The VISES of Garage Journal

[bluebolt]

A few big Reed's in my neck of the woods.

The Reed 33 (which later became the 3C) is missing the pipe jaws and the swivel base. A bit overpriced in my opinion.

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls/5072245695.html

The Reed 206R is missing the swivel base. Comes with a big pipe vise and a RR track anvil that might make it worth it though.

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls/5105931235.html

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Any of the SE Michigan vise nuts get the Parker 383 1/2 rear swivel jaw today? Gone by the time I got there.

 

[jrobb316]

Bagged: when you steal a vise you have to drop and run. that Morgan was a 6 inch wide jaw and 142 pounds of vise. sounds like it might have found a good home even though it would have made your top 10.

Yes, thats what i did with the 2C I recently acquired. A Milwaukee Morgan showed up on CL at 10 pm last night and I was prepared to run and get it. It was a 140 (4") though, so I passed Just don't need any more in the sub 5" range. The price would have been right for a large one. Too bad, a 160 can't come around too often.

 

[topop101]

Oooohhhh, I can handle this one. I have seen this on a lot of older vises. Here is what happens. These vises have the jaws cast in. They are cast in on a shelf that is cut in the factory. After the vise is made the factory cuts the jaws serrations. The jaw inserts are HARDER than the vise material. Over the years the part of the jaw that is poured wear at a much faster rate than the jaw inserts. That is why the wear is so uniform top and bottom.

I discovered this while side dressing the jaws and I noticed two different metal colors, one was the jaw insert, one was the jaw itself.

I've attached a pic of my Reed, blow it up and you can see the jaw insert and the delineation between the vise itself and jaw insert.

Hey JOE I was wondering what style of Reed that was? I just finished a pair of 4 1/2 . the jaw inserts are full length as far as I can tell. From the unfinished cheeks you can see the pattern of the insert. To me it looks like they melt away partially. Or maybe they are made that way for better bonding?

 

[va.grouseman]

Yost is 107 years old.---Morgan started in 1929, so they're not in the running.---Columbian was started in 1929 also, so they are out.---Reed has got Hollands by one year.-- Reed started in 1896, Hollands in 1897---Morgan, Reed,Yost are still making vises, I'm not sure about Hollands.---Someone can chime in on that.---There may be some older than Reed but I'm not aware of them.

 

[drivesitfar]

VA: I would never doubt that your calculations are accurate because i'd swear you have a better search engine than GJ does, but are you sure about Columbian and Morgan starting in 1929 the year of the depression?

just checking and if you are positive how about those blacksmith companies. i wonder how long Peter Wright was in business for one and i'm sure there are others that were around for a long time.

as always thanks for your research

Top: i think my old Reed 104 has those jaws too. i'll have to check my other old Reeds when i see them. here's the 104 which is in original condition so you might be able to see the jaws ok.

 

[topop101]

Yost is 107 years old.---Morgan started in 1929, so they're not in the running.---Columbian was started in 1929 also, so they are out.---Reed has got Hollands by one year.-- Reed started in 1896, Hollands in 1897---Morgan, Reed,Yost are still making vises, I'm not sure about Hollands.---Someone can chime in on that.---There may be some older than Reed but I'm not aware of them.

VA I'm pretty sure Columbian stared before the 20's. They share a 1902 patent with Will Burt on the versa vise / Gyro

 

[topop101]

In there Glory, Parker was the worlds largest vise manufacture.

 

[joe.striper]

Hey JOE I was wondering what style of Reed that was? I just finished a pair of 4 1/2 . the jaw inserts are full length as far as I can tell. From the unfinished cheeks you can see the pattern of the insert. To me it looks like they melt away partially. Or maybe they are made that way for better bonding?

I bet you have a designated oil hole topop. If so then your Reed is just like Veeps. It is between my very early Reed 107 and the later much improved ones like Zoomie covets (and rightfully so).

 

[joe.striper]

Yost is 107 years old.---Morgan started in 1929, so they're not in the running.---Columbian was started in 1929 also, so they are out.---Reed has got Hollands by one year.-- Reed started in 1896, Hollands in 1897---Morgan, Reed,Yost are still making vises, I'm not sure about Hollands.---Someone can chime in on that.---There may be some older than Reed but I'm not aware of them.

VA maybe we should ask Outlaw. He is old enough he probably saw Reed lay their cornerstone

 

[joe.striper]

Just got a minion call. 4.5" Wilton. CHICAGO. Jaws have straight lines and nuts. $140. Awaiting pics! So excited to see it.

 

[Outlawmws]

In there Glory, Parker was the worlds largest vise manufacture.

Yup!

