The VISES of Garage Journal

[exmaxima1]

When its working properly the tension provided by the spring would twist the blade clockwise, that would force the block up against the screw thread.
When the QR lever is pushed in the blade flattens out, and the block drops, allowing the jaw to be pulled out as the screw thread isn't in contact with the block any more.

I did get some tension on the spring by spinning the blade through 180 degrees, this sort of worked, until you used the QR, once it was released the blade would fall out of the slot, letting the block drop and thus stopping the whole thing from working at all. I think this happened because there was too much tension on it.

Finally, not much I can do about this, part of the casting is missing, meaning one of the bolts is missing and has nothing to screw in to anyway as it looks like part of the casting chipped out. There is just a single bolt that holds this on in the opposite corner to the one pictured - one bolt is enough to hold it, but its not ideal.

You could fix the missing screw with a blob of epoxy putty and a new screw. But the main problem seems to be the plate on the bottom that positions the release bar---yours is broken. Check the pics of my Record 23.

 

[freezerburn]

No pic at the moment but gotta $10 Columbian at a yard sale. When the fella said he
was moving I offered to buy the one that was bolted to the bench. Yup $10 Columbian 5 1/2"

 

[AndrewH]

JKB: I really like that PYRAMID vise you own. in fact since it might be a copy can i have 2 please? awesome vise and i bet very handy. looks like old school steel too so a good copy of a Wilton bullet or maybe Wilton copied theirs.

Crafty: I'll look more at your Record later, but the guys that own those awesome vises and understand how to repair the mech on the quick release hopefully can help you make it work again if it isn't now. nice job on the pictures too.

Oldie: Too small throw it back and maybe we'll catch a bigger one.
thanks for checking our favorite auction sites though and please continue to. by the way can you PM me before you post so i can a 5 minute head start on Andrew if you find an 8 or 9 incher you don't want to buy???

LOL as if that'd help you! Besides, if an 8" vise comes up in your area I'm certainly not going to come get it! However, anything in the 4 state area around me, good luck!

 

[Fretters]

There is no tension at all on the spring, it barely touches that peg, I'm wondering if it was longer and curled around the peg and the end has snapped off ?

Can't recall the exact setup offhand, (I'll try and have a peek at the Parkinson later), but there probably is a loop or dog leg to hold it against that nub on the front plate. Just take the spring off, straighten the last inch or so and put a curl in it. It's not unknown for the spring ends to snap. Then refit and retension and you should be good to go. You don't need much tension on the spring. Just enough to push the half nut up onto the leadscrew. Pressing the QR lever then pulls the half nut down.

I did get some tension on the spring by spinning the blade through 180 degrees, this sort of worked, until you used the QR, once it was released the blade would fall out of the slot, letting the block drop and thus stopping the whole thing from working at all. I think this happened because there was too much tension on it.

The retaining plate may just have abit too much bend in it too, or be on upside down, allowing the flat bar to pop out. I encountered that problem with the first QR I ever reassembled. Can't remember exactly what caused it offhand, but it was related to that retention clamp/plate.

Finally, not much I can do about this, part of the casting is missing, meaning one of the bolts is missing and has nothing to screw in to anyway as it looks like part of the casting chipped out. There is just a single bolt that holds this on in the opposite corner to the one pictured - one bolt is enough to hold it, but its not ideal.

That part's a piece of piss to sort. A rectangular block of steel, drill and tap a couple of holes in one side of it with corresponding holes through the vice to secure it, and then drill and tap the end to accept a screw for the cover plate.

 

[PMD6]

You could fix the missing screw with a blob of epoxy putty and a new screw. But the main problem seems to be the plate on the bottom that positions the release bar---yours is broken. Check the pics of my Record 23.

Exmaxima1 - is there a correct colour blue to use when restoring Record vices?

 

[AndrewH]

For anyone interested in big vises, there's 3 6"+ on CL in / around Ohio right now... I'm sure better prices could be negotiated on all of them! Hope to see these posted on here soon!

Prentiss 7" swivel jaw and base

http://youngstown.craigslist.org/tls/4556965596.html

Columbian 6" combination vise WITH pipe jaws

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/grq/4530844905.html

Columbian 506

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/4546706500.html

 

[exmaxima1]

Exmaxima1 - is there a correct colour blue to use when restoring Record vices?

I believe there is a special paint you get in the UK for the exact match, but I have found Valspar (Lowes sells it) GLOSS INDIGO CLOTH looks very close. And it is great spray paint to work with.

 

[Outlawmws]

LOL as if that'd help you! Besides, if an 8" vise comes up in your area I'm certainly not going to come get it! However, anything in the 4 state area around me, good luck!

