The VISES of Garage Journal

[topop101]

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?

Drives That could be the 86 I want so dearly. It came with both pipe and vise jaws. Both sides swiveled or could be pinned. The date is right for it. Of course it could be an 82 as well.

 

[ironhorsemachinery]

Well here it is. Got a few paint drips, and a piece of pipe for the handle, but I believe my great grandfather bought it new, so I'm keeping it how it is. 6" wide jaws. Not the fanciest one, and actually all steel, no castings. It definitely seems like a good vise though! Served well for a very long time.

I remember being a very small child (early 1960s) and standing on a stool in front of my grandfather's workbench that had that vice mounted in the middle of it. I remember vividly him holding a toy truck in it that he was fixing for me. I was no more than 4 or 5. That vice has been mounted on a few benches since then, and I think he would be happy to know that his great grandson is still using it ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[joe.striper]

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.

Anchor! Anchor! Thats a HORRIBLE anchor. You know it will hang up the first time you anchor up for Tautog

 

[Outlawmws]

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.

Yep, found it, Similar design but probably much later and no double swivel jaws...

 

[joe.striper]

Just picked up this Craftsman 5181 (Reed 4") today. I had paid for it three weeks ago but i just picked it up today. Paid $70. So very nice.

 

[bluebolt]

Nice Craftsman Joe! I have the swivel base version of that vise. Yours is the first Craftsman Reed I have seen with the button head nose, mine is the "R" revision vise with the split collar but it has the ball nose.

 

[timdp]

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

The State of California owns that vise; Bodie is a state historical park.

Thanks for providing detailed info and the illustration. Very interesting piece!

I did find a patent citation dated Sep. 28, 1869, but there is no info on the details of the patent:
http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/xrefClass.php?class=269&subclass=272

OK, found the 1869 patent and it is for pipe jaws that fit over the regular jaws of a vise, not the swapable swivel jaws of the vise in question:
https://www.google.com/patents/US95258

Here is a cute combined anvil and vise:
https://www.google.com/patents/US19...ved=0CCwQ6AEwAmoVChMI4sfwgqjuxwIV0luICh3acgnE

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

Oh, but it is...

 

[timdp]

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.

You might want to suggest to your friend that he offer considerably more than 7 cents a pound so he can get ALL of them. Figure out what they think a "good" scrap price is and offer it. They might go for it just to get them out of their hair.

I'm sure we could get a few CA GJ guys (and gals) with trucks to help load...

 

[joe.striper]

You might want to suggest to your friend that he offer considerably more than 7 cents a pound so he can get ALL of them. Figure out what they think a "good" scrap price is and offer it. They might go for it just to get them out of their hair.

I'm sure we could get a few CA GJ guys (and gals) with trucks to help load...

I suggested exactly that but he told me that it was impossible. He said it was a looong story. I told him that I wanted some!!

He is going to try and get all of them but he said he didnt think that would happen...

 

[econotrk]

Just picked up this Craftsman 5181 (Reed 4") today. I had paid for it three weeks ago but i just picked it up today. Paid $70. So very nice.

Very nice Joe, I don't remember seeing a Reed/Craftsman that style with the Craftsman badge.

 

[bagged89s10]

Just picked up this Craftsman 5181 (Reed 4") today. I had paid for it three weeks ago but i just picked it up today. Paid $70. So very nice.

Nice! I'm jealous. I want one to mount on my craftsman toolbox.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

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".

If you Google Parker vise ads. In images it will be the 4th row down on the left. I found the ad when looking for my EE

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Timdp.

The State of California owns that vise; Bodie is a state historical park.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


That answered my question.

 

[joe.striper]

Very nice Joe, I don't remember seeing a Reed/Craftsman that style with the Craftsman badge.

I know. When I got it home i started researching it and i still havent found an exact match. Everyone I've found has been with the normal, big , Cfman nose.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Is it possible the screws will interchange ?
I am working on an old Parker 134 and it came with an almost perfect newer style flat nose screw. The collar looks new also with hardly any wear. The handle has no dings in it either.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

If you Google Parker vise ads. In images it will be the 4th row down on the left. I found the ad when looking for my EE

Thanks, it was listed there. Seems like a real early vise, I've still got to get it off of the chunk of wood it's mounted to.

 

[mbsinmich]

I suggested exactly that but he told me that it was impossible. He said it was a looong story. I told him that I wanted some!!

He is going to try and get all of them but he said he didnt think that would happen...

Wow! I hope he can manage to save them from the scrap heap. Oh and maybe one will "fall off the truck" in front of my house . . . .

 

[bagged89s10]

Drives That could be the 86 I want so dearly. It came with both pipe and vise jaws. Both sides swiveled or could be pinned. The date is right for it. Of course it could be an 82 as well.

So that's what a Parker 86 looks like. Until now I thought it was like the combination no 88.

 

[CRSINMICH]

I just got a fully functioning Wilton 935 with swivel base at a garage sale for $20. That's a fairly good deal isn't it? It was made in Chicago and I believe the date is 5-50. In all seriousness, can anyone give me more information about it? A quick search didn't turn up much info. (I also got a Kennedy box full of tools and tooling for $30 but that's another story.)

 

[jrobb316]

I just got a fully functioning Wilton 935 with swivel base at a garage sale for $20. That's a fairly good deal isn't it? It was made in Chicago and I believe the date is 5-50. In all seriousness, can anyone give me more information about it? A quick search didn't turn up much info. (I also got a Kennedy box full of tools and tooling for $30 but that's another story.)

I would say you got a steal of deal. Any pics?

 

[schor]

Got this old fabricated steel vise (probably chinese).

And decided to shine it up a bit. New handle, copper jaws and a bit of paint.

