The VISES of Garage Journal

[topop101]

This thread needs some excitement. Just brought this one home today. Here it is "as found":




Oh yeah! The Craftsman vise "Holy Grail":

How about a lil history with the vise? How much $$ ? Date on the slide? Where did you find it?

 

[topop101]

No glamour pictures in the last few days so I'll put a few up. The stand is obviously a Baldor grinder stand with a nicley made top plate to fit the Parker 976. The jaws have taken a beating and I did the best I could without grinding them down to nothing. I made a new handle to replace the bent one. I had a piece of 3/4" round so I used it instead of the original 13/16". It was a little loose from wear and being undersize so I put a plastic bushing in. It works well at keeping the handle where you put it. The color is sage & hunter green.

A thing of beauty!!! Very nice work!

 

[topop101]

Drives Here's the 185 pound 7" fixed base swivel jaw Prentiss I was working on in the 101 repair thread just before handing it off along with a few others the owner had to have!

 

[Outlawmws]

This thread needs some excitement. Just brought this one home today. Here it is "as found":




Oh yeah! The Craftsman vise "Holy Grail":

Somebody *****...

 

[jpickar]

This thread needs some excitement. Just brought this one home today. Here it is "as found":




Oh yeah! The Craftsman vise "Holy Grail":

HOLY COW BATMAN. A real 5198!!! YOU ****!!
John

 

[jreb10]

How about a lil history with the vise? How much $$ ? Date on the slide? Where did you find it?

Found it at an auction in western Wisconsin. Had to fight to get it at $170 plus about $15 in gas money. I was not going to let it get away.

I have completed the initial hand cleaning with a wire brush to get the muck off. No cracks. Slide and leadscrew were well-lubricated.




So far I can't find a date on the slide. It may be obscured by some usage marks. Other than that it is on pretty good shape. The only flaws are a missing oil cover on the dynamic (replacement already ordered), and about 1 inch of the static jaw ledge is broken off. Someone compensated for that with a longer screw on that side.




Handle is straight, lockdown handle is also straight, with flat blade screwdriver grooves on the end (have not seen that before). Jaws look terrific.



Last few bits of the original paint:



Never thought I would ever see one, much less buy one.

 

[jakemac]

Wow! Another 5198.
Two years ago, we all thought that they were a cruel hoax printed in the catalogs.
Now this is what, number 4 or 5 that has been found ?
They've gone from being a myth, to being merely extremely rare. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it gives me hope that someday maybe ...............

 

[drivesitfar]

Jake: you feel like its your turn to find one and own one. yes??

Jreb: yep you got a KEEPER. with all the cool stuff guys here can do to repair cast i'm sure that piece can be fixed if you want to later. nice find

Riley: will the boss let you swap another good vise for the 405.5? if so i'd try. I have the Reed 404.5 and might be one of my favorites.

Top: looks like a heavy and expensive tailgate. I remember seeing the flaws on your big Prentiss on the 101 thread and after looking at it on your tailgate I really can't recall what the issues were. WELL DONE

 

[topop101]

Found it at an auction in western Wisconsin. Had to fight to get it at $170 plus about $15 in gas money. I was not going to let it get away.

I have completed the initial hand cleaning with a wire brush to get the muck off. No cracks. Slide and leadscrew were well-lubricated.




So far I can't find a date on the slide. It may be obscured by some usage marks. Other than that it is on pretty good shape. The only flaws are a missing oil cover on the dynamic (replacement already ordered), and about 1 inch of the static jaw ledge is broken off. Someone compensated for that with a longer screw on that side.




Handle is straight, lockdown handle is also straight, with flat blade screwdriver grooves on the end (have not seen that before). Jaws look terrific.



Last few bits of the original paint:



Never thought I would ever see one, much less buy one.

You did very well!!! I wouldn't have let it get away either!

 

[va.grouseman]

That makes #5 Jreb.---You did real good to have been in an auction setting.---Most of the time your competitors will be in, got to have it mode.---Well done.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Beautiful set-up Get.---That represents a lot of elbow grease.---You fellows are really bringing it this evening.---Fine specimens gentlemen.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

No glamour pictures in the last few days so I'll put a few up. The stand is obviously a Baldor grinder stand with a nicley made top plate to fit the Parker 976. The jaws have taken a beating and I did the best I could without grinding them down to nothing. I made a new handle to replace the bent one. I had a piece of 3/4" round so I used it instead of the original 13/16". It was a little loose from wear and being undersize so I put a plastic bushing in. It works well at keeping the handle where you put it. The color is sage & hunter green.

