The VISES of Garage Journal

[Mark in Indiana]

exmaxima1: I had to think about the term "carrier followers" that was missing. I guess from the picture of the handle/lead screw falling out of the dynamic jaw body, that is a retainer clip.

IMO: Although the art deco design is really cool, it has the pipe jaws, and the lead screw problem is a cheap fix, the value of that Shop King vise is no where near 95$ in its present condition. One might get a high price if it was NOS or fully restored. However, the biggest problem is that it is a light duty vise.

I would give 30$ if it was local to me, so I could restore it and add it to my collection. Even that's a high ball price.

 

[Trey T]

Let's talk about vise scarcity for a bit...

My "Wanted Craftsman 5197/5198" advertisement has gotten over 8,000 hits!!!

Holy Sheep Dip!!!

And turned up ONE 5198 with a hole in the anvil, that is now sitting in BigCaddy's Gigantic Craftsman Vise Collection...

I'm really beginning to wonder how many 5198's are around???

Oh well, the quest continues...

All you folks up north---Stay Warm!!!

78 degrees here today!!!

Photos---Before---After---The Collection

Good job man but guys like you prevent me from getting a Wilton bullet.

I gave up finding a Wilton bullet and just ordered a Craftsman Pro vise.

 

[Blue Frog]

I enjoy this group, even though I choose to pick up the smaller vises, I find that the joy of the hunt is contagious across all sizes of vises.

I belong to another forum, a woodworking one, where I typically post more about vises than other members, and as a result, the moderator has dubbed me a "Vise Magnet," and has created an avatar for me. Here's his rendition:




Blue

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Cheers. I'm intrigued to know where and how they differ. Been wondering about the Parkinson/Samsonia differences for a good while now.

To keep you going whilst I get around to taking the photos you might find this interesting to compare. From this I'd say the Samsonia are the 'premium' brand.



That said some parts are interchangeable as the QR bracket I have from DutchGrays Parkinson Model F No7 has 37 J stamped on the inside

 

[junktastic]

Picked this up last weekend at an estate sale for $40. Wilton 9400. Into the blaster, buffer, and paint yesterday, it came out nice.

Before



After

 

[bagged89s10]

Picked this up last weekend at an estate sale for $40. Wilton 9400. Into the blaster, buffer, and paint yesterday, it came out nice.



Before







After

She's a beaute Clark!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I enjoy this group, even though I choose to pick up the smaller vises, I find that the joy of the hunt is contagious across all sizes of vises.

I belong to another forum, a woodworking one, where I typically post more about vises than other members, and as a result, the moderator has dubbed me a "Vise Magnet," and has created an avatar for me. Here's his rendition:




Blue

COOL!

 

[FMC1959]

exmaxima1: I had to think about the term "carrier followers" that was missing. I guess from the picture of the handle/lead screw falling out of the dynamic jaw body, that is a retainer clip.

IMO: Although the art deco design is really cool, it has the pipe jaws, and the lead screw problem is a cheap fix, the value of that Shop King vise is no where near 95$ in its present condition. One might get a high price if it was NOS or fully restored. However, the biggest problem is that it is a light duty vise.

I would give 30$ if it was local to me, so I could restore it and add it to my collection. Even that's a high ball price.

^^^^ I agree 100%. If you look at eBay's inflated asking prices, they are in this range but at least they are restored or not missing parts. If you really want a Shop King, take your time, you will find a much better deal, they aren't that rare.

 

[drivesitfar]

Blue: awesome and it might have to be your GJ Avitar if you get tired of the one you have.

Oldie: i'm not sure you saw the 2nd 5198 that one of our members posted last month, but maybe you were having a senior moment and blocked that one out because he got the seller to hold it for a few days and it was under $100.

 

[exmaxima1]

exmaxima1: I had to think about the term "carrier followers" that was missing. I guess from the picture of the handle/lead screw falling out of the dynamic jaw body, that is a retainer clip.

IMO: Although the art deco design is really cool, it has the pipe jaws, and the lead screw problem is a cheap fix, the value of that Shop King vise is no where near 95$ in its present condition. One might get a high price if it was NOS or fully restored. However, the biggest problem is that it is a light duty vise.

I would give 30$ if it was local to me, so I could restore it and add it to my collection. Even that's a high ball price.

