The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

McB: i found a Reed 407 last month with it's swivel jaw welded and it didn't look damaged either. i wonder if the old guys didn't like or use the swivel option because i find a few swivel jaw vises and the old guys didn't know what the pin was for or used it as anvil.

Marty: now that you have probably the nicest 120 pound vise made in the last 100 years set your sights on the Prentiss #23 swivel jaw vise that is 8 inch wide jaws and a mere 270 pounds. sorry you'll have to provide the picture unless one our members can post their's because there wasn't one on Dayid.org

of course that one might not have been made like others we talk about so you pick your favorite now that you might have the vise vice.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drivesit,---according to Dayids list, the #23 Prentiss has only 7 inch jaws, but that could be a misprint.

 

[zoomieport]

McB: i found a Reed 407 last month with it's swivel jaw welded and it didn't look damaged either. i wonder if the old guys didn't like or use the swivel option because i find a few swivel jaw vises and the old guys didn't know what the pin was for or used it as anvil.

Marty: now that you have probably the nicest 120 pound vise made in the last 100 years set your sights on the Prentiss #23 swivel jaw vise that is 8 inch wide jaws and a mere 270 pounds. sorry you'll have to provide the picture unless one our members can post their's because there wasn't one on Dayid.org

of course that one might not have been made like others we talk about so you pick your favorite now that you might have the vise vice.

I sold a Prentiss #23 to Phy6 a couple years ago, I know there are pictures on here somewhere. I bought it from a retired railroad worker. Also, if I remember correctly the jaws were only 7" not 8", but I will believe the 270lbs, it was huge! I'll try to find some pictures.
Take care!
ZOOM

 

[zoomieport]

Looks like VA beat me to the punch...
Cheers!

 

[drivesitfar]

Zoomie and VA: so i'll take a 7 incher because at 270 who the hell cares how wide the jaws are.

i'll just have to find the MIA 209 or better yet 408 or 409.

if anybody can find a vise on this thread VA can so hopefully he can find the Prentiss #23 and either give us another post # or post a few pictures of it under his post.

thanks guys for the information so i can tweak the specs on my dream.

 

[zoomieport]

Here you go DIF, he bought several from me that day...

Ok, here's my score from Zoomie:

The orange one is a Prentiss #23 (7" jaw) with a Parker 953-1/2 I bought in PA recently.

Green one is a Reed 305

Chas Parker 806 in Gray

Chas Parker 976 in rust

Near mint Chas Parker 106 in Red

 

[zoomieport]

Re: Prentiss 23 now in service.

Here it is after he finished it...

Threw some paint on her the other day, just to get her in service. Later, when I finish the other vises, I'll go back and do a proper restore with smooth paint (I wanted to do it in Lamborghini Orange Pearl). For now, some bling to grab people's attention.

A 2 liter bottle for scale.

 

[drivesitfar]

Zoomie: love it when dreams get a few more specs. thanks and if you happen upon another one i hear a multiple vise trade happening since you don't need it. thank you

just saw your post after i posted mine. i think i like the multy color version a lot better than the Goldfinger 007 look. no offense to Phy6 the owner because his vise and his color.

 

[zoomieport]

Zoomie: love it when dreams get a few more specs. thanks and if you happen upon another one i hear a multiple vise trade happening since you don't need it. thank you

just saw your post after i posted mine. i think i like the multy color version a lot better than the Goldfinger 007 look. no offense to Phy6 the owner because his vise and his color.

I actually liked the Parker #976 I sold him better, it was MINT, MINT, MINT!
I think I sold him 3 or 4 6" inchers that day along with the Prentiss #23 and a 5" REED swivel jaw.

 

[drivesitfar]

Zoomie: you don't have to say how much he paid you unless it was a bigger vise then i (we) might like a few more details with pictures.

 

[zoomieport]

Zoomie: you don't have to say how much he paid you unless it was a bigger vise then i (we) might like a few more details with pictures.

It was a fair price for all, but NOTHING LIKE I COULD GET TODAY.
We were both happy...
I reinvested in more vises and ANVILS!

Cheers!
ZOOM

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Link to another Prentiss #23
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266801&highlight=prentiss

 

[drivesitfar]

Get: thanks for that and i do remember that one coming through. here's a few pictures for our thread since i don't think GHB one of our new members did yet. that vise even looks big in a tractor's bucket.

ALL: any of you have a preference of which lever you like better on the huge Prentiss vises. they are both pull pins and i like the round one on my Prentiss 19.5, but on a 270 pounder a lever might work better. thoughts?

also has anybody broke one of either?

