The VISES of Garage Journal

[topop101]

Before I mounted the parker I just picked to be my working vise, I had a Wilton 4 1/2 or 5 inch from the late 80s maybe and it worked fine, they should be around used if patient

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hi Vise Friends,

Does anyone have information about the vise pictured below?

How old?

Who was the manufacture?


Thanks in advance.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: I seem to remember Holland's making some with the rounded slide like that and i'm pretty sure early 1900's. Maybe B100 will see it and give us the 411 or some other member. Even though i'm not sure who makes it or how old if it's a good price i'd buy it because i like the casting and look of it. it also looks like it has 3 holes to mount it to a bench or stand.

TP and ALL: i'm not a huge fan of the open screw vises, but i know there are some i own and have on my list to buy if they show up. so my question is do you guys grease or oil the open screw? also do you all put a wet or oily rag over the screw when cutting or working on something inside its jaws so crud and shavings don't get in the vise nut via the screw??

nice job on the restore and nice haul picking up a couple quality favorite vise brands and models.

 

[topop101]

Hi Vise Friends,

Does anyone have information about the vise pictured below?

How old?

Who was the manufacture?


Thanks in advance.

I know the Lakeview Forge Co used the keystone but with an L in it

 

[topop101]

TP and ALL: i'm not a huge fan of the open screw vises, but i know there are some i own and have on my list to buy if they show up. so my question is do you guys grease or oil the open screw? also do you all put a wet or oily rag over the screw when cutting or working on something inside its jaws so crud and shavings don't get in the vise nut via the screw??

nice job on the restore and nice haul picking up a couple quality favorite vise brands and models.[/QUOTE]

I can honestly say DRIVESI've never bolted down an open screw vise. I've sold or traded a lot but never used one.

 

[dave89iroc]

What style are you looking for? Very easy to make a smooth set out of aluminum, brass, copper, steel.

Automotive use, so steel

 

[BFBOB]

The jury is back in re: my flea market Crafty lump o' rust and the verdict is: It's a 5" Vise! I was afraid it was just scrap iron, but it came apart amazingly easily and showed all its screws to be in good condition. In fact, the main nut actually fell out! Seems it's retained by the top of the swivel center screw, and for a wonder it wasn't siezed into the dovetail. A few hours in the e-tank did wonders for the dynamic jaw, so I'm declaring it salvageable.
The worst part is the missing jaw inserts and damaged jaw perches. I have some CRS big enough to make a pair of smooth jaws, but no way to machine the perches back true to accept them. I know A_Pmech could do this job for me - he made an excellent pair of rabbetted, grooved jaws for my drill press vise - but it's a bit of a haul to his place for such a small job. Is there anyone in or near St. Louis with a mill who'd like to undertake this project?
I just need the inside angles of the perches taken down and back enough to get to good metal. I can take care of the jaw tops just fine with a belt sander.
And yeah, I know, this is a good excuse to get a mill Too bad I don't have any way to move one, or a place to put it!
I know this isn't one of the really desirable Craftsmans, but it's pretty solid, weighs 40 lbs. Should make a good user.

 

[balane]

Through a little research I found out that a Wilton 800S swivel base (8" jaw Machinist monster bullet.) fits the bottom of my Parker vise perfectly. Tracking one down took some time but ultimately I got my mitts on one. Here it is all sitting there precariously because I'm still waiting on some hardware to finalize the installation. I'm pretty stoked about the extra height it gives me, right where I like it now. I was lucky to get this vise for $20 but I've put about $300 more into it on improvements. (New handle, swivel base & hardware, KMScott brass thrust washer.) Still, I couldn't be happier with a vise. Can't wait to get this project wrapped up and be a full time swivelin' *******.

.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

It is now a " Wilker " . You need to have VA add it to the manufacturer data base !
I got lucky and only paid $37.00 including shipping for a 6" Parker swivel base when I adapted it to the Parker 289 1/2 I fixed a while back. I have a 205 Reed that is my main vise
and it has two large locks which work great and don't move when tight. It is very handy to be able to rotate 90 degrees. One of these days I will restore a Parker and put it on the bench.

 

[Fretters]

It is now a " Wilker " .

Saying that's he's mounting Par'ton in the shed would sound better though.

 

[Fretters]

DIF: The No.7 will be retaining its place as my main vice. Not sure where the 8A will end up being mounted as yet. I can decide on that bit at my leisure now I have one here.