The Parker vise, patented in 1854, has been made at the main factory and is manufactured in enormous quantities, and in a hundred and fifty sizes and styles, adapted to the uses of every trade. The company is the largest manufacturer of vises and coffee mills in the country.

So vises were made from AT LEAST 1854. and into the 1950's (can't find my ref. for that part)

I have a 1929 start date for Morgan...

 

[Outlawmws]

VA maybe we should ask Outlaw. He is old enough he probably saw Reed lay their cornerstone

you guys been listening to a much older dude too much....

 

[topop101]

I bet you have a designated oil hole topop. If so then your Reed is just like Veeps. It is between my very early Reed 107 and the later much improved ones like Zoomie covets (and rightfully so).

No oil hole on the ones I just finished . And this pair of 104's with the pat. date of 1912-14 has the short jaws and no oil hole. The only one I have with and oil hole is the 104R and it has full length jaws

And my guess for the longest running vise maker is Columbian but it could be some one like Stanley also. I'm not sure when they stopped making vise's.

 

[KMScott]

Hey JOE I was wondering what style of Reed that was? I just finished a pair of 4 1/2 . the jaw inserts are full length as far as I can tell. From the unfinished cheeks you can see the pattern of the insert. To me it looks like they melt away partially. Or maybe they are made that way for better bonding?

I have several here with the same insert shape but not like Carla's 103R she restored. Hers has more of a square tang shapes, yours and mine have the radius-ed bumps on the hard inserts. The article says they welded the inserts on, I bet they meant Brazed on. I would like to know how the process was if the jaws were really casted in welded or brazed. I have a two Reeds that need the jaws cut out and replaced with replaceable jaw inserts and then I can see if any braze or if they were welded.

Nice restores a few pages back Top

 

[va.grouseman]

Yea, I'm wrong about the start of Columbian.---Dayids list has them starting about 1905.---Typing in (history of Columbian vises), on Google, the very first site says Columbian Bench Vises have been around since 29.---But Columbian is technically 110 to 115 years old.---I stand corrected.

Stand corrected on Morgan also according to Dayids knowledge.---Should have searched further.---Check link.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Morgan

 

[jrobb316]

He says catalogs circa 1921 had Morgans in them. I would also find it odd that a company started up in 1929 and didn't go belly up immediately.

 

[topop101]

Yea, I'm wrong about the start of Columbian.---Dayids list has them starting about 1905.---Typing in (history of Columbian vises), on Google, the very first site says Columbian Bench Vises have been around since 29.---But Columbian is technically 110 to 115 years old.---I stand corrected.

Stand corrected on Morgan also according to Dayids knowledge.---Should have searched further.---Check link.

http://scuttle.dayid.org/wiki/index.php/Morgan

I found Stanley started in 1843, but I'm not sure when they stopped making vise's .

 

[drivesitfar]

VA: thanks for double checking.

ALL: so Morgan's parent company was Milwaukee tool company started in 1877. were they making vises or did Morgan start that in 1922 or 1921 or earlier? Dayid's says there was a Morgan vise catalog then so if Morgan didn't become an official vise company until 1929 maybe Milwaukee was making vises.

I also thought Columbian was making vises prior to 1929 so who's in the lead so far?

 

[ZRX61]

Hollands was started in 1887 and Yost in 1906, both are still in business I think.

Record started in 1898 in Sheffield UK.

 

[vintage nut]

Not sure exactly when york started, but I think they have been around for a while. Still going actually.

you can never have too many tools

 

[Outlawmws]

I found Stanley started in 1843, but I'm not sure when they stopped making vise's .

Or started making them...

 

[Outlawmws]

VA: thanks for double checking.

ALL: so Morgan's parent company was Milwaukee tool company started in 1877. were they making vises or did Morgan start that in 1922 or 1921 or earlier? Dayid's says there was a Morgan vise catalog then so if Morgan didn't become an official vise company until 1929 maybe Milwaukee was making vises.

I also thought Columbian was making vises prior to 1929 so who's in the lead so far?

As I recall Morgan/Milwaukee was a much later acquisition/merger/something

The lead for what? Continuous Vise MFG? or the oldest? start? How long did the Parker union thing go?

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: i think we were talking longest time in business making vises, but Joe threw down the challenge so i'll let him speak if different. not sure how we'd be able to tell who made the most vises because we've had some wars that surely destroyed more than we want to think about either by melting them or from a bomb's damage.

so pretty sure Parker sold to Union in 1957 so that ended Parker's business even though Union made a few vises of theirs to sell for a few years.


