To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

The VISES of Garage Journal

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
I ran across a Morgan 145. That's all it says on it on the one side I could see. No mention of Chicago. Any info would be appreciated.

I was going to off the guy $25 and see if he takes it. What's it worth incase I was t to sell it. Thanks

I bought a barely used Morgan 140 for $50. For $25 that's a good deal if you ask me.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

CalsXS2

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 2, 2013
Messages
507
That's what I'm offerin. I don't know if he'll take it what's the most it would be worth.
 

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
That's what I'm offerin. I don't know if he'll take it what's the most it would be worth.

Depending on how badly you need / want a vise, the most I'd pay for it would be $60-$65, but a vises worth is dependent on lots of factors and without pictures I can't give you much more information.
 

bigcaddy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
2,418
Location
Orange County/ San Fernando Valley
:bounce::bounce:Here's a couple of C. P. 2000s.





http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/weakmanfor2things/9157c02e-5372-4286-84b8-0bae3e5b4d7d.jpg[/

[URL=http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/weakmanfor2things/media/d32f1fff-8c88-4af5-bce9-5e6c50e02ec6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l628/weakmanfor2things/d32f1fff-8c88-4af5-bce9-5e6c50e02ec6.jpg












The bigger of the three is a C. P. 972 1/2. I posted it back on page 459. I just through it in for size reference. The 972 weighs 17 lbs. with 2 1/2 inch jaws, and the 2000s weigh 7.6 lbs. with 2 1/4 inch jaws.

BigCaddy would through these back, but these are what I'm going to use for bait to snag that 978 that's just lurking out there somewhere with my name on it.:bounce::bounce:

Throw them back? Maybe on the big pile of vises i have out back:D
 

edro

New member
Joined
May 30, 2014
Messages
3
I just picked up one of these mini Prentiss vises.
I got it at an antique shop and it had a few coats of paint on it.
I stripped it all off with oven cleaner, degreaser, then naval jelly and finally some oil.

I think it's looking pretty good!
After its cleaning and oiling, this thing is smooooth.

The only markings are the patent date on the spring loaded swivel pin and an inspector stamp (#20) under the jaw.

I can't get the rear jaw swivel pin loose. I might try to heat it up with a mini torch and pull it out. I would like to see that rear jaw move!

I can't find any info on this thing online. I really wish I knew more about it.
The closest I can find is one in this thread from 1FordTech1, but his doesn't have the rear swivel jaw.
http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise (See the bottom photo)
I'll see if the admin of that site will add my photo for reference.

YI8d7eL.jpg



45WwVcR.jpg



Npb26hs.jpg



7ubQ1PR.jpg
 

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
I just picked up one of these mini Prentiss vises.
I got it at an antique shop and it had a few coats of paint on it.
I stripped it all off with oven cleaner, degreaser, then naval jelly and finally some oil.

I think it's looking pretty good!
After its cleaning and oiling, this thing is smooooth.

The only markings are the patent date on the spring loaded swivel pin and an inspector stamp (#20) under the jaw.

I can't get the rear jaw swivel pin loose. I might try to heat it up with a mini torch and pull it out. I would like to see that rear jaw move!

I can't find any info on this thing online. I really wish I knew more about it.
The closest I can find is one in this thread from 1FordTech1, but his doesn't have the rear swivel jaw.
http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise (See the bottom photo)
I'll see if the admin of that site will add my photo for reference.

That is AWESOME! I wish i could find one of those!

Just make sure not to hammer on the slide! lol :)
 

drivesitfar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,014
Location
Pacific Northwest
Edro:that is a sweet little swivel jaw swivel base tiny Prentiss vise. i have my eye on this one that is similar and chromed, but if you look closely to my picture of it you can see Prentiss name printed on the dynamic jaw.

by the way welcome to Garage Journal because it looks like you are a new member and nice first post.

Get and VA:so i bet you have a nice line up you could show us of the little vises in your garages that might be great bait to grab the big 8 inch vises when they appear. all those little vises have the look and wishing i owned a few more.
 