The worst part is the missing jaw inserts and damaged jaw perches. I have some CRS big enough to make a pair of smooth jaws, but no way to machine the perches back true to accept them.

What's wrong with those insert shelves bar the slight rounding/damage at the top edge? Can't see owt there which derusting and possibly a light lick with a file wouldn't sort.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well which is it, Wilker or Parton?---I got's to know before I can plug it in.---How about Wilpar.

Were any of yaw watching the little generic Wilton on E-bay last night.---I through in a bid and figured I'd way over bid.---The final made mine look like tip money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-Vi...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[vintage nut]

Sometime I'd really like to replace the 5" chinese record on my welding table with something like a 5 or 6 inch reed or parker. Doing some work yesterday that involved me heating a part with my cutting torch while my dad beat them into shape with a bfh. The china record worked, but a better vise would be nice....

I know where there is a nice old American 6", only one I have ever seen here... Not really for sale, but I might see if there is any way I can change their mind

you can never have too many tools

 

[Mark in Indiana]

TP and ALL: i'm not a huge fan of the open screw vises, but i know there are some i own and have on my list to buy if they show up. so my question is do you guys grease or oil the open screw? also do you all put a wet or oily rag over the screw when cutting or working on something inside its jaws so crud and shavings don't get in the vise nut via the screw?

Drives,

The only open screw vise that I use is a Morgan 10A woodworking. After restoring it, I coated the screw with Lubriplate and the slides with furniture wax. Although wood shavings won't harm the lead screw & nut, I periodically clean and relube it.

All of the open screw vises that have passed through my shop had lead screw/nut threads that were surprisingly in good shape, for being 20-60 years old. I'm sure that few people outside of this group give vise maintenance much thought.

 

[BFBOB]

-Fretters
What's wrong with those insert shelves bar the slight rounding/damage at the top edge? Can't see owt there which derusting and possibly a light lick with a file wouldn't sort.[/QUOTE]

This is one of those cases where photos of my Craftsman 51810 cover a multitude of sins. The perches are MUCH worse than they look. It looks to me like the vise was used HARD for a long time without jaw inserts. I'm thinking it would take about a .06 lateral cut and maybe only .01 vertically to get a true mounting surface.
And then I'll have a hot rod vise - bored sixty over! Yeah, that's it!

 

[BFBOB]

Hi Vise Friends,

Does anyone have information about the vise pictured below?
How old?
Who was the manufacture?
Thanks in advance.

Have you tried doing a search for the logo? Haven't done it myself, but I hear that there's a way to search online for photos matching an example - maybe on Google? Try to get a better photo, with side lighting to make it show up better, or make a line drawing and use that.
The keystone suggests Pennsylvania, but I have no idea what the I might stand for.
Good luck!

 

[bagged89s10]

Well got her finished up this weekend.Shes got some character, it think it adds to the story. Im pretty happy with the turn out. Also thanks for the tip on wiltonviseparts.net the new jaws are awesome!

Before



After

Came out nice. What did you end up using for paint?

 

[zkling]

Doing some work yesterday that involved me heating a part with my cutting torch while my dad beat them into shape with a bfh. The china record worked, but a better vise would be nice....

Sounds like a post vise would be good for you. Otherwise you will probably destroy a standard bench vise in short order.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Have you tried doing a search for the logo? Haven't done it myself, but I hear that there's a way to search online for photos matching an example - maybe on Google? Try to get a better photo, with side lighting to make it show up better, or make a line drawing and use that.
The keystone suggests Pennsylvania, but I have no idea what the I might stand for.
Good luck!

BFBOB & All,

Googled it last night and found a website for logos. No luck there. Here's an enlarged image of the logo. I'm just working from pictures for now.

Thanks

 

[vintage nut]

Sounds like a post vise would be good for you. Otherwise you will probably destroy a standard bench vise in short order.

Yeah thats a good point. Used them loads in the blacksmith shop at the local farming museum. Hadn't considered one on the welding bench, but thats actually a real good idea. That is the only vise that gets beaten on like that. The other two in use are English fixed base 4" records, that are usually just holding pieces for center punching, tapping, or filing. Permanent soft jaws in one.
We never use the vise for squishing though, got a 2 ton ratcheting arbor press and an old blackhawk 12 ton hydraulic press for that.

you can never have too many tools

 

[BFBOB]

Hi Vise Friends,

Does anyone have information about the vise pictured below?

