The VISES of Garage Journal

[Evergreentree]

That is a funky color bagged! Sea foam/ecto cooler green is it? My father had a vdub that was identical in color! Brings back some memories!

Great little vise!

 

[CRSINMICH]

wrenchguy: A quick look at Google Images showed that most of the 620’s, where the lettering is clear, read M&F. I did find one Athol picture that reads ATHOL MACH CO. I have a No. 46 that reads Mfg BY AMCo ATHOL MASS. Dig yours out and see what it says. I'm sure that there are variations that I didn't find. I haven’t done any research as to when the lettering changed. If anyone has information about that I’d be glad to hear it.

 

[Evergreentree]

Here's my 622 1/2 close up crs/wrench/bagged

 

[CRSINMICH]

Here's my 622 1/2 close up crs/wrench/bagged

Another variation in Athol lettering already. I'll bet there are lots more. Thanks EGT.

 

[macgee]

Here's an Athol 114X I just finished and gave to my neighbor. The lettering on this vise is not great on this vise but could be from wear & age. It looks really old and never seen this model or splined slide style in a Athol before. The jaws lined up perfectly and vey little backlash.

 

[Evergreentree]

Way cool mac

 

[CRSINMICH]

macgee: That was very generous of you. Your neighbor must be happy. 114X, eh? With a keyed slide? Just when I think I'm out, vise lust pulls me back. And of course, in looking at Athol photos, I discovered that there is a swivel jaw version. ARRRGH! My list just got longer by two.

ADDENDUM: bagged mentioned an Athol 62X. Does anyone know what makes it an X?

 

[Blue Frog]

Please tell me which model of Wilton vise this one is - 4 1/2" wide and opens about 7".





Thanks,

Blue

 

[joe.striper]

Please tell me which model of Wilton vise this one is - 4 1/2" wide and opens about 7".





Thanks,

Blue

Blue, bad news buddy, under the Vise Confiscation Act of 1953 (VCA) it is illegal for you to own that vise. I know you weren't aware of this so I thought it important that I tell you.

As a duly authorized agent under the 1955 law USC 14-545 (subtitled Authorized Vise Confiscation Deputy Act) I demand that you package that vise up and send it to the Northeast Illegal Vise Collection Center (NIVCC) headquartered in Agawam, MA. Upon receipt I will properly dispose of this vise in the NIVCC warehouse where it will await a ruling on it's legality.

Thank you for your swift compliance.

Joe Polaski
NIVCC AVCD Badge #4C

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,

I just finished my antique Sheldon woodworking vise restoration. This is a very cool woodworking vise because of the cast iron body, the handle set up, and how the moving jaw slides in a tongue & groove track on each side (has the same tight movement as a vintage Wilton Bullet). The jaw faces are solid wood that magnetically attach to the jaws. The spindle and slides have been coated with furniture polish to prevent rust, provide lubrication and to not attract saw dust.

Thanks for the guidance on its origin.

Attached are before & after pictures:

Drives: I changed my mind on the color. It looks like there was a tiny amount of red paint in the bench dog channel (my original color choice), but Hammer Green won out.

 

[joe.striper]

All,

I just finished my antique Sheldon woodworking vise restoration. This is a very cool woodworking vise because of the cast iron body, the handle set up, and how the moving jaw slides in a tongue & groove track on each side (has the same tight movement as a vintage Wilton Bullet). The jaw faces are solid wood that magnetically attach to the jaws. The spindle and slides have been coated with furniture polish to prevent rust, provide lubrication and to not attract saw dust.

Thanks for the guidance on its origin.

Attached are before & after pictures:

Drives: I changed my mind on the color. It looks like there was a tiny amount of red paint in the bench dog channel (my original color choice), but Hammer Green won out.

Wow that came out great!!! What a unique vise.

 

[bl00]

Please tell me which model of Wilton vise this one is - 4 1/2" wide and opens about 7".

It looks like a 4500.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,

Here's my latest find...a 6" (150mm) Bison Bial Model 1250-150L machinists vise with swivel base...for...$50.00.

I've been looking for one for a looooong time!

 

[bagged89s10]

macgee: That was very generous of you. Your neighbor must be happy. 114X, eh? With a keyed slide? Just when I think I'm out, vise lust pulls me back. And of course, in looking at Athol photos, I discovered that there is a swivel jaw version. ARRRGH! My list just got longer by two.

ADDENDUM: bagged mentioned an Athol 62X. Does anyone know what makes it an X?

I meant the x as a variable. Like When people say craftsman 519x.

So I meant athol 623, 624, 624-1/2, etc.