 

[drivesitfar]

Joe: interesting Craftsman made by Reed vise. nice find

Schor: i don't think it's Chinese, but can't recall the maker. there have been a few of those listed in this thread so maybe another member owns one to let you know. nice paint job.

 

[langss]

I inherited this from my late Father-in Law.... Great old guy. Heavy like you cannot believe.

 

[drivesitfar]

Langs: don't let that one leave the shop. hope you have a real heavy bench or one attached to the wall because guessing it weighs close to 150 pounds and has 6 inch jaws. can you weigh it and measure the jaws?

Holland's are one of my favorites and just don't see them often anymore.

 

[t4runner]

Picked up this Wilton at a sale along with the Morgan wood vise.

 

[CRSINMICH]

I would say you got a steal of deal. Any pics?

jrobb: I only had time for a quick post previously and I won't have time to take pictures until tomorrow. I'll post them then. It does have some warts where someone did some sloppy welding on the anvil but for the most part it's just dirty.

EDIT - I used some sloppy wording there. I should have said that the sloppy welding was done ON TOP of the anvil. Neither the anvil nor any other part of the vise was welded.

 

[langss]

Langs: don't let that one leave the shop. hope you have a real heavy bench or one attached to the wall because guessing it weighs close to 150 pounds and has 6 inch jaws. can you weigh it and measure the jaws?

Holland's are one of my favorites and just don't see them often anymore.

Oh .... I don't think its going anywhere "Quickly" lol. I was lucky to get it in the first place. It was on a bench, outside in Los Osos California for probably 20 years. Stuff had to go and my wife was offered $100 for it. I told her no way I want it. Long story short, I have it at home, but its so heavy its hard to move. I have no way to weigh it, and its sitting on the 2 wheeler I got it off the truck with. Like I said its unbelievably heavy so 150# is probably a good guess.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Picked up this Wilton at a sale along with the Morgan wood vise.

t4runner: That's some crazy Wilton you got there. It looks like a corner woodworking vise that rotates to become a bench vise. If that's what it is then it's a very specialized piece of equipment. Now that I think about it, I could use one like that. Good find. That Morgan is not too shabby either.

 

[bagged89s10]

How old is this sears 51777 vise? I can't find info on it.

 

[Fretters]

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.

It's the last vice I'm buying. I've done now. Honest.

Schor: i don't think it's Chinese, but can't recall the maker. there have been a few of those listed in this thread so maybe another member owns one to let you know. nice paint job.

It reminds me of a Record Leader.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Got this old fabricated steel vise (probably chinese).


And decided to shine it up a bit. New handle, copper jaws and a bit of paint.

Nice job on the flame paint. The vise will look good in a hot rod garage !

 

[timdp]

Anyone looking for a Wilton 1780 8 incher in Reno?

No idea whether $475 is a decent price or not.
https://reno.craigslist.org/tld/5184047413.html

 

[bagged89s10]

Here is my Reed 404 fresh out of the e-tank. I still need to get the swivel jaw to turn. I might dunk it in the e-tank again.


It's stamped 31. Does anyone know if that's a date stamp?

Look at the stamp. It's stamped P&W-JUNK. I'm assuming the P&W stands for Pratt & Whitney.


Also the main but was brazed at some point but it seems like a strong repair. I'll replace it if I find another one but it's fine for now.

 

[jakemac]

I think those 31 stamps are just numbers for matching machined parts for assembly.

 

[ritestuff]

Here is my Reed 404 fresh out of the e-tank. I still need to get the swivel jaw to turn. I might dunk it in the e-tank again.


It's stamped 31. Does anyone know if that's a date stamp?

Look at the stamp. It's stamped P&W-JUNK. I'm assuming the P&W stands for Pratt & Whitney.


Also the main but was brazed at some point but it seems like a strong repair. I'll replace it if I find another one but it's fine for now.

If that braze job was done right, you should be able to neaten it up without compromising the integrity of the bond. Brazing uses capillary action to form the bond, more like "glueing" than welding. All the extra material blobbed on top of the break really isn't doing a whole lot. You could blend the edges with a die grinder and make it look fairly decent. I've done some pretty spiffy brazing repairs on old iron.

 

[bagged89s10]

If that braze job was done right, you should be able to neaten it up without compromising the integrity of the bond. Brazing uses capillary action to form the bond, more like "glueing" than welding. All the extra material blobbed on top of the break really isn't doing a whole lot. You could blend the edges with a die grinder and make it look fairly decent. I've done some pretty spiffy brazing repairs on old iron.

Good to know. I'll neaten it up a little before paint

 

[balane]

Here's a clean, Australian Dawn vise I picked up at an estate sale this morning. The paint is a deep, metallic blue that's really stunning in person. 3 1/2" jaws, 27.2 Lbs.

.

 

[drivesitfar]

Balane: amazing that you can shine up a vise like that so fast. you ought to post a before picture so the guys that don't know how good you are can really see. congrats and it should be a good seller.

Langss: here's a tip for you and the others that when you are buying a 100++ pound vise you can usually unscrew the dynamic jaw out all the way if the back of the slide isn't rusty. then you have two manageable pieces.

only think is that getting the screw back in the vise nut is not always easy with a 70 pound dynamic jaw in your hands trying to line up the screw. good thing you didn't let it go for $100 and just find a good solid bench to mount it on.

Fretters: did i mention I'm not buying any vises (vices) any more too?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

balane, are you a smoker ? My lighter is always close at hand.

 

[balane]

I go and play poker about once every two months. I'll smoke and drink bourbon then but that's pretty much it. I like using lighters for size reference, or a 12 ounce beverage can, whatever captures the size of the item in the photo more closely.

Thanks drives, I move pretty quick when I get home and seldom take the time for a before photo. I have a couple times in the past though.