The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

QUESTIONS ABOUT WARD VISES
After I posted the pictures of the Ward’s Deluxe Quality vise yesterday I tried to find information about it. I kept finding information about other Ward’s lines. I found Master Quality and Lakeside also. I assume that the different lines were of different quality and price. Does anyone have any information about that and if so how did the lines rank? What was supposedly better Deluxe Quality or Master Quality? Where did Lakeside fit in? This is just to satisfy my curiosity. I would appreciate hearing any information about Ward lines that you might have. Old ads would be good too.
Just for the heck of it, here are a few more views of the Deluxe Quality vise.


p.s. I just saw Jcrapola's Blue Reed in person. The pictures don't do it justice. It looks GOOD!!!!!

 

[joe.striper]

Had a good day. Bought this Rock Island 574 for $85. Nice and clean. It has a factory tag on it, can't wait to see where it is from.

 

[bagged89s10]

Had a good day. Bought this Rock Island 574 for $85. Nice and clean. It has a factory tag on it, can't wait to see where it is from.

Did you see a date stamp on the slide yet? I feel like Rick island made the hardest set of removable jaw inserts of any vise. Almost every one I see has perfect jaws. Nice buy joe!

Both of mine have excellent jaws too.

Rock island 594 date stamped 12/53



Rock island made Craftsman 5162 date stamped 9/46

 

[topop101]

I know some have complained about the price to buy old vise's has gone up and it has. Maybe because of the thread maybe not.... But The popularity and demand has gone up as well. This is my 10th vise already this year sold.
Nothing fancy just clean and classic !

 

[joe.striper]

I feel a disturbance in the force...

 

[Fretters]

Fretters: so i sold 3 vises this week and i think i bought 3 so is that good???

You're a lost cause. You're supposed to be whittling down the collection, not filling the empty spots you make.

 

[ganymede]

Drives and Craptain,

I bought the GFE vise for $60. This thing is a monster. It weighs in at about 120 lbs. From the attached photos you can see that someone welded the jaws in place. I can't find anything else wrong with this vise. With a little work I can remove the weld that's there, clean up the casting on a milling machine where the jaws sit, and then fabricate a new set of jaws that are a little thicker to fill the gap created by milling back the welded area. It should work out pretty well.

Maui

I saw that and wanted to grab it because its of extra interest to me. It was made in Rhode Island and thats a collecting concentration of mine.
It looks like its better hands than mine though. Can't wait to see it after you fix the jaws.
In the late 20's or early 30's the company changed its name to Grinnell .
They continued to make vices but marked them Grinnell instead. I don't know when they stopped.

 

[va.grouseman]

Top, The popularity and demand for old iron has gone up because the quality of new iron has diminished in all but a couple of companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Originally posted by Joe.Striper.

Had a good day. Bought this Rock Island 574 for $85. Nice and clean. It has a factory tag on it, can't wait to see where it is from.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Joe, that is probably the Birtman Electric Co. tag.---I have a 574 that has that tag on it.---Here's a 577 with the same tag, found on page 103.---A darn near mint 574 by the way, at what I consider a steal.---You done real good.


http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll111/glacierstoscrape/DSC02727.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll111/glacierstoscrape/DSC02742.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll111/glacierstoscrape/DSC02743.jpg


And here's my 574

 

[KMScott]

I know some have complained about the price to buy old vise's has gone up and it has. Maybe because of the thread maybe not.... But The popularity and demand has gone up as well. This is my 10th vise already this year sold.
Nothing fancy just clean and classic !

Nice job Tops on that Wilton. I am trying to finish 6 vises at once and one is a Wilton like yours but as luck has it my CNC went down AGAIN. I am depressed right now, I am beginning to hate Miltronic's CNC's. No help from the company in Wisconsin ever.

The 574 Rock Joe bought and the 594 that baggs has take the same size jaws. One of my most sold jaws not ment for a Wilton. There must be a bunch out there.

 

[bagged89s10]

I know some have complained about the price to buy old vise's has gone up and it has. Maybe because of the thread maybe not.... But The popularity and demand has gone up as well. This is my 10th vise already this year sold.

Nothing fancy just clean and classic !

Excellent restore!

 

[topop101]

Nice job Tops on that Wilton. I am trying to finish 6 vises at once and one is a Wilton like yours but as luck has it my CNC went down AGAIN. I am depressed right now, I am beginning to hate Miltronic's CNC's. No help from the company in Wisconsin ever.

Thanks Kevin. I have had to keep several vise's going at once all year. It's been crazy. At this pace I'll have to hit the road soon to gather a bunch. I still can't get over that pin idea you had for the Wilton's . Maybe you should present that to Wilton

 

[topop101]

Excellent restore!