That's what I was thinking as well, but you know that if the seller is already convinced the vise is "flawless" (which it clearly is NOT) he would be insulted with a $30 offer. I won't even bother. Thanks!

 

[exmaxima1]

Picked this up last weekend at an estate sale for $40. Wilton 9400. Into the blaster, buffer, and paint yesterday, it came out nice.

Yes indeed!. Are those shop-made soft jaws?

 

[oldldh]

Oldie: i'm not sure you saw the 2nd 5198 that one of our members posted last month, but maybe you were having a senior moment and blocked that one out because he got the seller to hold it for a few days and it was under $100.

Now that you mention it...

Duh...

I do remember it...

It's probably the heat down here on the coast...

Almost 80 degrees, yesterday...

 

[dutchgray]

CW
Thanks for posting that catalogue page, can never have too much information.
I would quite like to find a No 5.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Dutch: It's from the Buck & Hickman 1953 catalogue

I have a No 6 and a No 7 ..... I wonder how many No 9a's are out there?

Interesting to see the Samsonia is described as steel and unbreakable, I guess that must mean the Parkinson isn't.

 

[junktastic]

Yes indeed!. Are those shop-made soft jaws?

They are actually hardened. It came from the estate of a machinest, so I assume he hade them. Their hard as hell. A standard center bunch won't even mark them.

 

[dutchgray]

Dutch: It's from the Buck & Hickman 1953 catalogue

I have a No 6 and a No 7 ..... I wonder how many No 9a's are out there?

Interesting to see the Samsonia is described as steel and unbreakable, I guess that must mean the Parkinson isn't.

Interesting that they are quite a bit lighter than the Parkinsons of a similar size.
I bet not many No 9a, most I see for sale are No 7.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Lighter but more expensive! The No 7 is almost as heavy as a Record 36 which is a significantly larger vice, there's a lot of iron in them Parkinsons

 

[dutchgray]

I know, the 7 is heavy and built big for its capacity, you can tell its older just by the extra metal. FYI there is a Record 632 on ebay at the moment, bin, expensive and missing the pipe jaws (I think) but its there none the less.

 

[dutchgray]

I missed a really nice 36 recently, although it was not cheap, its actually still for sale but the price has gone up by 50% since I first saw it and I'm definitely not buying it now.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I've two record 36's one old style and one new, both were complete dogs though.

The new style had a lot of weld strike all over it, bent QR bracket and worn jaws. That's been refurbished now apart from the worn jaws.

The old style looked like it had lived outside for a while and was very rusty, it's jaws were missing, there were two pieces cut out of the skirt around the base, the dynamic jaw support shelf had been bent down my 2mm causing a lot of slop and misalignment of the jaw tops, as usual the QR bracket was bent and for some reason someone had cut the tip off of the QR lever. I really should have chucked it in a skip, however I've almost finished restoring it now, just needs a lick of paint.

 

[zoomieport]

Totally understand. Thanks for getting in touch with him at any rate.

Zoomie,

I did not read back to see what all this is about, but if you guys are doing a data base of vises, I went through a chunk of this thread, plus other threads and saved photos, weight, size, etc. All in a folder on my computer. I'd say there's several hundred maybe? I focused on more obscure than run of the mill Columbians etc. All yours if you want. It's not perfect of course. Google drive maybe..or I can snail mail a flash drive???

Let me know. Thanks.

Maybe if you guys just send them to me in "smaller doses", it wil be less daunting.
Like groups of 10-20 at a time, then I will let you know when I'm done with those you can send me more...
What do you think? I am open to any suggestions!
Thanks to all the members that showed interest in this, it makes you COOL DUDES in my book!

[email protected]

Take care!
ZOOM

 

[drivesitfar]

Zoomie: i was thinking of starting a thread on our forum and updating it here. do you want to maybe start it or i can and use all the vise companies we've gathered on the vise repair 101 thread.

have you seen that list compared to Dayid's

we have an amazing vise crew that you are a big part of so why shouldn't we do it on a GJ thread.

i'd be happy to start it and then all we need to do is add the vises on a post with up to 7 pictures of it instead of just one. then with the help the members gave me (us) on the 101 thread it will grow.

maybe have a separate post for the big companies that have a lot of models and versions like Wilton, Prentiss, Parker, Holland's, Reeds and a few others and then as models are added just post the # of the vise in the legend that starts off the thread saying the vise can be found on post # such and such.

any ideas or thoughts??

cheers

 

[zoomieport]

I'm just not sure how to format it on here

 

[pirana]

Don't know who made this little vise but it has "Made in USA" cast into it. My dad bought it at a hardware store back in the sixties.

