The VISES of Garage Journal

[vintage nut]

The monster vise will definitely take some work. The pivot at the bottom between the two jaws is siezed solid. I got the bolt loosened off, so I know that's not it. My plan is adding atf/acetone morning and evening, and giving it a beating with a lead hammer after work every day. Gotta loosen up eventually.
The smaller one is really nice! Probably the most ornate one I have ever seen. It's stamped F&W under a crown in a circle. Under that is stamped St Paul works in an arch over another F&W. I've searched everywhere, and I can't find a single mention of a vise with this marking anywhere. The closest I found was a single thread on a blacksmith site about an anvil with a crown F&W stamping, but no st paul works. And no one there had ever seen it before or had any ideas about it. I even searched all over for anything blacksmith related in st paul, and nothing.
Appears to be quite a rare vise!

you can never have too many tools

 

[jrobb316]

Pinch: i like the places that you shop at and occasionally i find them open around me. i haven't found a 5198 yet so wanted to congratulate you. yours is the 3rd we know of and maybe the cleanest so far, but i have a question for you. there is a screw on my 5196's vise nut and either yours is missing or it's a different screw. can you take a look and maybe post up a picture of your 5198's vise nut to show either a screw in that hole or the threads where the missing screw should be?

nice find and just curious how you can have a craigslist ad running the same time as an Ebay auction. do tell or PM me if you would because I've seen others do that too?

JRobb: well you might still be buying vises you don't need, but your dog looks much happier in the Avitar. i clicked on him to enlarge him and got your profile and it said you were planning on getting to 100 vises by 2016. true?

Rumb: very cool old vice and nice job restoring it.

Absolutely not. I'm trying to move a couple as we speak. That pic was after a 14" snow and he was a pup. Winter of 08/09

 

[joe.striper]

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/5091558728.html

5" Wilton. side of vise reads #4. I'm interested but it only has 3 feet, not 4. did Wilton make 3 footed vises early on? the seller is checking for a date on the slide. picture isn't too hot. Very interesting I think.

 

[exmaxima1]

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/5091558728.html

5" Wilton. side of vise reads #4. I'm interested but it only has 3 feet, not 4. did Wilton make 3 footed vises early on? the seller is checking for a date on the slide. picture isn't too hot. Very interesting I think.

Not sure about how many feet, but if it's says "No. 4" on it then it's a 4" vise. Many sellers consider the jaw opening for their size. And price seems ridiculous.

 

[oakundeisen]

Morning gents. Is there anything specific I should be scrutinizing when looking at a Cole Co. vise? I've never dealt with one of these and don't want to buy a lemon....Here are the pics I was sent.

Just make sure the spring is inside - as Mark in Indiana sez - I have one that I picked up for $70.00. Great vise, very versatile both in the way it rotates and the jaw config. The drill and accessories come up for sale every now and then as pictured in another reply to your post. I don't hammer on mine - use a 230 lb hay budden for that. It is an one-hole mount and I cut a piece of 1/2 plate to fit inside the base and bolt thru that to secure to my welding table.

 

[drivesitfar]

Twertsy: i'm still thinking your bar out the side isn't original equipment to a Cole so you tell us if you see it and if you do or don't buy it.

JRobb: so you bought maybe 5 this month and selling 2 still leaves a few to add to your 20 or so to put on the shelf or under a bench. Just saying that 100 can come pretty easy. hell look at Top's post a few days ago when he picked up a pick up full of Wiltons. have fun selling or buying them and don't stress too much because you will know when you need to stop because at some point we run out of funds to buy them (for a while anyway).

if you would have said i'd own a 100 vises or 100 ratchets a few years ago i'd say do you think i'm going to open a hardware store? or that you were crazy and i bet i have a few more of each not to mention hammers and clamps and other things. maybe i will open a hardware store??

cheers

 

[PinchPoint]

Is this the one you are looking for?

pm me if it's all good. if no I will do some lookin and picture takin.

 

[drivesitfar]

PP: can you see a screw in that small hole under the main screw's hole? there is usually a screw in all the 519x vises I've seen. if yours is missing probably not a big deal if the threads are still in good shape. it is an adjustment screw to tighten or loosen the gap the maker's put in the vise nut. it could have just fallen out and just wanted to see if you could see any threads or a different type of screw in that hole?

thanks

 

[bubinga]

picked this up last night, got the delta saw on the way home, don't know the brand yet, it still in the car, was about a hour and 20 minuets away.
needs jaws, a few little chunks missing from the corners where the jaws mount, may JB weld, or try my hand at braising.<(sp?)
Gave $25.00 for it.
9" tall 17 long

 

[jrobb316]

Twertsy: i'm still thinking your bar out the side isn't original equipment to a Cole so you tell us if you see it and if you do or don't buy it.