 

[bagged89s10]

That is a funky color bagged! Sea foam/ecto cooler green is it? My father had a vdub that was identical in color! Brings back some memories!



Great little vise!

I believe it was krylon satin pistachio.

 

[zkling]

It looks like a 4500.

Yeah, 4500S non power screw, they called it a tool room vise, chamfered jaws and toweres for filing.

 

[CRSINMICH]

I meant the x as a variable. Like When people say craftsman 519x.

So I meant athol 623, 624, 624-1/2, etc.

bagged: Oh yeah, that makes sense. I guess when I looked back after MACGEE posted his 114X I got them blended. Dayid's only has one X model Athol listed. Still, the question remains. Does anyone know what, if anything, the X designation means on Athol vises?

 

[Tritonus]

That is awesome Mac.

Now, go buy this and do it again
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-250-PO...8bf1ba3&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=3&sd=262306899680

 

[CRSINMICH]

Mark: Two too-cool vises. Are you going to mount the Sheldon on your bench? I'd be interested in hearing about how well it works. It looks like it could generate a lot of clamping pressure. Very nice resto - quick too!

 

[Rockford73]

Vise #3 Columbian 404 ½ Swivel Jaw Machinist Vise

(See post #225605, Page 1281 for my previous posting)

Barn-finds- I’ve heard about them, but never seen one and certainly never been the recipient of one, but out of the blue my son dragged home a massive Columbian 404 ½ found lying in the dirt in rural Virginia. Although I don’t have a lot of use for such a large vise (I have a heavy Palmgren and a massive Emmert already), I will restore this one just to add to my Columbian collection. Still I would have preferred him finding a cherry ‘67 or ‘68 Chevelle.

The vise appears to have seen little use and no abuse other than abandonment to the elements. I got the swivel plate off, and the screw and nut appear to be free. The moving jaw slide is frozen in place. The taper pin holding the swivel jaw is pretty solidly rooted too.

I will start to get things freed up and cleaned up in my electrolysis tank. The hot caustic bath works wonders. If that fails, out come the torch, liquid nitrogen, and vibratory stress reliever. I don’t want to get medieval on this, so I will try finesse for a while.

I have noticed that the swivel locking handle, screw and wedge are missing so once I get this thing freed up I may request a sketch from another owner of a 404 ½ so I can fabricate replacements.

 

[Evergreentree]

Rock-Big score! Sweet! I have a 505. Not a sj. Great stuff

Bagged-thanks for color info

 

[CRSINMICH]

Rockford: Congrats on your Columbian. Check out the Vise Repair thread for ideas for dealing with stuck pins and slides. Is the massive Emmert that you mentioned a Tiger? Please post some pictures of all of your vises if you have them.

 

[Outlawmws]

Back on the M&F: Athol Machine & Foundry Co

 

[CRSINMICH]

Outlaw: Thanks! I figured it was something like that. Do you have any information about when the different variations of Athol's lettering were used? I'm pretty sure that the AMCo version was early but that's all I know.

 

[Outlawmws]

I cribbed that from Mikeswrenches over off Pawpaws:

Below is some more info on the origins of the Starrett co. Courtesy of the Davistown Museum in Liberty, Maine

L. S. Starrett Co.
Athol and Newburyport Massachusetts, 1880-1994-

Tool Types: Calipers, Dividers, Household Tools, Levels, Machinist Tools, Rules, and Squares
Identifying Marks: L.S. STARRETT CO./ATHOL.MASS (sometimes on one line and/or without “CO”); The L.S.S.Co./Athol,Mass.

Remarks: The L. S. Starrett Company was founded in 1880 in Athol, Massachusetts and is still in operation. They are a manufacturer of machinists' tools such as rules, squares, calipers, gauges and dividers.

Laroy (often incorrectly recorded “Leroy”) S. Starrett (April 25, 1836-1922) invented and produced the HASHER, a meat chopping machine patented May 23, 1865. A few years later, he went to work for the Athol Machine Co., which produced it in 1868. Circa 1875 he was prompted to quit due to mounting legal disagreements over patents including a particular combination machinists’ square he produced through the Richardson Machine Shop in 1877.

In 1880, he won the lawsuit against Athol and formed his own company, buying out Charles P. Fay of Springfield, Massachusetts’s caliper and divider stock, machinery, and patents in 1887. His wild success allowed him to buy out his old employer and legal foil, Athol Machine Co., in 1905.

Starrett held over 100 patents, including a particularly significant micrometer patented July 29, 1890. He also produced tools with pre-1900 patents of Frederick A. Adams, Frank G. Lilja, Morris F. Smith, Burnside E. Sawyer, John D. Sloan, Edward C. Clapp, Carl G. Osteman, J.H. Cook, Patrick Kennelly, and George Thompson (Nelson 1999).

