The VISES of Garage Journal

[topop101]

Here's a testament to what I think are the best jaw design in Vise's . It been beaten, battered , bruised and broken but the jaws took it all like they were meant to ... amazing


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Antique...659?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c512a5f2b

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Here's a testament to what I think are the best jaw design in Vise's . It been beaten, battered , bruised and broken but the jaws took it all like they were meant to ... amazing


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Antique...659?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c512a5f2b

I like the description where the seller says that part of the back seems to be cracked off.

 

[balane]

While a far cry from the famous Golden Pile I will call this my Renton Pile as that's where I picked them up, Renton WA.

Seven vises total. Got them for $260 because that's all the cash I had in my pocket. (I went there to buy just one vise and took some extra.) I was just taking five of them but he said if I wanted them at that price I had to take the rusted up Yost and little exposed screw Columbian.

Every vise is 4" except for the little exposed screw Columbian.

1.) Yost is rusted and frozen, handle spins freely with no effect. Looks like the nut is stripped completely.
2.) Parker 974 will look very nice. Has one complete turn of the handle before jaw changes direction. I'm hoping it's just a loose nut.
3. & 4.) Two Union Parker vises, both really clean. Both need jaw work but I think I have it handled.
5.) Some funny looking Wilton. Do you know the model number? Looks like an elongated 745. Swivel base is damaged beyond use but other than that it's nice.
6.) My favorite is this Columbian combination vise. No. 203 1/2 (Guess this one doesn't have 4" jaws.) Looks good to me and, OH MY GOD, all the pipe jaws are there!!!!
7.) Columbian C43 1/2. Hard to get excited over an exposed screw home vise but it will clean up well.

These should all keep me busy for a couple of hours. Actually I'm ******* with family stuff for a while so it will be a while until I can get to them.

.

 

[topop101]

I like the description where the seller says that part of the back seems to be cracked off.

well it is ebay... is to be expected.

 

[topop101]

While a far cry from the famous Golden Pile I will call this my Renton Pile as that's where I picked them up, Renton WA.

Seven vises total. Got them for $260 because that's all the cash I had in my pocket. (I went there to buy just one vise and took some extra.) I was just taking five of them but he said if I wanted them at that price I had to take the rusted up Yost and little exposed screw Columbian.

Every vise is 4" except for the little exposed screw Columbian.

1.) Yost is rusted and frozen, handle spins freely with no effect. Looks like the nut is stripped completely.
2.) Parker 974 will look very nice. Has one complete turn of the handle before jaw changes direction. I'm hoping it's just a loose nut.
3. & 4.) Two Union Parker vises, both really clean. Both need jaw work but I think I have it handled.
5.) Some funny looking Wilton. Do you know the model number? Looks like an elongated 745. Swivel base is damaged beyond use but other than that it's nice.
6.) My favorite is this Columbian combination vise. No. 203 1/2 (Guess this one doesn't have 4" jaws.) Looks good to me and, OH MY GOD, all the pipe jaws are there!!!!
7.) Columbian C43 1/2. Hard to get excited over an exposed screw home vise but it will clean up well.

These should all keep me busy for a couple of hours. Actually I'm ******* with family stuff for a while so it will be a while until I can get to them.

.

nice haul. It's been bone dry in my area for a couple of weAks . But it's nearing mushroom season so that will keep me busy for a week or 3

 

[Outlawmws]

@ Balane: "and then they were reborn..."

 

[JZiggy]

Re: Rock Island 574 Vise Shoulder Bolt

I’ve got a Rock Island 574 that has seen some significant use including a repair on the dynamic jaw. I’ve owned for some years in a disassembled state and finally had the time to clean-up, paint, and assemble. In the process, I learned I’m missing the center shoulder bolt, shown in the attached photo.

The threads appear to be 7/8”-14 thread with a 1 ¼” diameter (or just under) shoulder. The bolt length should be right at 1 ½” measured from under the head to end of threads. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but if anyone has a tip on where I might locate one I’d be very grateful. Backup plan is to find a bolt/washer/nut that will for the trick with a little welding/grinding.

Cheers,
David

You might be able to use a bolt and a metal sleeve. See if you can find a good combination on McMaster Carr.

 

[Thrumcap]

Well, the ice floes have melted enough to take a drive up to the north of the province to pick up a Parker 386 vise.





