The VISES of Garage Journal

[bigcaddy]

The Big Apple has lots of vices---


Er----


Vises....


Yeah, that's what I meant to say....

Larry, you were right on the former, just ask the long line of wonderful mayors NYC has had. I would consider them experts on vices

 

[Filson]

Filson:i'll just call it moving madness and leave it at that. selling all your vises can really clear the mind, but not sure i want my mind that clear.

Lol! That works for me.

 

[bigcaddy]

I guess I've been slacking off a bit too much lately but life has been keeping me pretty busy so I don't get much time to finish up vise projects

Here is a Chas Parker that I picked up about 2 months ago. It still needs a lockdown handle made but that's on the to do list. The in there now is from a 271 swivel jaw I'm using as a guide to make another

It sure cleaned up nicely and has very little use on the vise from what I can see. Enjoy!

 

[bigcaddy]

I'm having trouble with my iPad but here are some resized ones that didn't go the last post

 

[bigcaddy]

Side shot of parker

 

[Outlawmws]

As always, nice job BC!

 

[AndrewH]

Filson:i'll just call it moving madness and leave it at that. selling all your vises can really clear the mind, but not sure i want my mind that clear.

Andrew:I'm not sure how to look up old Ebay auctions and honestly you can spend any amount you want to on any vise you want to own. i'm sure if you new that the new 8 inch Morgans were available while you were bidding you probably made a wise purchase. Since i don't own an 8 inch vise and you and Filson both do i guess I've got a little vise envy. go figure.

i did see a 8 inch Wilton i think it was brand new for $3,600. or was that for a case of vises?

lol, I won it for $450. And I'm pretty sure if I bought one new from Morgan right now it'd be over $3000! So I feel like I got a deal, plus I mean c'mon, it's an 8" vise that I can upgrade to swivel with brand new parts straight from the source, I'm very excited!

 

[Skidonenko]

How bout a hand made one. My grandfathers class project. Wish we had these classes. Jaws are removed but I usually have nylon inserts and use it for light work. Very smooth and tight acme threads.

 

[oldldh]

lol, I won it for $450. And I'm pretty sure if I bought one new from Morgan right now it'd be over $3000! So I feel like I got a deal, plus I mean c'mon, it's an 8" vise that I can upgrade to swivel with brand new parts straight from the source, I'm very excited!

I'll say it again...

I hoped a GJ'er would wind up with it...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[Outlawmws]

Andrew, is that to become your primary vise?

OK, this one is no monster vise, heck it's not even a good vise, but it will be a fun little project:

I picked up this Sampson Jr exposed screw vise for $2 Sat. It was missing the retaining collar for the main screw, and the swivel lock screw and nut. 3" jaws about 13 lbs. The slide and screw are about 2" longer than most similar vises, and even an inch longer that the similar wider opening Lakeside I use on my welding bench as my primary "ground clamp". If it wasn't already screwed, I'd probably replace the Lakeside with the Sampson since it has the bigger gullet for getting larger things into it.

As found:

After a little cleanup (more to come):

The Screw had a sleeve swagged in place, looks like they just hammered a chisel into it...

The damage (besides missing parts): Most all on the dynamic jaw: the lower jaw support is busted off the jaw face, and the bottom of the D jaw has been broken off, exposing the cast in place slide.

The plan: saw the main screw and slide even with the face of the jaw, and make this one into a set of book ends. I loved the idea when done previously (apologies for not remembering who it was...) and this will be a good candidate to sacrifice without any bad feelings.

I'll try to document how I go about it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Skid------I wished they'd have taught a foundry class in Ag. way back when. I think foundry work would have been fascinating. Hard and hot but fascinating. Man you've defiantly got a unique item there, and with history too. Never part with it, just keep passing it down. You can't put a price on a unit like that. And welcome.

 

[Skidonenko]

Deffinatly not going any where for a while,I have 4 more weeks untill the future recipient is with us to go with it is a laundry list of other goodies of mine and both grandfathers. Going to teach him right. Thank you much, ive been lurking for some time and now have a garage that is mine to do with as i please.

