks
You said it is probably one of the older ones and was thinking the same thing. If you had to make a guess, what would you think? 20's, 30's, or later?

 

[va.grouseman]

Originally posted by Provincial.-------I'm a little late to this party, but my comment is:

With a screen name like grouseman, I would expect the vises to be defended by a Parker double barrel with buckshot!--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yea, that's possible. Could be my Saddle Ring Red Rider. It's like a box of chocolates.

 

[drivesitfar]

and the guy messing with those locks and chains better listen to another line in that movie when you open the door "Run, Forest, Run". VA: Nice quote and probably things that go bang collection we may never see unless we go to that forum you might belong to. did you take the chains off and give the vises a little play time yesterday?

Hako: not a lot of information on that company anywhere that I've found yet, but B100 and few others seemed to be alive back when these old vises were produced so answers may be forthcoming. If i had to guess i would say 1920's or even 1910's. maybe WWI was the reason it ended up on your side of the pond since we were involved in that war too.

oh if these old vises could only talk. they do make for good conversation.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

KMScott did help me redrill a jaw for those screws and it came out perfect. Thanks again!

 

[AndrewH]

This is the info from the website...

PLEASE SELECT
UPS Ground $12.25
UPS 3 Day SelectSM $15.87
UPS 2nd Day Air® $21.06
UPS Next Day Air Saver® $36.70
UPS Next Day Air® $41.39
Shipping to [United States][MI][49048][Y] Subtotal: $6.00
Shipping & Handling: $12.25

Total: $18.25

This is totally random, but you live in Kalamazoo / Comstock? I live in Three Rivers now but my parents still live in Comstock.

Andrew

 

[GETRIDAONE]

"Name that Vise" game again
These are the first descent vises I have seen at an estate sale recently, even CL has dried up. I think the gray one is an Athol, I can see Erie Tool on the small one. The other sawdust preserved one has a small circle on the side ? Can anyone ID it ? Thanks,

 

[EOC_Jason]

"Name that Vise" game again
These are the first descent vises I have seen at an estate sale recently, even CL has dried up. I think the gray one is an Athol, I can see Erie Tool on the small one. The other sawdust preserved one has a small circle on the side ? Can anyone ID it ? Thanks,

Not an Athol, that side would have some text, and the slide support doesn't look big enough.

I'm thinking the gray one next to the grinder is a Hollands???

The one with the sawdust looks like a Columbian???

 

[BeaterGoat]

Can anyone provide me with information on a Parker 271 1/2 machinist vise? I purchased one yesterday and started a thread last night. No info yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[fullthrottle24]

"Name that Vise" game again
These are the first descent vises I have seen at an estate sale recently, even CL has dried up. I think the gray one is an Athol, I can see Erie Tool on the small one. The other sawdust preserved one has a small circle on the side ? Can anyone ID it ? Thanks,

Sawdust one is a Columbian. The circle is actually a octagon with letter M inside. It stands for malleable. It probably has the vertical lettering as opposed to the earlier curved style.

 

[bl00]

Can anyone tell me how old this vise is? I know the brand was around between 1914 and 1960.

That has some unusual features for an American scale vise. They usually have a cylinder shaped knob on the front and not the rounded one like you have. Also, I have never seen one with the arch shapes on the side. The American Standard logo is odd because it was a separate company. I don't know the connection between the two.

My first thought was that American Standard bought the remains of the company and kept producing vises since I've seen American Scale Vises listed in trade magazines into the 1970s, well after they were bankrupt and sold. However, I can't imagine them changing the design to make it harder to manufacture (round knob, extra details on the side). My best guess would be 1920 -1940 just based on the style, but I really don't know.

 

[TommyV9]

I mentioned a few days ago that my Kobalt 4" vise broke and I found and purchased a Morgan 145 Wednesday. I mounted up the Morgan last night and it's just fantastic!

This morning I took the Kobalt back to Lowes thinking I was wasting my time as it's not even listed on their website anymore. I haven't had it that many years and it was in pretty good shape. I thought it would end with an argument (which I really didn't want to have) and me leaving the made in china junk with them. Well, that's what initially happened. When they couldn't find a number for it the cust serv person said I had to get ahold of Kobalt direct. At that point I asked for a manager and she got huffy and walked off. I waited about 20 minutes and was ready to walk out when a manager came over and apologized for my wait as he was trying to piece it together with 4 other people. He gave me a store credit for the Yost 4" mechanics vise online that was the closest to mine. $180.95 plus tax! That's more than I gave for the restored Morgan 145! I'm a happy camper. I've been needing a new leaf blower

 

[454ragtop]

Ultra mini swivel on CL. Price seems a little excessive, but who knows?
http://providence.craigslist.org/atq/4360765184.html

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Not an Athol, that side would have some text, and the slide support doesn't look big enough.