It's all good parts except for the welds and the casting chip on the static jaw. Since picking up a #4 wrench on ebay is a $20-40 venture plus shipping, I figured might as well get the whole vise for $75 and scrap it.

Thrumcap

 

[jrobb316]

Picked this vise up tonight and he threw in 2 Reed pipe vises. One chain vise and one pipe vise which has been welded. It's 6" jaws model 13 Fulton vise and machine co, lowville ny. What can anyone tell me about this? Talking to owner it was his dad's and they are cleaning his basement. He worked for a casting or foundry plant that probably closed and he took it home. It's still full of sand and ash but looks to be in good shape with no repairs.

 

[tedsters]

balane
nice score, I already know they are gonna be dandys

 

[balane]

One good find, the Parker 974 was simply missing the pin which holds the main nut in place and thus the slop. Easy fix, it's going to be nice.

The rusted, frozen Yost is the bad news. I have the two stuck cast iron pieces in the E-Tank now, we'll see how that goes. But I did find out the nut is broken for the main screw, cracked right down the middle and the spindle won't catch. I'm guessing somebody tried to free the dynamic jaw by spinning the handle too hard. So it needs a new nut... no idea where to get one. The screw has a very unusual thread on it to make matters worse.

.

 

[thehorse13]

Here is my dad's Chas Parker No. 429.

The vise can spin 365 vertical degrees, which you can see is made possible by the barrel shape.

My dad bought this at a yard sale for 5 bucks. The lady threw in a pile of wooden handle screwdrivers dated 1906 as well. I need to hang out with dad more often.

 

[tedsters]

Here is my dad's Chas Parker No. 429.

The vise can spin 365 vertical degrees, which you can see is made possible by the barrel shape.

My dad bought this at a yard sale for 5 bucks. The lady threw in a pile of wooden handle screwdrivers dated 1906 as well. I need to hang out with dad more often.

heck of a nice vise, your Dad was in the right spot at the right time

 

[tedsters]

well seeing how everyone is posting all the vise's they are picking up here is the C-Man 5195 i picked up

 

[balane]

Tedsters, was that the one just sold on eBay? It was nice like the one you're showing.

And you're right, lots of excellent iron being posted up here this weekend!

 

[Lu-Max]

I finally found a use for my bag of eBay Bucks. Bought a heavy duty digital scale using them plus about $8 out of pocket. Now I know exactly what my vises weigh.

 

[tedsters]

Tedsters, was that the one just sold on eBay? It was nice like the one you're showing.

And you're right, lots of excellent iron being posted up here this weekend!

you have a good eye my friend, yes it is i got it for the opening bid. gonna look good on the bench next to the 5197, i worked it out with him to pick it up i got to go right past him in two weeks to get his big brother

 

[balane]

you have a good eye my friend, yes it is i got it for the opening bid. gonna look good on the bench next to the 5197, i worked it out with him to pick it up i got to go right past him in two weeks to get his big brother

It's a gorgeous sample and I had it on my watch list. Shipping was escalated tremendously, like $85 to me, so I wouldn't have been able to bid on it. If you got to pick that up and save on shipping then you got a really nice bargain there.

Edit: I've never seen the 3 1/2" in person. Would that fit in a Large Flat Rate box you think? What about if you removed the base and packed the vise on its side?

 

[jakemac]

For those of you around the Lowell MA area, there is a Columbian #804 (a somewhat enigmatic little vise) for sale for $50 on CL.

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/tls/4968595445.html



I think it's priced a little high for a 4" welded plate vise, but these seem to be fairly rare, so I'll let you decide.

There's only the one picture in the ad, so I don't know if the decal on the other side or on the jaw survived.

Well, I broke down and picked it up this afternoon. I was able to talk him down to $40 which is still too high, but I just couldn't leave it out there. These don't show up too often. Anywhere.

It's the ubiquitous Columbian #804 steel plate vise. It was only made in the 4" size. If memory serves me correctly, this will be only the 6th one posted on GJ. It's the same vise that is sitting on my grandfather's bench (minus the brushed-on gray paint).