 

[va.grouseman]

The pictures of phy6's Honda Accord loaded with Zoomie's vises is on page 238, post 4754.

 

[joe.striper]

Went to get my daughter's car inspected today. While there I started talking to the owner of the shop, started talking about vises, he gets REAL animated and shows me the vise in the pics below. A very nice, original Emmert 6A! This is 1/4 mile from my house where MY Emmert A6 resides in my garage. We chatted for a 1/2 hour, I tried buying the Emmert 3 or 4 times and then I got him to buy my Parker 976B for $500. Wow nice guy!!

For those of you with Emmerts like this I took some pics of the pin assembly that resides on top of the vise and regulates the movement of the rotating jaws. These are ALWAYS broken. I developed a different system utilizing a ball bearing, spring and inset allen key bolt that is working great, but I wish I saw this before I went to all that effort!

 

[Filson]

Went to get my daughter's car inspected today. While there I started talking to the owner of the shop, started talking about vises, he gets REAL animated and shows me the vise in the pics below. A very nice, original Emmert 6A! This is 1/4 mile from my house where MY Emmert A6 resides in my garage. We chatted for a 1/2 hour, I tried buying the Emmert 3 or 4 times and then I got him to buy my Parker 976B for $500. Wow nice guy!!

For those of you with Emmerts like this I took some pics of the pin assembly that resides on top of the vise and regulates the movement of the rotating jaws. These are ALWAYS broken. I developed a different system utilizing a ball bearing, spring and inset allen key bolt that is working great, but I wish I saw this before I went to all that effort!

Now that is a very badass vise! Did you invite him to come check out GJ!? Thanks for sharing, Joe!

 

[joe.striper]

Another couple of vises at my auto shop. A Parker 59, that I need to repair for them, and an American Red Seal #54. No he wouldn't sell those either.

 

[jakemac]

What was wrong with the Parker ?

 

[Filson]

What was wrong with the Parker ?

Looks like the back of the slide is broken off.

 

[joe.striper]

What was wrong with the Parker ?

Problem is LOTS of slop. Probably just the spindle nut pin is worn out or bent badly. I YELLED at them because they use the vises to press bearings, I explained that is BAD and they should get a Greenerd Arbor press for the shop. They commissioned me to do that for them.

As to the Parker, since they are giving me a big check tomorrow I thought I'd fix it for them gratis.

 

[jakemac]

Looks like the back of the slide is broken off.

I don't think so, it looks like there is something white blocking the back of the slide in the picture.

Problem is LOTS of slop. Probably just the spindle nut pin is worn out or bent badly. I YELLED at them because they use the vises to press bearings, I explained that is BAD and they should get a Greenerd Arbor press for the shop. They commissioned me to do that for them.

As to the Parker, since they are giving me a big check tomorrow I thought I'd fix it for them gratis.

Didn't you just pick up a large arbor press that you could flip to them ? Sly dog.

 

[oldldh]

I don't know why I keep doing this, but here's a nice one...

Rock Island 577 in Arizona...listed on Ebay...

Something about big vises in Arizona rings some bells, but I can't remember who does really fantastic restorations out there amongst the cacti...

This appears to be a good one, but the price is too high, for yrhmblsrvnt...

 

[taumac]

A closer look at the Reed 204 I just got.

Edited I'm sorry guys. Tapatalk not allowing me to post pics. Will see if I can fix.
Have a good one, Gerard

 

[Outlawmws]

I don't know why I keep doing this, but here's a nice one...

Rock Island 577 in Arizona...listed on Ebay...

Something about big vises in Arizona rings some bells, but I can't remember who does really fantastic restorations out there amongst the cacti...

This appears to be a good one, but the price is too high, for yrhmblsrvnt...

I do; because you are a glutton for punishment!

 

[taumac]

Ok take 2

Some surface rust but no pits

I see the seam you guys where speaking of.

The top isn't cracked.

Only issue it slight bend in handle and little piece of jaw missing.

Other jaw is ok.

Speaking of the handle. I've seen that some are removable. This ball wobbles but I don't see set screw, pin or way to remove. Does it come off?

The other side is solid.
Pat. Num 2127008.

 

[drivesitfar]

Oldie: thanks for posting the Rock Island 577. that guy in Tuscon (Chuck) really knows how to shine a vise and drill presses. I saved the 9 or so pictures off his add and i can only hope to come close to spiffing up a few of mine that nice. I think he was the guy that restored that awesome burgundy Parker 978 so here's a picture in case you forgot to save it yet.

