The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

Kevin: i've been tempted to drink again like I did in my teens and early 20's, but life it just too damn much fun sober and i play with power tools now so not a good mix. I maybe have had 5 beers since Christmas and rarely drink more than a couple. glad i put a smile on your mug and thanks for the Kudos.

Maybe Zkling will make a post letting me know i made him smile or laugh even once in the 2 years i've been posting and really make my day.

Slow: i like your style and just an FYI don't put them all in one place because the wife's tend to frown on our addiction to own a few extra tools.

Didn't i mention our English gents might let us know what you might own? i'm not sure that one CW is calling American is so maybe Fretters or some guys down under might have an answer. good luck and keep posting as you have some time even if you don't have a vise to post every time.

DEMO: nice and you deserve a rest moving all that old iron. do you still have more on the trailer and benches in your shop? if you have time would you like to post your pictures up on the 2015 vise of the year thread because we are taking entries for best family photo. or if you want i'll post them for you while you keep moving vises?

S4: i like the old Prentiss names casting too. nice find.

 

[slow_runner]

double post confusion. I'm blaming Demonman. Those images of his vice collection had my head reeling

I rule the roost
Drives I have been there before; just this weekend to be exact when she brought home an ice cream making machine. I mean, as if we haven't enough kitchen bench space as it is
She soon put me right as I retreated to my garage for some quiet air.

 

[bluebolt]

Outlaw-This came from my friends 3rd generation fab company. They also own a boiler co. They do everything from machining and fab, to 50' art sculptures. They do have a corner of their shop dedicated to wood work. The identical to my vise they use sits between their fab and wood area.

But they do have a dozen or so vises on their floor..

I assumed the very long slide told a tale, and I know nothing of pattern makers vises, or their uses. I did however clamp one of my chainsaws in it, and it was a match made in heaven. The jaw angle is perfect for filing! I've found its use for me!

Thanks for the education!

I have an even older Athol pattern makers vise with the big wing nut swivel. The quick release is to pick the dynamic jaw up a little bit. The main nut is a half nut and then the vise just slides forward or back.

That protrusion may be to hold the half nut in on yours.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's my Athol. It does have a downward facing protrusion on the jaw support.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3080214&postcount=8284

 

[demoman]

Glad you guys liked the photos. When I get home this week I will get better ones. There are 245 vises in the trailer counting the blacksmith vises. I have another 25 big ones on my big table and I beam display and I figure 30 in my shop that are stored. I have at least 10 more we use in the shop. I still lack a few reed 400 series to have a full set of the rear swivel jaws so the hunt is still on.

 

[xxaler]

Release some of the endangered 8"er's to the wild! You need to let them flourish and repopulate the land!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Great if youve got pucs, but no springs in mine. This is similar to what I have

Maybe this will help. The springs are flat and keep tension on the notched plate when the handle is closed and locked. Maybe yours are missing if you don't feel a little tension right at the end of pulling the handle closed.

 

[mike_paxton]

When in Pittsburgh PA on Saturday, went to an All Tools estate sale. Bought a Vintage Wilton 7 inch wide Woodwork Under Bench attached Vise, that extends out to 9 inches and is 4 inches deep when measured from top of screw drive to top of the clamp.

Overall dimensions of vise when measured from front to back is 18 inches long. From bottom to top is 6 inches. From side to side is 7 inches. Weight is 28 pounds.

Woodworking dog on front slides easily up/down.

Vise isn't a quick release version.

Couple of cast markings, with one being on the Nut (W7-61), another on Handle (W3-61), One on back of the Ft Vise Clamp (W8-61) and one on the Back of the Back Vise Clamp (W-9-63).

All cleaned and lubed this morning.

Mike

 

[Evergreentree]

Bluebolt-thank you for the info. I wound up playing with the vise last night, and noticed the dynamic jaw did kick up a bit when I turned it. The vise is such a dirty greasy mess right now, so it didn't quick release for me. I have to dismantle and clean it. Way cool.

