The VISES of Garage Journal

[bigcaddy]

It could be Leinen or Bison FPU

 

[EOC_Jason]

I don't know the year and I don't know the model number although I did see 79 stamped into a couple parts and that lines up with a 6.25" Parker.

First off... YOU ****!!!!

Second, from the style I would have to say that is probably one of the last models that Parker made before Union Mfg. bought them up...

I'll give you $40 right now... cash money...

 

[Gunpilot]

Rock Island (Birtman Electric Co) 572?

I have an old Rock Island vise I'm preparing to clean and paint. It has a brass placard in it denoting the Birtman Electric Company. Cast into the base is 572. It is a swivel base and the jaws measure 3.5" wide. This thing is heavy for only having 3.5" jaws.

Here's my questions:
Anyone have a source or idea as to what the correct or original color should be?
Any idea of the approximate age?
With the swivel base and small jaws, what might this vise have been marketed as regarding use?

Finally, the replacement jaw faces are missing, I plan to make some replacements out of flat metal stock unless someone has a source for potential replacements.

I'd appreciate any insights you might have. Perhaps I can post some pictures at some point.
Thanks
Greg

 

[balane]

Second, from the style I would have to say that is probably one of the last models that Parker made before Union Mfg. bought them up...

I should probably know this but what year did Union buy Parker? 1960's?

 

[McBrownie]

I should probably know this but what year did Union buy Parker? 1960's?

1957, I believe. Does yours have a model number with a letter suffix (A, B, C, etc. ) ? That usually gives an indication of the number of post-Parker revisions.

That is one cool vise. Congrats!

 

[balane]

No visible model number on mine anywhere and I had it completely stripped. I see 79 stamped into the backside of a few parts but that's it.

Thanks.

 

[Filson]

Balane, damn nice score bro!! I think I would of made the swap as well and kept it. This is certainly for you x10 and with a few explicit words added too...

View media item 37501

 

[KMScott]

I saw this on Ebay Germany. Can anyone identify the brand?

I agree with Caddy, It looks like a Leinen. But it also might be a Boley

 

[McBrownie]

That brass retainer was on it believe it or not. It was a complete surprise because it had three coats of paint on it. I was stripping it off to paint it and obviously changed my plans once I saw what color metal it was. It looks like a crown, lol.

Edit: Home sweet home!
.

Hold on! I have to call out a fashion fopa here. Especially since everyone, including me, is being so nice about this Balane's new Parker. I took a third look and..... Finger savers? On a Parker? That is like wearing a belt with suspenders! I call for a forum referendum:

"Any vise that has the innate built-in ability to avoid pinched fingers shall not be fitted with external 3rd party finger savers. "

So it is written. So it shall be done.

I still think it is a cool vise, btw.

 

[Sonny2010]

I have the same type.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hold on! I have to call out a fashion fopa here. Especially since everyone, including me, is being so nice about this Balane's new Parker. I took a third look and..... Finger savers? On a Parker? That is like wearing a belt with suspenders! I call for a forum referendum:

"Any vise that has the innate built-in ability to avoid pinched fingers shall not be fitted with external 3rd party finger savers. "

So it is written. So it shall be done.

I still think it is a cool vise, btw.

I have had O Rings on my Parker's handle for well over 25 years... Of course my tensioner has never been set...

Besides I prefer the "thud" over the "clang!" any day...

 

[balane]

Those little spring plungers work fair at best on a smooth handle but if there's any dings on it then they're a bigger pain in the **** than they're worth because they get caught up. I leave mine loose too. In my opinion they're a better concept than reality.

 

[Filson]

I got pinched by my Reed 208 when I was loading it into the truck 2 minutes after buying it. I just laughed a little and in a fond and endearing tone of voice with a smile "Oh you, you just had to say hello."

Even with getting an occasional pinch, I just don't like the idea of those little rubber bumper things on a big piece of American iron. Maybe I'm the only one here that feels this way, but to me, it seems about the same as putting a fuzzy steering wheel cover on an old john deere tractor.

 

[macgee]

Re: Rock Island (Birtman Electric Co) 572?

I have an old Rock Island vise I'm preparing to clean and paint. It has a brass placard in it denoting the Birtman Electric Company. Cast into the base is 572. It is a swivel base and the jaws measure 3.5" wide. This thing is heavy for only having 3.5" jaws.

Here's my questions:
Anyone have a source or idea as to what the correct or original color should be?
Any idea of the approximate age?
With the swivel base and small jaws, what might this vise have been marketed as regarding use?

Finally, the replacement jaw faces are missing, I plan to make some replacements out of flat metal stock unless someone has a source for potential replacements.

I'd appreciate any insights you might have. Perhaps I can post some pictures at some point.
Thanks
Greg

Hey Greg,

Your best bet is to contact a regular on this forum "KMScott", he makes all sort of jaws and highly recommended.

Here is one of his websites: http://www.benchvisejaws.com/chas-parker-bench-vise/

Note: Vise jaws are way more complicated to make than just cutting up a piece of metal with two holes. They're precisely milled pair to match your vise with a serrated pattern also milled in, then when that is done it's finally heated treated to approx. 56 hrc hardness (about the same as a Henkels knife). Trust me, it's worth it.