I really like Parkers, yours looks great.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

The Base finally came in for the Wilton C0. Mounted it on the bench will use it for all kinds of projects I have no time for. I also picked up a Morgan Chicago 135 jaws are rough dynamic tower has had better days but it was cheap. I was thinking of switching out the Parker 974 and using it so if I bang it up I wont care, but I really like using the 974 it just works.

[/URL][/IMG

 

[Shiftless]

jreb:
Congrats on picking up that super rare Craftsman 5198. You got it at a bargain price!
If you find it won't fit on your bench or your shelf, just say the word and you can get your money back no problem!

 

[nine4gmc]

Dang, 5198 awesomeness!

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

 

[econotrk]

This thread needs some excitement. Just brought this one home today. Here it is "as found":

Oh yeah! The Craftsman vise "Holy Grail"

Congrats on the 5198 Jreb, always exciting to see another show up.
Do you think the other bidders knew what it was?

 

[Tarnished]

Picked up these two Wilton 4" at auction the other day. Been calling them the "Twins", as thier DOB are the same. 6-1-67. Bought from a local school closing thier machine shop class, so they were probably purchased at the same time as the other 10 Wilton's that were in the same auction.
Not "identical" twins as one needed new swivel lock's and horseshoe, but both will clean up nice. Easy fix, and everything else in good shape.
I have no plans for them, so will leave the 3 coats of paint 'as is' for the next guy.
Anyone born on 6-1-67 that needs a set of birthday twins?

 

[jreb10]

This thread needs some excitement. Just brought this one home today. Here it is "as found":

Oh yeah! The Craftsman vise "Holy Grail"

Congrats on the 5198 Jreb, always exciting to see another show up.
Do you think the other bidders knew what it was?

Well, the auction was online, and the description of the lot was "Craftsman 5" Vise". The pictures were just of the vise, without anything in the background to show its scale. I spent a lot of time (really a lot of time) looking at the vise features relative to each other and comparing them to known 5198's. I was "pretty sure" it was the real deal, but not 100%.

I think the other bidders were not as "clued in" to the 5198 lore as the GJers.

 

[drivesitfar]

Jreb: I'm guessing you didn't get to see the vise in person before bidding started or you might have missed the preview? great eye and find.

in case you want to do the repair for the missing chunk of jaw there were several good examples on the vise repair 101 thread and if you can't find them maybe post up a bunch of before pictures and reserve one or two after pictures and maybe some of the members that have done that fix will help. I seem to recall them putting in some bar stock. again nice find and I wonder if OLDIE is going to chime in about it.

Chilang: remind us where the C0 base was coming from? your bench looks great with that old iron mounted to it and a JUST A FEW extra sitting on the back. I also used to own a bench like yours that was a SEVILLE and mine had a couple cabinets that fit nicely in those cubby holes underneath. how do you like the bench? hope the garage isn't getting too hot for you to work on STUFF yet.

Tarnished: nice score on the Wiltons. really SAD to hear that another school's shop class has lost it tools and probably it's teacher. it happened up here years ago before I was really aware of those sales and I think one of the guys I've bought a few vises from said he bought a few pallets of them for maybe $5 each just like the ones you just bought as I was handing him a BENJAMIN for each one. if you or anybody finds a bullet with 1956 stamped on it I might be up to buy or trade a vise for it. i'm hoping to find a 5198 or I guess now the 5199 (does this UNICORN EXIST IS THE REAL QUESTION NOW) with that date stamped on it.

OLDIE: did you see a 5198 just sold for less than a couple Benjamin's?? hope you are feeling well because at least you should have popped your head in when the 5th one showed up. are you ok??

ALL: in case you guys (and gals) missed it Mark just posted up a pretty amazing fix where he made a new foot for his Bison FPU vise where the original one was broken off. he made the new fit out of liquid steel and didn't machine one and it looks like new. WELL DONE MARK and thanks for taking the time to share the process with all of us.

 

[dutchgray]

View media item 60367View media item 60368This turned up today
Record offset with 6" jaws, about 60lb fabricated and quite nice, think its an Australian only Irwin Record product and has no made in on it that I can see so probably Chinese
Cost me £100 but its the only one I have seen for sale.

 

[Rileysan]

I got some photos today of a Reed 405 1/2 (5 1/2") swivel vise in our machine shop. It sits in an area that I rarely see so it's eluded me for ~9 years. I wanted to post a picture simply because this size is not listed in Dayid's vise wiki.

Brian

 

[CwazyWabbit]

View media item 60367View media item 60368This turned up today
Record offset with 6" jaws, about 60lb fabricated and quite nice, think its an Australian only Irwin Record product and has no made in on it that I can see so probably Chinese
Cost me £100 but its the only one I have seen for sale.

That is an excellent find!