Andrew, you get to many more big'uns, and you're likely to sink in one of those three rivers...

 

[AndrewH]

Andrew, you get to many more big'uns, and you're likely to sink in one of those three rivers...

I'm just picking them up along the path to my future Reed 208 / 209 / 408, Parker 978 & 387, along with a Wilton 800S / Prentiss 58 and might as well throw in the Craftsman 5198!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Blue Frog
Here is another example of a PYRAMID vise. This one is a knock off of a Wilton Bullet.

Originally I thought mine was some obscure US made manufacturer. Now, not so sure. So far I have seen two PYRAMIDs, one (mine) a Wilton knock off, the other (yours), a Vacuum Vise knock off. Both PYRAMIDs are clamp ons, have the same style knob on the clamp screw. Your double head rotates 360, my single head nods 45 in both directions. Note the "cute" tear drop shaped anvil.

In the pics I have included some shots of my PYRAMID with one of my Vacuum vises (according to the box, my vacuum vise was made in Taiwan for Kreesge's)

Yours has a round nose, mine is bullet shaped, both have PYRAMID on one side, with no other markings.

Right now, based on the fact that PYRAMID made two models (that we know of) and both are knock offs, and the similarity with the vacuum vise is "off the charts", my guess for the COO is Japan or Taiwan.


JKB

That is cool!

 

[oldldh]

I'm just picking them up along the path to my future Reed 208 / 209 / 408, Parker 978 & 387, along with a Wilton 800S / Prentiss 58 and might as well throw in the Craftsman 5198!

If you collect all the monsters listed....

Ve Vil Haf You Shot!!!

Do you hear---Shot!!!

(Although we probably won't have to go that far---with that much heaviness in one place the sinkhole will reach past the mantle of the Earth!!! Your vise stash will be replaced with a volcano!!!)

However, Karma will keep the 5198 out of your greedy paws!!!

 

[AndrewH]

If you collect all the monsters listed....

Ve Vil Haf You Shot!!!

Do you hear---Shot!!!

(Although we probably won't have to go that far---with that much heaviness in one place the sinkhole will reach past the mantle of the Earth!!! Your vise stash will be replaced with a volcano!!!)

However, Karma will keep the 5198 out of your greedy paws!!!

Pssh, I'm not greedy, and you better be careful as I was considering selling you the 5197 that I found after I restore it as I'm starting to have to make way for the big ones, anything under a 100 lbs will most likely eventually be sold after restoration, hopefully to other collectors / members here. I find that I get a ton more satisfaction out of the 150+ lb vises, most of those on the list above will certainly be in my collection at some point, I'm only 26 so I have a lot of vise hunting years ahead of me!

 

[Toolhorder]

Okay this vise is NOT mine but it's at the dealership I work at. It's huge and over a hundred years old~! I think it's a Parker. It's awesome...

 

[Blue Frog]

Blue Frog
Here is another example of a PYRAMID vise. This one is a knock off of a Wilton Bullet.

Originally I thought mine was some obscure US made manufacturer. Now, not so sure. So far I have seen two PYRAMIDs, one (mine) a Wilton knock off, the other (yours), a Vacuum Vise knock off. Both PYRAMIDs are clamp ons, have the same style knob on the clamp screw. Your double head rotates 360, my single head nods 45 in both directions. Note the "cute" tear drop shaped anvil.

In the pics I have included some shots of my PYRAMID with one of my Vacuum vises (according to the box, my vacuum vise was made in Taiwan for Kreesge's)

Yours has a round nose, mine is bullet shaped, both have PYRAMID on one side, with no other markings.

Right now, based on the fact that PYRAMID made two models (that we know of) and both are knock offs, and the similarity with the vacuum vise is "off the charts", my guess for the COO is Japan or Taiwan.


JKB

JBK,

You're correct about the similarity of my PYRAMID and the vacuum vise, but there too many indicators of a vintage nature on my vise for it to be a knock-off of the vacuum vise. I find it more believable that the vacuum vise is a knock-off of the PYRAMID.

 

[devoncoolman]

Doubt its over 100 yrs old. But it is old. Chas parkers are good vises. My favorite.

 

[Toolhorder]

Doubt its over 100 yrs old. But it is old. Chas parkers are good vises. My favorite.

Says like 1908 on the side of it

 

[zkling]

Says like 1908 on the side of it

Probably says Patented 1908, just because soemthing was patented way back it could have been manufactured quite a bit later.

