The VISES of Garage Journal

[FMC1959]

FMC, That dunlap logo IS the Sears Dunlap logo from the 50's roughly

I agree, the logo is a genuine Sears/Dunlap.
I wonder if these Made in England Dunlaps may have been a Sears Canada offering. Similar to the Beech made Craftsman toolboxes coming from a different vender than the ones in the US.

In my hunt for the ever elusive Prentiss 98 catalog/ad, ran across this interesting tidbit - from 1876 to at least 1912 the Bagley & Sewall company in Watertown, NY was making vises for Prentiss. Don't know if it was all Prentiss vises at the time, but have never previously heard that Prentiss did any contracting with other companies. Click here to see a passage from the book Through Eleven Decades of History: Watertown, a History from 1800 to 1912.

I have been collecting data for vises sizes and models, more than collecting historical data. I gotta say that Prentiss either bought up many other companies or made vises for many. Blake, Simpson, Massey, Lewis, and a good 4-5 others I do not have at the top of my head, all had models that at some point had the Prentiss name on it.

Looks like Prentiss was very busy during the early 1900's.

 

[Cypherian]

Might be worth a look for the vise and air hose reel

http://delaware.craigslist.org/tls/4998858175.html







Heavy Duty Work Table - $150 (middletown)

Heavy duty work table includes fixed vise and retractable air hose reel. Table could use a touchup. Dimensions - L: 120", W: 35", H: 35.5".

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I'll be going out to the workshop shortly, so I'll check them both out. You wouldn't happen to remember whereabouts on the body? Is it raised cast or recessed?

Edit: Scrub those questions. Just been looking at the photo's, and here it is on the earlier one for definite, underneath the pinch bolt assembly.

That early one of yours has a nicer casting quality than mine.

You can just about make out the 4 on mine. I've had a look and definitely nothing cast on to the front of the jaws on mine. Looks like we are starting to get some dating evidence for these

So now we know the casting on the jaws are early ones, and we also know there is a design change to the rubbish keyway, a design change to a slightly less rubbish keyway, stopping the use of serial numbers and also the removal of the through holes for mounting the jaws. Although to be fair those last 4 design changes are all on the modern rubbish looking ones.

I also note that there are some early adverts that look like Swindens vices but without the anvils.

 

[ChargerRT]

Cypherian I wish I was in Delaware and not Louisville Kentucky!!! I would get that vise in a heartbeat!

 

[zoomieport]

Re: Shipping a Vise

I'm planning to sell off a couple vises (The Horror!).

For you guys who do this on a regular basis - how do you ship the bigger ones? What carrier(s) do you use and are there any special considerations?

I'm planning to pack inside a box versus strapping to a pallet. The vises I'm shipping will be in the 75 - 125 lb range. Nothing HUGE.

For something in that range, you may consider shipping it in 2 boxes, dynamic jaw and swivel base (if present) in one and static jaw in another and I like to take the main screw out too. I use UPS.

Good Luck!
ZOOM

 

[bigcaddy]

I found one sale this morning that had something promising looking in the garage but the photos were so bad it was a 90% chance I was wrong.

Guess I wasn't

Wilton 925 bullet vise, dated 1-78, on a custom aluminum base that can be detached without out marring the bench.

If anybody wants to buy the mount, I'll happily sell it for cheap

 

[dngrmse]

I found one sale this morning that had something promising looking in the garage but the photos were so bad it was a 90% chance I was wrong.

Guess I wasn't

Wilton 925 bullet vise, dated 1-78, on a custom aluminum base that can be detached without out marring the bench.

If anybody wants to buy the mount, I'll happily sell it for cheap

Nice score! Is that the 2 1/2?

 

[bigcaddy]

Nice score! Is that the 2 1/2?

Yup. I thought it was a 2" but as soon as I walked into the garage I knew it was bigger

It's my first 2.5" and closes the gap between the bigger ones and smaller ones I own. I almost bought one 2 years ago but the guy flaked on me and ignored my calls from there on

 

[KMScott]

BC, that one is nice. I refinished two and they were no where in the shape yours are, in fact I had to make the swivel bases. Everybody looks for the 825/925 vises. When I worked for IBM, all the maintenance workers had them on their tool carts. A perfect size for them. Nice score and you earned a You **** award for the weekend.

 

[McBrownie]

In my hunt for the ever elusive Prentiss 98 catalog/ad, ran across this interesting tidbit - from 1876 to at least 1912 the Bagley & Sewall company in Watertown, NY was making vises for Prentiss. Don't know if it was all Prentiss vises at the time, but have never previously heard that Prentiss did any contracting with other companies. Click here to see a passage from the book Through Eleven Decades of History: Watertown, a History from 1800 to 1912.