I found on the Record Leader vices (which are also a welded vice) that as well as a tag riveted to the side of the vice there were details engraved at the far end of the machined slide surface. Might be worth a look, they were very hard to see.

 

[dutchgray]

CW
No tag and I can't see anything on the slide, but it would need cleaning up a lot I think to see anything, works well enough though.
Being fabricated from steel its also one I would consider using the anvil on for light work, don't see how you could hurt it other than beating it senseless with a large hammer.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dutch: I would have bought that offset Record too and I don't think I've ever seen one. an Aussie member posted about a 30 year old offset on 1/2 cup's shed downunder thread last week that I hadn't seen either. BTW if you haven't seen 1/2's garage gallery thread you are in for a treat watching that guy fix or make most anything that crosses his path.

WELL DONE and nice addition to your vise family. does it say made in Austrailia? i'm wondering why so many of the offset vises are from Australia?

Riley: that big Reed 405.5 would look a lot nicer on your bench with BLO so i'll let you work on the boss to see when you can trade him or buy it so he can replace it.

thanks for the pictures

 

[CwazyWabbit]

Dutch Yes, I reckon you'd have to be an animal to hurt it. Surprising to see that the anvil area has never been used on it.

 

[CwazyWabbit]

I got some photos today of a Reed 405 1/2 (5 1/2") swivel vise in our machine shop. It sits in an area that I rarely see so it's eluded me for ~9 years. I wanted to post a picture simply because this size is not listed in Dayid's vise wiki.

Brian

Now that is a massive vise swivel base sitting on the floor behind the vise

Have you got first dibs on the vise if they ever decide to let it go?

 

[drivesitfar]

CW: the size of the steel machined and made at Riley's company would AMAZE you if you saw it in person. I got a mini tour and my mouth was open almost the entire time in AWE. Some of the parts are so big I could park my Honda Pilot SUV alongside them for size comparison and no way could I haul it home on a trailer. I bet Riley will find other gems like I have tucked away in the corners if his boss is willing to let him look and if he has time. I've help move or close down a few steel companies and would almost do it for free just because of all the cool things to be found and seen.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Jreb: I'm guessing you didn't get to see the vise in person before bidding started or you might have missed the preview? great eye and find.

in case you want to do the repair for the missing chunk of jaw there were several good examples on the vise repair 101 thread and if you can't find them maybe post up a bunch of before pictures and reserve one or two after pictures and maybe some of the members that have done that fix will help. I seem to recall them putting in some bar stock. again nice find and I wonder if OLDIE is going to chime in about it.

Chilang: remind us where the C0 base was coming from? your bench looks great with that old iron mounted to it and a JUST A FEW extra sitting on the back. I also used to own a bench like yours that was a SEVILLE and mine had a couple cabinets that fit nicely in those cubby holes underneath. how do you like the bench? hope the garage isn't getting too hot for you to work on STUFF yet.

Tarnished: nice score on the Wiltons. really SAD to hear that another school's shop class has lost it tools and probably it's teacher. it happened up here years ago before I was really aware of those sales and I think one of the guys I've bought a few vises from said he bought a few pallets of them for maybe $5 each just like the ones you just bought as I was handing him a BENJAMIN for each one. if you or anybody finds a bullet with 1956 stamped on it I might be up to buy or trade a vise for it. i'm hoping to find a 5198 or I guess now the 5199 (does this UNICORN EXIST IS THE REAL QUESTION NOW) with that date stamped on it.

OLDIE: did you see a 5198 just sold for less than a couple Benjamin's?? hope you are feeling well because at least you should have popped your head in when the 5th one showed up. are you ok??

ALL: in case you guys (and gals) missed it Mark just posted up a pretty amazing fix where he made a new foot for his Bison FPU vise where the original one was broken off. he made the new fit out of liquid steel and didn't machine one and it looks like new. WELL DONE MARK and thanks for taking the time to share the process with all of us.

This bench is Ok I will add supports and secure it to the wall when I move it to cool Prescott next year. I have a Gladiator bench that I really like got it for a very reasonable price use it for my reloading, very sturdy. Sent you the link on the parts place its called Wares Direct, autopts turned me on to it. .

 

[CwazyWabbit]

CW: the size of the steel machined and made at Riley's company would AMAZE you if you saw it in person. I got a mini tour and my mouth was open almost the entire time in AWE. Some of the parts are so big I could park my Honda Pilot SUV alongside them for size comparison and no way could I haul it home on a trailer. I bet Riley will find other gems like I have tucked away in the corners if his boss is willing to let him look and if he has time. I've help move or close down a few steel companies and would almost do it for free just because of all the cool things to be found and seen.

