The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

CW: VA is correct about the swivel base swivel jaw Prentiss vises and i was looking at the jaws and swivel jaw so much i didn't see the base.

your castings do look like Cleveland and Columbian did make a swivel jaw vise. Tourquemen2002 (Doc Block) found one a few months ago and posted his. nice find especially on your side of the pond. any history shared when you paid for it and picked it up?

cheers

ALL: there has been a guy that has joined GJ now under two different names and he owns a 5197 that he wants to sell. i'm guessing that fuzzy ad is his. he posted up a better picture in the vintage tool section asking about it and then when he found out what a few of us had to say he said it was for sale. the first time he joined he PM'd me asking if i wanted to buy it without saying how much.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

DIF: The guy selling it was quite a young chap, said he had owned it a while but never used it. I told him it was American and asked if he had any military connections as most American vises over here seem to have come over with the armed forces.
Turned out the vise had belonged to his grandfather and they used to live in Aldershot, Aldershot is pretty much home to the British Army so I imagine the vise came over with American military and ended up on the British Army base.

 

[drivesitfar]

CW: that vise might be WWI age wise. hope the swivel pin and jaw don't give you any problems getting them tuned up because it's likely the swivel pin might not have been removed since WWII.

if you get more of the casting cleaned up i know you'll take and share pictures and i'll help you find the post of Doc Block's Columbian if you and VA can't find it.

also almost wish the grandson had kept it for himself, but happy to see you own it now.

 

[bagged89s10]

Picked up an early Reed 404. Rusty but swivels and in good shape. Needs a new handle.

 

[joe.striper]

Well I finally met with the guy that has the big vise for sale. It was a bit of good news and bad news.

The bad news: Well, it isn't an 8" vise, it's a 7". And it weighs closer to 200 lbs than 300 lbs. It has a few issues, but nothing major. There is a hairline crack on the slide about 3" long on the top, tail end. Easily repairable. The swivel jaw hasn't moved since I've been born, and I'm 57 years old.


The good news: It a swivel base. He came WAY down on the price when I pointed out the crack. The best news is that I came home with it. It is in fact, unmarked, but it looks like a Reed to me. Overall it's in fairly decent shape, all things considered.

I disagree about it being a Reed. Ive never seen a round nose Reed with removeable jaws. I agree with the consideration that it is a worthless Prentiss.. I have a, $100 bill if you want to dump it...

 

[bagged89s10]

Well I finally met with the guy that has the big vise for sale. It was a bit of good news and bad news.



The bad news: Well, it isn't an 8" vise, it's a 7". And it weighs closer to 200 lbs than 300 lbs. It has a few issues, but nothing major. There is a hairline crack on the slide about 3" long on the top, tail end. Easily repairable. The swivel jaw hasn't moved since I've been born, and I'm 57 years old.





The good news: It a swivel base. He came WAY down on the price when I pointed out the crack. The best news is that I came home with it. It is in fact, unmarked, but it looks like a Reed to me. Overall it's in fairly decent shape, all things considered.

I agree with joe. Not a reed. Probably a prentiss.

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/281774150554

 

[McBrownie]

CW I think that last word is HDWR, as in Hardware. probably made for a store chain.

Not a store brand. I think it's an old Columbian.

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

 

[bagged89s10]

Not a store brand. I think it's an old Columbian.



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

Looks like you are probably right McB

 

[Dusty-NZ]

I never knew I had a collection of vices until I came across this fabulous thread . I know I have a long way to go to catch up with the serious among you, but here are the ones I use.

A recent purchase is this little 3 1/2" Fuller with pipe clamp . I just gave this one a birthday by bushing the moving jaw so the thread runs true. It is a nice vice.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Then I have an old Record 4 1/2" vice , jaws open to 8". This is just used outside for grinding and welding on. It's pretty rough but works very well.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Normal daily use in the shed is the Record #5 . Interesting that the jaws are 5 3/16". I've had this for 30yrs or so.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Tucked into the locker in the bus is the Record #2 , jaws are 3 1/2" . It is in lovely condition , despite it's looks.