 

[drivesitfar]

Skid:I agree that's one cool vise and post another picture once you get the jaws in and it bolted onto your bench. also welcome to Garage Journal and looks like you might have the genes to teach us a thing or two.

Anthony: thanks for the scoop on your BIG UN and looking forward to seeing it all prettied up with new jaws and a new swivel base too. you probably had the other bidders beat because you didn't have to pay the $200 or so to ship it. i love driving home with a big vise in the back of the car that i just bought so i'm guessing you were or will be smiling all the way to and from picking up that one.

BC:another one for the museum? Very nice looking parker sir and i'm betting that one was more than $20.

 

[zed50]

Hi all,
I picked up this little vise from my girlfriends granny's house which we were helping to clear out. The brand is Wenlic and model 435. I'm not sure how old it is or whether its Australian or imported. I've stripped it down and my plan is to water bead blast it and then paint. It's certainly not as nice as some of the vises in this thread but t'll be an upgrade over my current supercheapauto special.

cheers,
Dave
<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/user/david04883/media/IMAG0409.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/david04883/IMAG0409.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0409.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/user/david04883/media/IMAG0408.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/david04883/IMAG0408.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0408.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s39.photobucket.com/user/david04883/media/IMAG0412.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/david04883/IMAG0412.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0412.jpg"/></a>

 

[bl00]

looking to identify this vise.

Check these links:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3668825#post3668825
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3716870#post3716870

 

[PghJKB]

looking to identify this vise. Just one of my hobbies. To restore old machines and equipment and still use them. This was my grandfathers old vise. I found it after it was left in the woods for over 10 years. I broke it down cleaned it up and restored it. i would like to know the maker of this vise if anyone could help out with this.

Welcome to the forum!

Your vise looks like a Backus design, made by Backus and later Millers Falls. There are a couple of Backus designs earlier in the thread. Do a search on Millers Falls and Backus to check them out.

Looks like yours has the full Monty swivel mount. Never seen the swivel except in the Millers Falls advertisement shown earlier in the thread.

JKB

 

[AndrewH]

Andrew, is that to become your primary vise?

Yes sir, at least until I find a Reed 208 or a Parker 978

Skid:I agree that's one cool vise and post another picture once you get the jaws in and it bolted onto your bench. also welcome to Garage Journal and looks like you might have the genes to teach us a thing or two.

Anthony: thanks for the scoop on your BIG UN and looking forward to seeing it all prettied up with new jaws and a new swivel base too. you probably had the other bidders beat because you didn't have to pay the $200 or so to ship it. i love driving home with a big vise in the back of the car that i just bought so i'm guessing you were or will be smiling all the way to and from picking up that one.

BC:another one for the museum? Very nice looking parker sir and i'm betting that one was more than $20.

I'll assume you meant Andrew and not Anthony lol Unfortunately I can't go pick it up in Chicago until Saturday morning but, I will definitely be smiling the whole way there, I just wish I could ride in the back seat with it the whole way back lol

I talked to the seller on the phone last night and he gave me the scoop on how he acquired it. His brother works for a company that used it to do one very specific light duty process and when they shut the line down they threw it in the scrap pile, his brother saw it and they told him if he wanted it to take it. I couldn't believe my ears, so it is 100% profit for him! I can't believe they were going to scrap a nearly brand new unused 8" vise! I'll gladly hand over the $450 to save it from the scrap pile! I can't believe how much of a 'throw away' society we've become, it's sickening sometimes. But I'm glad they threw it away or I wouldn't be it's new owner! I'm very curious to know how many of these new models are in homeowners garages, I'd bet very few if any.

 

[autopts]

How bout a hand made one. My grandfathers class project. Wish we had these classes. Jaws are removed but I usually have nylon inserts and use it for light work. Very smooth and tight acme threads.

Very nice bullet! For those that don't know, to Lane Tech was a boys only technical High School in Chicago. In the 50's, 60's & 70's is was the best Trade school around. The had many different shop classes, Foundry, Electrical, Aviation, Machine Shop, etc. Back in the 60's,when I went, general enrolment was about 5000 students. Then the girls came eventually. I've never seen a Lane Tech bullet. You are lucky to have one.