Thanks Bagged. I don't get the polish you do , Just been too rushed. I fell at work this week. 7 feet backward from the deck of my crane. Sprang my shoulder, bruised my hip and fractured both heels. The shoulder really made it challenging to lug around on the iron not to mention hand filing and sanding. The heels are the most painful but I sit at my bench's anyway so I able to work around that.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Kevin. I have had to keep several vise's going at once all year. It's been crazy. At this pace I'll have to hit the road soon to gather a bunch. I still can't get over that pin idea you had for the Wilton's . Maybe you should present that to Wilton

This 500 is why I had to figure a way to fix the pin issue. Previous owner got pissed because the pin kept getting loose so they welded the pin in place on both sides, pretty nice hu.
Also had to rotate the nut on this one to, the notch casted into the nut to keep it from rotating was gone, I welded up a new key and ground a new notch in the end cap/nut support to make this repair last. Came out pretty nice. This 500 Wilton was rode hard coming from a weld shop, won it for $80 and it really has been a practice vise for welding. I'll finish it some day after I fix my friggin CNC Mill.

 

[joe.striper]

Went to the flea market today, saw this 2" OLD Athol, got excited then got close. Oooooh so sad

 

[rk5n]

Here's a few more vises. My dad's Parker 102 (which is in amazing condition) next to a Columbian D43 1/2

Dad's Parker 63 1/2

A few pages ago I was asked to post a close up of the plate on my dad's damaged Parker 105.

It reads:
Property of Defense Plant Corporation
An Instrumentality of the United States
Government
DPC 26846 EA
General Motors Linden
Plancor 569

Does anyone know if it's possible to find a replacement screw for this vise? Or maybe just the ball at the end if it's possible to press a new one on the existing screw. He'd like to restore it back to original condition.

 

[va.grouseman]

Top, when I worked for VDOT, I could squeeze 6 months out of an injury like that.

 

[va.grouseman]

RK, You've still got the main screw, and if the threads are still good then just remove it, and take it and the knob/screw end to a machinist and have them welded together and build the weld up slightly above grade so you can file and sand the weld down to shape.---Granted it's two different kinds of metal but a good machinist will know how to make them gel.

 

[topop101]

This 500 is why I had to figure a way to fix the pin issue. Previous owner got pissed because the pin kept getting loose so they welded the pin in place on both sides, pretty nice hu.
Also had to rotate the nut on this one to, the notch casted into the nut to keep it from rotating was gone, I welded up a new key and ground a new notch in the end cap/nut support to make this repair last. Came out pretty nice. This 500 Wilton was rode hard coming from a weld shop, won it for $80 and it really has been a practice vise for welding. I'll finish it some day after I fix my friggin CNC Mill.

Man that's a ton of good work ! I wish I had that know how. I have to walk away from those in that condition. It's too bad because I come across many of them through out the year. Mostly busted jaw shelf's.

 

[topop101]

Top, when I worked for VDOT, I could squeeze 6 months out of an injury like that.

lol... I go back to see the work comp quack Tuesday then we'll see whether I get caught up around the house or since I mostly sit in the crane they may crack the whip on me.... no rest for the wicked.

 

[topop101]

Here's a few more vises. My dad's Parker 102 (which is in amazing condition) next to a Columbian D43 1/2

Dad's Parker 63 1/2

A few pages ago I was asked to post a close up of the plate on my dad's damaged Parker 105.

It reads:
Property of Defense Plant Corporation
An Instrumentality of the United States
Government
DPC 26846 EA
General Motors Linden
Plancor 569

Does anyone know if it's possible to find a replacement screw for this vise? Or maybe just the ball at the end if it's possible to press a new one on the existing screw. He'd like to restore it back to original condition.

If I'm not mistaken , parker and Prentiss are threaded similar. You might have better luck finding a Prentiss for parts. Also Athol's have a knob design that you could apply to this vise. It wouldn't be original but get creative with it and it could very cool.

 

[Evergreentree]

Went to a sale to get a few vises at a sale today, but they had been sold for too little. Bummer.Then I found this really nice lead screw tucked away. Anyone have an idea of what it is? Noticed blunted end. Figured one day I'd need it, or someone else will from the gj

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice job Tops on that Wilton. I am trying to finish 6 vises at once and one is a Wilton like yours but as luck has it my CNC went down AGAIN. I am depressed right now, I am beginning to hate Miltronic's CNC's. No help from the company in Wisconsin ever.

The 574 Rock Joe bought and the 594 that baggs has take the same size jaws. One of my most sold jaws not ment for a Wilton. There must be a bunch out there.

Dr. Scott, have to linked up with any forums that focus on the Miltronics? many times the Forums have better support than the companies...

 

[Outlawmws]

Man EGT, it's too bad that isn't the screw/head rK5n needs! so near yet so far...

On that broken screw head, I'd take the old one and use it as a pattern to make a new one... THEN re-attach the screw....

 

[Outlawmws]

Fretters: so i sold 3 vises this week and i think i bought 3 so is that good???

Hmm that would be an "it depends" what did you sell and what did you buy?

 

[slow_runner]

It would seem that you are spoiled for choice over there
If only we had a fraction of that number? Oh, that's right, that is exactly what we have


Can anyone identify this vice brand for me? Rocket, it is an interesting marque reminiscent of the 50's or out of India or such place maybe?