How old?

Who was the manufacture?


Thanks in advance.

I whipped up this line drawing. Maybe it'll help your search. Good luck!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Guys,

Thanks for the guidance on my mystery vise. The "Keystone" was my epiphany. I think that I can guess that it is a Hollands malleable iron vise. Circa; early 1900s. Here are a couple of attachments:

 

[drivesitfar]

VN: here is a picture of Filson's blacksmith (knee, post) vise attached to a nice little welding table to help you envision what you need. please don't buy a big 6 inch old vise and beat on it with a BFH. i should have taken pictures of all the big 100+ pound vises that were broken doing that.

Mark: good point that most of our wood vises are open screw and regular servicing is a great idea. on a separate thread about a year ago another member who i can't remember argued that you should never put grease on an open screw vise and only oil. at the time i didn't care to discuss it because he didn't think putting a rag over the screw while cutting items in the jaws was a good thing to do. i'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to put an oily or dry rag on the slides while cutting things on our regular vises to keep debris from entering in on the slides.

ALL: i should start a thread on broken vises so other members might know that a big vise can break and not just the new imported vises. anybody saving pictures of broken vises and welded ones because i only have a few?

 

[FMC1959]

A harbor freight will do the job .... once ... twice maybe more??? Or you could check your local cl for a time tested vintage vise that could be ready to bolt down or have a blast restoring then bolt down and go to work. Any brand pre 70's should do . My fav working vise is a parker 954 or 974. Lots of them out there and are as good as any in my opinion as if that matters.

If you need to do a lot of beating with a hammer, like ZKLING said, a post vise would be better and you should be able to find a used one in the price range you mention. Otherwise any HF or any cheap China import that has a lifetime warranty and relatively easy exchange would be also a good choice.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

......

ALL: i should start a thread on broken vises so other members might know that a big vise can break and not just the new imported vises. anybody saving pictures of broken vises and welded ones because i only have a few?

Not a vise but does show how anything can be broken and repaired, this is currently for sale on eBay in the UK

 

[bagged89s10]

Guys,



Thanks for the guidance on my mystery vise. The "Keystone" was my epiphany. I think that I can guess that it is a Hollands malleable iron vise. Circa; early 1900s. Here are a couple of attachments:

Good research. Here's a Hollands Keystone for sale in NY for $30



http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/4917771047.html




~Veeps

 

[bareass172]

Anyone recognize the size on this one?
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/tls/4954537029.html
Maybe I don't know enough yet to see what you guys might, I just see the obvious - swivel bullet, no idea on size.

 

[bagged89s10]

Anyone recognize the size on this one?
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/tls/4954537029.html
Maybe I don't know enough yet to see what you guys might, I just see the obvious - swivel bullet, no idea on size.

I'm guessing 4 or 5". I would go see it and buy it. Try to negotiate a few dollars off.


~Veeps

 

[Craptain]

I'm guessing 4 or 5". I would go see it and buy it. Try to negotiate a few dollars off.


~Veeps

Agreed as to size. But I would not argue the price to much. That is a fair, no make that a good price.

Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk

 

[vintage nut]

I have done a fair bit of blacksmith work, and I know those post vises well. I should have known that really.... Cold bending I definitely wouldn't do in a machinists vise, if I'm bending steel its red hot. I'd still like a big old vise like that, but I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for a post vise for my welding table. Actually wanted one of those for a while....

you can never have too many tools

 

[va.grouseman]

Don't know what company that vise represents with the big I, Mark, but I wouldn't be afraid to bet a Grant that Hollands made it.

Be no different than a Columbian--Rigid, or a Rock Island--Craftsman.


Edit---Posted late.---See you already came to that conclusion.

 

[BFBOB]

Guys,

Thanks for the guidance on my mystery vise. The "Keystone" was my epiphany. I think that I can guess that it is a Hollands malleable iron vise. Circa; early 1900s. Here are a couple of attachments:

The image is a bit fuzzy; there's a keystone, all right, but it looks like there's an H inside it, not an I. That would make sense for a Hollands. The other images are much clearer. The "PAT'D" inside the keystone sure looks like a match.