In regards to color, last year I came across several Rock Islands being sold locally, all were in excellent orig. condition. The color if I remember correctly were all black almost like a black Japanning type finish on what you see on old Stanley Bailey planers. I could be wrong and my memory is far from stellar so please take it with a grain of salt.

Edit: Here is one being sold. Despite the red showing underneath, this one has the same black as the ones I saw last year:

Here is a paint that many restorers are now using to get a Japanning look:
http://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-DE1635-Ceramic-Semi-Gloss-Engine/dp/B000GKEXVQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1407218529&sr=1-1&keywords=Dupli-Color+DUPDE1635+Semi+Gloss+Black

Dupli-Color DE1635 Ceramic Ford Semi-Gloss Black Engine Paint can also be found at Pep Boys.



`

 

[drivesitfar]

Balane: so now you are calling Craigslist sellers at 4am (or texting them until it gets to a decent hour like 6am)? i thought i was the only one that did that. nice find and i knew there was a good reason you would be selling the one you had on your bench. I agree is sort of has the Union look to it so maybe late 50's early 60's, but i'm far from a Parker expert (yet). by the way i wasn't one of the dozen or so emails for that one which sounds like it might have been one of my neighbors. it found a good home and nice job with the restoration.

Node: I'm pretty sure you have a Leinen vice on that Ebay auction and the 125 is the size in metric of your jaws. i'm thinking that translates to about 4.5 inches wide since my 150 version is 6 inches. Leinen vices are awesome and if you didn't know it the rear jaw moves back and the front one stays in it's original position.

ALL: i have very few if any finger savers on my vises, but i don't have many mounted yet so waiting to see what colors i need. i like the idea of getting the colored ones when i do get a few of these big guys mounted because even though Filson survived his first and not last pinch with his Reed 208 I've already had a few blood blisters and there is a little pain involved when the handle of a 100 pound plus vise drops and catches the edge of a finger.

 

[balane]

Not getting a fat blood blister is a possible nice bonus but the main reason I like the rubber washers is because it keeps this from happening over time. That indentation and ridge shouldn't be there. I much prefer to find used vises that have had the washers on them.

.

 

[Fretters]

I got pinched by my Reed 208 when I was loading it into the truck 2 minutes after buying it. I just laughed a little and in a fond and endearing tone of voice with a smile "Oh you, you just had to say hello."

I'll bet. I bet you could have made a fishwife blush with the actual language you used.

Even with getting an occasional pinch, I just don't like the idea of those little rubber bumper things on a big piece of American iron. Maybe I'm the only one here that feels this way, but to me, it seems about the same as putting a fuzzy steering wheel cover on an old john deere tractor.

You aren't. Try as I might, I haven't been able to force myself to fit any of those either. As you say, it seems akin to steering wheel covers or furry dice. I can appreciate their usefulness, and the occasional missed blister or clang would be nice, but they do look a bit gay, in all honesty. Just my personal opinion mind.

Hold on! I have to call out a fashion fopa here.

Honestly, what're you Merkins like. Are you moving onto French now that you've finished destroying English?

 

[EOC_Jason]

1957, I believe. Does yours have a model number with a letter suffix (A, B, C, etc. ) ? That usually gives an indication of the number of post-Parker revisions.

The lettering revisions didn't occur until Union took over and started making design changes.

Those little spring plungers work fair at best on a smooth handle but if there's any dings on it then they're a bigger pain in the **** than they're worth because they get caught up. I leave mine loose too. In my opinion they're a better concept than reality.

On my 974-1/2B I polished the handle good, and replaced whatever metal they used with a piece of brass inside the spring plunger and once you get it dialed in, it works awesome. It holds center perfect to spin the vise open and closed with one finger, yet requires very little effort to pull the handle to one end to get more power.

I can see where it might be more of an issue with larger vise handles though, but for small ones it's a good concept. I've considered doing the same to a few other vises.

 

[Filson]

Fretters - LOL! Pretty much

 

[KMScott]

I like the ball plunger set up on handles, on my bigger vises that I am making new handles for I am adding the simple ball bearing, spring and set screw. They were easy to get at McMaster Carr and cheap, I will play with spring diameter to get the right tension. I did add the bumpers just in case.

I made a few wear plates for the four Colombians I am restoring, the originals were wore out. I did make them out of Aluminum/Bronze so they will last and added the grease grooves. Brass is way to soft for any wear part on a vise. I made them thicker and will adjust the set bushing for minimum backlash.

macgee thanks for the poke, I sell plenty of Rock Island jaws fitting the 574 and 594 vises. I do not carry the size gunpilot needs but would be happy to help him.

 

[balane]

Anybody ever see this home-brew vise build?

http://www.ibuildit.ca/Workshop Projects/wooden-vise-1.html

 

[Filson]

Anybody ever see this home-brew vise build?

http://www.ibuildit.ca/Workshop Projects/wooden-vise-1.html

Damn that's pretty cool! Now where's that damn cheater bar...

