The VISES of Garage Journal

[AndrewH]

Almost forgot, I picked up the poor 1 jawed Parker 974 1/2, paid $50 for it. Here it is in my back seat, it seems to be in pretty great condition, in fact it just might be worth the cost to have new jaws made for it!

 

[FMC1959]

What about the Ridgid F45? At $220

I got an F55 from someone on CL, new in box for $125. I have it setup in my shed and it is a great vise. Lacks the heft of an good quality US vise, but has many of the characteristics of your typical European forged steel vise. If you do some Google searches, you'll see it is made for Ridgid in Germany by Peddinghaus. Says it is guaranteed for life not to break.

I totally undestand the facination with the old US vises, because I have the sickness. But if a 4 1/2" vise will work for you, it is pretty hard to beat a stick at.

 

[madoc1]

without going thru 877 pages, can anybody id this vise? no name, metallic blue. 4 1/2 jaw and a marking that is a 3 in the middle of a triangle. well built with an internal screw.

 

[balane]

It is raining 5197's! Nov. 1953 on this one. Refinished photos coming soon to a vise thread near you.

.

 

[alinc100]

I posted up a classified of the 974 Parker parts here on GJ.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4063717#post4063717

I hope it's OK to point to it. If not mod's please remove.

 

[AndrewH]

It is raining 5197's! Nov. 1953 on this one. Refinished photos coming soon to a vise thread near you.

.

Are you going to hock it on eBay? :O If so, I'd seriously encourage you to try and keep this one in the community here first.

Edit: In fact, if you are trying to make money on it, send me a PM and I'll double whatever you have into it as it sits in unrestored condition.

 

[balane]

It is being restored and it will be selling on eBay. I do sell to GJ members on eBay so maybe somebody from here will pick it up. It will start at $0.99 so whatever it goes for is what it goes for.

 

[AndrewH]

It is being restored and it will be selling on eBay. I do sell to GJ members on eBay so maybe somebody from here will pick it up. It will start at $0.99 so whatever it goes for is what it goes for.

That's too bad. Anyways, good luck with it.

 

[biscuit141]

Almost forgot, I picked up the poor 1 jawed Parker 974 1/2, paid $50 for it. Here it is in my back seat, it seems to be in pretty great condition, in fact it just might be worth the cost to have new jaws made for it!

Ahhhhhh! Don't show me that!

 

[oldldh]

It is raining 5197's! Nov. 1953 on this one. Refinished photos coming soon to a vise thread near you.

Raining???


Nothing down here...not even dewing...


And what color are you going to paint it???


HMMMM!!!

 

[balane]

Well, I had no luck at all with my last Cman from this era as far as matching color. I got some Periwinkle satin that looked close in the store but after I tried it I was reminded of Easter, wasn't even close. So unless I have better luck today I'll go with a Satin Olive color of some sort. It's a good neutral, non-offensive shop tool color I use often.

 

[KMScott]

balane, Was that the same color as your last C1 Wilton? I liked that color. Or the one before that one. Seems you have been on a Green/Olive scheme lately.

 

[balane]

Yes, I use it a lot and my personal vise is that color as well. That C1 was the same color and it did well. It depends on the vise I guess. Those swoopy Craftsman vises that are typically 3 1/2" and made either here or Japan I like to do crazy colors with, two tones often. But for vises that have the potential to draw a lot of bids I like the non-obtrusive, more industrial looking hues.

I was thinking of bright, eye-burning red but I know nobody here likes that.

Edit: But who knows what will happen when I get to the store and all those colors are in my face.

 

[oldldh]

Balane---You are such a tease...


If "Arrest-Me-Red" is in the running...


It would look like this...only bigger...


"A Real Blue" ain't too shabby, either...


You do realize that, even with the "New Avatar", you are surging to the top of "Hoodoo-Voodoo" pin list??

 

[balane]

You do realize that, even with the "New Avatar", you are surging to the top of "Hoodoo-Voodoo" pin list??

Well, at least I'm on some kind of list.

 

[va.grouseman]

Oldldh.-----If you keep figuring and assuming, your going to blow a fuse.

 

[oldldh]

Oldldh.-----If you keep figuring and assuming, your going to blow a fuse.

You're probably right...

And at my advanced age, and state of decrepitude, that could be...

MOST BAD!!!

However, I shall adapt and overcome all obstacles...

I too, will become a member of the 5197 Club, and, just maybe, the ONLY member of the 5198 Club!!!

 

[McBrownie]

You're probably right...

And at my advanced age, and state of decrepitude, that could be...

MOST BAD!!!

However, I shall adapt and overcome all obstacles...

I too, will become a member of the 5197 Club, and, just maybe, the ONLY member of the 5198 Club!!!

I'm pulling for you oldie. If anyone finds a 5198, it either needs to be you, or end up in your hands.

 

[oldldh]

I'm pulling for you oldie. If anyone finds a 5198, it either needs to be you, or end up in your hands.

That's appreciated, however---

I wonder if any 5198's were ever sold???

One would think, they did, however---

There's not one photo of the biggest 519X series...

Interesting....

The search continues...

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes, I use it a lot and my personal vise is that color as well. That C1 was the same color and it did well. It depends on the vise I guess. Those swoopy Craftsman vises that are typically 3 1/2" and made either here or Japan I like to do crazy colors with, two tones often. But for vises that have the potential to draw a lot of bids I like the non-obtrusive, more industrial looking hues.

I was thinking of bright, eye-burning red but I know nobody here likes that.

Edit: But who knows what will happen when I get to the store and all those colors are in my face.

You finally used up the paint hoard?


Boy, he's coming home with hot pink; you just KNOW it...

 

[balane]

You finally used up the paint hoard?


Boy, he's coming home with hot pink; you just KNOW it...