The original speculation (by WhiteLightning, myself, and others) was that perhaps these were produced during WWII in response to steel rationing. Later, (about a year and a half later) member rusty65 found an ad that he thought was from 1935 or earlier. That placed the date of the vise during the Great Depression. That thought has stood for about 5 months now.


Here's where I stir the pot again.
While agonizing over whether or not I should spend money on the CL vise, I found a listing for an ad on eBay that claims to be from 1949. There on the second page was the Columbian 804.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-AD-American-ranton-Blacksmiths-Anvil-Columbian-Red-Arrow-Vise-/150996155459?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2328127c43

So, now we're at a post-WWII date for this vise. So much for putting the question to rest.
It just makes you wanna cry.


The side of the vise has a very light stamp that says :
COLUMBIAN
PATS PENDING

There are also a few remains of a decal on the front jaw.

The main nut is held in place by the base screw. There is no adjustment for the nut.

The main screw has a split ring holding it into the dynamic jaw. (there's a little slop)

The swivel base is stamped steel, not cast.

The pipe jaws listed in the 1949 ad are missing from all the examples of this vise I've seen.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is my dad's Chas Parker No. 429.

The vise can spin 365 vertical degrees, which you can see is made possible by the barrel shape.

My dad bought this at a yard sale for 5 bucks. The lady threw in a pile of wooden handle screwdrivers dated 1906 as well. I need to hang out with dad more often.

Your dad *****. (don't get excited, around here, that is high praise...)

 

[Outlawmws]

It's a gorgeous sample and I had it on my watch list. Shipping was escalated tremendously, like $85 to me, so I wouldn't have been able to bid on it. If you got to pick that up and save on shipping then you got a really nice bargain there.

Edit: I've never seen the 3 1/2" in person. Would that fit in a Large Flat Rate box you think? What about if you removed the base and packed the vise on its side?

No it won't, you and I went though that a couple of years ago...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Here is my dad's Chas Parker No. 429.

The vise can spin 365 vertical degrees, which you can see is made possible by the barrel shape.

My dad bought this at a yard sale for 5 bucks. The lady threw in a pile of wooden handle screwdrivers dated 1906 as well. I need to hang out with dad more often.

Your Dad really got ripped off. Tell you what...Send me the vise so you won't need to suffer the shame of it. I'll even pay the shipping.

 

[oldldh]

Tedsters, was that the one just sold on eBay? It was nice like the one you're showing.

However, it would seem that everybody finds these...

But, me!!!

Although, there could have been another 5195, that I missed...

 

[jreb10]

well seeing how everyone is posting all the vise's they are picking up here is the C-Man 5195 i picked up

Nice grab Tedsters. I was watching that one. I saved the photo of it as it shows some original paint. That color seems to be a hard one to match. I need to figure it out so I can paint my 5195 now that the temperatures have warmed up.

 

[balane]

No it won't, you and I went though that a couple of years ago...

Oh yeah, lol, forgot about that!

 

[bigcaddy]

Re: Rock Island 574 Vise Shoulder Bolt

I’ve got a Rock Island 574 that has seen some significant use including a repair on the dynamic jaw. I’ve owned for some years in a disassembled state and finally had the time to clean-up, paint, and assemble. In the process, I learned I’m missing the center shoulder bolt, shown in the attached photo.

The threads appear to be 7/8”-14 thread with a 1 ¼” diameter (or just under) shoulder. The bolt length should be right at 1 ½” measured from under the head to end of threads. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but if anyone has a tip on where I might locate one I’d be very grateful. Backup plan is to find a bolt/washer/nut that will for the trick with a little welding/grinding.

Cheers,
David

Reed vises use a duplicate nut so if you ever find a busted up 204, the part will interchange

 

[tedsters]

It's a gorgeous sample and I had it on my watch list. Shipping was escalated tremendously, like $85 to me, so I wouldn't have been able to bid on it. If you got to pick that up and save on shipping then you got a really nice bargain there.

