The VISES of Garage Journal

[CrotalusAtrox]

GMAN: Prentiss just stamped on parts #'s so they would know which parts belonged to which vise. not a date stamp. i'm guessing yours is from the early 20's and the catalog pages were posted on here once or somebody has some that might give you a better date. looks good BTW

Chilang: your skills at vise spiffing were good when you started and keep improving. WELL DONE

ALL: this SWEDISH VISE just came up on CL in Portland,Or in case any of you might want one. it seems to have a lot of options and since i have more than a few vises or vices i'm going to pass on this one for the time being. it's a MALCUS brand. anybody own one or has one been posted before?

Thanks Drives
My garage looks like a coal mine because of all the metal dust but I really enjoy the journey. Cleaning and organizing the garage tomorrow it's only going to be 110 out

 

[exmaxima1]

Re: Record #5 with swivel base

can anybody give me an estimate on what a record #5 vice would be worth.

I'm selling a workbench with the record vice attached, and i've got some requests for the vice alone, and i have no idea what a fair price would be to ask for it.

Some pics attached.

$60-75

 

[drivesitfar]

Chilang: it was 98 up here a couple weeks ago and i'm guessing it's 50's and raining now. blow some of the heat up north please. nice post and i bet you might have a few metal shavings and dust and debris in your shop. there are some great dust collection systems that a lot of members use so if you can find some email or PM me and i'll send you a few links to a few. you have skills sir.

AK: if you put in your location it might help us help you determine value. While Ex's value is probably correct for his area i'd say it's almost double that in my area. where are you located?

you are also asking a group that probably averages 10 vises so if we were to buy it the price might not be market unless really rare and your vice isn't that rare. it is a quality vise though. is it a quick release and i'm guessing not?

good luck

 

[G-ManBart]

Re: Record #5 with swivel base

Can anybody give me an estimate on what a Record #5 vice would be worth.

I'm selling a workbench with the Record vice attached, and I've got some requests for the vice alone, and I have no idea what a fair price would be to ask for it.

Some pics attached.

There is a fixed base Record No. 5 for sale locally that is in good shape....guy started out at $125, then dropped his price to $100 and hasn't had any action in weeks. I've thought about seeing if he'd take $80, but thought that might even be on the high side.

I don't need one, but I really do like the Record styling and would like to have one.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

My friend picked this up for me while antique shopping the other day. Google tells me it is a vise anvil drill from the early 1900's, but I am missing the drill accessory. None the less it is unique and the price was right.

 

[drivesitfar]

AK: your 5 inch wide jaw Record is a vise that would be a user in 90% of everyone's garage if they only had room for one vice so as i mentioned the value might be more. also just an FYI Record moved their factory to China in the 90's and the newer vises stamped Shefield were probably made there and not in England. the quality of the MADE IN ENGLAND vices seems to be quite a bit better. i'm not a Record expert, but i do like old English vises as do several of the members. if you don't HAVE TO sell it I wouldn't and i'd find a spot for it on your new bench or make a stand for it.

also just wanted to comment on how nice your pegboard looks and i bet you are pretty handy.

 

[exmaxima1]

AK: your 5 inch wide jaw Record is a vise that would be a user in 90% of everyone's garage if they only had room for one vice so as i mentioned the value might be more. also just an FYI Record moved their factory to China in the 90's and the newer vises stamped Shefield were probably made there and not in England. the quality of the MADE IN ENGLAND vices seems to be quite a bit better.

I've owned several quick release Record "Fitter's" vises and they were very good. They sell for under $100 in the Chicago area. The OP's vise does appear to be prior to Irwin's takeover, but the heavy grind marks on the base seem contrary to typical Record quality. If I didn't know better, I would easily mistake it for Asian made. I would be surprised if it sells locally for much over $75.

 

[joe.striper]

So I dismantled the rotating stand vise you've all seen in the first pic, soaked it in simple green and prayed I'd see a name on it....to no avail! But all is not lost, thanks to the attached patent posting for a "LEWIS Vise" I am pretty sure we have a manufacturer at least. Now to do some more digging...