Attachments

  • WP_20140525_015.jpg
    WP_20140525_015.jpg
    142.4 KB · Views: 49
  • WP_20140525_016.jpg
    WP_20140525_016.jpg
    113.9 KB · Views: 40

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,230
Location
The Badlands
Edro, take the slide all the way out and see if you can push it from the bottom . You might be able to assemble a "jack screw" from a machine screw and a threaded stand off.

Great find! Carla has a tiny Prentiss I was :drool: over...
 

edro

New member
Joined
May 30, 2014
Messages
3
Edro, take the slide all the way out and see if you can push it from the bottom . You might be able to assemble a "jack screw" from a machine screw and a threaded stand off.

Great find! Carla has a tiny Prentiss I was :drool: over...
Yeah, there is a hole. There is only about 1/4" above the nut though.
I would have to pull the pin that retains the nut to get in there.

I'll just think about it for now. :)

Thanks for all the replies!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

drivesitfar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,014
Location
Pacific Northwest
Edro:there should be a little pin holding the vise nut in place that you can punch thru from the bottom after taking that swivel base off. then once you have the vise nut out of the way the method Outlaw described is the best method to remove a stuck Prentiss pin. it's so tiny it shouldn't take much and your vise looks pristine so maybe before taking it all apart just squirt a little Kroil or WD 40 on the pin and let it sit for an hour or so and squirt again and then try to pull it out from above.

nice little vise and should be an easy fix in the condition it is in, but be careful and don't use too many big tools or force on it.
 

KMScott

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Messages
4,641
Location
Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
edro, wow nice find. I am guessing the jaws are 1-1/2 wide. You get today's You **** Award. Look things over and over, then think about it before jumping in to work on this treasure. Be sure you are alone.

I picked up two four inch Colombians last Friday, a 504-M2 a 604-M2 swivel base. the 604-1/2 M and a Colombian 205 combination Vise I already had. I will try my luck at these three different sized jaws, handles and swivel clamps.

I am curious to how accurate the three pins are located on the jaws and how accurately located in the vise, I see that these jaws can still be purchased and want to see how the three pins will align up, I have two four inch vises to compare pin holes. They have to be almost perfect, I will be surprised if the jaws are interchangeable.
 

Attachments

  • Columbian 205 (1).jpg
    Columbian 205 (1).jpg
    142.2 KB · Views: 27
  • 604-M (1).jpg
    604-M (1).jpg
    147.6 KB · Views: 22
  • 604-M2 (1).jpg
    604-M2 (1).jpg
    145.7 KB · Views: 20
  • 504-M2 (1).jpg
    504-M2 (1).jpg
    148.2 KB · Views: 22
  • 4-Columbians.jpg
    4-Columbians.jpg
    144.5 KB · Views: 32

va.grouseman

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4,965
Location
Southern-Central VA.
Previously posted by Edro.
I can't find any info on this thing online. I really wish I knew more about it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

There's one of those on page 177, only it's upside down. And 2 on page 315, and I've got one on page 433 if you want to see what one looks like with the swivel jaw removed. As far as pulling the pin-----What Outllaw and drivesit said. I was lucky, mine was just a little rust seized. Couple of shots of penetrating oil, she wiggled right out. Of course this doesn't tell you much about them, but you know as much as I do. I think some were nickel plated. Bloo can give you the scoop.
Welcome by the way.
 
Last edited:

exmaxima1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2011
Messages
6,341
Location
Midwest
I ran across a Morgan 145. That's all it says on it on the one side I could see. No mention of Chicago. Any info would be appreciated.

I was going to off the guy $25 and see if he takes it. What's it worth incase I was t to sell it. Thanks

If it still has the swivel base, no chips/breaks, and the jaws are in good shape, that vise should be worth at least $50. The 4-1/2" jaw is an ideal bench size. With a good cleaning and fresh paint, I think it could sell for $100. I sold a few 140's (4" jaw) for $85.
 

zkling

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
I just picked up one of these mini Prentiss vises.
I got it at an antique shop and it had a few coats of paint on it.
I stripped it all off with oven cleaner, degreaser, then naval jelly and finally some oil.