JRobb: so you bought maybe 5 this month and selling 2 still leaves a few to add to your 20 or so to put on the shelf or under a bench. Just saying that 100 can come pretty easy. hell look at Top's post a few days ago when he picked up a pick up full of Wiltons. have fun selling or buying them and don't stress too much because you will know when you need to stop because at some point we run out of funds to buy them (for a while anyway).

if you would have said i'd own a 100 vises or 100 ratchets a few years ago i'd say do you think i'm going to open a hardware store? or that you were crazy and i bet i have a few more of each not to mention hammers and clamps and other things. maybe i will open a hardware store??

cheers

I've only bought the Starrett 924C and the Parker 974 1/2 in recent history. It just looks like I bought a bunch since they were 2 days apart. And I was looking for that exact Parker model. Screw came out of that lockdown wedge with just a vice grips BTW. I got screwed out of the 289 1/2 I was going to get but that's ok. It needed work and he wanted too much, someone swooped in after we already had a deal. I'm out of vise funds anyways, as I have also been picking up a few other shop items like a snap on floor Jack last weekend for $75, etc. there are at least 3 good deals on my local CL right now but it's all low hanging fruit when you've already got a minor collection. There is a Prentiss 52, milw Morgan 4.5 star, and Parker (4" X model stationary).

 

[drivesitfar]

JRobb: sorry for the quiz and didn't mean to sound like i was. Maybe it's because you asked about several vises that i thought you bought them when you were talking last month about selling them all. Hope all is well with both you and your furry friends.

Bub: any brand name on that vise and it looks like the jaws have been to a war and i'd hate to see the other guy.

Joe: nice recovery

 

[anodyne33]

So I did some searching and can you experts confirm that a Columbian D6 at $70 is a "meh" deal at best? Particularly missing a jaw.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

picked this up last night, got the delta saw on the way home, don't know the brand yet, it still in the car, was about a hour and 20 minuets away.
needs jaws, a few little chunks missing from the corners where the jaws mount, may JB weld, or try my hand at braising.<(sp?)
Gave $25.00 for it.
9" tall 17 long

I'd say that's for steak unless you spell it with a z

Any idea what make of vise that is?

 

[jrobb316]

JRobb: sorry for the quiz and didn't mean to sound like i was. Maybe it's because you asked about several vises that i thought you bought them when you were talking last month about selling them all. Hope all is well with both you and your furry friends.

Bub: any brand name on that vise and it looks like the jaws have been to a war and i'd hate to see the other guy.

Joe: nice recovery

Nah no problem I post my finds and I really only bought the 924C because it had a swivel base at a basement price. I'm trying to limit my collection to 10 but I don't know if that's possible but i should get close. I think I'm around 17 right now.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ano: probably worth $20 and maybe more if you really need a vise. jaws are fairly easy to make, but if you need to buy them they are not always cheap. also there could be busted off screws in the jaws to remove or check to see if threads stripped which would be more work and less valuable.

 

[exmaxima1]

So I did some searching and can you experts confirm that a Columbian D6 at $70 is a "meh" deal at best? Particularly missing a jaw.

During your research do you see that you could have bought that vise Brand New for $75?

http://test.waresdirect.com/products/Commercial-Products/Wilton/Columbian-Workshop252482

I agree with Drives that it's $20 TOPS the way it is.

 

[anodyne33]

During your research do you see that you could have bought that vise Brand New for $75?

http://test.waresdirect.com/products/Commercial-Products/Wilton/Columbian-Workshop252482

I agree with Drives that it's $20 TOPS the way it is.

I did find that page, however I also considered that it's OOS and discontinued.

 

[zoomieport]

I do better when I don't paint them, lol!

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=231603713956&globalID=EBAY-US

 

[bubinga]

Bub: any brand name on that vise and it looks like the jaws have been to a war and i'd hate to see the other guy.

I'd say that's for steak unless you spell it with a z

Any idea what make of vise that is?

still have to pull it out of the car, I was whipped last night, I am going to the store, will pull it out when l get home,

 

[PinchPoint]

PP: can you see a screw in that small hole under the main screw's hole? there is usually a screw in all the 519x vises I've seen. if yours is missing probably not a big deal if the threads are still in good shape. it is an adjustment screw to tighten or loosen the gap the maker's put in the vise nut. it could have just fallen out and just wanted to see if you could see any threads or a different type of screw in that hole?

thanks

No screw nothing in the hole and threads are perfect.

 

[topop101]

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/tls/5091558728.html

5" Wilton. side of vise reads #4. I'm interested but it only has 3 feet, not 4. did Wilton make 3 footed vises early on? the seller is checking for a date on the slide. picture isn't too hot. Very interesting I think.

All the # 4's I've had or have all have four feet. And didn't pay over 100for any of them . Paid 40 for this one which is the last #4 I bought. For the one you are looking at It's missing a foot or the base is from another vise. The jaws have been changed and there won't be a date on the slide if it's a pat pend. fish hook

 

[Gidge]

Nice torco. I really enjoyed doing the last one I had. And I think yours is the best vintage but has a few issues

Beautiful restoration job !

Do you have any "before" pictures of your TORCO vise?

What are these issues that you speak of (I know the 3.5" jaws are missing) ?

