The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Baby Stevens ratchet, anyone?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique-Very-Rare-Stephens-2-Bench-Vise-/152199892990?

 

[ImperfectSense]

A friend moving out made available a second big vise for my shop, this one a Columbian 604. I understand from the "double curved" Columbian name it's pre-WWII but can anyone get a closer approximation than that? The mark on the inside of the dynamic jaw is simply 604, others I've seen say 604-3 etc. Thanks!

 

[bulletpruf]

Here's an interesting one in Germany for $77 buy it now. He ships to the U.S....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hochwertige...882510?hash=item43ecd04b0e:g:xi4AAOSwy5ZXDNfk

 

[dutchgray]

BP
That Paramo No3 is very nice, they are almost the same as a record but the nut is cast in and not replaceable. Will be a 4"
That seller is a good guy, bought a few from him, his prices are generally quite high but the larger vices he has on collection only are often a good deal and since I'm only 20 miles away its not hard to go and get.

 

[bulletpruf]

BP
That Paramo No3 is very nice, they are almost the same as a record but the nut is cast in and not replaceable. Will be a 4"
That seller is a good guy, bought a few from him, his prices are generally quite high but the larger vices he has on collection only are often a good deal and since I'm only 20 miles away its not hard to go and get.

Thanks, Dutch. I don't mind paying good money for quality. I put a pretty good bid on it.

Scott

 

[Mark in Indiana]

BP, Outlaw & Drives,
Thanks for the kind words on the Bison restoration.

Drives,
The reason that I like Bison & FPU vises so much is that they have the same overall quality, light weight and precision movement as a vintage Wilton Bullet has. However, they're only a fraction of the price of a bullet.
All 3 vises are great for holding workpieces. I even have my Bullet on my Kennedy Versa-Cart. The only drawback is they can't CRUSH a workpiece (as needed) or press out bearings, which I can do on my Parker 205 or my Prentice 54.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: your shop looks incredibly clean and ORGANIZED. the vises you restore are almost art so keep up the great work. VERY WELL DONE!!

BP: i can't say i've seen that vise in Germany before. is it German made because my German is more than a tad RUSTY. if he'll ship to US i bet he'd deliver to your door in ITALY.

 

[bagged89s10]

Some kind of **** to my tired old eyes!



Royce

That stand is awesome! Yours?

Hi all, a little more eye candy a sphere and stand i put together today enjoy... Sandman

Great stuff!

 

[autopts]

Here is a Wilton 744 4in mechanics vise I just repainted. I bought the vise for 25 bucks and bought pipe jaws from a fellow member autopts on eBay for 20 bucks and then the paint so I'm into this vise 50 bucks and I'm really digging it. I really like the sealed shape of this one. G]

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

That was one of the best mechanics vises made. a lot of the earlier USA made mechanics Has the date stamped I had a couple those those and had no problem flipping hem. The new 700 series can't hold a candle to these

 

[royce]

That stand is awesome! Yours?




Great stuff!

Thanks bagged,
Yes, designed, built and owned by myself, until one of you fella's trade me out of it!
Also thanks to drives, scooternut and grouseman

Royce

 

[bulletpruf]

What do y'all think of this? Paramo #3 - haven't seen one in person, but this one looks to be in very good condition and price seems reasonable.

http://www.ebay.it/itm/Paramo-No3-M...733260?hash=item25c197ae8c:g:dRAAAOSwgY9Xd8fQ

Scott

Got it for opening bid of $45. Thinking it will just need a cleaning and a lube and put back into service.

Scott

 

[drivesitfar]

BP: great vice and great price. now you've got a few pounds/bucks left to buy that one in Germany. i'm guessing you are almost running out of benches to put a few of your new vises on so take a gander at the vise and grinder stands thread for some ideas or build a nice stout shelf for the extra ones.

 

[honza.vosalik]

http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/5731543242.html

Nice Parker for $60 bugs. Seems like a good deal. I'm passing on it, too far away for me.