Still doesn't explain the I logo. Maybe for Iron? Perhaps some had formed steel slides and others were all cast iron? Just guessing... for the moment Hollands looks likely.

 

[FMC1959]

Don't know what company that vise represents with the big I, Mark, but I wouldn't be afraid to bet a Grant that Hollands made it.

Be no different than a Columbian--Rigid, or a Rock Island--Craftsman.


Edit---Posted late.---See you already came to that conclusion.

I didn't realize how popular this model was and how many MFR's made it (or sold it under their name).

Here's a another, Diamond which at some point was Adams.

 

[BFBOB]

Anyone recognize the size on this one?
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/tls/4954537029.html
Maybe I don't know enough yet to see what you guys might, I just see the obvious - swivel bullet, no idea on size.

A good litmus test: email the seller, ask him to measure. Be sure to specify width of the jaws, not how far they open. See if he answers.
Around here, if it's 4" or better, that's a very good price, even in less than excellent condition.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bareass: i think it's a 4.5 inch Wilton bullet with a swivel and for $100 I'd go look at it and not argue with the price if it wasn't cracked or welded. i'd pull out the dynamic all the way to inspect the vise nut and insides along with the rest of the cast. there is some surface rust on the base of the swivel which isn't a big deal, but i'd still turn it on it's side to check it out.

it's not any bigger than that vise you bought from JasonEOC last year, but this Wilton could last you a lifetime if you want to keep it.

VA: i think Par Ton was a little British humor about how to mount Balane's new vise cross breed. I think you'd need a Dolly to carry it to the bench.

VN: we know you wouldn't intentionally break a big old vise and just throwing out the caution flags for you and others to see.

ALL: i think i mentioned Mark's vise might have been a Holland's just after he posted it and fun to watch the wheels of the investigative vise squad in action to find the facts to support my guess.

 

[macgee]

Well which is it, Wilker or Parton?---I got's to know before I can plug it in.---How about Wilpar.

Were any of yaw watching the little generic Wilton on E-bay last night.---I through in a bid and figured I'd way over bid.---The final made mine look like tip money.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-Of-2-Vi...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I was watching last night and my bid ended up being trivial compared to the final price ($381.00). The jaws are only 1.5" wide but very nice looking vice

I too wonder who made it?

 

[jrobb316]

I think I made my final vise purchase for a while, and i'll be thinning the herd a little. I went down to Morgan Milwaukee today to pick up a new Morgan 50. Its the perfect size for what I want to do in my garage/auto shop. They gave me a cash price lower than they even sell them to commercial accounts and about 40% off MSRP ($550 MSRP). I have the price sheet and he showed me the wholesale sheet too. I got a little tour of the place that employs only 5 people now, after the china **** flooded the market, but he says they stay very busy. It was pretty cool to see a pallet of Morgan 80s sitting there! Its a family run business and the owner loves selling awesome vises and equipment to the public as well at deep discounts. I think I got a smoking deal, this guy is quite heavy.

 

[bareass172]

Vintage nut - If I were looking for a beater that I didn't want to spend a lot of coin on but wanted something I could hit and not care I would look at Tekton. They are comparable in price to much of the other imports I've seen, but they lifetime warranty their vises. I looked at them when I first started looking for vises.

Drives - you asked for pics of broken vises, here's the one that brought me here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3720215&postcount=20
Of course it's an import and I don't think that's what you were looking for, but it's there in case...

Thanks all for helping identify the size on that Wilton. I haven't reached out to the seller yet because it's about an hour away from me and I really don't have the time (or money) to chase it right now. If it were closer I likely would already have it on my bench. I'm doing my best Jekyll and Hyde routine by trying to talk myself into and out of it all at the same time. I figure if I don't ask questions of the seller than maybe someone else will grab it before I can, lol. I want one badly, but know that I really shouldn't right now. I should start a pool on which side of me will win, Jekyll or Hyde...

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Good research. Here's a Hollands Keystone for sale in NY for $30



http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tls/4917771047.html

That one has been for sale for months, somebody in the area give it a new home.

I guess Balane will have to decide what his new vise will be named ? He has probably been up all night finishing it and waiting for proper lighting to get the stump pictures done

 

[vintage nut]

I got the 5" chinese record new at a flea market for 30 bucks, so I don't really care what happens to it haha
I'll use it until its destroyed, and hopefully I'll have found a leg vise by then.

you can never have too many tools