The VISES of Garage Journal

[zkling]

Yea I'm not sure how I ended up viewing the profile, but looking at the current and completed listings it looks like he has a good supply of those craftsman vises. They all look great, but the top for me has to be the candy apple red, followed by the metallic blue.

I was hoping he or she was on here as I wondered what process was used to polish them up. Some of those castings are pretty rough and to get that high of a polish would really require some aggressive cutting I would think. Would also like to know the paint on the red one.

 

[Ben Iv]

"vintage" wilton only $1,095.95 http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-WILTON-...6?pt=BI_Tool_Work_Holding&hash=item3cddc50eea

I have one just like it in the garage ill take a mere $500 for mine...lol

 

[balane]

Just got back from grabbing this large 5" Columbian with pivoting rear jaw. Going to be a job, right now most of it doesn't feel like moving. I'll post some "After" shots when I'm finished. Thinking dark gray for it.

.

 

[autopts]

Texasbuddy is the most meticulous of vise restorers on eBay in my opinion. Check his current and completed auctions. They are all masterpieces of attention to detail. He obviously spends a lot of time on his vises and mostly focuses on that style of Craftsman vise. I would love to have one but they all get bid up quite high and deservedly so.

Look at this honey; http://www.ebay.com/itm/281281935459

.

I totally agree Bart, Texasbuddy must spend hours at his buffing machine. Just think what he would do If he had a stump. His are awesome!

 

[autopts]

Just got back from grabbing this large 5" Columbian with pivoting rear jaw. Going to be a job, right now most of it doesn't feel like moving. I'll post some "After" shots when I'm finished. Thinking dark gray for it.

.

Wow! That's a diamond in the rough. Can't wait to see it done.

 

[Filson]

Just got back from grabbing this large 5" Columbian with pivoting rear jaw. Going to be a job, right now most of it doesn't feel like moving. I'll post some "After" shots when I'm finished. Thinking dark gray for it.

.

Awesome find! I think dark grey would look great too for it, like my parker. Look forward to seeing your magic on it!

 

[balane]

Thanks guys. Other than appearing to have sat in a large drum full of saltwater for the last 30 years it seems to be decently solid. (I know that's similar to the question, "Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?") I can't see any real damage or wear.

Made some progress already. It's completely apart, including the top-pivoting jaw, with the exception of the slide to stationary jaw. That's connected rather firmly at this point. It's bubbling in the cauldron now and I'll see if it wants to play nice tomorrow.

 

[oldldh]

Is it just me or does Oldldh have an obsession with "arrest me".

You like handcuffs, Oldldh?

Nope...

I used to have a '72 Dodge Charger that I took to Spain...

The 440 Magnum in the REALLY-REALLY-RED Beast was the biggest police magnet I've ever seen...

One of the Guardia Civil's who stopped me for going 240Kmh in a 150Kmh zone told me in really good English, that "Your car's color is telling every member of Law Enforcement --- Arrest this law breaker...he has to be breaking the law in this car...."

Hence---

"Arrest-Me-Red"!!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice piece balane. Looks like swivel season finally opened. That will score high on the B.&C.. Is that a keeper or going to the E-bay stump.

 

[balane]

Thank you. It's all apart now thankfully. My arms are freaking sore! I know many of you know exactly how I feel right now. My biceps and forearms are like limp spaghetti from bashing on the drift with a five pound hammer several hundred times. But that's all behind me now. Everything looks really nice on it surprisingly.

Sadly this will making a trip to the stump. My shop is a two car garage and I just don't have the room to keep all these and I'd never give up my 6" Parker... well, maybe for a giant Reed I would.

 

[oldldh]

I'd never give up my 6" Parker... well, maybe for a giant Reed I would.

You don't mean the "Ever Elusive" Reed 209, do you???

 

[Fretters]

My arms are freaking sore! I know many of you know exactly how I feel right now.

Unfortunately, I do know what you mean.

 

[Filson]

Balane - I'll be back on the coast in about 2-3 weeks to start moving stuff to the eastern wa. Let me know what you have "in stock"

 

[Filson]

You don't mean Filson's Reed 209, do you???

Fixed it for you.

 

[oldldh]

You're such a tease!!!

 

[Filson]

Speaking of Reed 209... Anyone have an add showing the specs on it from back in the day? Jason, looking at you bud. lol

 

[EOC_Jason]

Fixed it for you.

Does that mean I get your 208? Don't be greedy!!!

 

[Filson]

If I were to ever find a 209... Still not sure I'd get rid of my 208. I mean... 2 is 1, 1 is none, right? Gotta have a backup.

 

[KMScott]

How about a Prentiss # 58, Made a pair of jaws for mine today. Took 5 hours just to cut the heavy serrations. Looks like the fit too. So what does this 209 look like.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Speaking of Reed 209... Anyone have an add showing the specs on it from back in the day? Jason, looking at you bud. lol

My other computer has more stuff saved but I did find this one....

209 - $115, 9" Wide Jaws, 13" Open, 327 lbs...

I just noticed they made a 408 too... (Swivel Jaw)... That would be frickin sweet... $105, 8" Jaw, 12 Open, 300 lbs....

 

[va.grouseman]

Strouty----Nice selection of vises by the way.

 

[drivesitfar]

Kevin: how much does your Prentiss #58 weigh? any pictures of the entire vise to share. by the way nice work on those jaws. Sir you do know how to post some shiny pictures.

i don't think anyone has even a picture of a Reed 209 or do they?

Jason: I type too slow. thanks for the catalog picture of the 209

 

[balane]

All I've seen is the non-swivel 109 photos.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1799714&postcount=3011

 

[drivesitfar]

thanks for the 109 picture Balane. also nice find on that big Columbian swivel vise you posted earlier.