A "B&S" was/is stamped on the back of the original jaws on my No. 19. I'll update with a picture when I get back in the garage.

Edit:
This is hard to see, but there is a very faint stamp to the left of the bolt hole.

View media item 50415

 

[bmxdad]

Small Parker for sale on CL

http://images.craigslist.org/00v0v_koExt3kGXUX_600x450.jpg

 

[Fretters]

That early one of yours has a nicer casting quality than mine.

You can just about make out the 4 on mine. I've had a look and definitely nothing cast on to the front of the jaws on mine. Looks like we are starting to get some dating evidence for these

Been thinking about the later one, (haven't got it out to check as yet, as that'll mean disturbing the others on the shelf with it ), and there was something which resembled a sidewards J on that one in the same spot, if I recall correctly, so I'm guessing that must be what was remaining of the 4 on the master. I'm thinking the "Swindens Patent" bit suffered the same fate, in that it just gradually became obliterated over time on the masters.

This '36 one would have been a fairly early one, as according to their history page, '28 was the creation of the company, and '30 was the year they started supplying what's now the MOD.

I also note that there are some early adverts that look like Swindens vices but without the anvils.

Any chance of a pic of one of those?

 

[zkling]

Might be worth a look for the vise and air hose reel

http://delaware.craigslist.org/tls/4998858175.html







Heavy Duty Work Table - $150 (middletown)

Heavy duty work table includes fixed vise and retractable air hose reel. Table could use a touchup. Dimensions - L: 120", W: 35", H: 35.5".

Eh, the HUGE negative is that the bench is large, probably flimsy, and going to be a royal pain to transport at 10' long. Sad as it looks like it is covered with HDPE.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Been thinking about the later one, (haven't got it out to check as yet, as that'll mean disturbing the others on the shelf with it ), and there was something which resembled a sidewards J on that one in the same spot, if I recall correctly, so I'm guessing that must be what was remaining of the 4 on the master. I'm thinking the "Swindens Patent" bit suffered the same fate, in that it just gradually became obliterated over time on the masters.

This '36 one would have been a fairly early one, as according to their history page, '28 was the creation of the company, and '30 was the year they started supplying what's now the MOD.




Any chance of a pic of one of those?

So perhaps we can date them by how readable they are?

 

[joe.striper]

Here is a machinist vise I picked up with a load of stuff about a week ago.

I am an idiot about machinist stuff so the question is whether or not this is a vise made by a machinist for himself or is the maker R.G. Bradley?

It hit the Evap-O-Rust tank and then it was just time on the buffing wheel. I like it...came out SHINY!

 

[bigcaddy]

Here is a machinist vise I picked up with a load of stuff about a week ago.

I am an idiot about machinist stuff so the question is whether or not this is a vise made by a machinist for himself or is the maker R.G. Bradley?

It hit the Evap-O-Rust tank and then it was just time on the buffing wheel. I like it...came out SHINY!

It's a shop made vise. Probably a class project or the first thing he made once getting hired on as a tool/die maker. It's him "hanging out his shingle" and showing others he can made decent stuff

 

[Garageguy54]

hey fellas,picked up a nice Athol 624 swivel vise today. looking forward to cleaning it up and adding it to the collection.GG54

 

[zkling]

Here is a machinist vise I picked up with a load of stuff about a week ago.

I am an idiot about machinist stuff so the question is whether or not this is a vise made by a machinist for himself or is the maker R.G. Bradley?

It hit the Evap-O-Rust tank and then it was just time on the buffing wheel. I like it...came out SHINY!

Pretty sure it was a project, but that is nice.

 

[Fretters]

So perhaps we can date them by how readable they are?

Either that or just check the military date stamps. If my train of thought is correct, owt pre 40's should still have something legible on the front. Serial numbers are obviously another way. I have two here with known years on them, so that gives us a vague estimation range between 1928/1930-1936 and then 1936-1944. If there are any more with date stamps, we can extend that estimation range.

 

[Fretters]

hey fellas,picked up a nice Athol 624 swivel vise today. looking forward to cleaning it up and adding it to the collection.GG54

That should clean up nicely.

 

[Tacoma bo]

My first restoration on a wilton flip-grip

 

[Fretters]

My first restoration on a wilton flip-grip

Looks good. Any photo's of it beforehand?

 

[trijeff]

Looking good Tacoma bo

 

[tedsters]

Here is a machinist vise I picked up with a load of stuff about a week ago.

I am an idiot about machinist stuff so the question is whether or not this is a vise made by a machinist for himself or is the maker R.G. Bradley?