I'm thinking the gray one next to the grinder is a Hollands???

The one with the sawdust looks like a Columbian???

I'll be standing in line next week and find out what the gray one is ?

Jason & fullthottle, Thanks for the info

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Ultra mini swivel on CL. Price seems a little excessive, but who knows?
http://providence.craigslist.org/atq/4360765184.html

It was listed a month or so ago. The price was like 250 or 300 ? that to start with. It is cool

 

[Craptain]

Ultra mini swivel on CL. Price seems a little excessive, but who knows?
http://providence.craigslist.org/atq/4360765184.html

I feel sad for the guy if indeed his Grandfather made it and now he is selling it. He can't be that much in need of the money. And it is not a space issue.

 

[zoomieport]

This is totally random, but you live in Kalamazoo / Comstock? I live in Three Rivers now but my parents still live in Comstock.

Andrew

Yup, I went to Comstock, class of '89 and I still live in Kazoo!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I mentioned a few days ago that my Kobalt 4" vise broke and I found and purchased a Morgan 145 Wednesday. I mounted up the Morgan last night and it's just fantastic!

This morning I took the Kobalt back to Lowes thinking I was wasting my time as it's not even listed on their website anymore. I haven't had it that many years and it was in pretty good shape. I thought it would end with an argument (which I really didn't want to have) and me leaving the made in china junk with them. Well, that's what initially happened. When they couldn't find a number for it the cust serv person said I had to get ahold of Kobalt direct. At that point I asked for a manager and she got huffy and walked off. I waited about 20 minutes and was ready to walk out when a manager came over and apologized for my wait as he was trying to piece it together with 4 other people. He gave me a store credit for the Yost 4" mechanics vise online that was the closest to mine. $180.95 plus tax! That's more than I gave for the restored Morgan 145! I'm a happy camper. I've been needing a new leaf blower

I had the same problem at a HD store while trading in a Husky screwdriver that had a lifetime guarantee and at Sears over the years. Why do these retail wage customer service people have to argue with the customer when the problem is legitimate?

Once the store manager gets involved, they loose.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

OK Vise Friends:

Last fall I bought a 99 year old Reed 204 (a challenging restoration) for $12.00. It was a barn yard find because it had been sitting in the dirt for years, which caused it to be seized with rust. Since I had other projects to work on, I just placed it in my kerosene tank for a couple of months. 2 months soaking did little good.

Since then, I've pulled it from the tank, soaked some seized areas with ****** fluid / acetone mix (TF/A mix), pressed the moving jaw apart, and sand blasted it with 10 mil glass beads.

Here's the resto so far:
The first picture is the vise as found.
The second picture is the vise pulled from the tank.
The third picture is the body with the TF/A mix.
The fourth picture is the body after sand blasting.
The fifth picture shows the base swivel screw is still seized. It needs a little pressure with the TF/A mix. This may take a few days so I don't break anything.

I'll post the finished result in the near future.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Put a small piece of pipe or a socket over the bolt head to support the base while your putting pressure on it. I like your homemade press ! I bought a cheap HF press at a yard sale not long ago ( brand new and never used) It is great for straighting vise handles.

 

[bigcaddy]

"Name that Vise" game again
These are the first descent vises I have seen at an estate sale recently, even CL has dried up. I think the gray one is an Athol, I can see Erie Tool on the small one. The other sawdust preserved one has a small circle on the side ? Can anyone ID it ? Thanks,

The one next to the grinder sure does look like a Hollands but the op nut doesn't look normal. Most of the ones i've seen have a op nut made from cylindrical stock, not the older style ball end. It could be much older but you won't know until you see the other side. It would just read Hollands, Erie. It also has the swollen "cheeks" you see on Hollands vises.

The second one is most likely a Columbian. That tapered base under the rear half of the slide is unique, as is the depth of the jaw towers in order to accommodate the T-profile jaw inserts. That vise will be surprisingly light when you pick it up.

The 3rd and smallest vise is an Erie Tool Works. Not a bad little vise and usually clean up really well.

Good luck on getting all 3!