 

[oldldh]

Hold on! I have to call out a fashion faux pas here.

Fixed it for you...

(I just recently got my "Spelling Police Badge"...)

If'n you'sa gonna use a furin' wurd, at leest spel it cureklee!!!

Maclin put a set of "Anti-Finger Smashing Pads" on the Starrett 925 I got from him...and my ancient fingers really appreciate them...

 

[Filson]

If'n you'sa gonna use a furin' wurd, at leest spel it cureklee!!!

Goddamn, that almost hurt to read. Southern folk.

 

[oldldh]

Goddamn, that almost hurt to read. Southern folk.

That took me 10 minutes to write, and 5 minutes to edit...

Coming up with stuff like that is difficult, for those of us that is edumacated...

 

[Filson]

That took me 10 minutes to write, and 5 minutes to edit...

Coming up with stuff like that is difficult, for those of us that is edumacated...

 

[oldldh]

Or shud i'of sed----us'ns thats got aan edumakashun...

 

[kukko]

Picked up an Athol 704 at a swap meet. A few pieces of incorrect hardware, but works well. The arm on the handle is fixed (doesn't slide through the "ball" portion), and has a toothed release inside. It slides on the post so after you tighten something, you can release the handle so it hangs down.
Jaws are 2 1/8" wide.

 

[oldldh]

Kukko---

That's a "different" Athol model---


I'll bet that "slips-off" handle arm would "smart" a tad, if it whacked your big toe!!!


I don't think "Smashed-Finger-Savers" would help much, in the toe department...

 

[kukko]

The handle is held on with a screw, so it won't just fall off. It just slides back far enough to disengage the teeth. It's a pretty small vise, so even if it did fall off, i don't think toes would be in too much danger. On the other hand, it looks like a monster compared to my Athol No. 0!

 

[macgee]

Picked up an Athol 704 at a swap meet. A few pieces of incorrect hardware, but works well. The arm on the handle is fixed (doesn't slide through the "ball" portion), and has a toothed release inside. It slides on the post so after you tighten something, you can release the handle so it hangs down.
Jaws are 2 1/8" wide.

Kukko,

Very nice find, that's a great little vise. I'm jealous

Yesterday I just happened to be looking around for a small Athol vise. I was trying to find model numbers for small ones. I need a nice small vise for my shop

I'll have to keep an eye out of 704's. #677 is another nice Athol.

 

[Monte]

I saw this on Ebay Germany. Can anyone identify the brand?

it´s a "Garant" brand from a company called Hoffmann Group. It´s a rebadged Leinen.

 

[McBrownie]

Fixed it for you...

(I just recently got my "Spelling Police Badge"...)

If'n you'sa gonna use a furin' wurd, at leest spel it cureklee!!!

Maclin put a set of "Anti-Finger Smashing Pads" on the Starrett 925 I got from him...and my ancient fingers really appreciate them...

I knew that didn't look right. Guess what? Google gave me that spelling! The machines are taking over.

Thanks for catching that!

 

[mtnwkr]

I was wondering if any of you knowledgeable Vise guru's know what model this Yost might be? I'm able to pick it up tomorrow for $50.

 

[balane]

Even with nothing to gauge size by I think it's a fairly recent 31C and it looks to be in excellent condition. That's a great vise for $50 imho.

 

[mtnwkr]

Thanks, Thats the same conclusion I came to. I don't know the jaw width but he says it's about 50lbs, which puts it between the 31 and 32c. Now, Hopefully it's still there tomorrow as planned when I get off work.

 

[macgee]

I was wondering if any of you knowledgeable Vise guru's know what model this Yost might be? I'm able to pick it up tomorrow for $50.

That vise is made by Yost (USA made), can't see the model number but it looks huge (hard to tell exactly) and I agree from that angle in the pic it looks like it's in really good shape. The jaws and the pipe jaws look quite fresh.

You better run as fast as you can to pick that vise up otherwise I'll try to beat you to it although you may need a fork lift to take it home. For $50 it clearly a steal.

Nice find

PS> I hope you have a solid HD work bench or stand for that vise.

EDIT: It might be a 33c although that weighs way heavier than 50lbs, otherwise maybe a 45c. I agree it look recent and the upper jaws are replaceable.

Guessing the weight of a heavy vise by lifting it can be way off, some people think a true 30lb vise weighs over 100lbs and vice versus. Tomorrow you'll know the answer.

We expect pics and more info

 

[mtnwkr]

Well, I didn't wait. He text and I went and picked it up as it's only ten minutes away. It's a 31c. I was hoping for at least a 32c but this will be a fun project for now. It's in great condition, looks like it was used very little.

 

[mtnwkr]

 

[macgee]

Well, I didn't wait. He text and I went and picked it up as it's only ten minutes away. It's a 31c. I was hoping for at least a 32c but this will be a fun project for now. It's in great condition, looks like it was used very little.

Yeah, I'm really, really feeling bad for you that it's only a 31c and not bigger.


You still ****