I also have 2 repairs to make. Looks as if someone over torques the dynamic jaw causing a light bend (a ride on a hydraulic press should remedy that) and there is the broken swivel handle (I will just manufacture a new one). I believe I will be doing this one in BLO baked on and that is is.

 

[jask]

Re: Record #5 with swivel base

Can anybody give me an estimate on what a Record #5 vice would be worth.

I'm selling a workbench with the Record vice attached, and I've got some requests for the vice alone, and I have no idea what a fair price would be to ask for it.

That is a very nice older record 60s/70s vintage, jaws look great, the swivel lock toggles are the old style that discontinued in the 80s and that roughness on the base is not uncommon for those old records... That would not last 24H on a local craigslist if you advertised it at 100$. The guys who know what it is and need a proper vise would be racing each other to your house.
I have two just like it and would not let either go that cheap, if someone tries to lowball you tell them to go see what 250$ buys them in the vise aisle these days

 

[cbacres]

Here's a couple of vises I picked up at a estate auction. I posted on the garage sale thread, but I know they need to be here also.
A Prentiss swivel jaw, a very heavy Chas Parker swivel, a Columbian wood vise that had to be removed from bench, they were going to go right past it. And the quick set/release which has the appearances of a Sheldon ( thanks Mike Paxton ).




Between Mikes and Evergreentrees post, looks like I have a early Sheldon. I'm still researching it. I came across a EBay sold listing and the sellers description states the they started including the name markings around 1910 or so.

I've learned that there is No. 3, 4, and a 5 model vise.

Below I posted some images of a Sheldon catalogue that I found on owwm site. Looks like we have some 100 year old vises.
Link to PDF catalogue
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/740/12696.pdf


First image is neat, shows them holding up one of the benches with this vise.


No. 3 & 4 vises. Check out the prices!


no. 5 vise and a neat bench dog, now I'll need to start searching for these.

 

[econotrk]

Haven't picked up any vises lately, but as I was at a Clist sellers garage today I found one I couldn't pass up. The add has 24 pics showing no vises. I spied a coffee can of Klein nut drivers, so I made the 45 minute trip to grab them up. First thing I notice is a vise on a table off to the side. Figuring it was already spoken for, I asked anyway if it were available. The PO says "yeah, a guy called and asked if I had any vises but didn't commit." When I ask how much, he says "how does $10 sound?"

So for $20 I picked a full set of fractional Klein nut drivers, a set of same Craftsman's hiding in the bottom, a screwdriver, a Stanley wood chisel, and a large Jorgensen C clamp, plus the vise. A good day.

Looks to be in very nice condition, with good jaws, and not beat to death with a bunch of hammer marks. It does have a bow to the handle that I have to straighten. It'll probably just get a good cleaning and BLO if enough paint still shows. Oh yeah, it's a 4 1/2".

 

[Loydski29]

Well it took awhile to get this 956 but it was well worth the wait! Big thank you to shiftless for meeting me yesterday it was great to finally meet you and chat over lunch.

 

[G-ManBart]

Haven't picked up any vises lately, but as I was at a Clist sellers garage today I found one I couldn't pass up. The add has 24 pics showing no vises. I spied a coffee can of Klein nut drivers, so I made the 45 minute trip to grab them up. First thing I notice is a vise on a table off to the side. Figuring it was already spoken for, I asked anyway if it were available. The PO says "yeah, a guy called and asked if I had any vises but didn't commit." When I ask how much, he says "how does $10 sound?"

So for $20 I picked a full set of fractional Klein nut drivers, a set of same Craftsman's hiding in the bottom, a screwdriver, a Stanley wood chisel, and a large Jorgensen C clamp, plus the vise. A good day.

Looks to be in very nice condition, with good jaws, and not beat to death with a bunch of hammer marks. It does have a bow to the handle that I have to straighten. It'll probably just get a good cleaning and BLO if enough paint still shows. Oh yeah, it's a 4 1/2".

$10 for that Prentiss? That's officially into the "you ****" territory!