 

[Toolhorder]

Probably says Patented 1908, just because soemthing was patented way back it could have been manufactured quite a bit later.

edit...I think it has a date that's month year 1908 then below another month then 1910. Could be a patent date/s I guess.

Say's NO 268X

 

[AndrewH]

edit...I think it has a date that's month year 1908 then below another month then 1910. Could be a patent date/s I guess.

Say's NO 268X

Yeah, I'm guessing it's somewhere between 6" - 8" jaws, the X series was a heavy duty series if I recall. I can't find a 268X in any of the old catalogs I've saved pictures of. If you could measure the jaw width that'd be awesome, I've never seen a 268X so I'm very curious! Either way I bet it's at least 160+ lbs, and if it's a 7" or 8" over 200+ lbs easily. Thanks for sharing!

 

[joe.striper]

Can I please vent here without, hopefully, pi##ing people off?

To everyone selling vises on Craigslist, please have enough pride in what you do to at least, at a minimum, tape off the vise jaws of your $350 Wilton vise before you paint it, please. Really, you couldn't be bothered to remove the swivel base locks before you painted? You didn't have the 15 seconds in your day to take care of that?

I saw a Wilton bullet painted entirely in turquoise tonight on CL and EVERY square inch was painted, jaws, everything. It is unfathomable to me that someone would do that, and then ask top dollar for the thing...I am getting so very old...

 

[Toolhorder]

Yeah, I'm guessing it's somewhere between 6" - 8" jaws, the X series was a heavy duty series if I recall. I can't find a 268X in any of the old catalogs I've saved pictures of. If you could measure the jaw width that'd be awesome, I've never seen a 268X so I'm very curious! Either way I bet it's at least 160+ lbs, and if it's a 7" or 8" over 200+ lbs easily. Thanks for sharing!

No problem I can measure it tomorrow. Glad someone appreciates her! I wish I could buy it from the shop and take it home....I have an old Reed that looks like a midget compared to that one at work.

 

[Toolhorder]

Can I please vent here without, hopefully, pi##ing people off?

To everyone selling vises on Craigslist, please have enough pride in what you do to at least, at a minimum, tape off the vise jaws of your $350 Wilton vise before you paint it, please. Really, you couldn't be bothered to remove the swivel base locks before you painted? You didn't have the 15 seconds in your day to take care of that?

I saw a Wilton bullet painted entirely in turquoise tonight on CL and EVERY square inch was painted, jaws, everything. It is unfathomable to me that someone would do that, and then ask top dollar for the thing...I am getting so very old...

not been on the interweb long?

 

[joe.striper]

not been on the interweb long?

Ha, ha, ha...just was pushed over the edge by that ad. Had a beer, smoked an excellent CT broad leaf maduro cigar and now I'm calm again....

 

[Toolhorder]

Ha, ha, ha...just was pushed over the edge by that ad. Had a beer, smoked an excellent CT broad leaf maduro cigar and now I'm calm again....

Just low ball em!

 

[balane]

Can I please vent here without, hopefully, pi##ing people off?

To everyone selling vises on Craigslist, please have enough pride in what you do to at least, at a minimum, tape off the vise jaws of your $350 Wilton vise before you paint it, please. Really, you couldn't be bothered to remove the swivel base locks before you painted? You didn't have the 15 seconds in your day to take care of that?

I saw a Wilton bullet painted entirely in turquoise tonight on CL and EVERY square inch was painted, jaws, everything. It is unfathomable to me that someone would do that, and then ask top dollar for the thing...I am getting so very old...

Done! It will never happen again, anywhere.

 

[AndrewH]

Can I please vent here without, hopefully, pi##ing people off?

To everyone selling vises on Craigslist, please have enough pride in what you do to at least, at a minimum, tape off the vise jaws of your $350 Wilton vise before you paint it, please. Really, you couldn't be bothered to remove the swivel base locks before you painted? You didn't have the 15 seconds in your day to take care of that?

I saw a Wilton bullet painted entirely in turquoise tonight on CL and EVERY square inch was painted, jaws, everything. It is unfathomable to me that someone would do that, and then ask top dollar for the thing...I am getting so very old...

Joe,

You mean like this? Besides the paint, I took the grease out by the hand full.

By the way, plan on replying to my message?? Don't make me call you!

 

[oldldh]

Done! It will never happen again, anywhere.

And Balane should know about half-assed paint jobs...

He does them all the time...

And he's a Van Halen fan...

And he sold my vise to someone else...

For too much money...

 

[McBrownie]

Okay this vise is NOT mine but it's at the dealership I work at. It's huge and over a hundred years old~! I think it's a Parker. It's awesome...

