The VISES of Garage Journal

[zkling]

Here are a few more pics of my Emmert "Tiger" 40 vise, for those that my be interested. It is a 4" vise, swivel base, well built and very heavy. I will say though that some of the casting aren't of the highest aesthetic quality. If anyone has info or catalog scans on the old Emmert non wood vises I'd like to hear what you know.

It had a hard life before I owned it, and while I don't abuse it, I show it no mercy. Being soaked in brake fluid or molten solder and flux is not out of the ordinary for this one.

 

[oldldh]

By reputation your Emmert is a classic...


I'd be proud to put one his bigger brothers on the other end of my workbench...to balance out my Starrett 925...


I'd use it for balance until the "ever elusive" 5198 turns up...

 

[Craptain]

LOL... Well if he wants to call the guy about it, I have no interest in that vise.

In other news... a friend gave me this post vise the other day... I haven't looked it over too carefully yet but I didn't see any name or stampings on it. Anyone have a clue as to the maker or age?

There were a few makers of post vises, but depending on the age many were actually made by the blacksmith who later used it. That one has features that indicate a manufactured vise but you never know for sure. I happened on a site the other day that showed how to make replacement parts for those vises. I am looking at one now but I think the price is (a lot) higher than yours.

 

[bigcaddy]

Here are 2 little guys i picked up last week. The Dunlap came from an estate sale and the Wilton was from the scrap yard.

The Wilton has already been mostly cleaned up but it won't open/close. I'm not familiar with the nut assembly so if anybody has one that works, post some pictures so i can get mine working again.

 

[Fretters]

In other news... a friend gave me this post vise the other day... I haven't looked it over too carefully yet but I didn't see any name or stampings on it. Anyone have a clue as to the maker or age?

That's a nice leg vice you've got there. One of those has been on my wishlist for a while, but still no joy as yet. No idea if I'd ever actually need it, but they just look so nice.

 

[autopts]

the Wilton was from the scrap yard.

.

So......inquiring minds want to know. You hang out at scrap yards? Its on your list of errands. No doubt , your on a 1st name basis with the owner's. Get a car cam, I have to see you in action!!

 

[jakemac]

Here are 2 little guys i picked up last week. The Dunlap came from an estate sale and the Wilton was from the scrap yard.

The Wilton has already been mostly cleaned up but it won't open/close. I'm not familiar with the nut assembly so if anybody has one that works, post some pictures so i can get mine working again.

That Wilton is an odd duck. It's a wood vise. It looks like it mounts to the bottom of a thick framed woodworking bench. So that the side with the lock dog is even with the bench top when rotated up. The other side of the rotating jaws might have been used for wide boards, or for pattern making. IDK, I've never seen one before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[FlyingLow]

Nice score, was the dunlap a sears vice? I know sears sold dunlap lathes, theres one in my garage.

What was the use for the leg vise? Please Forgive my ignorance.

 

[FlyingLow]

Thanks jakemac, answered while i was typing

 

[jakemac]

"Dunlap" was a brand name (like Craftsman) that Sears used for it's economy lines. Before that they used the name "Companion". I'm not sure of the years though. I think Companion might have been pre-war, and Dunlap post-war, but I'm not sure when the changeover occurred.

 

[Fretters]

What was the use for the leg vise? Please Forgive my ignorance.

They're the traditional vice of the blacksmith. They can take a hell of a pounding compared to a normal vice.

 

[FlyingLow]

They're the traditional vice of the blacksmith. They can take a hell of a pounding compared to a normal vice.

Oh i see, thanks for the info. Cheers.

 

[FlyingLow]

"Dunlap" was a brand name (like Craftsman) that Sears used for it's economy lines. Before that they used the name "Companion". I'm not sure of the years though. I think Companion might have been pre-war, and Dunlap post-war, but I'm not sure when the changeover occurred.

Sounds about right based on my research for the lathe. That reminds me, i should renew my search for gears for it....

 

[bigcaddy]

That Wilton is an odd duck. It's a wood vise. It looks like it mounts to the bottom of a thick framed woodworking bench. So that the side with the lock dog is even with the bench top when rotated up. The other side of the rotating jaws might have been used for wide boards, or for pattern making. IDK, I've never seen one before. Thanks for sharing.