Nice find!

 

[mike_paxton]

Haven't picked up any vises lately, but as I was at a Clist sellers garage today I found one I couldn't pass up. The add has 24 pics showing no vises. I spied a coffee can of Klein nut drivers, so I made the 45 minute trip to grab them up. First thing I notice is a vise on a table off to the side. Figuring it was already spoken for, I asked anyway if it were available. The PO says "yeah, a guy called and asked if I had any vises but didn't commit." When I ask how much, he says "how does $10 sound?"

Looks to be in very nice condition, with good jaws, and not beat to death with a bunch of hammer marks. It does have a bow to the handle that I have to straighten. It'll probably just get a good cleaning and BLO if enough paint still shows. Oh yeah, it's a 4 1/2".

econotrk

Looks like a Monarch made by Prentiss.

Good buy.

Mike

 

[wbarnes101]

Brand new to GJ. Just bought a Parker 974 1/2 vise in excellent patina condition on CL. Should arrive tomorrow via UPS. This one says "Pat. 1880." Does any one have an idea of what time frame they manufactured the 974 1/2 with that patent?

 

[mike_paxton]

Here's a couple of vises I picked up at a estate auction. I posted on the garage sale thread, but I know they need to be here also.
A Prentiss swivel jaw, a very heavy Chas Parker swivel, a Columbian wood vise that had to be removed from bench, they were going to go right past it. And the quick set/release which has the appearances of a Sheldon ( thanks Mike Paxton ).



no. 5 vise and a neat bench dog, now I'll need to start searching for these.

cbacres:

Thanks for the link on the Sheldon.

Every Sheldon I have had has a #3 cast into it, so guess will have to keep looking to see if we can find a #4 or #5 in the future.

Saw pic you had of the Sheldon bench stop and bench dog.

Several years back I'd bought a small painted orange woodworking table and remembered it had bench stop installed on it. Stripped paint off bench stop and it wasn't Sheldon, but was C. Christiansen of Chicago. No tag on table itself, but gives me something to explore when time permits.

Mike

 

[econotrk]

econotrk

Looks like a Monarch made by Prentiss.

Good buy.

Mike

You're right Mike, has the Monarch name and lions head. Shoulda mentioned it, just in my mind I'm thinking Prentiss.

 

[joe.striper]

Calling Dr Striper, calling Dr Striper....welcome to the vise hospital!

So i got a call from my Boston minion and he found a Rock Island 577 for $50 but is is rough!! After looking at his pics I snatched it and I will deliver it to my waiting room. The jaws were poorly welded so I am hoping I can grind them off and replace them. Idiot also welded the handle in place. Once I start on it I will see what direction I go, either to a full rehab or to the scrap yard. FYI, the 577 is 6" jaws and approx 150 lbs.

 

[G-ManBart]

You're right Mike, has the Monarch name and lions head. Shoulda mentioned it, just in my mind I'm thinking Prentiss.

Many (most?) vises with the Monarch name and lion's head also had PVCo NY marked on them, so it's not a stretch to call them a Prentiss when that's who made them.

 

[cbacres]

cbacres:

Thanks for the link on the Sheldon.

Every Sheldon I have had has a #3 cast into it, so guess will have to keep looking to see if we can find a #4 or #5 in the future.

Saw pic you had of the Sheldon bench stop and bench dog.

Several years back I'd bought a small painted orange woodworking table and remembered it had bench stop installed on it. Stripped paint off bench stop and it wasn't Sheldon, but was C. Christiansen of Chicago. No tag on table itself, but gives me something to explore when time permits.

Mike

Mike, that's funny, I was thing the same thing when I found out there's other sizes, need to look for those. Never done or content. I thought the benches were pretty nice too, probably not many of those around.

 

[mike_paxton]

Mike, that's funny, I was thing the same thing when I found out there's other sizes, need to look for those. Never done or content. I thought the benches were pretty nice too, probably not many of those around.

Cbacres:

I did run into one Sheldon workbench in the wild, but it was sold by the time I got there.