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Way down the back yard , for when I cannot be bothered tramping back to the shed , I have a cheapo Swordfish brand China vice , 6" jaw . It seems to be OK . So far

 

[Dusty-NZ]

When I am out cutting firewood , I have this little vice 3 3/8" jaw that I can clamp onto the tailgate , so I can hold the chainsaw while sharpening it.

This is also a recent purchase, It has no marking but #4.

 

[bluebolt]

CW I think that last word is HDWR, as in Hardware. probably made for a store chain.

Outlaw I believe that is HDWE which I have seen in old Columbian vises.

 

[Shiftless]

I disagree about it being a Reed. Ive never seen a round nose Reed with removeable jaws. I agree with the consideration that it is a worthless Prentiss.. I have a, $100 bill if you want to dump it...

Joe, Joe, Joe
Always here with your humorous snide comments and "generous offers"
That vise is dangerous and should be disposed of properly. Contact Joe for shipping info to his disposal facility. If his facility is not able to accept further disposal shipments you can ship to mine.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Outlaw I believe that is HDWE which I have seen in old Columbian vises.

Cheers, so looks like I need to research old Colombian vises.

 

[CRSINMICH]

When I am out cutting firewood , I have this little vice 3 3/8" jaw that I can clamp onto the tailgate , so I can hold the chainsaw while sharpening it.

This is also a recent purchase, It has no marking but #4.

Dusty: I like the look and style of the 44. Let us know if you find out who made it.

 

[Fretters]

After a little help from you guys on the farside of the pond ....

Any idea where I'd find the model number on this?

Very nice. Swivel jaw too.

Big thanks to Fraggles for the heads up on this one

Fraggles has almost magical vice finding abilities, doesn't he. We'll end up owing him our first born soon.

Nice find & heads up Fraggles.

 

[Fretters]

It's a Glaswegian vice, manufactured by Alex. Mathieson & Sons.

Finally managed to get my hands on the mug I use for scale in the shed, so took a photo of this vice which gives a better indication of size.

 

[ritestuff]

I disagree about it being a Reed. Ive never seen a round nose Reed with removeable jaws. I agree with the consideration that it is a worthless Prentiss.. I have a, $100 bill if you want to dump it...

Thanks for the offer Joe, but I figger if I get tired of messin with this rusty piece of **** it will make a fine boat anchor. Can't hardly find a decent anchor around these parts for less than a hundred bucks.

 

[vintage nut]

I've got an old post vise with the same Colombian hdwr co markings. No doubt in my mind thats what it is
Nice find!

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

 

[bluebolt]

Columbian used different abbreviations due to the size of the vise to get the lettering on. A quick Ebay look shows a vise with HDW and O for Ohio due to space constraints.

Cwazy Rabbit, that Columbian of yours is pretty old with saying hardware instead of Columbian Vise Co.

Underneath that says Cleveland Ohio USA. Looks like it may only say O for Ohio.

 

[bluebolt]

Found another Columbian on Ebay where it clearly says HDWE.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Col...-4-1-8-jaws-/261879490852?hash=item3cf93be924

Vintage nut can you post a picture of your post vise lettering?

 

[drivesitfar]

CW: Doc Block (Tourqueman2002) has a swivel jaw Columbian on post #26173 of this thread. it's a pretty cool vise, but yours is definitely older. yours looks a lot like a Prentiss vise and wouldn't be surprised if Prentiss made it for Columbian or had something to do with the design. anyway thought you might like the information. also Doc's has an extra set of sort of pipe jaws that some past owner made that look pretty nice.

Dusty: that all or do you have more sitting under a bench or on a shelf? nice looking bunch and also sounds like you are using them pretty regular for specific jobs too.

Fretters: if you keep buying those big vises you'll have to build a new shed where the garden is before too long to make room for them.

BTW another solid looking vice to add to your vice family.

 

[timdp]

C. Parker pipe vise in the tool room of the gold ore stamping plant at Bodie, CA (ghost town).
Looks like the patent date is 1869.

More Bodie tool pics here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5115191&posted=1#post5115191

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Anyone heard of a Parker No. A? I got one today. I'll try to get pictures, it's on the smaller side like 3".