The Wilton was sold with a given name of Wilton Universal Turret Vise. It has an undermount install and can be used as a woodworking vise but if you happen to have something metal that needs work, say, a hinge, you can rotate the vise and lock it into the metal jaws instead. Pretty neat little guy but somewhat impractical considering its overall construction. My Emmert Turtleback is a tad more stout and offers the same options.

 

[FlyingLow]

Here's my oddball I found in the habitat for humanity thrift store in Whistler last summer. No use for it but so cool looking I had to have it at $14. Now I need a super cool old saw to put in it and mount it on the wall.

 

[68 Coupe]

I was searching for info on this vise when I stumbled on GJ about a year ago. I have finally created an account and got around to posting this. I inherited this Parker vise from my Grandpa (along with some other great tools). I remember having to stand on a stool to use this when I was young and working on "projects" in my Grandpa's shop. I believe he bought this vise used in the late '40s or early '50s, and used it constantly for a large variety of work.

Obviously it is a Parker, I think a 438, 6" jaws, swivel base and pipe clamp attachments. I am not sure of the manufacture date, but I think somewhere in the late '30s? I always knew it was pretty big, but until I had to move it I had no clue it weighed in at 186#! In some areas I can see remnants of the original paint, which looks to be black with yellowish lettering (or white that has yellowed with age?) This thing still works great, and with all it's original parts (I even re-used the square head bolts and nuts that anchored it to my grandpa's bench)!

My main dilemma now is: To restore or not to restore? I have seen all the great vise restorations on here, and would love to make this one shine... On the other hand, I do not want to be afraid to use it, and I kind of like the idea of keeping all the "character" this vise has developed from 6 decades of use by my Grandpa. I guess I will just have to find another one to restore...

 

[Provincial]

68 Coupe, I vote that you keep it "as-is" because it is such a nice time capsule that captures the use and care taken by your grandfather. All the battle scars are from honest work (I see no sign of abuse) and there are almost no older vises out there with original paint in as good a condition as this.

Welcome to GJ! If you hang around this thread, you are in danger of filling your work space with old vises and not getting anything useful done!

 

[oldldh]

Someone once said that grandchildren are the arrows that Grandfathers fire into the future where they can't go...


You are such an arrow, and the vise, and the tools are your anchors to your Grandfather...


Keep it like it is...and remember him as he was...


And feel lucky...


Because you are...

 

[68 Coupe]

68 Coupe, I vote that you keep it "as-is" because it is such a nice time capsule that captures the use and care taken by your grandfather. All the battle scars are from honest work (I see no sign of abuse) and there are almost no older vises out there with original paint in as good a condition as this.

Welcome to GJ! If you hang around this thread, you are in danger of filling your work space with old vises and not getting anything useful done!

Thanks Provincial! He definitely used everything he owned (which was A LOT!) to earn a living. Everything he had was well maintained for function and safety, pretty was never a factor with the equipment but rather the final product.

Don't tell anyone, but I am already on the lookout for another old vise to restore to scratch this weird itch I have had since first finding this thread

 

[68 Coupe]

Someone once said that grandchildren are the arrows that Grandfathers fire into the future where they can't go...


You are such an arrow, and the vise, and the tools are your anchors to your Grandfather...


Keep it like it is...and remember him as he was...


And feel lucky...


Because you are...

I definitely feel fortunate to have learned so much from him, and also to be the caretaker of some of his tools until they get passed on when I am gone. I'm sure some of his tools (ie: this vise) should outlast me too!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

68, That is a great vise, I am jealous of you. I would leave it as is and just keep the rust off off it. I noticed on the side where it says 1930, the casting looks flawed. The ones I have say "PAT" (patent) before the 1930.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

68: That's a great vise you have. If it was mine, I would restore it by cleaning, polishing and painting. However, leave the character (saw marks, dings, etc.) alone. Folks that I've done restorations for have appreciated that. BTW welcome to the group. After hanging here for awhile, you will find that you own more vises than you could possibly need.

 

[skorpio]

Here's my oddball I found in the habitat for humanity thrift store in Whistler last summer. No use for it but so cool looking I had to have it at $14. Now I need a super cool old saw to put in it and mount it on the wall.

Looks like a sheet metal brake, probably for roof flashing.

