The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

Mark: Truly superb! An actual work of art. I can't wait to try that technique. Damn! Now there's another vise on my list.
In case you're interested, here's a catalog page with that Parker on it

 

[bagged89s10]

Anyone know if Wilton sells these aluminum made in USA decals? I need one for my 450.

 

[joe.striper]

Finished 2 vises yesterday. First my Athol 88, 2.5" jaws. Painted in dark Hammerite blue. Filed the jaws, wire wheeled everything else. Super tight specs. I couldnt open the slide, turns out the thin film of dirt on the slide until I wire wheeled it. Really a nice little guy

2nd vise is just this Wilton 745. Cleaned up nice, done in light Hammerite blue. Good action, not a big money vise but it will make someone happy.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Mark: Truly superb! An actual work of art. I can't wait to try that technique. Damn! Now there's another vise on my list.
In case you're interested, here's a catalog page with that Parker on it

Thanks for your compliment. I forgot to mention that the paper towel used to wipe off the embellishments was dampened with lacquer thinner, not too much.

Concerning the catalog page, I wish I had a time machine to go back to buy new ones, at those prices.

 

[bagged89s10]

Finished 2 vises yesterday. First my Athol 88, 2.5" jaws. Painted in dark Hammerite blue. Filed the jaws, wire wheeled everything else. Super tight specs. I couldnt open the slide, turns out the thin film of dirt on the slide until I wire wheeled it. Really a nice little guy



2nd vise is just this Wilton 745. Cleaned up nice, done in light Hammerite blue. Good action, not a big money vise but it will make someone happy.

Nice work joe.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Here's an oddball bit of vise ephemera, found while digging around for reference material...... at $9.99 and dirt cheap shipping in the US of A

A set of copper printing blocks for a vise catalog or advertisement

So for the eagle eyed..... who is the vise manufacturer?

Edit:
And a pimp vise cane in France to match the pimp hat

Thrumcap

Nice I have one of those for a Record vice

 

[slotard]

Here's the Before restoration picture of the above parker vise.

Can you tell me what the big pin is for?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Slotard,

If I read your question right, the big pin is a hardened cut off tool that's nested in the anvil.

 

[econotrk]

Finished 2 vises yesterday. First my Athol 88, 2.5" jaws. Painted in dark Hammerite blue. Filed the jaws, wire wheeled everything else. Super tight specs. I couldnt open the slide, turns out the thin film of dirt on the slide until I wire wheeled it. Really a nice little guy

2nd vise is just this Wilton 745. Cleaned up nice, done in light Hammerite blue. Good action, not a big money vise but it will make someone happy.

I like that Athol Joe, they don't show up around here often. I'd like to have one in my hands to check it out.

 

[macgee]

Here is a before picture and after pictures of a Parker 63 1/2 that I just finished. This was a fun restoration because of the art deco style of this vise.

This is an ornamental vise that has been entered in the "Another's Treasure" art show at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana Gallery, Evansville In. It will be on display after 4/4/16. This art show features art created from man made items.

Very nice Mark, I love art deco. You can easily see the work you put into it. Good luck with the art show.

Finished 2 vises yesterday. First my Athol 88, 2.5" jaws. Painted in dark Hammerite blue. Filed the jaws, wire wheeled everything else. Super tight specs. I couldnt open the slide, turns out the thin film of dirt on the slide until I wire wheeled it. Really a nice little guy

2nd vise is just this Wilton 745. Cleaned up nice, done in light Hammerite blue. Good action, not a big money vise but it will make someone happy.

Joe, Nice job on the Wilton dynamic jaw, looks like you got the method down. The pic show's the vise in light green.

In regards to nice vises, earlier posts were made about Rock Island being their best vises out of all others but I have had two RI's in very good orig. condition that were loose and avg finish. I think it depends on when it was made, the casting and who finished it at factory. Like your small Athol being nice and tight (very nice). I've seen beautiful fit and finished Athol vises, I've also have Athol while nice they do not have the best finish as nice as others. Same with Reed and Witlon.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: you made that little open screw Parker look amazing. nicely done with the restoration and fixing the broken screw holder with the E clip.

