What to do with this big humpback Parker?

[jreb10]

A few weeks ago I was looking for some winter projects. There was an on-line auction of a tractor/implement repair shop about 120 miles away, and I saw a few items I could use. Since it was so far away I looked for other things to fill up the truck bed.

They had a few vises, All were a bit rough or worse, and I had only the pictures to judge them by. Long story short, I won four vises. One of them was a humpback Parker.

I researched Parker humpbacks and thought maybe it was a 4 incher. There was nothing in the pictures to give a sense of scale. So I went to went to pick it up. Wrong!

It was the biggest vise I have ever seen. A Parker 436! Six inch jaws, swivel base, with intact Parker spindle retainer and Parker vise wrench no.4, about 185 lbs. Had to get the forklift to load it into the bed, as the dynamic jaw was stuck.



Overall it looks to be in pretty good shape under the thick yellow paint. It is lightly rusted, and the jaws look pretty good.

The big question is what to do with it? It is way too much vise for me, so I should probably sell it. My plan is to strip the paint, put it through the electrolysis tank, inspect for any cracks or flaws, and then lightly oil it to preserve it. That way a new owner can either use it as is or degrease and paint it as they wish. Is this a sensible plan?

 

[Leadberry]

Ho-lee ****. A Parker that size should bring a pretty penny.

 

[Packard V8]

It is way too much vise for me

That's like saying, "My wife wants way too much ***." ;>)

jack vines

 

[zkling]

I'd repaint and keep. What other 3 vises did you get? Prices?

 

[WhoWhatNow]

A big solid vise with pipe jaws is a wonderful thing. You just need a 300 lbs bench to bolt it to.

If you don't want to keep it strip it as planned and put it on eBay. Local pickup or ship it though Fastenal. That will most likely bring you the most money. Start the bidding at $0.99 and watch the fun.

 

[jreb10]

I'd repaint and keep. What other 3 vises did you get? Prices?

Well, the Parker 436 was in a single lot including a stout but broken workbench and another swivel vise with significant damage to the static jaw. That vise turned out to be a Morgan 145. As far as price goes, I paid considerably less than $1 per Parker pound for that lot.

I also picked up a Wilton C1 that had been much used and abused, for under $100. It had a bolt welded on the small anvil area, a bent handle, and weld spatters on it. I wanted it to teach me about Wilton bullet vises, so I can see what the fuss is all about. I have started to clean it up and it may work out OK.





Lastly, I took a flyer on another vise that I found to be a Rock Island 95. It has damage as well, and may be a parts vise.

No pics of the Morgan or Rock Island as they are down in the barn for now until I can get to them.

 

[jreb10]

I started disassembly and got the swivel base off and cleaned up. Pretty interesting design, like a drum brake. The collar cleaned up nicely as well.


Finally got the dynamic jaw to move and was able to separate the vise. Patience, Kroil, and judicious use of heat are your friend.


Trussed up the static jaw and got it set for the electrolysis tank. It fits, thank heavens!


Drawing about 10 amps. It will increase a bit as the paint flakes off.

 

[oldldh]

Clean up the Parker...

And...

Keep it!!!

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

 

[EDGAR]

Everybody here wants a big vise, with 8 inches jaws at least, and you don't want the 6 incher you found because it is too big?

Something is wrong, really wrong...

Anyway, you don't really have to use it, just paint it and admire it.

 

[jreb10]

Clean up the Parker...

And...

Keep it!!!

Ya Dun Gud, Bubba!!!

I have to admit, she is growing on me as I strip off the paint.

Or maybe this site is a bad influence on me.....?

 

[CNGsaves]

That WILL BE a bitchin' vise once done. It's unique. Very few shops anywhere will have that vise.

Heck, I'd run with the Humpback theme and make it focal point of your shop. Add some old school posters for Camel cigarettes as wall art . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . AND . . . . you've got . . . . . Humpback Garage !!!! . .

GJ Madness continues . . . Humpback Vise would then become TOO COOL avatar !!

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Holy ****, jreb!

I have a nephew, Parker. That vise would make at least three of him.

Maybe there's a chance you make a really cool glass-top table with this? Or just park it in the middle of your shop and tell your friends, "MINE'S BIGGER THAN YOURS" every time they come over (but it might appear like you're compensating for something).

Anyway, NICE VISE.

 

[bigcaddy]

You seem to have done pretty well at the auction in the vise department!

Your Parker is in fantastic shape and that vise has a legion of fans. I'm not partial to them personally but they are well made and designed with the serious user in mind. It should clean up nicely and give you many years of use and if you decide to sell, it should net you quite a bit of money if you really put some time and effort into it. Search the "vises of garage journal" thread to see what a really nice vise looks like.

There is a difference between fresh paint/polish and paint/hardware/polish/decals/new jaw pads

The Wilton is a early C1, possibly 1st generation but i'm thinking 2nd, so early 1960s, but it too will clean up nicely. That one, if you decide to sell, should cover most of your costs for the total expenditure on bench vises, making the Parker free or profitable just for buying it.

 

[bczygan]

Those Humpback Parkers are pretty useless, as you realize.

You want a cute little Wilton....painted pink.

A big ugly manly Parker like that will just bust your balls trying to move it around.

Just because I'm a sucker for someone in a fix like you....I will give you 50 cents a pound and take the problem off your hands.

PM coming with shipping address...

 

[devoncoolman]

Big guy there.

 

[jreb10]

The Wilton is a early C1, possibly 1st generation but i'm thinking 2nd, so early 1960s, but it too will clean up nicely. That one, if you decide to sell, should cover most of your costs for the total expenditure on bench vises, making the Parker free or profitable just for buying it.

Thank you for the information on the Wilton. I looked in vain for a date on the key, but if there ever was one it is gone without a trace.

I did do a preliminary cleanup on it. I found the last of the original paint color on the bottom of the swivel base.


I removed the welded bolt and the weld spatters. It is starting to look like a vise. I think it will have to wear its past proudly, so I will give it a "sympathetic restoration" and let its scars speak for themselves. Time to practice up on hammered blue paint.

 

[jreb10]

I have got the paint off the static jaw and cleaned it up. No cracks or other nasty surprises. The more I look at it the more I like the idea of painting it. This vise was a very utilitarian tool and it looks like a big lump of metal when "in the raw". Paint would give it more personality.


They did not take a lot of care for detail in the lettering, as you can see. Some figures like the "6" in "436" lack detail.



If I paint it (probably will) I need to choose a color. I think the original may have been black underneath the later yellow. I may be leaning to the darkest matte grey I can find. But this is Garage Journal and I might be persuaded otherwise.