Edit: I've never seen the 3 1/2" in person. Would that fit in a Large Flat Rate box you think? What about if you removed the base and packed the vise on its side?

it does appear to be very nice, it should fit in a flat rate at 45lbs i will give you a better idea when i get my hands on it.
now i need to find the 5196 and the 5198...hahaha i am hoping anyway

 

[bigcaddy]

nice haul. It's been bone dry in my area for a couple of weAks . But it's nearing mushroom season so that will keep me busy for a week or 3

Lucky you! I would much rather be out hunting morels then fooling around with a bench vise

 

[tedsters]

Nice grab Tedsters. I was watching that one. I saved the photo of it as it shows some original paint. That color seems to be a hard one to match. I need to figure it out so I can paint my 5195 now that the temperatures have warmed up.

did you look under the CM tag the paint under the tag should look great, take it right down to an auto paint store and let them zap it with there digital gun, they can probably mix you up a can for $10 or tell you a code for the closest match

 

[bigcaddy]

it does appear to be very nice, it should fit in a flat rate at 45lbs i will give you a better idea when i get my hands on it.
now i need to find the 5196 and the 5198...hahaha i am hoping anyway

If you attempt to put that craftsman in a flat rate, USPS will gladly give it a free haircut and break off all protruding bits of iron. Even at the smaller jaw size, the vises are big and won't fit.

You would want to be found guilty of vise abuse, would you? I'll be in Michigan this June and I don't want to have to come visit you under those circumstances, Tedsters

 

[tedsters]

If you attempt to put that craftsman in a flat rate, USPS will gladly give it a free haircut and break off all protruding bits of iron. Even at the smaller jaw size, the vises are big and won't fit.

You would want to be found guilty of vise abuse, would you? I'll be in Michigan this June and I don't want to have to come visit you under those circumstances, Tedsters

i am not putting that vise in no flat rate box, balane asked if it would fit in one, the guys shipping was steep on thats how i got for the opening bid no one else wanted to pay the shipping. let me know if you have time to come by my place when your in Michigan

 

[tedsters]

bigcaddy
the last thing i want is to be found guilty of vise abuse

 

[bigcaddy]

i am not putting that vise in no flat rate box, balane asked if it would fit in one, the guys shipping was steep on thats how i got for the opening bid no one else wanted to pay the shipping. let me know if you have time to come by my place when your in Michigan

I'm there for a week and will be in the Traverse City/ Elk Rapids area. I'm going to be doing a whole lot of nothing which is exactly what I have planned. I might run over to Bel Air but that's about it for any traveling.

If you are close, I wouldn't mind meeting up

 

[topop101]

This is a $45.00 ebay pick plus 20.00 shipping. They listed the base as cracked but it was in shambles so I scraped it. Heavy enamel red paint and black on the screw was a real challenge to remove. 12 hours later she's a bench popper . These bring about 140 around me and this is the third one this year.

 

[balane]

That is sharp! Looks great in red. Superb work there. I need a base that same size too for a Wilton I just got.

 

[tedsters]

I'm there for a week and will be in the Traverse City/ Elk Rapids area. I'm going to be doing a whole lot of nothing which is exactly what I have planned. I might run over to Bel Air but that's about it for any traveling.

If you are close, I wouldn't mind meeting up

I am a 160 miles south of Traverse City, 35 miles west of Grand Rapids in
Muskegon.

 

[topop101]

That is sharp! Looks great in red. Superb work there. I need a base that same size too for a Wilton I just got.

Good luck finding one. I can usually move them around here without one. The color is brandy wine . Night photo doesn't do it justice. I filed and sanded the lettering, then shot it with clear.

 

[jakemac]

The polished letters really make it stand out and pop. Nicely done. I'll have to remember that one.

 

[Nuts]

One good find, the Parker 974 was simply missing the pin which holds the main nut in place and thus the slop. Easy fix, it's going to be nice.

The rusted, frozen Yost is the bad news. I have the two stuck cast iron pieces in the E-Tank now, we'll see how that goes. But I did find out the nut is broken for the main screw, cracked right down the middle and the spindle won't catch. I'm guessing somebody tried to free the dynamic jaw by spinning the handle too hard. So it needs a new nut... no idea where to get one. The screw has a very unusual thread on it to make matters worse.

.

With Yost still being in business, any chance that they might have one in the back corner?


Nuts

 

[oldldh]

On Ebay---

Something you don't see everyday...

A Prentiss 26 Swivel Jaw...

Swivelin' B@#tard, too...

For those of you who swivel, when given the chance...

You can now swivel both ways!!!

Looks to be in pretty good shape, except for the grinder scar on the slide...

The seller wants $ 299.00 plus freight from Massachusetts...