Bummer is someone dropped it on the base and welded it at some point, it's been welded to the base at some point, lock down is not original notched, but...it still is way cool and works regardless of.

I may turn this into a single bolt swiveler. Anyone ever make a conversion like that, just swiveling on a flat plate of steel?

Demoman, seriously impressive. Can't wait to see pictures!

 

[joe.striper]

Maybe this will help. The springs are flat and keep tension on the notched plate when the handle is closed and locked. Maybe yours are missing if you don't feel a little tension right at the end of pulling the handle closed.

Wow, mine ain't nuthin like that. i'll post pics later.

I think I'll just have to figure it out, although these pics help a lot. One of the coolest vises I've ever used, even cooler than my Emmert 6a IMHO

 

[jrobb316]

This Prentiss followed me home from an estate sale today. Seems to be in fairly decent shape and should clean up nicely. Also feels heavy for it's size...but may have been the half mile walk back to my truck that made it 'feel' that way.

Very nice Prentiss. It looks basically unused. I have a 92 I picked up, exact same as yours just a swivel, that is in the same condition. I've often thought of selling it but I just can't part with it for how nice it is and the coolness factor of that vintage. Nice score.

 

[drivesitfar]

EG: there is a vise stand thread in the fabrication section where you might get a few good ideas for your vise's issue. i'd suggest welding it to a piece of plate and welding a tube to the underside. then a slightly bigger tube attached to your bench so you can put the vise to work sort of like putting your hitch with ball on your truck or SUV.

or a stand would give you 360 degree access.

DEMO: so since you have more vises than posts on Garage Journal how about taking more pictures of your vises and posting several of each one while you are hunting down the Pittsburgh RR vise or the Reed 404's? also which 404's do you need and maybe a swap might be in order since i've yet to see an 8 inch old US vise in person much less own one?

thanks again for posting the partial family picture of your vises.

 

[Evergreentree]

Thanks drives!

 

[slow_runner]

EG: there is a vise stand thread in the fabrication section where you might get a few good ideas for your vise's issue. i'd suggest welding it to a piece of plate and welding a tube to the underside. then a slightly bigger tube attached to your bench so you can put the vise to work sort of like putting your hitch with ball on your truck or SUV. or a stand would give you 360 degree access.

Drive :I haven't checked the link you recommended so this may be the same or similar
anyhow
Evergreentree here is a link to a video, from an Australian I believe. They are smart like that.

 

[drivesitfar]

EGT: did you get time to look at that thread and if so did you see anything that might work better than what you were thinking about?

SLOW: cool video and i posted it over on the vise grinder thread. you might take a look at it if you need any new ideas and here's the link.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5426343#post5426343

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Purchased this Columbian 604 (?) at my father's estate auction...

View media item 56824
View media item 56825

 

[G20-Budo]

Purchased this Columbian 604 (?) at my father's estate auction...

View media item 56824
View media item 56825

Nice looking vise Dennis!

 

[rk5n]

My first post here on Garage Journal after lurking for a while.
My Parker 49 vise that used to be in my grandfather's tool shed on his farm. I thought about restoring it but quickly changed my mind when I realized it's the only thing I have of his. That and it's already in good shape.

And my dad's Parker 102. He's had this one so long that he's not sure what happened to it, just that he found it this way. Unfortunately the other piece is missing so it can't just be welded

 

[joe.striper]

Maybe this will help. The springs are flat and keep tension on the notched plate when the handle is closed and locked. Maybe yours are missing if you don't feel a little tension right at the end of pulling the handle closed.

Ok, here you go. A little different no??? The order is mega random just playing around

 

[topop101]

And my dad's Parker 102. He's had this one so long that he's not sure what happened to it, just that he found it this way. Unfortunately the other piece is missing so it can't just be welded

[/QUOTE]

That may be fixable. Athol , on a 7 " vise I have, has a knob design that might work on that. Check out the pic. The knob is actually collar treaded on the lead screw and the hole for the handle is drilled through it all. Might work?