 

[KMScott]

I guess I've been slacking off a bit too much lately but life has been keeping me pretty busy so I don't get much time to finish up vise projects

Here is a Chas Parker that I picked up about 2 months ago. It still needs a lockdown handle made but that's on the to do list. The in there now is from a 271 swivel jaw I'm using as a guide to make another

It sure cleaned up nicely and has very little use on the vise from what I can see. Enjoy!

Notice the clean serrations on the soft jaws, a perfect example of hand filed cuts. Even using a file machine they would still be considered being put in by hand. Nice vise BigCaddy

 

[biscuit141]

Is his old craftsman any good? Too bad the seller didn't list any contact info.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/tls/4466593519.html

 

[balane]

Very nice bullet! For those that don't know, to Lane Tech was a boys only technical High School in Chicago. In the 50's, 60's & 70's is was the best Trade school around. The had many different shop classes, Foundry, Electrical, Aviation, Machine Shop, etc. Back in the 60's,when I went, general enrolment was about 5000 students. Then the girls came eventually. I've never seen a Lane Tech bullet. You are lucky to have one.

Very interesting. Were they built to Wilton's specifications? As in exact dimensions and casting pressures? I assume this was done with Wilton's blessing?

 

[drivesitfar]

Biscuit:although the seller is a way off saying it is "exactly" like a Wilton the little Craftsman is a good medium or light duty vise and $40 is a good price for it.

Zed:I haven't seen that name on that style vise before, but there are several other names that are on the sides of those. the hole in the back of that anvil looking area is for a hardy cutter piece that has usually been discarded or lost. don't use it for an anvil or for a press and cover the open screw with a rag when cutting stuff in it's jaws and that vise will last you a long time. also welcome to Garage Journal and good to have another member that appreciates his vise (vice).

Andrew:you are buying so many vises it's like there is two of you so i must have given you another name.

Wow from the scrap pile. good save by your seller and glad you have it coming home soon.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

A larger Parker but with a big price!

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/tls/4503712818.html

 

[exmaxima1]

Biscuit:although the seller is a way off saying it is "exactly" like a Wilton the little Craftsman is a good medium or light duty vise and $40 is a good price for it.

If the seller has a limited exposure to Wilton vises, he may not be too far off...

 

[master Zoda]

Dose anyone out there have any information about this vise I can find nothing other than it is a prentiss the markings on the side read

Prentiss Vise Co.
New York
Lewis Pat.
No. 926

the jaws are 4.5 inches wide and open to 12 inches it has a swivel base and looks like the swiveling rear jaw there are also a few faint marks on front below the handle looks like

Pat APR
12 82

but I'm not sure

 

[bl00]

Too bad the seller didn't list any contact info.

Click the reply button at the top of the ad. In the drop down, click the reply by e-mail link.

 

[drivesitfar]

Master Zodarentiss Coachmaker's vise and late 1800's. nice old vise and does it have a swivel base? can you take a couple pictures from the other side? another new member just started a thread about a similar style Prentiss vise without the coachmaker's jaws on it. it's a keeper and doesn't look like it's been abused or even used or greased in a while. also hope you are planning to stick around and welcome to garage journal.

Biscuit: Sorry i stand corrected and i know Wilton makes that style vise and i might even still have one or two somewhere. the little Craftsman is still a good vise. i think the Craigs ads say Contact, but B100 is right there is an email reply to seller if you can email it might still be yours if you want it.

Exmaxima thanks for clarifying.

 

[AndrewH]

A larger Parker but with a big price!

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/tls/4503712818.html

That Parker has been listed for months. It's a 274. They wanted $650 for just the vise, and wouldn't budge, it's got too many problems. Plus it only weighs 120 lbs, it's not that big nor is it worth anywhere near what they think it is. It was his/her grandfather's vise so they feel like it's worth a ton of money. Just another case of someone selling something for what THEY feel it's worth, not what it's actually worth.