Joe: I like the Athol too, but didn't see that you made it your Avatar yet so wondering if you still like it as much as you were mentioning a day or two ago? are all those enclosed carports in the background your new VISE STORAGE? I see sun again so congrats on getting some this time of year.

Mac: we could talk forever and probably will on WHO or WHICH vise company made or makes the best vises. I've seen some BEAT TO **** Rock Islands, Reeds, Parkers, and others, but have yet to see a Starrett in terrible shape. the ones posted here always look either NOS or like new condition. anybody have any imput on Starrett vises and where they might rank in the list of BEST VISES MADE.

ALL: I was going to put an awful picture of a few ABUSED VISES, but i'll save those for the Broken vise or Repair 101 threads since this thread looks like an art show lately. even the Farm fresh vises look great.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drive , you know how I feel about Starretts.---I have 1 #646 and 2 #326s, and IMO their quality don't take a back seat to none of them.---Good solid vises.---It's kind of reflected in their, as you put it, ("never seen one BTH") history and in the prices they command.---I wouldn't take a gold monkey for either one of mine.---And still yet Reed is my favorite and I can't quite put my finger on why.---They just are.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I picked up the Parkinson 3C today for the large sum of $0.00
The guy said it was to big for his bench (who ever heard of such a thing ?) On the chance he might do some trading for a smaller one I took a USA made Wilton 4 1/2" utility vise with me. It is similar to the one in Joe's post on the previous page. I expected to throw in a few bucks, I'll trade even he said and I broke into my "Happy Dance" The Wilton was given to me so I have nothing in the Parkinson vise that is very tight and smooth by the way. It has a bad paint job over rust but I can fix that. The swivel base is kind of weird and I will check that out later. It was a very good "Vice" day !

 

[Fretters]

You definitely had a good day there. Any chance of some photo's of that swivel base, both whole & disassembled? Never actually seen a Parkinson swivel base in the flesh as yet. Seems few ever ordered those as accessories. We must be a static vice nation in general.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,

I spent some time in Mt. Carmel, Il today at an auction preview. Here's some pictures.

First picture: a BF Chas. Parker 6" vise with a pivot jaw and swivel base. This vise is complete. As I was fawning over it, the owner told me that he decided not to sell it.

Second & third picture: a 5" Reed with a pivot jaw. Unfortunately, it's beat to hell, it's missing the pivot jaw pin(which scares me) and one of the swivel base handles. The online bidding is already up to 180$ for this one. The "auction winner" will likely be pissed.


Otherwise, nothing else that I could profit from, but it was a good road trip.

 

[organ]

I picked up the Parkinson 3C today for the large sum of $0.00
The guy said it was to big for his bench (who ever heard of such a thing ?) On the chance he might do some trading for a smaller one I took a USA made Wilton 4 1/2" utility vise with me. It is similar to the one in Joe's post on the previous page. I expected to throw in a few bucks, I'll trade even he said and I broke into my "Happy Dance" The Wilton was given to me so I have nothing in the Parkinson vise that is very tight and smooth by the way. It has a bad paint job over rust but I can fix that. The swivel base is kind of weird and I will check that out later. It was a very good "Vice" day !

How old was the guy?

 

[Outlawmws]

Getridaone and Outlawmws - I was ******* all weekend and didn't have a chance to get back on here, but I wanted to say THANKS for finding that little ****** for me. There is no doubt in my mind that you nailed it with the Dunlap, the drawing matches all the details of it so well. It also came from an estate where much (if not all) of the tools and machines were Cman/Sears stuff. Any idea when that catalog was from so I could get an approximate date? Just my curiosity. Can you point me to the original posting of that catalog too?

Also, is there any way to figure out the original maker? I would assume it has subtle differences to set it apart so we won't find an exact replica with another brand on it, but it does share characteristics of other brands. I dug and dug on the net and all I found was certain characteristics echoed in other brands, but no way for my untrained eye to see more than an unmatched piece here or there.

Thanks!

I think you will find it in here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2308593

 

[jim whitney]

Picked up an Athol no. 2 this weekend in an antique. Shop in N.H. 37.50 didn't, think that was too bad

 

[PghJKB]

Parker patented the "look" of their 63/83 1/2.

Here is the URL to USPTO: http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=...&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page

The patent drawing:

JKB

 

[Rockford73]

I like the idea of sharing vintage industrial supply catalog pages since they often list a company's complete line of vises and prices.

I picked up an old catalog from a bookstore that had the mother-lode of old technical books, brochures, and manuals. This catalog is from Machinists Supply of Chicago, dated 1920. I was intrigued because it listed the then current offerings of Columbian vises. It also lists Emmert, Parker, and Prentiss, all of which appear to be sought-after on this forum.

Somewhat uniquely, the company offered and listed repair parts for the Parkers and Prentiss vises. It is hard to believe there was a great repair parts business for these vises since they are nigh indestructible.

I am interested in the history of the Columbian Vise company, so if anyone has information on it, please share.

 

[Rockford73]

Here are the Prentiss pages.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Rockford,
Thanks for posting the catalog pages. Good read.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

How old was the guy?

He was about 40 or so and he got it from an elderly lady that was selling her deceased husband's tools.

Fretter's I'll get some pictures of the base for you in the morning.

Outlaw thanks for that link, I was going to get that but you beat me to it.

 

[bagged89s10]

I think I'm going to put this up for sale. Parker 49. All I did after I bought it was de-rust it and coated it with BLO. 4.25" jaws. Weighs 65lbs

 

[ssdave]

A freeebie, not worth the effort it took to electrostrip and clean it up, but I couldn't let it stay in the dumpster. I don't have a lot of use for it, but drug it home anywy. I'll sandblast it and paint it in the summer when I'm doing other things like clamps.

Nothing wrong with it, and works excellent. Nothing even worn, just old. About 40 to 50 pounds of iron and steel there. It's big, has a 6 inch wide throat, could probably clamp 4 or 5 inch pipe. If bench vises had handles like this one, you wouldn't see them bent.

 

[exmaxima1]

Drive , you know how I feel about Starretts.---I have 1 #646 and 2 #326s, and IMO their quality don't take a back seat to none of them.---Good solid vises.---It's kind of reflected in their, as you put it, ("never seen one BTH") history and in the prices they command.---I wouldn't take a gold monkey for either one of mine.---And still yet Reed is my favorite and I can't quite put my finger on why.---They just are.

I think it's the split spindle collar. Reeds rule.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe: I like the Athol too, but didn't see that you made it your Avatar yet so wondering if you still like it as much as you were mentioning a day or two ago? are all those enclosed carports in the background your new VISE STORAGE? I see sun again so congrats on getting some this time of year.

OK drives, Avatar changed! I like this Athol a great deal. Very very nice. So tight, almost as tight as a machinist vise. I took some better pics. Jaws are nice for an old vise like this.

The background is a two car garage and a shed for the vise horde.

 

[KMScott]

Awesome vise Joe. Nice restore. Jaw serrations are hand filed too.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ ^ +1 . . Joe.Striper . . . that Athol is absolutely STUNNING !!

It is beauty, brawn, and art all in one. Very awesome avatar.

 

[trijeff]

Here are the Prentiss pages.

Still have yet to see a Prentiss 98 in any catalog

 

[bareass172]

Outlaw - thanks for the link, I love reading that stuff...

I found these 2 guys today when I was picking up some other stuff. I wanted them but the price was a little too much for me since I had just dropped $700 on bigger stuff. If anyone is in the Mobile, Alabama area and is interested PM or email me and I can get you the guy's info. He's asking $100 for both bolted to a little table that is on casters. I don't think the table is worth much... I really would have bought them if I could have gotten him off his price a bit, but I was tapped out.
The Wilton looked a little beat up but the other, despite flaking paint, was in pretty good shape in comparison. I believe the other is a 6" Atco "Rapid" 150, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

[wrenchguy]

I like this Athol a great deal. Very very nice. So tight, almost as tight as a machinist vise. I took some better pics. Jaws are nice for an old vise like this.

nice, real nice.

 

[Fretters]

I believe the other is a 6" Atco "Rapid" 150, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

It's a Bison Bial 1250 series.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bare: if you are choosing between the two vises i'd buy the Bison every day of the week if they are similar price and condition. Bison (FPU) makes a very nice vice. BTW when you mentioned paying $10 was too much for a pipe vise it made me smile because you must have been looking at Joe's posts where he gets them for that and less. anybody else on this thread or GJ would happily pay $10 for a pipe vise and a lot more if they NEEDED it.

Joe: OMG that looks so much better than it did outside even though i like how your vise storage has improved. you probably still can't walk in your backyard without stepping on a vise, but you sure have learned how to SPIFF one up. WELL DONE

VA & EX: i have to agree the REEDS seem to get my vote as the best all around vises especially the C series and 400 series. i can't recall seeing a Starrett beat up so maybe the owners all treated them better or they sold a lot less of them. the only one i've had my hands on was like new condition under the surface rust and i've seen some here that are working on benches that look almost NOS. anyway it's always up for discussion.

TJ: as far as i know they didn't make a Prentiss #98 and you and get got a couple of the employee's after hour projects that they left behind.

 

[macgee]

If anyone is in the Mobile, Alabama area and is interested PM or email me and I can get you the guy's info. He's asking $100 for both bolted to a little table that is on casters. I don't think the table is worth much... I really would have bought them if I could have gotten him off his price a bit, but I was tapped out.
The Wilton looked a little beat up but the other, despite flaking paint, was in pretty good shape in comparison. I believe the other is a 6" Atco "Rapid" 150, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

Bare:

Looking at the first thumbnail photo, I thought $100 would be generous but I then I clicked on the thumbnail. I'm with Fretters, I also think that is a Bison 150 and if it's still in good working shape, I would pick it over that Wilton in a heart beat. Also, if I'm not mistaken the table looks to be 1" - 3/4" thick steel plate. That would make for a nice little welding table.

Sell the Wilton and keep the rest.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Outlaw - thanks for the link, I love reading that stuff...

I found these 2 guys today when I was picking up some other stuff. I wanted them but the price was a little too much for me since I had just dropped $700 on bigger stuff. If anyone is in the Mobile, Alabama area and is interested PM or email me and I can get you the guy's info. He's asking $100 for both bolted to a little table that is on casters. I don't think the table is worth much... I really would have bought them if I could have gotten him off his price a bit, but I was tapped out.
The Wilton looked a little beat up but the other, despite flaking paint, was in pretty good shape in comparison. I believe the other is a 6" Atco "Rapid" 150, but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

Bare,
I'm in agreement with others. It is a Bison. I plan to restore 3 of them in the near future.
$100 for both vises & table, assuming that there are no cracks & breaks, is a great price. If I were in your shoes, I'd put some cash down to hold the vises for a couple of weeks until I got the money. I'd even kick in an extra $10 to say "thanks". Hell, I'd go without eating for a week to get those....but that's me...an addmitted vise-o-holic

 

[CRSINMICH]

Here is my latest acquisition. I know that anvil/vise combos are not held in high regard, but I have a few reasons for buying it. Utility aside, it is cool; also, it’s old. What really convinced me to buy it is that it's local. It was made less than 10 miles from where I bought it which is only 5 miles from here. It’s hard to make out some of the lettering, but it says: CHENEY ANVIL & VISE CO. PAT N_V 18 1879 NO 20 DETROIT MICH The sharp eyed among you may have already noticed another reason I bought it – it’s a swivel jaw anvil/vise. Who knew? And get this, the pin is neither stuck, missing, nor jury-rigged!

Since there has been some interest in old catalog pictures and ads, I included some.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

That is a nice one

 

[bluebolt]

Cool anvil vise need more pictures!

 

[econotrk]

CrsinMich, that's the coolest anvil vise I've seen yet, and being made close to home makes it even better.