 

[drivesitfar]

RK: your Grand dad's vise looks like it's in awesome shape. i'd pull out the main screw (take off retainer with one or maybe 2 screws. then clean and grease the screw. take the dynamic slide out and maybe clean and grease the vise nut and then put it back together and depending on use do that again every year or two until you pass it on to your grandson.

also can you tell us how wide gramps and your dad's Parker vises are. also take a picture of the brass badge on the side of your dad's vise?

to fix Dad's vise all you might need is a replacement screw off a broken Parker and a retainer unless the vise nut is broken too. looks like it was hit with a BFH.

also welcome to the group and great vises to start your journey with us.

Dennis: nicely done. did you say it was your Dad's vise or estate sale?

 

[topop101]

So I picked of a couple of old carpenter boxes this weekend and in one of this was this wood chisel. I was sharpening it with a file when I noticed it kept balling up in the teeth of the file. After closer exam I realized the chisel is two metals . A hardened cutting bit and a softer metal to carry the bit. It reminded me of the hardened cast in jaw inserts of Reed , Hollands and others. The same question remains. How is this done with out losing temper in the hardened bit piece.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Ok, here you go. A little different no??? The order is mega random just playing around

I guess they made some changes in design. Mine has a patent of 1911, I thought it was just for the swivel base ?? Good luck, you will figure out the puzzle eventually.

 

[Outlawmws]

So I picked of a couple of old carpenter boxes this weekend and in one of this was this wood chisel. I was sharpening it with a file when I noticed it kept balling up in the teeth of the file. After closer exam I realized the chisel is two metals . A hardened cutting bit and a softer metal to carry the bit. It reminded me of the hardened cast in jaw inserts of Reed , Hollands and others. The same question remains. How is this done with out losing temper in the hardened bit piece.

TP that's an inlaid steel blade and those are forged in not cast like it is with the vises.

Wiss did that with Scissors, and Snips commonly, (until after they were bought...) and there is a style of "hewing hatchet" with a flat slab side, that also has a a hardened inlaid blade.

You can see one here:

and this is the style head:

 

[rk5n]

RK: your Grand dad's vise looks like it's in awesome shape. i'd pull out the main screw (take off retainer with one or maybe 2 screws. then clean and grease the screw. take the dynamic slide out and maybe clean and grease the vise nut and then put it back together and depending on use do that again every year or two until you pass it on to your grandson.

also can you tell us how wide gramps and your dad's Parker vises are. also take a picture of the brass badge on the side of your dad's vise?

to fix Dad's vise all you might need is a replacement screw off a broken Parker and a retainer unless the vise nut is broken too. looks like it was hit with a BFH.

also welcome to the group and great vises to start your journey with us.

Dennis: nicely done. did you say it was your Dad's vise or estate sale?

Thanks for the info. I've been meaning to grease up the mainscrew in my 49, I just mounted it on my new workbench.

The 49 has 4.25" jaws and weighs 72lbs. My Dad's vise I posted above is actually a #105 with 4.5" jaws. I got my reference pictures messed up, he also has a #102 which is in great condition with 3" jaws.

I'll post a picture of the brass badge on the 105 next time I'm over there to snap one. If it remember correctly it was some sort of government department. Looks like they took a BFG, bent the handle in one hit then broke the end of the screw with the second hit. It'll be pretty hard to find a replacement screw

 

[topop101]

TP that's an inlaid steel blade and those are forged in not cast like it is with the vises.

Wiss did that with Scissors, and Snips commonly, (until after they were bought...) and there is a style of "hewing hatchet" with a flat slab side, that also has a a hardened inlaid blade.

You can see one here:

and this is the style head:

Ok thanks outlaw! By the way what what's the maker on the axe?

 

[Outlawmws]

TP; I'm not sure: I have about 10 of them, most right hand, a couple are left hand, and I know many different companies made them. I think Plumb at least still does, but not sure if they are still inlaid though. This is by far my favorite hatchet head style, and I have at least one on a 30 " handle so its a light axe. (in my camping gear.)

