10" Atlas Vise

[maverick302]

I'm kinda new to vintage vises. I can't find much info on Atlas but this hulk caught my eye. Anybody know if they're all USA made or if they went chinese at some point? Worth $125?

 

[JZiggy]

Don't know anything about Atlas vises either. It certainly looks like it has a beefy slide. But there are some characteristics that scream "import" to me:

- Chrome
- Thin, small mounting flanges
- overhang-style "anvil" on the back... that's the real giveaway to me as it makes it look like a Harbor Freight design.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I concur with Ziggy. Besides his valid points, also consider that a 10" vise of good quality is going to be massive in size and probably weigh close to 400#. I bet that one weighs 40#.
IMO: Run away from it. Put your money into a good, top shelf brand (Wilton, Parker, Reed, etc), old arn vise.

 

[1930]

Run!

 

[Carla]

I'm kinda new to vintage vises. I can't find much info on Atlas but this hulk caught my eye. Anybody know if they're all USA made or if they went chinese at some point? Worth $125?

If you could get it for 'ten cents on the dollar', i. e. about $12, it might be cost-effective as an expendable vise for your welding bench.

Seriously, its a 'joke tool'......those were made in China, and very poorly/cheaply made, to sell to would-be 'flea market vendors' for re-sale. (there is quite a number of such 'wholesale firms' running 'be your own boss, sell our products at swap-meets, etc'. adverts to recruit the gullible.)

cheers

Carla

 

[retDAC]

While I don't know the actual COO, Atlas Machines (India) is an Indian company: http://www.atlasmachinesindia.com/163_machinetools_bench_vice.html

Here is one US retailer: http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/10-Vise

 

[maverick302]

I thought it looked a little too chintsy for a quality 10", but for $125 I figured it couldn't hurt to ask the guys here

 

[tombell572]

If its from the Atlas Press or Atlas Clausing era I'd jump on it. If an import I'd avoid it just on principal.

 

[2oolhound]

It looks like a 6" vise I bought about 15 years ago (import). It stood up pretty good but I got rid of it to make room for my record that it was just a "stand in" for.

 

[Outlawmws]

Don't know anything about Atlas vises either. It certainly looks like it has a beefy slide. But there are some characteristics that scream "import" to me:

- Chrome
- Thin, small mounting flanges
- overhang-style "anvil" on the back... that's the real giveaway to me as it makes it look like a Harbor Freight design.

If that thing truly weighs 145, those ears will snap off under duress...

 

[napaAl]

The welder that I share shop space had one for about 10 years. It finally broke last week. Pretty sturdy, but succumed to a hard life. The screw hadn't worked well for years, the casting failed,