And

additional Athol/Starrett history. It seems that after the acquisition of The Athol Machine Co. in 1905, Starrett must have kept the company as a subsidiary rather than closing it, because in 1930 the Athol Machine Co. name was changed to The Athol Machine & Foundry Co. This lasted until about 1963 when Athol ceased operations.

Somewhere around 1999 Starrett sold the vise line to Yost.

Interestingly Laroy Starretts last patent was for a vise...a quick opening one no less. And it was assigned to the Athol Machine Co. it was patent no. 1,428,996, dated Sept. 12, 1922.

So Athol/Starret vises:
1868?? - 1930 Athol Machine Co (L. S. Starrett buys Athol in 1905)
1930 - 1963 The Athol Machine & Foundry Co (ceased operations.)
1963 - 1999 Starrett

It's probable that Athol made some with Starrett branding before 1963, but that's just a guess.

 

[oldldh]

All,

Here's my latest find...a 6" (150mm) Bison Bial Model 1250-150L machinists vise with swivel base...for...$50.00.

I've been looking for one for a looooong time!

An 8" version was on Ebay forever...

It sold for like $ 150.00, if my old memory serves...

Heavy B@#tard...

 

[macgee]

That is awesome Mac.

Now, go buy this and do it again
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-250-PO...8bf1ba3&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=3&sd=262306899680

Trit,

Thank you but just looking at it makes my back go into spasms.

As much as I like Starrett's I think I would pass on that vise, even with the copper jaw caps, the jaws seem to be suspect. On top of that, the 6,400 mile roundtrip on top of the $1,250 makes me wish I found Rockford's Columbian vise.

Vise #3 Columbian 404 ½ Swivel Jaw Machinist Vise

(See post #225605, Page 1281 for my previous posting)

Barn-finds- I’ve heard about them, but never seen one and certainly never been the recipient of one, but out of the blue my son dragged home a massive Columbian 404 ½ found lying in the dirt in rural Virginia.

The vise appears to have seen little use and no abuse other than abandonment to the elements. I got the swivel plate off, and the screw and nut appear to be free. The moving jaw slide is frozen in place. The taper pin holding the swivel jaw is pretty solidly rooted too.

Rockford,

Nice find and your correct, it does look barely used prior to abandonment. Hopefully the slide does not have much pitting.

Getting the pin out already for the angle jaw is a very good sign.

Getting the dynamic jaw to loosen up probably only needs a good penetrate like PB Blaster to soak in for a couple of days. I would not be too surprised if the grease inside the static jaw along with club and rust has dried into a glue, freezing the slide. I come cross this often especially in Jacob chucks.

That vise looks like a great candidate to restore. Enjoy

 

[Mark in Indiana]

An 8" version was on Ebay forever...

It sold for like $ 150.00, if my old memory serves...

Heavy B@#tard...

It's still a great vise. My Dad had a Bison 80 that was around while I was growing up, which I now have. Bisons & FPU Vises are special to me.
I would have been pleased as punch to get a 8" Bison with a swivel base for 150$.

If you guys come across one, look at it seriously. They are top shelf, IMO.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Mark: Two too-cool vises. Are you going to mount the Sheldon on your bench? I'd be interested in hearing about how well it works. It looks like it could generate a lot of clamping pressure. Very nice resto - quick too!

CRS,
I have a Morgan 10A that I currently use. Having a woodworking vise is invaluable as a secondary vise. Although I feel that the Sheldon is a better vise than my Morgan, it's for sale.

 

[Tritonus]

Trit,

Thank you but just looking at it makes my back go into spasms.

As much as I like Starrett's I think I would pass on that vise, even with the copper jaw caps, the jaws seem to be suspect. On top of that, the 6,400 mile roundtrip on top of the $1,250 makes me wish I found Rockford's Columbian vise.

Yea I know. I was only kidding. The ebay description says 8", and from my documentation it is a 6". 926 numbering tells me so.

It must be the coldest time of the year to travel to Maine.

 

[exmaxima1]

All,

Here's my latest find...a 6" (150mm) Bison Bial Model 1250-150L machinists vise with swivel base...for...$50.00.

I've been looking for one for a looooong time!

I had the same model Bison vise for many years and I loved it. Sold it (for $50) when I got my Paramo No 6. You have a great vise.

 

[Fretters]

All,

Here's my latest find...a 6" (150mm) Bison Bial Model 1250-150L machinists vise with swivel base...for...$50.00.

I've been looking for one for a looooong time!