They made these in difernt weights of head too. I have one plumb that is NOS, and compared to some of these is HUGE, but with a short handle. The factory edge you can shave with. (No, I've never actually used it for chopping more than hair on my arm...)

Once you get a decent edge on them, they hold it well as the hardened inlay is better at holding an edge. The softer forged body of the head helps keep the thing from shattering. An extra long handle provides more head speed and they just cut well.

You do have to skip any filing on these, as the hardened inlay sneers at files... but you also want to stay away from high speed grinders so you don't overheat the edge and ruin it. A slow speed wet grinder is the way to go for these.

ps: if you look at those photos close, the hammer face is also inlaid, and one of mine has a chunk of the hardened face missing from some ape beating something he should not have.

 

[Van Steele]

Thank you all for the comments on the 74. I really enjoyed doing it up, now I just need to get as good at it as you guys.
Also thank you for showing your collections.

VanSteel That 74 looks very nice. Now you need an Imp and 75 for the complete set

Thanks. Whilst an Imp may go onto one of my toolcarts, there's no bench real estate left for a 75.
The 74 has its own small bench - used for working on brakes and holding the brake pipe straightener and my Ratcliffe brake pipe flare tool. The main bench holds a Parkinsons and a Samsonia.
If I ever were to come accross a larger Fortis/Ajax or one of the American brands with a swivel jaw, or - if such thing exists in the wild - a swivel jaw Parkinsons I could rotate that with one of the others.

 

[PghJKB]

Thought all vise **** aficionados would like this ad from the 2 July 1908 American Machinist
JKB

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

RK: your Grand dad's vise looks like it's in awesome shape. i'd pull out the main screw (take off retainer with one or maybe 2 screws. then clean and grease the screw. take the dynamic slide out and maybe clean and grease the vise nut and then put it back together and depending on use do that again every year or two until you pass it on to your grandson.

also can you tell us how wide gramps and your dad's Parker vises are. also take a picture of the brass badge on the side of your dad's vise?

to fix Dad's vise all you might need is a replacement screw off a broken Parker and a retainer unless the vise nut is broken too. looks like it was hit with a BFH.

also welcome to the group and great vises to start your journey with us.

Dennis: nicely done. did you say it was your Dad's vise or estate sale?

Drivesitfar: Yes.. Long story (posted over on the Channel Lock thread: http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5427474#post5427474) re my father's estate sale / auction. Many things (like this vise) he kept even though I wanted it.. I guess I never thought to ask him before he passed.. I got many items that had more memories for me at that critical juncture..

It actually was my vise I purchased at auction when I was in college, but he liked it so I was OK with him "taking possession" (possession is 9/10th of the law as he would always say...). Anyway, I didn't have to give much for it at auction.. and now its ready for me to put some elbow grease into and integrate into my shop..

 

[Fretters]

Here are some images. The first is a baby 2 1/2" vice my son brought over for a refurb. Acme thread with a closed slide end; well made.
Perhaps someone will recognise that also?

As CW mentioned, the styling doesn't seem to jump out as being of English origin, but it could be. The only two manufacturers I can recall making similar styles over here at some point would be Woden and Marples, but they usually had their name on them. The Parkinson two part vices were different to yours in appearance, so it's definitely not one of theirs.

 

[Fraggles]

Van Steele

"If I ever were to come accross a larger Fortis/Ajax or one of the American brands with a swivel jaw... if such thing exists in the wild - a swivel jaw Parkinsons I could rotate that with one of the others."


What about a Fortis with a rotating head like a Swindens ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-H...704949?hash=item3f5a680075:g:wJAAAOSwJkJWkOKx

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Nice! The Fortis Volvo! That is in one of my catalogues somewhere

EDIT: It's in the Alfred Herbert catalogue

 

[Maui]

Has anyone here ever seen one of these vises before? It's the largest exposed screw vise that I have ever come across. The owner claims that the jaws are about 6" wide and the vise weighs well over 100 lbs. It appears to be welded around the jaws, and may have some other issues as well. It was manufactured by the General Fire Extinguisher Company in Providence Rhode Island if I read the letters on it correctly. The owner is asking $80. Thoughts?