Oh no, there's plenty of crazy colors left on my shelves that I save for the sub $100 vises. You'll see plenty more pea-soup-green and metal flake gold from me yet.

I ended up going with Satin Midnight Blue. I just couldn't force myself to put the can down.

 

[oldldh]

You finally used up the paint hoard?


Boy, he's coming home with hot pink; you just KNOW it...

If he paints his 5197 HOT PINK!!!


Ve vil haf 'im SHOT!!!


SHOT---Do you hear!!!


Numerous times, and in places it will really hurt!!!

 

[balane]

Here's an in-progress shot.

.

 

[oldldh]

I'm too slow on the keys...

I hate to say it---

But I like it!!!

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[balane]

Darn thing weighs 78 pounds. Shipping is going to be a nightmare.

 

[oldldh]

Ship it to me...

Freight Collect...

Seems reasonable to me...

And I'll give you $ 50.00 for your trouble in finding it, picking it up and restoring it...

For ME!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

When it hits the auction block, it's going to get interesting balane.------You and Autopts really know how to stir the pot.

 

[oldldh]

"Pot-stirring"...

Is what it's all about...

 

[mtnwkr]

Darn thing weighs 78 pounds. Shipping is going to be a nightmare.

Sell it to me! I'll bring you cash and drive that puppy home tomorrow. No ebay fee's

 

[balane]

Shipping is going to be ~$50-60 for a lot of people. If you're high bidder then no shipping fees because you can pick it up. That's a sizable advantage imo.

 

[FMC1959]

This is a very ambitious (crazy) price for vise and stand...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cha...152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a92b93000

The vise is a Parker 104, missing a jaw, worth $50 or so. The value is all in the stand to me, it is pretty cool stand. But the seller says it weighs 170 lbs, probably with the vise. Even if it was only the stand at 170 lbs, $1600 is insane!

I would love an old vise stand like this, if it was bigger and more in the 300-400 lb won't budge range, but if it was all that and half the price ($800), would still have trouble justifying buying it.

Now if the vise was Reed 109, Prentiss 58, or Parker 978 and the stand was about 500+ lbs (for these size vise), then $1600 is a down payment on the divorce lawyer.

 

[drivesitfar]

FMC: take a closer look at the pictures of that stand and if I remember correctly it has a huge weld/braze fix on it. $1500 for that and you can probably buy Balane's 5197 for that amount all dolled up.

Balane: I like the red stripes and the blue on your 5197 and nice to see you found one too. so it's not going to stay in the shop to go with all the other Craftsman stuff you use and like?

Oldie: I like your new Avitar and looking forward to you giving all your pins away or to others before I post my Craftsman 519x's.

 

[balane]

Balane: I like the red stripes and the blue on your 5197 and nice to see you found one too. so it's not going to stay in the shop to go with all the other Craftsman stuff you use and like?

Thanks, completed photos coming right up.

The keyword there for me is Use. This isn't big enough to replace my Parker and it wouldn't ever get any use here. If it were a 6" vise then yes, I would think about it as a replacement and sell the Parker.

 

[balane]

So here's the finished 5197. The paint is called Satin Midnight Blue. It's quite dark inside. It's glossier than I expected it to be which highlights the rough cast surfaces most noticeable on the swivel base. Just a personal opinion but I wish I had stuck with the satin olive I use often, I just think it's a nicer color. This isn't bad, just not my favorite.

I'm sad to report two flaws I found with the vise after cleanup, one minor and one bigger.

The minor flaw is that the swivel lock bolt has been welded. That's not a big deal, it's steel of course. I did clean up the weld on my belt sander and it will never be seen unless the vise is disassembled.

The more serious flaw is two hairline vertical stress cracks, one on each side, where the slide support shelf meets the front of the main body. They're very small, too small to show up in pictures even. In fact, I have a hard time seeing them right in front of me even though I know they're present. I put a lot of stress on the shelf to test it and there's absolutely no movement whatsoever. So it's solid but obviously less than ideal. I hope the new owner doesn't beat the **** out of it with a giant hammer or it could get worse.

All of this will be in the body of the listing.

.

 

[balane]

A few more.

.

 

[oldldh]

That's really nice...

I didn't think I'd like the blue, but I do...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

The attached 5196 sold for over $ 300.00, including freight, so yours will be interesting to watch...

I will bid on it, but I live a LONG way from Puget Sound, so freight is a problem...

Good luck on your sale...

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Balane That turned very out nice as always. Let the bidding begin and who ever has the most money in their pocket can own it. I'm in for the .99 opening bid Was the Craftsman label that pristine or did you photoshop a decal to go over it ?

 

[balane]

That's the original badge. It was dirty but the coating of crud acted like a protective barrier I guess. A toothbrush and some Simple Green made it look that nice.

Thanks guys. Shame about shipping costs. The unfortunate thing is that it gives West Coast folks a bidding advantage. For instance, shipping to Seattle is $23, L.A. $40, St. Louis $53, Orlando or NYC $63. That's my cost and I'm going to be eating some of the shipping since eBay doesn't have the means to calculate rates on two boxes which this must go because it's over 70 pounds. I'm guessing it's going to cost me about $12 or so, depending on location, over the shipping eBay is showing. Not complaining, that's just how it is.

 

[mtnwkr]

Looks great Balane, I'll be keeping an eye on that one..

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Measurements on Parker 950 / 970 series screw retainers.
across the top / diameter of the slot on which the retainer rests
size of jaws in the circle / #part number
The 3" has no part number and I checked two vises. The #29 (bottom left) was one a 953 and yet has the older small letters on it. The vise has not been abused so I would assume it is the original one. Sorry no 2 1/2" or 8" info, I am still working on those as is everyone else on this forum