 

[Dusty-NZ]

Dusty: I like the look and style of the 44. Let us know if you find out who made it.

Thanks for your interest , I was really hoping someone here would be able to give a definitive description of the maker

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Here's the No. A:

 

[McBrownie]

C. Parker pipe vise in the tool room of the gold ore stamping plant at Bodie, CA (ghost town).
Looks like the patent date is 1869.

More Bodie tool pics here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5115191&posted=1#post5115191

That's a triple swivelin' B@st#&d!!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Timdp,---I really like that 1869 C.P. pipe vise.---Looks like the Dynamic and Static are both swivel jaws, and also looks like it is strictly a pipe vise unless something on the Static has been broken or worn off, cause I see no flat place for a jaw on the Static side.---May just be the angle.

Really appreciate the trip down memory lane.---Awesome stuff.---BTW, what keeps people from boosting some of those goodies?

 

[neophyte]

C. Parker pipe vise in the tool room of the gold ore stamping plant at Bodie, CA (ghost town).
Looks like the patent date is 1869.

More Bodie tool pics here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5115191&posted=1#post5115191

Were different jaw sets available for that vise? The swiveling jaw system doesn't really make much sense for a pipe vise with that type of jaws.

 

[drivesitfar]

Tim: thanks for posting that old Parker. it looks like it could swivel on both sides, but i bet it was just made in pieces and pinned together permanently on that one since the jaws wouldn't work if either swiveled.

ALL: anybody else have some cool old shop pictures with vises (vices) in them to post?

 

[McBrownie]

Tim: thanks for posting that old Parker. it looks like it could swivel on both sides, but i bet it was just made in pieces and pinned together permanently on that one since the jaws wouldn't work if either swiveled.

Drives, that makes a lot of sense. It's can't be a triple swiveler.

 

[Outlawmws]

Someone posted a Parker model that had a swivel jaw on either the dynamic or static jaw not long ago. I wonder if someone took two dead vises and made one live vise from the swiveling parts? as long as you can lock the jaws, it would work...

After about 150 years, most anything is possible...

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: Doc Block (Tourqueman2002) has the dynamic swivel jaw vise and i think his best pictures are on our Homemade electrolysis thread he put on about 2 weeks ago. Doc's vise has regular jaws if i remember correctly.

 

[joe.striper]

Got a call today from a buddy in CA who has access to manufacturing plants. On a tour recently he was walked through a storage room, what does he find on the floor? Three pallets of vises...OLD vises...BIG vises....he asks about them, tour guide says they are to be scrapped but scrap is so low they are holding them. Buddy looks closer, 8" Rock Islands, 6" Wilton bullets...Jesus !!!!

He inquires if he can but them. He is told he can have 5-6 at scrap prices, .05-.07 cents a lb, but that's all. ARRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!

He is getting them 9/19. I'll keep you posted as to what he gets.

 

[General Geoff]

Got a call today from a buddy in CA who has access to manufacturing plants. On a tour recently he was walked through a storage room, what does he find on the floor? Three pallets of vises...OLD vises...BIG vises....he asks about them, tour guide says they are to be scrapped but scrap is so low they are holding them. Buddy looks closer, 8" Rock Islands, 6" Wilton bullets...Jesus !!!!

He inquires if he can but them. He is told he can have 5-6 at scrap prices, .05-.07 cents a lb, but that's all. ARRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!!

He is getting them 9/19. I'll keep you posted as to what he gets.

He now knows what it feels like to hit the lotto.

 

[topop101]

c. Parker pipe vise in the tool room of the gold ore stamping plant at bodie, ca (ghost town).
Looks like the patent date is 1869.

More bodie tool pics here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5115191&posted=1#post5115191

OK , YOU HAVE MY ATTENTION ! Do you own this vise?

 

[topop101]

Someone posted a Parker model that had a swivel jaw on either the dynamic or static jaw not long ago. I wonder if someone took two dead vises and made one live vise from the swiveling parts? as long as you can lock the jaws, it would work...

After about 150 years, most anything is possible...

No. It's a pipers vise. The Parker 86 came with both pipe and vise jaws. Both sides swiveled and both were interchangeable. Sold as one set. and were chained to the vise.