Maui

 

[Screwdriver]

Picked up this little gem in a job lot yesterday.

For five quid. I am beginning to feel a little guilty! It's mint.

I'll give it a quick wipe down with an oily rag and take some nicer pics.

S.

 

[drivesitfar]

Maui: i'm guessing early 1900's or late 1800's the vise companies made special runs through their factories with a few of the big companies at their time that had a fairly big order hence the name on the side of the vise you are looking at. if the weld isn't a repair and just excess weld from a project i'd be tempted to pay a Benjamin for that one especially if it weighs 100 pounds.

some of those old open screw vises were the workhorse for many factories for many years and they just kept on working.

SD: i love those old Record vices with the bolt through jaws and the quick release lever and hoping to find one or two big ones over here some day. it looks mint and not sure of the age of it so maybe you or the other guys know? i'm guessing pre WWII or when?

Dennis: happy to hear you got your vise back. i won't ask why you had to buy it at an estate sale and just assume there was a mis understanding or come communication or other issues. i'm still impressed that you have a your lathe in your basement that you had to take through the kitchen and down the stairs to get there not to mention all those huge cabinets and tools you own. that old columbian looks like Dad used it like a vise and not for beating on.

RK: thanks for posting more pictures and information. if you have questions or want to post more pictures of all those old Parkers or other vises please do.

Slow: Sounds like you still have a mystery vice so maybe post up pictures from all sides and bottom and somebody around the world might have one like it to say what it is. how does it work?

 

[Rileysan]

So I picked of a couple of old carpenter boxes this weekend and in one of this was this wood chisel. I was sharpening it with a file when I noticed it kept balling up in the teeth of the file. After closer exam I realized the chisel is two metals . A hardened cutting bit and a softer metal to carry the bit. It reminded me of the hardened cast in jaw inserts of Reed , Hollands and others. The same question remains. How is this done with out losing temper in the hardened bit piece.

The tempering of metals is a fine art. With proper timing, one can heat the surface area of the tool without affecting the metal all the way through. The end result is a hardened surface (useful for the tip of a chisel or punch) without making the striking area of the tool brittle.

Your chisel has been sharpened a few too many times as the mild steel center is now exposed. Your chisel will need to be tempered if it is going to be useful again.

I don't recommend trying it yourself. If it's a vintage tool worth saving, I'd ask a blacksmith or shop teacher from your local high school or community college (with foundry program, of course) to temper it.

Brian

 

[GETRIDAONE]

This American Scale #25 was a rusted piece of junk that I couldn't turn down because it was so cheap. It took a lot of effort to get it apart because of the rust and the broken bottom track acting like a wedge holding the slide from moving. A bad casting in the rear not allowing the nut to pass through caused the broken track. The ball peen hammer marks on the rear of the nut were to drive it pass the high spot in the casting. When you attempted to open the vise all the way the nut would ride up on the high spot in casting and eventually breaking the track. I put J B weld on the two pieces and hope the weight of the slide won't allow them to move. I cut a piece of 1/2" metal and it serves as nut pin and a stop for the broken pieces. New lock down handles, a bunch grinding off high spots in the casting, removing seven broken off jaw screws, and some paint. Another one saved from the scrap yard

 

[Screwdriver]

SD: i love those old Record vices with the bolt through jaws and the quick release lever and hoping to find one or two big ones over here some day. it looks mint and not sure of the age of it so maybe you or the other guys know? i'm guessing pre WWII or when?

Don't know, there's no date info except possibly that "C" on the bottom casting.

Looks virtually unused but I suspect was just decorating the workshop where the former owner keeps his Bentley. No. I'm not kidding!

I only went there to buy this:

It's a small (six inch) powered shaper. Also looks pretty good except for the vice table which looks like it had been used for a drill stand!

S.

 

[Screwdriver]

It is in the 1963 catalogue but just a "number 84" and not the 84M...