It hit the Evap-O-Rust tank and then it was just time on the buffing wheel. I like it...came out SHINY!

looks better then new Joe

 

[autopts]

You are correct, the badge insert is front and center on the dynamic tower. It also just so happens that I have two brand new Wilton badges in a stuff bin somewhere in my shop.

That's sweet, that vise sits on a 800S base assembly and also has a 600S nut assemblyy with a 600S spindle, only shorter. That's a keeper for sure

 

[joe.striper]

OK, what the heck is this? Cant find it on Dayid, no anvil, covered square slide. One of my minions bought it for $50.

It is awfully pretty isn't it?

 

[tedsters]

OK, what the heck is this? Cant find it on Dayid, no anvil, covered square slide. One of my minions bought it for $50.

It is awfully pretty isn't it?

same model (balane) just did up ain't it

 

[KMScott]

OK, what the heck is this? Cant find it on Dayid, no anvil, covered square slide. One of my minions bought it for $50.

It is awfully pretty isn't it?

You did not mention the jaw size but by looking it could be a early model 746, if the jaws are 6 x 1 x 5/8. kind of purdy but looks more solid. Another nice vise from New England area found by one of your minions. Wish I had minions, do my grand sons count.

 

[jakemac]

Wish I had minions, do my grand sons count.

I don't think so, Joe's minions bring him rusty gold. Your grandsons empty out your refrigerator. I don't think it works out the same.

 

[blind]

Teach them while they're interested. Let it be their new video game.

 

[Lu-Max]

Any east bay folks on here?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5005816262.html

 

[HydeEmpire]

You **** Hyde!

So, how much you give for it?

i got it for $300 and it was about 5 hours from where i live but i work with the guys son so he just brought it back when he went a visited them. i don't think it was a bad deal at all lol.

 

[nowlan]

Hello, Ive taken an interest in vices lately.
Dont have any real need for one as yet, I dont do metal fabrication etc.

I was wondering if 100mm is a good size or too small? Probably only end up using it to hold things, or crush/fold stuff. Dont have a dedicated workbench/area to mount it is another concern.

I looked on ebay, local hardware stores, and everything is cast Chinese. Are these genuinely no good for a home handyman? The lever is designed to bend before breaking the vice.

The industrial stuff is only at liquidation auctions. Possibly too large, or abused?

 

[HydeEmpire]

here you all go, i was able to get pictures uploaded on here

 

[XCMTB83]

BC, that one is nice. I refinished two and they were no where in the shape yours are, in fact I had to make the swivel bases. Everybody looks for the 825/925 vises. When I worked for IBM, all the maintenance workers had them on their tool carts. A perfect size for them. Nice score and you earned a You **** award for the weekend.

Sweet bases.

 

[dutchgray]

View media item 50408View media item 50409Got the Morgan 45 today, a heavy beast compared to an English pattern vice, the Fulton turned up in the week, its a nice little vise but I can't find out much info about it apart from some much earlier in this thread.
Also this Ward & Payne No 00 to add to my English pile.

 

[vintage nut]

Those morgans sure are nice!

you can never have too many tools

 

[Outlawmws]

Hello, Ive taken an interest in vices lately.
Dont have any real need for one as yet, I dont do metal fabrication etc.

I was wondering if 100mm is a good size or too small? Probably only end up using it to hold things, or crush/fold stuff. Dont have a dedicated workbench/area to mount it is another concern.

I looked on ebay, local hardware stores, and everything is cast Chinese. Are these genuinely no good for a home handyman? The lever is designed to bend before breaking the vice.

The industrial stuff is only at liquidation auctions. Possibly too large, or abused?

100mm is more than enough vise for your described use, even 75mm is probably enough. Since you are in no hurry, I'd be patient and look for a decent vise, and not go the cheap import path.

You can mount the vise to a piece of wood and simply clamp that to a bench/table and shelve it when not in use. I will say, once you have a vise, you will wonder in a short time how you lived without it.

Did Black and Decker sell the Workmate lne of portable work benches down under? That would be another option and you could use that as the base (it has wood vise clamping jaws as well) to mount your vise when needed.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, what the heck is this? Cant find it on Dayid, no anvil, covered square slide. One of my minions bought it for $50.

It is awfully pretty isn't it?

It's a Wilton Joe...

 

[zoomieport]

OK, what the heck is this? Cant find it on Dayid, no anvil, covered square slide. One of my minions bought it for $50.

It is awfully pretty isn't it?

I am assuming, 4" jaws...?
Wilton #744 (guessing)...
Mechanics vise, i believe is what Wilton calls it.

Take care!
ZOOM