So, I'm still going to look for a Sheldon workbench, as it would be nice to hang the Sheldon vises onto a Sheldon bench.

Sheldon also made those benches with swing out/in seats. Now that would be a find as well.

BTW, Sheldon WW vises need to be mortised into worktable, so takes a little more time than traditional one's to get attached.

Mike

 

[econotrk]

Many (most?) vises with the Monarch name and lion's head also had PVCo NY marked on them, so it's not a stretch to call them a Prentiss when that's who made them.

I'll keep a look out for a marking, already started the cleanup. It does have the "oil the screw" stamped on it same as the Prentiss vises have.

 

[drivesitfar]

ECON: it's hard to believe, but MONARCH vises were Prentiss vise company's ECONOMY line of vises that they only made for a few years. nice find and nice price even though i might have given the guy a bit more for it. or maybe he knew the value and just wanted to not have it to bump into again and knew you would find it a good home. it's a keeper. WELL DONE.

CB: another couple gems to add to the vise tree? cool finds in gator country.

Mike: i'm guessing the workbench in the ad is bolted to the ground or wall, but a cool ad none the less. reminds me of the ads where a vise is getting hit with a BFH or sledgehammer which might be part of the reason so many people hit their vises.

 

[Shiftless]

Well it took awhile to get this 956 but it was well worth the wait! Big thank you to shiftless for meeting me yesterday it was great to finally meet you and chat over lunch.

Thanks Loydski
I appreciate you taking that monster off my hands.
We all look forward to some "after" pics when you get around to cleaning it up and hopefully putting it to use. Unless you start repairing railroad box car axles, I can't imagine a task beyond the clamping abilities of a Parker 956.
Needless to say, it could use a new handle!
In case any readers aren't familiar with that model, here is a pic of the vise on my bench. It weighs about 130 pounds and stands fully a foot tall.

 

[454ragtop]

Previously posted by Drivesitfar.

VA: are all the Grand vises with the triangle slides quick release?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Drive, every one I have seen has been quick-release.---As matter of fact, every product that Grand has produced that I have seen has been Quick-release.---I think that was their specialty selling point.

I posted 3 of their products a few pages back.---Here they are again.

First is Quickset table vise.---I now have 5 of these.---Why, I have no idea.







Second is Grand Master.---Sorry about the blur.---Amateur photog.

$600.00 for a Vise Master.---Wow!---As much as I'd like to say, yea that's about right.---That's just not realistic.---I think I paid $75.00 plus shipping for mine, and that was just because I had to have it.








Third is Quickset C-clamp

Found a Grand Quikset pipe clamp a week or 2 ago. I have a clamp like VA shows, as well as one like Drives showed. I had one of those small vises like shown above, but haven't seen it in a while, don't know if I lost it or sold it some time in the past. Kinda *****, now that they've apparently skyrocketed in value.

 

[mike_paxton]

ECON:

Mike: ...but a cool ad none the less. reminds me of the ads where a vise is getting hit with a BFH or sledgehammer which might be part of the reason so many people hit their vises.

Drivesitfar:

Wonder if the bean counters were anticipating "new sales" as a result of that advertisement???

Mike

 

[Thrumcap]

Hi all

Anyone seen a Fortis vise with JAG written on the side?



Thrumcap

 

[va.grouseman]

Picked up a Jacobson, patent date 1901, so should be around 100 years old.---Another one that has the scalloped jaw towers.

 

[scooternut]

VA Suddenly. i do not love my Versa Vise as much as I used to. Mine is a beautiful snap on crazy bright green....wanna trade? Nice score, my first time seeing one of them. One more thing to be on the lookout for I guess.

 

[drivesitfar]

Scooter: i was thinking the EXACT SAME THOUGHT.

VA: i'd trade my VERSA VISE for that one anyday. nice find and did you say you already own one?

Loyd: so the magnet is working well in So. CAL isn't it?

Shift: were you needing a little shelving space or was that monster tilting your shop into the Pacific?