I think it's looking pretty good!
After its cleaning and oiling, this thing is smooooth.

That is super cool. Can you post some rough dimensions? I kinda get an sense of scale, but not the best.
 

FMC1959

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
2,317
Location
Montreal, Canada / Upstate NY
Saw this, kind of interesting. For sale $50 on CL, a Reed 104R with what looks like a slide cover or protector. It looks pretty well made, as if it came with the vise, but guess it was made by one of the owners. Also "R's" were later builds and I never never paid much attention, is this one an exception or later models did not have the classic Reed big ball holding the handle?
 

Attachments

  • Reed 104R-A.jpg
    Reed 104R-A.jpg
    33.2 KB · Views: 75
  • Reed 104R-B.jpg
    Reed 104R-B.jpg
    31 KB · Views: 59

wrenchguy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
4,698
Location
NW Indiana
Saw this, kind of interesting. For sale $50 on CL, a Reed 104R with what looks like a slide cover or protector. It looks pretty well made, as if it came with the vise, but guess it was made by one of the owners. Also "R's" were later builds and I never never paid much attention, is this one an exception or later models did not have the classic Reed big ball holding the handle?

boy, i'd like that! thanks 4 posting.
 

balane

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
2,996
Location
Pacific Northwest
This is a Monarch 220 vise with purportedly 5" jaws up for sale near me. I'm not interested in it personally but maybe somebody here is. However, the primary reason I'm posting is the unusual additional support under the front end. I've never seen anything like that. Is it factory or a user added band-aid?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/4497979345.html

vintage Monarch no. 220 bench vise. has chip on rear in good working condition

.
 

Attachments

  • 00P0P_4YsEOayxLng_600x450.jpg
    00P0P_4YsEOayxLng_600x450.jpg
    20.2 KB · Views: 56
  • 00W0W_8XryjABTG3G_600x450.jpg
    00W0W_8XryjABTG3G_600x450.jpg
    28.5 KB · Views: 48
  • 00404_38wMJP8s2tZ_600x450.jpg
    00404_38wMJP8s2tZ_600x450.jpg
    27.8 KB · Views: 41

drivesitfar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,014
Location
Pacific Northwest
Balane:Monarch vises are a rare vise indeed around here and the extra support under the dynamic jaw is interesting. i saw it yesterday and noticed that there is a chunk missing out of the back of the dynamic slide. at the right price it would look nice on a shelf with the one good side showing with the lion's head and the good part of the slide.

FMC:well some old guy wanted to keep his friends and kids from using the back slide of his vise as an anvil. if i was closer it would be mine if still available.

KM:nice collection there. were they some of the vises sitting in the back of the truck behind that nice 6 inch Reed you posted last week or so? or are these a new purchase and would love to hear results from your little experiment. i wonder if anybody on the vise thread had a relative that worked at the Parker vise company's plant where the vises were made? love to hear some stories about how they made their vises in mass with all the special tooling involved.
 

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
Been a week or two since I've bought a vise as I'm primarily looking for 6"+ vises, but I couldn't pass this Morgan 150 up for $50..

Edit: For those that don't know, it's 5" jaws and weighs 92 lbs

20140601_131525.jpg
 
Last edited:

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,230
Location
The Badlands
Saw this, kind of interesting. For sale $50 on CL, a Reed 104R with what looks like a slide cover or protector. It looks pretty well made, as if it came with the vise, but guess it was made by one of the owners. Also "R's" were later builds and I never never paid much attention, is this one an exception or later models did not have the classic Reed big ball holding the handle?

That is a cool idea for a fixed base vise! They should have had a tab to rest on the back on the main body as you KNOW it going to be used as a light anvil...

It wouldn't be hard to fab one up out of plate either.
 