Nice. I got hold of a Bison 80 a year or two ago. They're a deceptively nice vice, aren't they.

 

[CRSINMICH]

So Athol/Starret vises:
1868?? - 1930 Athol Machine Co (L. S. Starrett buys Athol in 1905)
1930 - 1963 The Athol Machine & Foundry Co (ceased operations.)
1963 - 1999 Starrett

It's probable that Athol made some with Starrett branding before 1963, but that's just a guess.

Thanks Outlaw: That's exactly what I was looking for. I knew about Laroy "Don't call me Leroy" Starrett's connection with Athol and about his hasher. I even saw one for sale online once. My guess is that most variations in lettering beyond your timeline would be due to having to fit them onto the various models that Athol/Starrett produced. Thanks again.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

OK, another jerky seller. I saw this on CL. Pics are upside down. I asked the seller for a shot from the top and he said no. Really? I dont know what the hell this is. Do you? $30

Ok got more pics...pretty cool. I may have to buy it

Joe, I found our Goodell Pratt wood vises thanks to a catalog post in the vintage tool section by four cycle.

 

[wrenchguy]

Back on the M&F: Athol Machine & Foundry Co

thanks

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I cleaned up a 4" Canedy Otto vise. A couple interesting things I found were the handle balls are cast aluminum. The second is how the jaws are attached. Look at the photo's and you will notice two ovals on the jaw face. The side picture shows the thin U shaped jaw insert. Looks to me like they were in the mold when poured (very poor casting) and metal flowed through the oval holes and the face was milled and cross hatched. The fit is really loose and the casting is poor. I found a air pocket on the spindle knob the size of a small jellybean. I filled it full or lead.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe, I found our Goodell Pratt wood vises thanks to a catalog post in the vintage tool section by four cycle.

OOOOhhhh, that's great!!! Thanks. Into the archive it goes!

 

[Rileysan]

I cleaned up a 4" Canedy Otto vise. A couple interesting things I found were the handle balls are cast aluminum. The second is how the jaws are attached. Look at the photo's and you will notice two ovals on the jaw face. The side picture shows the thin U shaped jaw insert. Looks to me like they were in the mold when poured (very poor casting) and metal flowed through the oval holes and the face was milled and cross hatched. The fit is really loose and the casting is poor. I found a air pocket on the spindle knob the size of a small jellybean. I filled it full or lead.

That may very well be one of the worst (vintage) vise castings I have ever seen! It's full of voids that are likely the result of shrink, and the inside radius of the jaws look as if they were never cleaned or machined!

As far as placing jaws in a mold prior to casting, that would be highly unusual. Placing disparate metals together like this would create undesirable results - not the least of which would be the challenge of keeping the angle of the jaw inserts perfect. Of course, the quality of this vise speaks for itself so that's definitely a possibility.

For those who are curious, there are a couple of good reasons to place solid metal into a mold prior to pouring.

The first, and most common, is known as a "chill". A chill is a heavy block of steel that is placed in a mold where you want rapid cooling of the casting - such as the jaw radius on a vise. This will prevent molten metal from being drawn inward towards the heavier section of a casting as it cools, else there can and will be voids from shrinkage (as seen in Getridaone's vise).

The second reason is to allow machine-able areas on extremely hard castings (like chrome-iron). In the case of the casting I have pictured here, steel round-stock is placed into the mold to allow bolt holes to be drilled and tapped. This casting is a 4' slurry pump housing that will be cleaned and sold "as-cast". There will be no heat treatment so the steel inserts won't be affected.

Brian

 

[KMScott]

Another excellant post on castings Rileysan. Thanks for sharing with us your skills and experience.

How was these jaws casted in place on this Reed and others back in the day. Do you think they were brazed in after? This has always puzzled me. Also just for kicks what is the shrink rate on most castings. The powdered metals are over 20%. Kind of hard for the Asian folks to hit the screw hole dimensions and sizes with that much shrinkage. Thanks in advance Brian.

Kevin

 

[macgee]

I had the same model Bison vise for many years and I loved it. Sold it (for $50) when I got my Paramo No 6. You have a great vise.

Exmaxima,

How do you like your Paramo? I really like them and actually think they are nicer (better finished) than Record vise's. Had a couple and love my tiny No.1.

GJ member MohawkDave (Thank you Dave) very kindly gave me a 6" Paramo vise I have never seen before and still can't find any info on. It's a No.72 with a keyed top slide like the 114X Athol I posted yesterday and it's a lighter duty version of a typical 6" Paramo vise. The vise was worn hard and put away wet but after some cleaning up, the vise still works great with zero backlash and jaws still line up. I'm impressed as this thing has seen a lot of use.