 

[rayh]

pirana, by chance have you been having problems people trying to take it??

 

[jes_si]

 

[loudog212]

Don't know who made this little vise but it has "Made in USA" cast into it. My dad bought it at a hardware store back in the sixties.

shotgun and a pistol... rough neighborhood?

 

[pirana]

I think they wouldn't even notice it because of all the gold in the place. My brother & I run a jewelry store so I have the Remington 870 & the 40 cal Glock just to the left, just in case. I mostly use the vise for setting gem stones in rings.

 

[loudog212]

I think they wouldn't even notice it because of all the gold in the place. My brother & I run a jewelry store so I have the Remington 870 & the 40 cal Glock just to the left, just in case. I mostly use the vise for setting gem stones in rings.

I like everything i see. Guns, gold, vise... all of it

 

[pirana]

Not a bad area of town at all. Across the street from the county court house & 1/2 a block from the police station. But I was in the boy scouts as a kid & their motto is "Be Prepared" which I still try to live by.

 

[topop101]

Don't know who made this little vise but it has "Made in USA" cast into it. My dad bought it at a hardware store back in the sixties.

Now that's my kind of shop.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Zoomie.

I'm just not sure how to format it on here
----------------------------------------------------------


You've opened up a can of worms, haven't you Zoomie.---I'll work with you guy's any way you choose to do it.---I'm in.---Having it on both sites may not be a bad idea in case one site crashes.---Just spitballing here.

 

[va.grouseman]

Pirana,---Our current administration wants all your hardware, but you can keep the vise and the hammer.---How's that for a paradox.

 

[exmaxima1]

Pirana,---Our current administration wants all your hardware, but you can keep the vise and the hammer.---How's that for a paradox.

That's really funny. What are you old guys gonna do if the the rumors of Rush getting cancelled actually come true??

 

[Fretters]

To keep you going whilst I get around to taking the photos you might find this interesting to compare. From this I'd say the Samsonia are the 'premium' brand.

Cheers for that catalogue page.

I've always taken the Samsonia as being their garage mechanic range, as in designed to be thrashed within an inch of its life instead of used considerately. Would account for the steel over iron construction too. That's one hell of a difference on weight between the Perfect and Samsonia models.

 

[Cyclotronguy]

Hi guys,

So, where do we get those rubber "Finger Savers" for Wilton bullet vises'. And before this starts a firestorm......the wife likes that they cut down on the noise when I work late into the night. And thats reason enough to want. Need new ones on a C1 and a 600.

Cyclotronguy.

 

[drivesitfar]

CTG: a member here sells them on Ebay for $6 per and ask if his are big enough for your vises. there are many substitutes for you finger savers like hose washers and some wheel bearing rubber pieces. i'll let others comment on what they have bought or use because at this time i have yet to buy any.

Zoomie: thanks for contacting Dayid and for years his list was the best on the internet for vise information. I for one want to thank him for spending his free time to make that list and keep it active as much as he could. i hope he continues to improve on it and i'd be the first one to send him emails with vise information or to you if he would like just one contact person.

ALL: since i (we) started the vise repair 101 thread a few months ago the vise companies list has grown substantially. I've started a directory in the vintage tool section reserving the first 50 posts of a new thread and the link is in my signature. i'd be willing to keep track of the vise companies that were in business prior to 1970's and if somebody wants to keep track of the newer vises they certainly can on a different thread. i don't mean to offend, but i just like the old vises better. OK?

Check the new thread out and i moved over the vise repair 101 thread's directory that needs more editing now. if some of you haven't seen how big the list of vise companies is you might take a look and i have more to transfer over from that thread.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

1953 Buck and Hickman catalogue vice pages. They contain a mixture of brands including Record, Woden, Parkinson, Samsonia, Rededa, Abwood, Taylor, Eclipse, Roebuck, Storn, Mancuna and a few others.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

1953 Buck and Hickman catalogue vice pages

 

[CwazyWabbit]

1953 Buck and Hickman catalogue vice pages