 

[Fretters]

My main dilemma now is: To restore or not to restore?

Personally, I'd say no. Fettle it and make sure everything's lubricated and peachy, but that's in way too nice a condition to paint. Give it a wipe over with some linseed oil after you've done cleaning it, to seal it.

 

[EOC_Jason]

My main dilemma now is: To restore or not to restore? I have seen all the great vise restorations on here, and would love to make this one shine... On the other hand, I do not want to be afraid to use it, and I kind of like the idea of keeping all the "character" this vise has developed from 6 decades of use by my Grandpa. I guess I will just have to find another one to restore...

I would leave it as-is... Maybe wipe down all the bare metal surfaces with some light oil and clean whatever gunk off. Re-grease the main screw & nut & front face... But otherwise, leave the rest as-is...

 

[Fretters]

Thankfully we all have shops and garages to play in rather than have to watch reality tv. Most everything on is a waste of time these days.

That's the truth. Most TV is akin to having ones eyes plucked out and stomped on, these days, especially the 'reality' stuff. Must say though, I do like the 'Big bang theory' from over your way, and I would definitely go with the recomendation previously that Blackadder, whilst dated, is a brilliant and classic English comedy, (especially the second and third series).

UPS reports the Reed will be here about noon tomorrow!!! << wiggle wiggle >>

Is it there yet?

 

[Fretters]

Here's my oddball I found in the habitat for humanity thrift store in Whistler last summer. No use for it but so cool looking I had to have it at $14. Now I need a super cool old saw to put in it and mount it on the wall.

Like that. For $14, that's worth having just to sit it there looking good.

 

[jpickar]

68 Coupe,
Yup, leave it as is. It is in great shape.
Resist the urge to buy and restore vise and tools!!! Please listen to me!!!! IT IS A DISEASE I TELL YOU!!!!!! I think there is a 12 step program for our types of addictions, But I am still in denial!

My wife drove a 68 sedan de ville when I met her. Good old car.

John

 

[va.grouseman]

68 Coup-----Your Charles Parker is a #436, as Parker didn't offer an eight inch jaw combination vise to my knowledge. The last number indicates the width of jaw. You can look on Dayid'sknowledge.org under Charles Parker ads.. I have one to and they are beautiful specimens, and I wouldn't do any more harm to that unit than the tracks that Grandpa put on it. Get you another beater. The 6 on your 436 is a little deformed from casting, just leave it. The jaws on your vise look great, the pipe jaws (are there) which is rare, and look great, and original wrench. You've got beauty. I concur with EOC Jason, clean it up, grease it up, oil it down or put a clear coat on it.

 

[rmalkow2]

I was searching for info on this vise when I stumbled on GJ about a year ago. I have finally created an account and got around to posting this. I inherited this Parker vise from my Grandpa (along with some other great tools). I remember having to stand on a stool to use this when I was young and working on "projects" in my Grandpa's shop. I believe he bought this vise used in the late '40s or early '50s, and used it constantly for a large variety of work.

Obviously it is a Parker, I think a 438, 6" jaws, swivel base and pipe clamp attachments. I am not sure of the manufacture date, but I think somewhere in the late '30s? I always knew it was pretty big, but until I had to move it I had no clue it weighed in at 186#! In some areas I can see remnants of the original paint, which looks to be black with yellowish lettering (or white that has yellowed with age?) This thing still works great, and with all it's original parts (I even re-used the square head bolts and nuts that anchored it to my grandpa's bench)!

My main dilemma now is: To restore or not to restore? I have seen all the great vise restorations on here, and would love to make this one shine... On the other hand, I do not want to be afraid to use it, and I kind of like the idea of keeping all the "character" this vise has developed from 6 decades of use by my Grandpa. I guess I will just have to find another one to restore...

Casting my vote with many others to clean it up, lube properly and leave it just as Grandpa left it to you.

 

[CudaChick1968]

... Is it there yet?

Is IS!!! I worked too late as usual and didn't even get on the computer last night but I got a "few" pics.

Okay, yeahhh, I kinda went overboard with the pics LOL ...

but I wanted to document everything I can because I'm still learning and don't want to miss -- or possibly hide -- something that may turn out to be important. It looks to have been very well taken care of in its lifetime and there's just a bit of surface rust here and there.