Taumac: Nice Reed and you paid about a third of what it was worth. that should clean up nicely. i can't say i have ever seen an original Reed handle ball come off, but i have seen some that had balls that had threads and screwed on and off. Maybe Ritzblitz or KMScott or a few other machinists can tell us the 411.

 

[WhiteLightning]

Here is a ad that I think will answer some old questions it depicts a welded steel Columbia vise that a couple members own.

The ad is old for sure my guess is it couldn't be any newer then 1935 because on the next page a reed vise is shown with the older style handle.

Looks familiar.....

 

[taumac]

Thanks drive. I've seen some photos with them off while redoing them but couldn't tell you if new/ old handles. There sure isn't a thread but feels like a snap ring? Push on deal.
I'm surly gonna have fun to get both my 19 and 204 all redone. On the 204 that tan isn't the original color but it looks to be a light green?

Ill still be hunting for a BIG vise cause I can't in GJ fashion have this Chinese monster be my biggest vise.

Although I can't complain. Its works well and It has a great story about how I got it so ill keep it for sentimental value even if not in the line up.

 

[drivesitfar]

Taumac: my Reed 104 is as original as i think they come because i don't think my 90 year old client ever mounted it on a bench. the jaws are still pointed and sharp and you can draw blood if you run your finger over them. mine looks like that brownish Japanning finish some of the old timers mention. you can paint yours green or whatever color you like and thought you might like to see this one.

 

[taumac]

I did like the jappaning look. I was waiting on seeing how McBrowies came out. I like that look for Prentiss. The Reed ill probably strip down and see how the casting looks and decide from there.

 

[ganymede]

Reed patented a method of attaching the handle balls..
1106860.
I've seen a couple (including mine) that are loose from someone hitting the handle with a hammer or something.

 

[backskipper]

I bought this parker at an auction for $55. The model number was buried in paint. When I chipped it away there was a tag that says 954-A, but that fell off and underneath it is stamped 974-A. Which is it? The 974 is a swivel base vise from what I have found on google, so maybe the base is missing. There is a 3/4" hole in the center of the base. I found 0 results for 954-a vises in Google, so I'm curious why that was there covering the stamped model number.

 

[Filson]

I don't think so, it looks like there is something white blocking the back of the slide in the picture.

Thought I could read the writing on the box behind the slide, where it looks like it's chipped off, or maybe it's just me.

 

[joe.striper]

I bought this parker at an auction for $55. The model number was buried in paint. When I chipped it away there was a tag that says 954-A, but that fell off and underneath it is stamped 974-A. Which is it? The 974 is a swivel base vise from what I have found on google, so maybe the base is missing. There is a 3/4" hole in the center of the base. I found 0 results for 954-a vises in Google, so I'm curious why that was there covering the stamped model number.

i have a 974b on my bench right now and that is a swiveler. I also have a 954 1/2 that is a non swiveler.

did you clean the other side? Scrape it to the metal and see if it has any markings. Here is my thought. This was supposed to be a 974, they ran out of parts and so made it a non swivel and rebadged it a 954....does this make sense..? The badge screams modern Parker, the spindle nose and general shape scream old Parker

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I have a 955 with a tag like that, I haven't looked under it though. The 97x series were heavier duty than the 95x from the sales ads I've seen.

 

[McBrownie]

I have a 955 with a tag like that, I haven't looked under it though. The 97x series were heavier duty than the 95x from the sales ads I've seen.

My understanding is that 97x and 95x are both Eclipse models with the difference being that the 97x's are swivel bases and 95x are stationary. The heavier duty were the Superior models. Also, that vise having a "A" suffix denotes that it is a second generation "Union Parker". Union purchased Parker in 1957, so that vise should be a late 50's or early 60's model.

 

[chevychuck]

Hey everyone this is my first post. I tried uploading a pic of my latest project dont know if it worked or not.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Nice Parker !! I fixed the picture for you. I'm guessing a 976 ?

 

[chevychuck]

Thanks for fixing it. And yes its a 976. It was pretty ruff but I got it looking as good as I could. Finished the stand yesterday.

 

[ritzblitz]

Taumac, I think the balls are peened on.

Aka they are slipped onto the shafts and then the end sticking out of the ball is smashed and hOlds the ball on.

It's a little more complicated but that's the simple explanation.