Columbian made blacksmith vises so anybody know if they were around in the 1800's.

here's Morgan's company history off of Dayid's site that Va provided a link to:

Milwaukee




(Redirected from Morgan)

Jump to: navigation, search


Company History/Information
## Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Company Est. 1877
##http://www.milwmal.com/
## Morgan Co. was founded in 1929 (1922?) (Morgan Chicago) (Catalogs dating 1921 and earlier have Morgan Chicago, so this can't be right.)
## Morgan CO. moved to Aurora around 1947 (Morgan Aurora)
## Morgan Co, Chicago was purchased by Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co in 1970 (Morgan Milwaukee


if Bl00 isn't laughing about all this maybe he can settle this with the facts he probably has in his head or in a few books.


Oldie you are one of the eldest and you seem to have a pretty good memory of who was making vises when you were a kid in the 1800's so who is the winner?

 

[demoman]

I looked at the queen mother of all vises last Thursday. There is no name on this vise but it had 8 1/2" jaws and measured 38 long. It is the biggest heaviest vise I have ever seen. I am guessing it to weigh about 400#.I am negotiating for it with a trade deal. Sorry for the bad pics but it was all I could get without moving some stuff. The ear where it bolts down was over2" thick as you can see with the oil can. I could not find a pop can(umd).

 

[drivesitfar]

Demo: you don't have to answer the questions i have if you are in the middle of negotiating. is there any markings on the vise or just the biggest no name vise you've ever seen?

was this the vise you were thinking was going to be the Pittsburgh RR vise or is that still on the list for the next stop this summer?

nice find and thanks for sharing ahead of time. hope you get it if you really want it.

 

[nine4gmc]

that's the smallest oil can I have ever seen!

 

[jrobb316]

I hope you're able to pick up, I mean hoist that thing, home.

 

[oldldh]

you guys been listening to a much older dude too much....

Surely, you didn't mean me???

 

[topop101]

I looked at the queen mother of all vises last Thursday. There is no name on this vise but it had 8 1/2" jaws and measured 38 long. It is the biggest heaviest vise I have ever seen. I am guessing it to weigh about 400#.I am negotiating for it with a trade deal. Sorry for the bad pics but it was all I could get without moving some stuff. The ear where it bolts down was over2" thick as you can see with the oil can. I could not find a pop can(umd).

... ... If your deal falls through pass it my way. I'm in your neighborhood

 

[Outlawmws]

Surely, you didn't mean me???

Yes, you, "young man"

 

[oldldh]

Outlaw---What ever happened to that 6" Swivel Jaw Swivelin' B@#tard that you scored from Carla???

Inquiring minds want to know....

 

[Fretters]

Record started in 1898 in Sheffield UK.

Our longest running producer was probably Parkinson. Seems they started producing vices sometime in the 1880's.

http://www.northlincsweb.net/ParkinsonsShipley/html/expansion.html

 

[demoman]

Drivesitfar Yes this is the vise it thought might be a pittsburgh so I was a little let down but it still is a big vise. There were no no marking that I could find but I was in a hurry and it was in the back of a dark building. I will keep everyone updated.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well looks like Balane's little Oswego NuTYPE Sawyer is going to venture up into that GOT TO HAVE IT ZONE.---It's like venturing above the timber line, the air gets real thin up there---I don't like going up there but sometimes you just have to go where your predilections lead.---I hava a 84 lb., 4 1/2'' Sawyer swivel head. That little fellow sure would look nice setting on his back.

 

[bluebolt]

Looks like Columbian started as Van Wagoner and Williams Hardware Company in 1871.
https://books.google.com/books?id=g...EwBw#v=onepage&q=van wagoner hardware&f=false

I may research this further later need to get some work done!

 

[ironhorsemachinery]

Well looks like Balane's little Oswego NuTYPE Sawyer is going to venture up into that GOT TO HAVE IT ZONE.---It's like venturing above the timber line, the air gets real thin up there---I don't like going up there but sometimes you just have to go where your predilections lead.---I hava a 84 lb., 4 1/2'' Sawyer swivel head. That little fellow sure would look nice setting on his back.

Best of luck!

Sorry ... Somehow quoted wrong post ...


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[ironhorsemachinery]

Drivesitfar Yes this is the vise it thought might be a pittsburgh so I was a little let down but it still is a big vise. There were no no marking that I could find but I was in a hurry and it was in the back of a dark building. I will keep everyone updated.

Best of luck! Looks like an amazing vise...


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[bagged89s10]

The stand I got with a block grinder yesterday. I think if I replace the adjustable tube with one solid tube, and add weight to the back this thing, it will be pretty nice for a vise. I might even throw a bench grinder on the back. Maybe even a round thick steel plate on the bottom for more stability.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw---What ever happened to that 6" Swivel Jaw Swivelin' B@#tard that you scored from Carla???

Inquiring minds want to know....

I still need to build a stand for it, and I need the Base first. I don't want to "settle" on just anything, so I'm still looking for something cool/appropriate. (needs to be Effing HEAVY...)