Old, Damaged Vise - Needs Identification and a New Home

[tooljunkie4]

I have an old vise that I have no time to restore. I am mildly curious about what it is. Whatever it is, I really want it to go to a new home...and soon.

The cost is zero. I live in central Maryland, and am willing to hand this to its new owner during my travels around the Baltimore / Washington corridor.

It's badly damaged, heavily modified, old, dirty, and broken. If it's something you would like, feel free to get in contact.

 

[drivesitfar]

TJ: it's a Prentiss made vise without their name in the cast. I might have a few good parts like a main screw and vise nut and maybe the dynamic jaw and jaws. as far as the swivel jaw which is a very nice feature on that vise it looks like it's welded and it also looks like it has a couple broken off mounting feet. the swivel pin might be worth saving too.

we have a vise parts thread if you want to post it on there and it's in the general tool section. if i was closer i'd take it off your hands and put it in a spot where it could maybe save another 90 year old vise because it was probably made in the 1920's.

 

[tooljunkie4]

THAT'S the vise I want in my shop.
Anybody can have an nos or rebuilt vise, they're just a checkbook anyway for anyone.
That's all but perfect to me.
I want one that knows a story.
I would repair it to usability and nothing more.

Then, if you so desire, that's the vise you shall have. Tell me you're in or very near to Maryland.

 

[macgee]

In sailing terms, we would say "that old girl was worn hard and put away wet".

 

[thehorse13]

That...is art. Now that we know, it would be irresponsible of us to keep the set even more broken-up than the individual pieces already are.

I will throw my hat in the ring. I work ten minutes north of Washington D.C. and I live an hour west of Baltimore. If no one claims this vise, I will be happy to restore it and put it to use with the other Prentiss and Monarch (Prentiss made) vises that I have.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I wish I was closer. That's a vise that would be a fun challenge to restore.

 

[jakemac]

Maybe, but it always seems like a fun challenge until you actually have it in your hands and realize that you now have to do the work.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Jake:
I posted that issue on the Vises of GJ thread a few months back. Several guys (myself included) have restored dozens of vises that required a clean/paint/lube to make it new again. We're buying "challenged" vises. We've moved on to vises with broken mounting feet, missing jaw faces, etc. to restore them and talk about the experience here and other forums. It's insane to think of the time & materials lost in projects like that, but the feeling of accomplishment is priceless.

 

[jakemac]

Mark - I get that. I wasn't making a comment about time-vs-money. I was expressing the thought that I always have as I approach my bench just before I dig in (hence the laughing face at the end of the post).

What you, and others, do is way beyond my skills. I'm in awe of the herculean efforts that can go into returning a basket case back to service.

 

[KMScott]

Maybe, but it always seems like a fun challenge until you actually have it in your hands and realize that you now have to do the work.

It is a hobby for me, I do not consider it work, but it's hard to make minimum wage getting these beat up vises back in shape, gotta love what you do. The new owner who paid almost $400 for this vise just loves it. I feel pretty good getting these old abused vises back to work again. Originally had 4 x 3/4 jaws that were welded in place.

 

[nickelTwin]

That turned out nice.

 

[Fretters]

...have restored dozens of vises that required a clean/paint/lube to make it new again.

We're supposed to make them look like new? Oh ****, I'm buggered then.

We're buying "challenged" vises. We've moved on to vises with broken mounting feet, missing jaw faces, etc. to restore them and talk about the experience here and other forums. It's insane to think of the time & materials lost in projects like that, but the feeling of accomplishment is priceless.

I have a terminal one here. A little Woden 00. It has just about everything. Broken jaw insert supports, missing handle and something else which I can't recall offhand. Also have what I'm guessing may be a tiny unmarked American vice, (it has a crack running up the top middle rear of the slide, hence my initial assumption ), which has a broken rear mounting point and a crack running up the front end of the front jaw, on both sides. If either of those ever gets sorted and looking anything like, I'll eat my hat.

 

[tooljunkie4]

PM's sent. No response so far. This item is still available.

 

[bubinga]

heck, I wouldn't mind having it, I guess you never get around Wheeling WV?

 

[tooljunkie4]

Hasn't been part of my path of travel in some time. Do you ever find your way this far east?

 

[thehorse13]

PM's sent. No response so far. This item is still available.

I'm sorry about that. I just saw your inbox message.

 

[bubinga]

Hasn't been part of my path of travel in some time. Do you ever find your way this far east?

Thank you, But No. Hardly far East as 84 PA................LOL

 

[bubinga]

It is a hobby for me, I do not consider it work, but it's hard to make minimum wage getting these beat up vises back in shape, gotta love what you do. The new owner who paid almost $400 for this vise just loves it. I feel pretty good getting these old abused vises back to work again. Originally had 4 x 3/4 jaws that were welded in place.

Love the color and texture!

KMScott sez....."but it's hard to make minimum wage getting these beat up vises back in shape, gotta love what you do."

This is very true. Same with restoring any of these garage tools, machines, etc.
What do the say?.......
It's a Labor of Love!!
PS...........Stanley Hand planes, same deal...................

 

[bubinga]

heck, I wouldn't mind having it, I guess you never get around Wheeling WV?

Hasn't been part of my path of travel in some time. Do you ever find your way this far east?

Thank you, But No. Hardly far East as 84 PA................LOL

Nice of you to offer to the members at No charge though.

 

[tooljunkie4]

KMScott, that is one of the most attractive Wilton bullets I've seen photographed. Would you consider completing another?

This Prentiss may be taken. Will post an update in a couple days.


ETA: Another user has taken ownership of this vise. Thanks to all who helped to identify it.