Last edited:

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,230
Location
The Badlands
This is a Monarch 220 vise with purportedly 5" jaws up for sale near me. I'm not interested in it personally but maybe somebody here is. However, the primary reason I'm posting is the unusual additional support under the front end. I've never seen anything like that. Is it factory or a user added band-aid?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/4497979345.html



.

And another cool idea for an add on to a vise. A bit harder to fab and be strong enough to actually do anything. Hmmmm...
 

wrenchguy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
4,698
Location
NW Indiana
Been a week or two since I've bought a vise as I'm primarily looking for 6"+ vises, but I couldn't pass this Morgan 150 up for $50..

Edit: For those that don't know, it's 5" jaws and weighs 92 lbs

20140601_131525.jpg

u were 3 miles from my digs and collection.
 

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
u were 3 miles from my digs and collection.

I wish I had known, I'd have stopped by for a tour of the museum! I'll be back that way next weekend if you're around, always enjoy meeting other members and drooling over their collections! Plus I hear you have some big ones, though I'm starting to catch up with you guys, pretty soon someone will actually want to see my collection! Let me know!

Andrew
 

epossum

Active member
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Messages
36
Location
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Just a few thoughts on vise pricing: If new quality vises are selling for hundreds of $ these days why are used vises of equal or higher quality apparently worth so much less? Seems to me if I were looking for a quality vise to put into service it would be worth more than $1 a pound to get one of the old Reeds or Wiltons or any of the other excellent vises. Just because they're old and used why should they be valued at a fraction of the cost of a new vise? I would personally rather pay a few extra dollars for one of the old vises and know I had a vise that will probably last me the rest of my life. Not to say the new vises from some manufacturers aren't any good, but I definitely would not pay the going prices for a new vise. In fact, I was and still am flabbergasted at some of the prices I've seen for new iron.

Then there's the question of the value of an old vise in terms of collectability. Wouldn't it be worth paying a few dollars more than the value of scrap metal for a vise to add to a collection? Seems to me the value of a vise to be added to a collection would be quite a bit higher than that of a vise bought to put back into service.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think it's a bad thing to look for vises to buy at bargain-basement prices. I love a good deal as much as anyone else, and if I can get a vise for a fraction of its real value I'll jump on it as fast as anyone would. That said, I love seeing what the members here are doing and have done with their vises!
 

AndrewH

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
685
Location
Three Rivers, MI
Just a few thoughts on vise pricing: If new quality vises are selling for hundreds of $ these days why are used vises of equal or higher quality apparently worth so much less? Seems to me if I were looking for a quality vise to put into service it would be worth more than $1 a pound to get one of the old Reeds or Wiltons or any of the other excellent vises. Just because they're old and used why should they be valued at a fraction of the cost of a new vise? I would personally rather pay a few extra dollars for one of the old vises and know I had a vise that will probably last me the rest of my life. Not to say the new vises from some manufacturers aren't any good, but I definitely would not pay the going prices for a new vise. In fact, I was and still am flabbergasted at some of the prices I've seen for new iron.

Then there's the question of the value of an old vise in terms of collectability. Wouldn't it be worth paying a few dollars more than the value of scrap metal for a vise to add to a collection? Seems to me the value of a vise to be added to a collection would be quite a bit higher than that of a vise bought to put back into service.

Don't get me wrong - I don't think it's a bad thing to look for vises to buy at bargain-basement prices. I love a good deal as much as anyone else, and if I can get a vise for a fraction of its real value I'll jump on it as fast as anyone would. That said, I love seeing what the members here are doing and have done with their vises!

I agree with you, I personally keep records of how much I pay for every vise I buy and I know that I've overpaid on a few vises according to the GJ scale, but I either really wanted them, they were in great condition or it was a size not often found. I don't have an issue putting up the big bucks if it's something I have to have. I really think it's a personal choice and whether you're happy with what you paid for a given vise and if you're happy with your purchase that's really all that matters.
 
Last edited:

454ragtop

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
5,011
Location
Carver, MA
That slide guard for the Reed sure looks like a casting, and looks like it was made oversize to fit more than 1 size vise. I really wonder if it was a factory produced item?
Jim
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom