The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

Ford, if the price is right, grab that puppy and run! It looks too nice to pass on. Pretty sure its an early vise (so pre 1900, but that does not jibe with that style swivel base either...)

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Ford, In the second picture it looks like the right side of the spindle retainer collar is broken off. That one should clean up nice, hope the price is OK.

 

[Fordriver6]

Outlaw & GET: Thanks for the replies. I did not notice the spindle collar, always helps to have extra eyes looking at it. The guy told me to make him an offer and I said I would when I looked at it in person. I'm gonna see if he can meet either tonight or tomorrow night, else Friday morning. I'll keep ya posted.

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[Fordriver6]

Outlaw: Post #9 by EOC_Jason in the linked thread has a ad dated 1901 that lists the Parker 273 weighing 78 pounds as a fixed base (for the princely sum of $16). So your estimate of 1900 is right on the money. The swivel base does look much like the swivel base on my later 973 1/2.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236770




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[McBrownie]

Ford, if the price is right, grab that puppy and run! It looks too nice to pass on. Pretty sure its an early vise (so pre 1900, but that does not jibe with that style swivel base either...)

Outlaw and Ford,

My 203 with that style of swivel base lock down has a 1910 Patent date on it. I would guess that mine and that 273 are 1910-1930 before the cylindrical spindle knob came into being. I would also grab that 273 in a heartbeat. The jaws look great. Just be patient with the swivel jaw pin.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5482917930.html

very tempting but on the high end as far as prices go given condition... that said, I don't see many nice 6" vises around.

Slotard,

Not a bad price.
A couple of years ago I quickly sold 3 of those Vises for 250$ each. I live in a much more depressed area than SF.

 

[KMScott]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5482917930.html

very tempting but on the high end as far as prices go given condition... that said, I don't see many nice 6" vises around.

I'd be all over that vise and I already have one. But if big heavy vises are not your thing then let her slide.

 

[slotard]

I'd like a big heavy one. I'll give him a call in a couple hours (it only lists phone and it's a landline).

 

[ekegelmann]

Now I've searched the forum and can't locate where this vise is discussed but please who is the maker? I'm wanting to buy this one and restore it with my son and will need some tips on how to do so , thanks

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[drivesitfar]

EK: we've talked about those star vises before and not sure what company they were made for, but pretty sure Morgan vise company made them. it's a good old US vise and worth restoring and using. might not be a high dollar resale, but i'm betting with a little grease and common sense using that vise will some day be your son's that he can give to his grand kids because it's a keeper. more than likely it's 4 inch wide jaws with the 140 # on the side. I actually have a star vise that has MORGAN on it's side IIRC.

Fretters: I've owned almost every version of a Wilton made prior to 1990 and I still don't know all the ins and outs of the years made and which one has or doesn't have hollow jaws. the C series Wiltons are the more expensive ones and they are C0 with 3.5 inch jaws, C1 with 4.5's, C2 with 5 inch, and C3 that weighs 220 pounds and has 6 inch wide jaws so guessing with the cavity for the big pipe jaws that those probably are not hollow jaw Wiltons like the bullet vise and tradesmans are. speaking of Wiltons do your York vises have hollow jaws?

 

[bluebolt]

Now I've searched the forum and can't locate where this vise is discussed but please who is the maker? I'm wanting to buy this one and restore it with my son and will need some tips on how to do so , thanks

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Actually that 6 point star vise is made in Japan, not USA. Still a good vise from what I see. The USA made Morgan Star vise has 5 points.

 

[va.grouseman]

Ekegelmann, you will find discussion about the star vise on----page 360, post 7182---and page 606, post 12113,---and page 1155, post 23086.----The one on page 1155 is mine, and is a #150, and made in Japan.---I called it a Pentagram but Jakemac corrected me and showed me where it is a Sexagram/Hexagram.---This may help.

Although made in Japan, I am inclined to agree with Drive that they are Morgans.---If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and waddles like a duck, you would think it would be a duck, but we still don't know for sure.


EDIT---Mine was made in Japan, that doesn't mean that they all were.

 

[Maui]

Slotard and KMScott,

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5482917930.html

I bought the exact same vise last year for $75.00 from a mechanic who was closing down his auto shop here. It was covered in grease and grime, which actually did a nice job of protecting it from the elements. The teeth are in pristine condition. The handle was replaced years ago with one that is too small in diameter and too short, but I can fabricate one easily on my lathe. It moves smoothly and should clean up beautifully. Lifting it alone is not recommended unless you have a strong back. It really is a beast.

Maui

 

[slotard]

I called him this morning. Sadly, he wants to show it before dark at 6pm (so it can go back into an unlit shed if I don't buy) and with rush hour traffic it's likely a 2 hour drive (vs 45 minutes without traffic), plus the 45 minutes it takes me to get from work to home, so I can't make it out there until the weekend. As long as it moves reasonably and isn't cracked I'll buy it, but I just can't leave work that early.

You got a steal at $75.

 

[Maui]

I agree. I did get it for a great price. Around here I've never spent more than $80 for any 6" vise that I've purchased, and they're often in much better working condition than most of the other smaller vises that I've paid nearly as much money for. They seem to be in that sweet spot of great condition, beefy construction, and low price. Go figure.

Maui

 

[Fretters]

speaking of Wiltons do your York vises have hollow jaws?

They are indeed hollow on the Yorks too. Not sure on the later A series though. Not hand my hand inside one of those as yet.

 

[Fretters]

I agree. I did get it for a great price. Around here I've never spent more than $80 for any 6" vise that I've purchased, and they're often in much better working condition than most of the other smaller vises that I've paid nearly as much money for. They seem to be in that sweet spot of great condition, beefy construction, and low price. Go figure.

Maui

With the larger vices, I think they're just too big or heavy for what most want or can manage, hence have a more limited market. Plus, with them having more beef, they stand upto heavy use better, and probably get used less in favour of using a smaller vice to hand.

 

[slotard]

I'll admit that, once in place, it's unlikely I'll be moving it much... but I only have to put it in place once.

 

[Z3K3Y]

My RAE No. 6 and Woden 186B/1 painted up. I just have to install the screw back in the RAE (im sure there is a trick to making the pin holding the washer and spring in slide in easy.. but i have yet to figure it out)

Is there a trick to keeping the spring compressed to insert the pin? it takes a lot of pressure to compress the spring on the RAE.. anyways.. heres some pics.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Z3K3Y,
Nice restoration! I love using the Hammered Green color.

As far as compressing the spring, it's kind of a **** shoot. I've used a large pair of needle nose pliers and a BF screwdriver. I've been toying with an idea of making a spring compressor by welding a slotted plate on one of my "trash" c-clamps. A 6" Bison that I bought a few weeks ago is going to give more of a spring loaded challenge than I've had before.

 

[Fretters]

Is there a trick to keeping the spring compressed to insert the pin? it takes a lot of pressure to compress the spring on the RAE.. anyways.. heres some pics.

You want a length of tube, with an I.D just large enough for the screw, which you can slide over the screw. Cut a notch in one end wide enough for the pin to pass through, and then slide that tube onto the screw and compress the spring with it as you fit the pin.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,
Here's a 4" Parker 974 in the Cincinnati area for $100. If I was closer, I'd check it out. It's the younger, slightly smaller brother to the 205 in my avatar.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the seller.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/tls/5479174231.html

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Fretters,
Thanks for mentioning the notched tube. I read about it sometime back, but forgot about about it. Damn, I feel brain dead right now!

 

[Z3K3Y]

Thank you Fretters! Im gonna see what i can find around work.

Mark. Never used this paint before and i love the look of it even though my painting skills caused a few runs in some heavy areas. it was Krylon Shimmer Metallic Green . also comes in blue, red and yellow. I think my next vice is going to be yellow!

 

[Outlawmws]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/5482917930.html

very tempting but on the high end as far as prices go given condition... that said, I don't see many nice 6" vises around.

Inspect the slide to D jaw junction closely if you go see it. In one pic it looks like it might have been welded... (poor pics... even with manipulation)

 

[slotard]

is that line (or the other side) where you mean? I'll ask him, but I'll make sure to look there.

 

[kazlx]

$40 score the other day. Clean it up a little and put it to work.

 

[MShaw]

This is my everyday vise. A Parker #205 with 4 1/2" jaws. It has a 1910 patent date but I have no idea of its age. It was surplussed from the Pratt & Whitney machine tool division in West Hartford Ct in about 1964.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

MShaw,
That's interesting. My (daily driver) 205 has a patent date of 1930, and it uses the wrench to lock down the swivel. Otherwise, it looks the same. I wonder what the different patent dates were for?

 

[CRSINMICH]

MShaw,
That's interesting. My (daily driver) 205 has a patent date of 1930, and it uses the wrench to lock down the swivel. Otherwise, it looks the same. I wonder what the different patent dates were for?

Mark: I can be of some help. The 1910 patent was given to Eli M. Walker and used by Parker. I haven't found a 1930 patent associated with Parker. Maybe it was a renewal? Eli's patent was for a swivel base vise. He probably had brothers at Parker too. P.H. Walker and V.E. Walker had a patent in 1914. Eli also had another patent in 1906.

 

[PghJKB]

MShaw,
That's interesting. My (daily driver) 205 has a patent date of 1930, and it uses the wrench to lock down the swivel. Otherwise, it looks the same. I wonder what the different patent dates were for?

The 1910 patent was for the swivel base, Patent #976521.

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


The 1930 patent was for the swivel base wrench (one of principals of the Swivel Base Wrench War), Patent #1778576.

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

JKB

 

[CRSINMICH]

PghJKB: Percy Walker had a long career inventing for Parker apparently. On the 1914 patent you can see the hold down bolt minus the wrench. What an innovator he was. Thanks for the link. That patent information is far more complete than what I had.

 

[bagged89s10]

A big box marked; HEAVY, BREAKABLE, HANDLE WITH CARE, was waiting for me to get home!
Inside was a Reed 104R in excellent condition. Look at the serrations on the jaws!

 

[Jcrapola]

Re: The VISES of Garage journal

A big box marked; HEAVY, BREAKABLE, HANDLE WITH CARE, was waiting for me to get home!
Inside was a Reed 104R in excellent condition. Look at the serrations on the jaws!

i am green with envy! That vise is SOOO COOL!

 

[Outlawmws]

is that line (or the other side) where you mean? I'll ask him, but I'll make sure to look there.

Whoops! Sorry I saw the SFbay CL tag and got crossed up. the one I was talking about was the tall 6" Parker... Sorry! :tard:


Edit: This one:

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Pgh & CRS,
Thanks for the interesting reads.

 

[bagged89s10]

A big box marked; HEAVY, BREAKABLE, HANDLE WITH CARE, was waiting for me to get home!

Inside was a Reed 104R in excellent condition. Look at the serrations on the jaws!



i am green with envy! That vise is SOOO COOL!

Thanks!
My first fully painted vise restoration was a Reed 104R. I can't wait to do an identical restoration with same color on this one.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Here's one of those vises with the star with an N in the middle that we talk about every so often.

https://flint.craigslist.org/tls/5478962946.html

 

[exmaxima1]

Thanks!
My first fully painted vise restoration was a Reed 104R. I can't wait to do an identical restoration with same color on this one.

So cool, indeed. Your 104 makes mine wet its self.

 

[va.grouseman]

Shadow, that is the vise that Ekegelmann was asking about a couple of pages ago.

Here's the #150 that I have that is made in Japan.