It looks like a Parker Superior which is heavier duty than the Eclipse model. Probably not quite 100, but should be north of 90 by now. Glad to see it is still in service. They are great vises.

Is it the same as this one?
http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/File:Parker239X.jpg

Edit: Nope. The Patent dates don't line up. How about this one?

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/File:Parker259X.jpg

 

[McBrownie]

Joe,

You mean like this? Besides the paint, I took the grease out by the hand full.

My Wilton came with the exact same paint job. Red everywhere. Maybe Vladimir Putin restores Wiltons in his spare time.

 

[Toolhorder]

It looks like a Parker Superior which is heavier duty than the Eclipse model. Probably not quite 100, but should be north of 90 by now. Glad to see it is still in service. They are great vises.

Is it the same as this one?
http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/File:Parker239X.jpg

Edit: Nope. The Patent dates don't line up. How about this one?

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/File:Parker259X.jpg

Looks like the 259X

 

[Fretters]

It's because of paint jobs like that, and what some try hiding underneath the paint, that I always look for stuff which hasn't had a whiff of paint in years. It amazes me even more when they write something like "lovingly restored" in the descriptions.

 

[drivesitfar]

All: so posts of ugly vises today and have i got a good one. i had a rust bucket Prentiss sitting in 3 gallons of vinegar and it cleaned up pretty well after 2 weeks so meant to let is sit another week and see if the handle would free up. guess what. i set some stuff in front of the bucket and just found this mess. i think Mr. Prentiss was in the bucket for 2 or 3 months and there might only be a half gallon of vinegar left.

i'm sure it will be a great vise once i clean it up.

 

[David Jackson]

Almost 2 years since the original post:

I, too, have a No.70 Armstrong Bros vise; although the strong arm trademark is missing from mine and the lower jaws are held together with square head cap screws. It is covered with surface rust although it still seems to function.

I found it cleaning up my garage. I don't know how I got it, but it is a vise. I will post some photos.

 

[David Jackson]

As promised; almost 2 years later; here are photos of the old Armstrong Bros No 70 vise I found in my garage. How and why I have it, I am not sure at all; nonteheless, even though not worth much, it is a vise!
I wonder when it was made; it lacks the arm trade mark of the one you have; it also seems to lack any traces of paint.

 

[AndrewH]

Well guys... There's been some movement on the Morgan 150 I've been working on the last week or so, I finally got it painted but I'll save that for a happier post. There's also bad news, as I was waiting for the paint to dry, as I often have to do I took it upon myself to get the main nut cleaned up. So I took it to the parts washer (aka kitchen sink) and cleaned all the grease and caked on dirt off of it and this is what I found...

The crack appears to have started at the casting imperfection, why this piece was ever passed by QC I'll never know. Some of you may be thinking "Oh no Andrew, what will you ever do??" never fear, I have an answer! I can either leave it, which I just might because it's really not that bad, or I'll buy a new one straight from Morgan for $48 when I buy the jaw pads for $64! All in all, I suppose it could be much worse, it could be irreplaceable. Anyways.. Tomorrow I should have some pictures of it painted and mocked back together.

 

[bortez]

Hello everyone
this is my first post in forum
bought a 160mm vise;i saw your posts and decided to paint it...i just done it.
but i don't have any information about it,i only know that it's made in almost 40 years ago or more...
anyone know anything about its brand or etc? there is no sign or mark on it!
thanks in advanced and sorry for my bad English

 

[joe.striper]

And Balane should know about half-assed paint jobs...

He does them all the time...

And he's a Van Halen fan...

And he sold my vise to someone else...

For too much money...

Hey, I just did that to Andrew! I'm glad he doesn't know where I live.

 

[nine4gmc]

Andrew, I'd leave it and worry about it when/if it ever broke, which would probably be never.

Bortez, cool vise, I have never seen one like that, thanks for sharing.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe,

You mean like this? Besides the paint, I took the grease out by the hand full.

By the way, plan on replying to my message?? Don't make me call you!

Sorry Andrew I thought I had responded to you already. Let me know if you didn't get my response.

Yes thats what I'm talking about. I cannot fathom why anyone wouldn't take the 5 minutes and remove the jaw inserts and swivel locks!?!

I'm in upstate NY right now on business for three days, its killing me to be away from my babies.

Hey I have a tip, has anyone tried this? I recently got an old Athol with lots of original paint. I didn't want to damage it so I sprayed it with alloy wheel cleaner. Wow that stuff was GREAT and the paint was perfect but all the grime and grease is gone

 

[Chuck79]

Reed 214 R sheet metal vise





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