 

[joe.striper]

All the # 4's I've had or have all have four feet. And didn't pay over 100for any of them . Paid 40 for this one which is the last #4 I bought. For the one you are looking at It's missing a foot or the base is from another vise. The jaws have been changed and there won't be a date on the slide if it's a pat pend. fish hook

Thanks everyone. Based on his pic I couldn't tell by the pic if it was a 5" or a 4" and I wasn't familiar with early Wilton's. I don't like to assume ANYTHING about these old vises. Clearly that's a beater vise that is WAY overpriced. Funny thing is that he also sold a very nice snap-on 6" tradesman for $200. You can never figure can you?!

 

[bubinga]

I'd say that's for steak unless you spell it with a z

Any idea what make of vise that is?

Bub: any brand name on that vise and it looks like the jaws have been to a war and i'd hate to see the other guy.

still have to pull it out of the car, I was whipped last night, I am going to the store, will pull it out when l get home,

Funny, l do not see a name on it anywhere.
can take better pictures if needed.

 

[Fretters]

I'd say that's for steak unless you spell it with a z

On the subject of brazing, that Oxford unit made its way up here today. Seriously impressed with how stout those things are. First time I've seen one in the flesh, and I was surprised at just how heavy it is. Good job it's on castors.

 

[Fretters]

can take better pictures if needed.

They'd be handy. Whatever it is, that seems a decent vice.

 

[jrobb316]

Updated pic of 974 1/2 with swivel assembly now intact.

 

[topop101]

Beautiful restoration job !

Do you have any "before" pictures of your TORCO vise?

What are these issues that you speak of (I know the 3.5" jaws are missing) ?

I noticed that both the vise jaws and the pipe jaws were missing and have been missing for a while. The wear on the casting were the jaws should be is considerable. Also the dynamic jaw and the static jaws should be parallel. Yours closes to a V shape. The slide may be bent or the bottom side of the dynamic jaw where the slide is forged in may be cracked. It's common for this style of vise.

Here are the before pics of my torco

 

[topop101]

So I did some searching and can you experts confirm that a Columbian D6 at $70 is a "meh" deal at best? Particularly missing a jaw.

don't buy... don't even look back

 

[bagged89s10]

So I have 2 baby bullets in the mail. I have no control but they were a good deal.

 

[Lu-Max]

I thought I would take a moment to introduce you to my big lady-friends.
Boys, please meet Bertha, Bonita, and Blanch, the C-3 sisters. They're 600 pounds of fun.

"I like a gal with some extra junk in the trunk"
-Not me.

 

[jrobb316]

That's a lot of Fe

 

[Fretters]

I have no control but they were a good deal.

You're in good company in that regard.

I thought I would take a moment to introduce you to my big lady-friends.
Boys, please meet Bertha, Bonita, and Blanch, the C-3 sisters. They're 600 pounds of fun.

By eck, those look beefy.

 

[bagged89s10]

I thought I would take a moment to introduce you to my big lady-friends.
Boys, please meet Bertha, Bonita, and Blanch, the C-3 sisters. They're 600 pounds of fun.

"I like a gal with some extra junk in the trunk"
-Not me.

 

[Outlawmws]

Just recived answer from HEUER:

"We think that the vise was made in the end of the 1930th or in the beginning of the 1940th."

Did they happen to say if the clamp on base was factory? It almost looks like an add-on.

 

[bluebolt]

My just finished Wilton 2.5" bullet. Before and after. 5/51 stamp on the slide.

Nice work Joe! Is the actual stamp 5-51?

 

[bluebolt]

Not sure about how many feet, but if it's says "No. 4" on it then it's a 4" vise. Many sellers consider the jaw opening for their size. And price seems ridiculous.

Not quite true Ex. Although that one does appear to be a 4" vise my 1946 dated 5" jaw width vise has No 4 in small letters on the static jaw down low near the bottom of the slide. Plus mine has 4 feet. This has the standard Wilton in curved letters. If it says Wilton Tool Corp No 4 in large letters in a straight line it is a 4" vise.

 

[va.grouseman]

Any of you fellows got $71000.00.---Wayfair is running a near close-out sale on 800Ss this month.---10 available.---Buy the whole lot and flip'em.---There's gold in them there hills.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilton-Wilt...694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20fbb30bf6

 

[zoomieport]

Any of you fellows got $71000.00.---Wayfair is running a near close-out sale on 800Ss this month.---10 available.---Buy the whole lot and flip'em.---There's gold in them there hills.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilton-Wilt...694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20fbb30bf6

Let's do a group buy! I'm good for 2 or 3...

 

[bluebolt]

I noticed that both the vise jaws and the pipe jaws were missing and have been missing for a while. The wear on the casting were the jaws should be is considerable. Also the dynamic jaw and the static jaws should be parallel. Yours closes to a V shape. The slide may be bent or the bottom side of the dynamic jaw where the slide is forged in may be cracked. It's common for this style of vise.

Here are the before pics of my torco

My Torco with a broken swivel base needs to get together with Gidge's vise to make 1 good one! It looked good until I got it home from the estate sale and realized one of the feet was totally broken off. I removed all three screws and didn't realize one of the feet didn't make the trip!