 

[Shiftless]

Drives:
The answer is "a little bit of both!"
Plus, like you, I enjoyed a chance to meet another GJ vise enthusiast face to face.

 

[PghJKB]

Brand new to GJ. Just bought a Parker 974 1/2 vise in excellent patina condition on CL. Should arrive tomorrow via UPS. This one says "Pat. 1880." Does any one have an idea of what time frame they manufactured the 974 1/2 with that patent?

WB
My research finds no patents awarded to Chas Parker or know associates in 1880. Most likely the "1880" is 1930. Check out this patent:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNu...1=1778576.PN.%26OS=pn/1778576%26RS=PN/1778576

This puts your vise in the 1930 - 1950 range.

Picked up a Jacobson, patent date 1901, so should be around 100 years old.---Another one that has the scalloped jaw towers.

VA
You have a Long Permutation Vise. I owned it for a few fractions of a second on eBay.

Here is the Google reference:
https://www.google.com/patents/US66...ved=0ahUKEwjwgrP0oKzNAhVFrD4KHXRWAIAQ6AEIIzAB

Here is the USPTO reference:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNu...1=1778576.PN.%26OS=pn/1778576%26RS=PN/1778576

Long was issued another patent on an improvement to this design. US Patent 684992.

 

[mike_paxton]

Picked up a Jacobson, patent date 1901, so should be around 100 years old.---Another one that has the scalloped jaw towers.

Va.grouseman:

I also like the look of the Jacobson.

Does it come with a mounting base and how does it lock everything into place when put on it's base?

Great Find!!!

Mike

 

[CRSINMICH]

va: Following PghJKB's post, it turns out that John Long was granted two patents for vises on the same day. The other vise should look familiar. Here's the patent drawing for the second vise and a small ad from 1903 for the Jacobsen - notice that the base is slightly different from yours.

 

[econotrk]

ECON: it's hard to believe, but MONARCH vises were Prentiss vise company's ECONOMY line of vises that they only made for a few years.

I've read that on here before Drives. This is the first one I've handled and it makes me wonder what was done to make it more economical? It really doesn't look any lighter built than any Prentiss I have or have seen.

 

[va.grouseman]

Scooter, Drive, thanks.

No Drive I didn't have one previously, just a Versa-Vise.---There is a nicer one on page 308, owned by Tarnish.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=213002&d=1349575151

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=213003&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1349575151
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mike, as you can see from the pics on page 308 that his base is different than mine.---His looks original and mine looks like a regular pipe fitting floor flange.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PghJKB, thanks for the Google link.---That is really good stuff.---Saved to my history files.---Sorry about the bid, didn't expect it to go that cheap, wasn't expecting to get it at all.---That's the trouble with EBay or any auction site, you don't know if you are competing with a fellow member or not.---If one knew, he could opt to stand down.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here is pics that I had previously posted of three vises that use that same principle of cam locking on the mounting post as the Jacobson.---Was a pretty good idea as far as convenience was concerned, and holds tighter than you might think as far as swiveling goes, but I don't think they hold quite as good as conventional lock downs do.

 

[Watsondog]

Finished up the Craftsman 5162 resto. Not happy with the condition of the Jaws and one of the jaw screws are buggered up any help one replacement jaws and screws would be appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Watsondog,
Your restoration is coming along great. As far as removing the screws that won't come out, you can easily drill them out.
Contact GJ member KM Scott for new jaws. He does great work.

 

[Watsondog]

Thanks Mark! Much appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[jrobb316]

Calling Dr Striper, calling Dr Striper....welcome to the vise hospital!

So i got a call from my Boston minion and he found a Rock Island 577 for $50 but is is rough!! After looking at his pics I snatched it and I will deliver it to my waiting room. The jaws were poorly welded so I am hoping I can grind them off and replace them. Idiot also welded the handle in place. Once I start on it I will see what direction I go, either to a full rehab or to the scrap yard. FYI, the 577 is 6" jaws and approx 150 lbs.

Let me know before that hits the scrap yard! Hope its salvageable and can't wait to see it worked on.