 

[zkling]

That Parker has been listed for months. It's a 274. They wanted $650 for just the vise, and wouldn't budge, it's got too many problems. Plus it only weighs 120 lbs, it's not that big nor is it worth anywhere near what they think it is. It was his/her grandfather's vise so they feel like it's worth a ton of money. Just another case of someone selling something for what THEY feel it's worth, not what it's actually worth.

But but but, I think you are overlooking that it is vintage, and steel and that it bolts onto a work table as illustrated in the pics.

 

[master Zoda]

Drivesitfar: thanks for the help and yes it dose have a swivel base I don't think I would sell it but any idea of the value I want to know if I should try to restore it or put it to work also here are some more pictures it looks like it could be missing some parts at the rear and at the swivel release? Also this early 8" black and decker grinder was bolted down rite next to it any thought on it?

 

[marsh1]

Just got my first vintage vise to restore Jaws are in great shape and everything works except it will not swivel. Will start working on it tonight!

 

[Skidonenko]

Thank you autopts, I have a few books from dated 56 inside. Great info to know. I tried to soak up what I could once I started spending time with him after high school (he in MI, I in TX) but that was only for a couple vacations. Thank yall much.

 

[Outlawmws]

The Wilton I picked up Sat AM before and after clean up. Hope it sells well. Other than indentations in the aluminum soft jaws, its in extremely good shape. No one hacked into it, and even the anvil face shows little use/abuse.

Funny, I just noticed I went from rust highlited "WILTON" to painted...

 

[McBrownie]

Just got my first vintage vise to restore Jaws are in great shape and everything works except it will not swivel. Will start working on it tonight!

That is a really nice Chicago-era Wilton. Congratulations!

 

[Outlawmws]

master Zoda, very nice prentiss! Looking forward to the restore!

And the B&D is definitely worth having also! Its pretty obvious where the beef is on that one!

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

That Parker has been listed for months. It's a 274. They wanted $650 for just the vise, and wouldn't budge, it's got too many problems. Plus it only weighs 120 lbs, it's not that big nor is it worth anywhere near what they think it is. It was his/her grandfather's vise so they feel like it's worth a ton of money. Just another case of someone selling something for what THEY feel it's worth, not what it's actually worth.

Well, it's down to $500 now. So it's 4" wide, not 5.5" like they're saying?

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, it's down to $500 now. So it's 4" wide, not 5.5" like they're saying?

If the guy can stretch his rubber ruler to 12" opening (with maybe 1/4 of the thread caught in the nut...) I'm sure it stretches in the other direction...

He probably tells his wife: "I'm THIIISSS Big Baby" and wonders why she has no depth perception, and hits a lot of stuff driving the car...

 

[GarrettWeidman]

I posted a thread about this vise a while ago, haven't found much information on it yet, it is still in the process of getting cleaned up. It's a prentiss 949.

I also have a rock island no. 95

Here is the small one of the bunch, my reed 203 1/2R.

And last is my columbian 604 1/2, this is by far my most used vise.

 

[zkling]

The Wilton I picked up Sat AM before and after clean up. Hope it sells well. Other than indentations in the aluminum soft jaws, its in extremely good shape. No one hacked into it, and even the anvil face shows little use/abuse.

Funny, I just noticed I went from rust highlited "WILTON" to painted...

Good job on the restoration, that looks great. What paint did you use? Is the picture pretty accurate to the in person color?

 

[bigcaddy]

Skid:I agree that's one cool vise and post another picture once you get the jaws in and it bolted onto your bench. also welcome to Garage Journal and looks like you might have the genes to teach us a thing or two.

Anthony: thanks for the scoop on your BIG UN and looking forward to seeing it all prettied up with new jaws and a new swivel base too. you probably had the other bidders beat because you didn't have to pay the $200 or so to ship it. i love driving home with a big vise in the back of the car that i just bought so i'm guessing you were or will be smiling all the way to and from picking up that one.

BC:another one for the museum? Very nice looking parker sir and i'm betting that one was more than $20.

You got me I had to fork over 25.00 for that one, all the while grumbling that it needed a new lockdown bar. She still didn't lower the price