The 'action' (for lack of a better term) is flawless, it doesn't catch anywhere throughout its entire travel and I can spin it easily with only one finger.







None of the mounting holes are wallered out.



The handle is almost perfect on one end but VERY pitted on the other (the result of long term storage in the mud or something?). It looks like it's never been bent or straightened though.





More details in my next post ...

 

[CudaChick1968]

More pics of my new Reed 103 1/2 R ... it's been well oiled.



There are no marks at all on the bottom ...



... but it's got this on the side, "951." Is that maybe September of 1951???



This is on the underside and about the worst of the casting defects ... NICE!



There's a couple tiny dings in the slide ...



... and I'd guess that it was used at some point when it was open too far unless these rounded edges at the end were on purpose from the factory.

 

[CudaChick1968]

And finally the last of them ... this is the only "damage" on the jaws!







Is that hole FOR something?





The screw [yayyy, no loose pin to replace woo hooo!!] has an "E" next to it.



It's shorter than Billy's is ... but it opens further. His 17" opens up to 4 3/4" but my little Reed spun out to 6" before it wanted to fall over. Thus, it was time to stick up The Rules before he got any funny ideas.



So there we have it fellas, my new-to-me vise ready for ya'll to school me on ... and what will probably turn out to be merely the beginning of my Vise Vice disease.

 

[Fretters]

Very nice. Looks in good condition too. You'd probably find that a brash brush and a session with some paraffin, (kerosene), would probably get that looking pretty much rust free without owt else being necessary. Those dings on the top of the slide, just lightly touch those with a file to get rid of any raised burrs, (though that part isn't usually a bearing surface anyhow), and that rounding at the rear of the slide look too consistent to be misuse. Those hammer marks aren't unexpected on a used vice. How they've managed that with the handle is something though.

You should be able to make that look gorgeous, and love that sticker.

 

[FlyingLow]

Looks like a sheet metal brake, probably for roof flashing.

Initially thats what I thought but its a saw vice to hold a hand saw while its being sharpened.

Like that. For $14, that's worth having just to sit it there looking good.

Yup i thought so, wife not so much!

 

[Alexbn921]

Trying to identify an old reed. Numbers on the side look like R934. It has square bolts for the pipe jaws.
Marked
Reed MFC CO
ERIE PA
USA
pat dec 24 1912
pat aug 11, 1914.
Looks to be 6 inches.

 

[jakemac]

Personally, I'd say no. Fettle it and make sure everything's lubricated and peachy, but that's in way too nice a condition to paint. Give it a wipe over with some linseed oil after you've done cleaning it, to seal it.

Use boiled linseed oil on the body of the vise, and light machine oil on the slide.

 

[68 Coupe]

After reading all of the great feedback, I will go with what my gut told me, and what most of you agree with... Preserve it as-is

Va, that makes sense! No wonder I couldn't find any info on that number It appeared to be a 3 or an 8, there was a casting flaw that someone tried to fix with paint making it difficult to decipher. I tried to Google dayidsknowledge.org but I didn't find it?

Jpickar, the problem with that is, I NEED another old vise to restore now Speaking of addictions, I got my 68 Caddy to replace my first car, the problem is that it makes 19 things on my property that require licensing

Fretters, is linseed oil the flavor of choice for cast tooling? I have always wondered, I have seen people use mineral oil, vegetable oil (wouldn't this go rancid and stink?), and all types of automotive lubricants including USED motor oil?!?!

GETR, I think the 1930 is the patent date as yours are? Maybe someone could correct me on that?

Again, thanks for all the feedback!

 

[68 Coupe]

Use boiled linseed oil on the body of the vise, and light machine oil on the slide.

Good to know! Thanks! Is boiled linseed oil readily available?

 

[Fretters]

Thanks! Is boiled linseed oil readily available?

It is. The linseed/tung oils are used for wood finishing primarily, so any diy place should stock them. Either raw or boiled are fine for the application. I always use raw with a bit of gum turpentine or similar, (white/mineral spirit, turps sub etc.), mixed in, leave overnight and wipe the excess off. Boiled linseed literally just has thinners and driers already in there. I simply use raw because I like to know what's in there, rather than rely on some manufacturers idea of what constitutes acceptable additives.