 

[Hako86]

Hako: not a lot of information on that company anywhere that I've found yet, but B100 and few others seemed to be alive back when these old vises were produced so answers may be forthcoming. If i had to guess i would say 1920's or even 1910's. maybe WWI was the reason it ended up on your side of the pond since we were involved in that war too.

oh if these old vises could only talk. they do make for good conversation.

Man it would be awsome if it's a WW1 vise! Do you know if there was a specific vise brand used by the US army during that time?
And yeah, it would be really cool if this thing could talk haha

That has some unusual features for an American scale vise. They usually have a cylinder shaped knob on the front and not the rounded one like you have. Also, I have never seen one with the arch shapes on the side. The American Standard logo is odd because it was a separate company. I don't know the connection between the two.

My first thought was that American Standard bought the remains of the company and kept producing vises since I've seen American Scale Vises listed in trade magazines into the 1970s, well after they were bankrupt and sold. However, I can't imagine them changing the design to make it harder to manufacture (round knob, extra details on the side). My best guess would be 1920 -1940 just based on the style, but I really don't know.

Do you think it could be a WW1 vise like Drivesitfar sugested? It sounds like a good reason for why it ended up here in the Netherlands...

 

[GETRIDAONE]

There is a lot of old woodworking stuff so I will have to be there real early to be at the head of the line. I will have to cut off my coffee intake so I won't be doing the P-P dance.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I feel ya... Fighting one that has every part siezed up good just makes things so frustrating and difficult. I would use some 2x4 or something with more surface area to support the vise base, would be heartbreaking to snap that in multiple pieces!

Last fall I bought a 99 year old Reed 204 (a challenging restoration) for $12.00. It was a barn yard find because it had been sitting in the dirt for years, which caused it to be seized with rust. Since I had other projects to work on, I just placed it in my kerosene tank for a couple of months. 2 months soaking did little good.

Since then, I've pulled it from the tank, soaked some seized areas with ****** fluid / acetone mix (TF/A mix), pressed the moving jaw apart, and sand blasted it with 10 mil glass beads.

 

[autopts]

I mentioned a few days ago that my Kobalt 4" vise broke and I found and purchased a Morgan 145 Wednesday. I mounted up the Morgan last night and it's I'm a happy camper. I've been needing a new leaf blower

Morgan's are great vises and like Columbian's are underrated. I use 2 Morgans, 140 & a 40 on a stand. That one might outlive you. I know both mine will be around once my dirt nap begins.

 

[autopts]

The one next to the grinder sure does look like a Hollands but the op nut doesn't look normal. Most of the ones i've seen have a op nut made from cylindrical stock, not the older style ball end. It could be much older but you won't know until you see the other side. It would just read Hollands, Erie. It also has the swollen "cheeks" you see on Hollands vises.

The second one is most likely a Columbian. That tapered base under the rear half of the slide is unique, as is the depth of the jaw towers in order to accommodate the T-profile jaw inserts. That vise will be surprisingly light when you pick it up.

The 3rd and smallest vise is an Erie Tool Works. Not a bad little vise and usually clean up really well.

Good luck on getting all 3!

Mr. Big. You are getting to be quite a con-a-sewer on vises!

 

[TommyV9]

So does the 145 designate that it's a 4.5" Jaw? Seemed to measure about 4 3/8" and the seller referred to it as a 4" when he listed it on CL and talked about it on the phone. It was much beefier than the Simplex which was 5". Does anyone have any literature or info on the Morgan 145?

 

[Outlawmws]

Morgan is still in business and still make a lot of the older models. Have you checked their website?

 

[zoomieport]

So does the 145 designate that it's a 4.5" Jaw? Seemed to measure about 4 3/8" and the seller referred to it as a 4" when he listed it on CL and talked about it on the phone. It was much beefier than the Simplex which was 5". Does anyone have any literature or info on the Morgan 145?

He did some touch-up on the jaws... 145 = 4-1/2"

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Put a small piece of pipe or a socket over the bolt head to support the base while your putting pressure on it. I like your homemade press ! I bought a cheap HF press at a yard sale not long ago ( brand new and never used) It is great for straighting vise handles.

Thank you for your kind words. Good idea that you had but, I don't have a socket or pipe large enough. I may have to put a torch to it to help it.

Here's the entire rig. Built it nearly 20 years ago. The base is an old rivet machine base that's too tall for a vise, the press is home made to press wheel bearings and on the front is a home made grinder.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Spring is here…Vises are in full bloom!