 

[EOC_Jason]

How about a Prentiss # 58, Made a pair of jaws for mine today. Took 5 hours just to cut the heavy serrations. Looks like the fit too. So what does this 209 look like.

So both you and bl00 have a prentiss 58?!?!??!

Are you keeping yours or selling? Have you posted pics of it before? I would really like to see them, you don't see large prentiss' very often.

 

[KMScott]

Someday I might have a opportunity to build the Reed's 209 jaws. I guess that would be my holy grail. Here is a picture of my Prentiss # 58. Slowly building the parts to finish it up. It is a heavy vise, I will weight it one day and post the results.

 

[oldldh]

I believe I could provide for the care and feeding of that Reed 408...

I have no earthly idea what I'd use it for, but it would be a good one to restore and keep...

It's probably just as "ever-elusive" as the 209, and my unobtainium, the Craftsman 5198...

Fantasies and delusions are what make the world go around...

Ever-elusive...

It's all about the chase---

 

[KMScott]

So both you and bl00 have a prentiss 58?!?!??!

Are you keeping yours or selling? Have you posted pics of it before? I would really like to see them, you don't see large prentiss' very often.

Jason
Some day I will sell some of these vises, I think I have a rarer Prentiss then this # 58. There is no name on it but it is a 7" swivel jaw with the swivel base missing, looks like a Prentiss to me. It is as heavy as the Prentiss # 58 without the swivel base. Seen one like this?
I am slowly building all the parts and pieces on these Golden vises and eventually I will be wrapping some up. I will post pictures when finished.

 

[Filson]

Thanks Jason! Yes a 408 would be sweet too, and is on the list.

KMS - Love the #58! Also, that last one, there's no name on the top rear section? My Prentiss No 3 barely has any visible sign of a name, but it's there. Sure looks like a Prentiss to me too.

I'm assuming you know, as you've been around the block with vises much more than I have, but just in case...

View media item 38591

 

[va.grouseman]

Eoc Jason----The 408 is the largest swivel-jaw that I know of that exists, and it's Demoman's dream vise. The 209 is oldldh's, Filson's , and a lot of others dream. I hate it but I'm going have to be the dream stealer. The 408 and 209 will go into ******* working on a chain gang. Hopefully things do come in threes, so when the first 408 comes in, two more will surface the same week, same with the 209.
KMScott----Here's your 9 incher.

http://rockford.craigslist.org/for/4317215018.html

Concentrate on the jaws and release your imagination----****----Reed 209

 

[KMScott]

I'm assuming you know, as you've been around the block with vises much more than I have, but just in case...

Filson, When I get to stripping the paint off I hope there is something there, the area in question is beat to death. They even pounded in the swivel pin to a hump. Catalyst mentioned to me that if the text is behind the swivel jaw then it is considered on of the first castings.

 

[autopts]

I believe I could provide for the care and feeding of that Reed 408...

I have no earthly idea what I'd use it for, but it would be a good one to restore and keep...

It's probably just as "ever-elusive" as the 409, and my unobtainium, the Craftsman 5198...

Fantasies and delusions are what make the world go around...

Ever-elusive...

It's all about the chase---

Did you move to Kevin's state? You've been doing some deep inhaling of the big "C" Fantasies..Delusions....??

 

[autopts]

Kevin, that 58 is awesome. You gave us a peek as to what might be a new replacement handle? Looks like a Starrett Knob?

 

[KMScott]

Good eyes Nick, I have been making handles lately. All for my my vises except for a 600S handle for C. Braxmaier, I assembled one today. I tried out heating and peening and looks like it is going to work. After looking again at the picture again that handle in the picture is for my American Standard # 55 vise.

 

[drivesitfar]

Kevin: nice Prentiss and they must have used the swivel pin area for an anvil and i hope they cut off the top of the pin to make it a little easier for you to pop out from below. at least the prior owners of your vise didn't use the back slide area as an anvil and crack it like so many have had done to them.


Oldie: now i understand Arrest me Red. any pictures of the red hot rod to post or did they have cameras in Spain? also maybe instead of the 5198 maybe you should put your thinking on the 300+ pound Craftsman that are probably as hard to find. VA might have one chained up and not know it though.

 

[balane]

I don't think I've ever posted progress pictures before so here's a couple. Not that it's anything you haven't seen before. Here's the iron freshly primered, will sit overnight and I'll spray color tomorrow. The pivot pin was in fairly decent shape, everything was really once I got it all clean.

.

 

[oldldh]

No pictures of the Dodge...

Suffered an electrical fire in Spain...had to make a new underhood wiring loom out of a 300m roll of lamp cord...worked too...amazing as it may seem...

Traded the car for two Appaloosa horses, when I got back to the States...

Dumbest thing I ever did...other than marrying the lady who wanted the horses...

But that opens up a HUGE can of worms...

And I ain'ta goin' thar'...

I'll find "my 5198"...I hope...

 

[Filson]

Any idea the manufacturing date would be for the Prentiss vises with writing behind static jaw? I've been wondering when my No 3 was made.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

oldldh, My wife had a 74 "RED" charger that got totaled on 285 here in Atlanta. I have one "Arrest Me Red" car (one of my other vices) but I resist the urge to find out what it will do.
Speaking of Dodges, I do have a "Dodge Slide Vise" coming in on UPS today.
Not a big vise but unique.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think I have a rarer Prentiss then this # 58. There is no name on it but it is a 7" swivel jaw with the swivel base missing, looks like a Prentiss to me. It is as heavy as the Prentiss # 58 without the swivel base. Seen one like this?

It is one of the "generic" prentiss' that everyone assumes was sold under "house brands" back in the day. The distinguishing differences are (besides the usual lack of Prentiss lettering) is they have cast-in jaw inserts instead of replaceable, and they don't have the extra bosses on the front side.