I love getting to look around heavy industry .... an all too rare occurrence though

 

[G-ManBart]

New arrivals courtesy of drivesitfar...very kind of him to turn me on to these that were nearly in my backyard!

Prentiss No. 59 coachmaker's vise:




Reed 1C....total resto planned for this one!

 

[ilovevocs]

Flame suit. I have a cheap Chinese vise that I use primarily for bench work. Machined a set of AL jaws for it with lands and it has served me well.

It went through a divorce and some guy working in my shop beat the jaws and the vise real bad. Chipped some filler off her beating with a hammer. But we've been through a divorce together and like our new home.





This is a run what you brung moment for me. Just wanted to share my girl. We been through allot, cheap or not.


I have a few areas in the shop where I use red head anchors that give me serval mounting locations. It's sturdy and easily moved.




I usually use washers but I scabbed them for another project.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joe.striper]

OK boys, here's one I'm stumped by. 5.5" Reed, pipe jaws, fixed base. Looks like #43 0r 48. i cannot find a thing on this one. Any help please???

 

[bluebolt]

OK boys, here's one I'm stumped by. 5.5" Reed, pipe jaws, fixed base. Looks like #43 0r 48. i cannot find a thing on this one. Any help please???

That's an OLD Reed, the swivel bases vises were 31 (1C), 32 (2C), 33 (3C) and 34 (4C) I believe. Better find an EARLY 1900's adverstisement!

 

[Fast Hamburger]

Got my Chas Parker 954 1/2 today.

My first vise. Been looking for a deal on a good vise but I could never find those steals like I see on this thread.

I paid about $80 + shipping.

 

[drivesitfar]

GMan: I know they found a good home because my pictures of them didn't look half that good. I think they are happy and smiled for your camera. you are very welcome and best of luck figuring out what bench to put them on.

thanks

Fast: you might need to re post your pictures because I can't see them. if you got a good Parker for less than a Benjamin you probably did great.

 

[dutchgray]

Dutch: I would have bought that offset Record too and I don't think I've ever seen one. an Aussie member posted about a 30 year old offset on 1/2 cup's shed downunder thread last week that I hadn't seen either. BTW if you haven't seen 1/2's garage gallery thread you are in for a treat watching that guy fix or make most anything that crosses his path.

WELL DONE and nice addition to your vise family. does it say made in Austrailia? i'm wondering why so many of the offset vises are from Australia?

It doesn't have any markings on it that I have found so far, there might be some to find if I take it apart and have a really good look, only the Record sticker. So I don't think its Australian made.
I missed out on a really nice Fortis offset recently that I was out bid on and would still like one, but the record will do nicely.

 

[G20-Budo]

The Base finally came in for the Wilton C0. Mounted it on the bench will use it for all kinds of projects I have no time for. I also picked up a Morgan Chicago 135 jaws are rough dynamic tower has had better days but it was cheap. I was thinking of switching out the Parker 974 and using it so if I bang it up I wont care, but I really like using the 974 it just works.

[/URL]

Chilang,

That Wilton C0 is a beauty

 

[drivesitfar]

Dutch: thanks and best of luck finding your Fortis.

ALL: I was scanning the Craigslist ads for maybe a potential vise purchase and noticed a screw in an Athol's 624 static down at the base. maybe an oil so the vise nut has some lubrication? since I'm not the handiest guy here on GJ and might be the LEAST HANDIEST ON GJ (I know one member has voted least handy member on GJ 5 years in a row and he's handier than I), what pray tell could this screw be there for.

since it was designed maybe by Starrett by this time in Athol's company history could it maybe be a vise nut adjustment screw to put the vise nut in exactly the right spot?

 

[G-ManBart]

GMan: I know they found a good home because my pictures of them didn't look half that good. I think they are happy and smiled for your camera. you are very welcome and best of luck figuring out what bench to put them on.

thanks

LOL...just wait until you see the Reed after it's restored

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Chilang,

That Wilton C0 is a beauty

Thanks I was going to paint it hammered blue but could not find the color so l went with sage green it is from 1962 works great

 

[royce]

Dutch: thanks and best of luck finding your Fortis.

ALL: I was scanning the Craigslist ads for maybe a potential vise purchase and noticed a screw in an Athol's 624 static down at the base. maybe an oil so the vise nut has some lubrication? since I'm not the handiest guy here on GJ and might be the LEAST HANDIEST ON GJ (I know one member has voted least handy member on GJ 5 years in a row and he's handier than I), what pray tell could this screw be there for.

since it was designed maybe by Starrett by this time in Athol's company history could it maybe be a vise nut adjustment screw to put the vise nut in exactly the right spot?

Drives,
On the 624 I just had apart, that screw was a lock screw for the center bolt.
Royce