Secondary to that Rocket.
About my Dawn fabricated vice, I made inquiries with the 'Dawn' factory people through their website about the possibility of obtaining the paint code. After some confusion on their part about the inability to ship paint I was informed that, "I’m sorry but we do not give out Dawn paint code."
Strange
Can anyone help here, especially any Australians who may know the colour or code?
Failing success with this request I'll sling it under my arm and get myself over to the nearest smart paint joint for a paint analysis.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Went to a sale to get a few vises at a sale today, but they had been sold for too little. Bummer.Then I found this really nice lead screw tucked away. Anyone have an idea of what it is? Noticed blunted end. Figured one day I'd need it, or someone else will from the gj

It looks a lot like the Rock Island posted on the previous page by bagged. The knob seems to be a little longer and thicker in the middle than the other manufacturers.

 

[bagged89s10]

Went to a sale to get a few vises at a sale today, but they had been sold for too little. Bummer.Then I found this really nice lead screw tucked away. Anyone have an idea of what it is? Noticed blunted end. Figured one day I'd need it, or someone else will from the gj

Yeah my guess is Rock island. If there is a hole in the center of the nose, then it could be from a Parker Trojan vise.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Yeah my guess is Rock island. If there is a hole in the center of the nose, then it could be from a Parker Trojan vise.

The old no collar Parkers were pear shaped and tapered down with no ridge where it meet the main body. I think your right about it being RI.
Picture. Rock Island. vs. Trojan

 

[jakemac]

About my Dawn fabricated vice, I made inquiries with the 'Dawn' factory people through their website about the possibility of obtaining the paint code. After some confusion on their part about the inability to ship paint I was informed that, "I’m sorry but we do not give out Dawn paint code."
Strange

That's fairly common in industry. Most companies will have custom colors made that are just off from off-the-shelf colors. This is a way for them to protect their brand from knockoffs and differentiate themselves from the competition. It also lets them charge extra for touch-up paint that only they can supply. They rarely give out the formula, even for obsolete color schemes. Most companies don't even keep the formula available to customer service. It's locked away in a vault and only the paint dept. at the factory has access to it.

Your best bet would be to have a paint store scan it and do a color match.

 

[Exert]

Vise in Greenland

Hi. all,

Here is a Rock Island vise that I bumped into in Greenland.

Left there by the US Airforce when they abandoned the Kulusuk radar facility.

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Ellert

Iceland

 

[Evergreentree]

No hole in the nose bagged. Though I did notice a number 2 cast into the lead nut, if that helps.

It would make sense it was a r.i. I went there to purchase two of them!

 

[jakemac]

Re: Vise in Greenland

Hi. all,

Here is a Rock Island vise that I bumped into in Greenland.

Left there by the US Airforce when they abandoned the Kulusuk radar facility.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

Ellert

Iceland

So very sad to see a good tool in that condition.

 

[drivesitfar]

Exert: too bad some ape beat that 150 pound Rock Island 577 in half. i'd keep it for the parts and maybe somebody find a good dynamic off another broken one to make a whole vise. here's what one that isn't broken looks like.

ALL: what is it about Prentiss swivel jaw vises that seem to have my eye? here's another #19 that i found that is in pretty decent shape and probably was sitting on the steel bench with it for the last 80+ years. still has the square bolts. the jaw width it 3.5 (or might be 3 3/8ths) and dynamic is 13 inches long. it weighs about 25 pounds and of course the swivel jaw's pin is missing.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: anybody have an idea of the maker of this mill vise? it has 6 inch jaws and weighs i'm guessing about 80 pounds. i also came with an aluminum jig. it looks to be well made.

since i don't own a mill or lathe (yet) i guess i really didn't NEED this vise, but when has that really been an issue to keep me from buying one.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: here's a couple vises that i bought more because of their look than anything i have to use them for.

first one is an old handsaw vise and i didn't recognize the maker's name Stearns if that is the maker. Maybe i can sharpen up a few of the old handsaws i own or maybe the chain saw bar will fit to sharpen the chain.

this pipe chain vise has some writing on it that i'll clean up and post later, but it has a nice handle and one of the biggest chains for a little vise i've seen. i'm guessing it was for holding cast iron pipe

 

[Outlawmws]

Drives, I have a half dozen Stearns clamps, so it doesn't surprise me to see they made a saw vise.

No Clue on the Mil vise.

Chain vise is probably Ridgid.

 

[drivesitfar]

Outlaw: thanks. the saw clamp has a lever to open and close it quickly so i might come in handy for other small items. do your Stearn clamps have the butterfly handles too? if so i'm sure i probably own a few because i can't remember the last time i left a butterfly handle clamp sitting on a bench if i saw it when buying something else.

 

[Outlawmws]

At least some, if not all, do have the wing nut handles.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Drives,
I believe that your chain type pipe vise is a Vulcan No.1, mfg. by J H Williams. I picked up a couple on Friday, with 3 other vises, a radial arm saw and a jointer. Normally, I just clean, lube and flip pipe vises. The guys that buy those from me usually bolt them to a truck bumper. However, in this case, it would be fun to do a restoration on these. I'm glad I got a pair of them. They would be useful on a bench, on opposite ends for long pipe work.

 

[joe.striper]

Bought this little bolt thru vise today. Replaceable jaws, definitely US made. Anyone see something like this before???? Pd $10 so I knew I couldn't go wrong.