 

[rusty65]

That looks like a 5inch Desmond simplex to me in that Craigslist ad so 60 bucks may be worth the drive.

 

[honza.vosalik]

That looks like a 5inch Desmond simplex to me in that Craigslist ad so 60 bucks may be worth the drive.

I assumed it's a Parker based on the collar. But you are right it says "Simplex" on it.

 

[drivesitfar]

HONZA: Simplex vises are well made and one of my favorites. if it was close to me i'd buy it and as you might know i don't NEED ANOTHER VISE.

good luck

 

[sandman54]

8-inch Wilton in today

 

[dutchgray]

Got it for opening bid of $45. Thinking it will just need a cleaning and a lube and put back into service.

Scott

Nice and for a reasonable price. I should think it only needs a clean and oil also, especially if its to be a user.

 

[Provincial]

8-inch Wilton in today

Nice magnetic table to hold it upside down! How many amps does it draw?

 

[va.grouseman]

Got one just like it Sand.---You just need to take off a little paint here and there, but it's in excellent shape from what I can see.

But being the hopeless swivler that I am, sorry Old, sure like to see a swivel base under that thing.---Nice pull.

 

[oldldh]

It's better to be a "Hopeless Swivler"...

Than...

A "Hapless Swivler"...

Like...

YRHMBLSRVNT...

 

[McBrownie]

It's better to be a "Hopeless Swivler"...

Than...

A "Hapless Swivler"...

Like...

YRHMBLSRVNT...

There is nothing wrong with swivelin' one way or both ways!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Well, if locating a big 8" vise is half the challenge of actually obtaining one I may be making progress. Just located a Yost 208. Now to plot a strategy for actually getting the current owner, a company, to part with it. Will definitely take some finagling, possibly even boot licking and bribery. Hopefully I'm up for the task. Ed.

 

[bagged89s10]

http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/5731543242.html

Nice Parker for $60 bugs. Seems like a good deal. I'm passing on it, too far away for me.

It's a simplex, not a Parker.

Edit: I just noticed a bunch of you pointed that out.

 

[va.grouseman]

Rock Crusher, you need to snag that 208 anyway at all, short of stealing or a killing.---That's only the second one I've ever seen.---You won't be disappointed.---They're the same size and weight as the Reed 208R, and that's no slouch.

Yost still makes the 208, but they shrunk it a 100 lbs.---And they run about $2000.00 now.

The closest Yost to your 208 is the #99, posted on page 463 by Old, brought over from Practical Machinist.---Purported to weigh in at 285 lbs.---Click these links.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=271206&d=1374954888

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=271207&d=1374954888
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here's another 208.---They weigh 291 lbs.

 

[royce]

I've been waiting patiently for this prentiss 26 to arrive from America and got it this afternoon.
The swivel jaw pin was froze, but jacked out fairly easy with a stud bolt and rod coupling.
All in all, in good shape.
I guess this means I need to build another stand.

Royce

 

[JZiggy]

I got a baby Paramo to go with my baby Record.

The Record is definitely a little better built in terms of heft, material added to weaker locations, and fit and finish. But the Paramo has chrome!

 

[bulletpruf]

BP: great vice and great price. now you've got a few pounds/bucks left to buy that one in Germany. i'm guessing you are almost running out of benches to put a few of your new vises on so take a gander at the vise and grinder stands thread for some ideas or build a nice stout shelf for the extra ones.

Thanks, Drives.

Yes, I'm running out of bench space, but vises are not my main vice, cars are. Need to resist getting sucked too deeply into this when I have an Alfa Romeo in a million pieces in the garage.

Scott

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Rock Crusher, you need to snag that 208 anyway at all, short of stealing or a killing.---That's only the second one I've ever seen.---You won't be disappointed.---They're the same size and weight as the Reed 208R, and that's no slouch.

Yost still makes the 208, but they shrunk it a 100 lbs.---And they run about $2000.00 now.

The closest Yost to your 208 is the #99, posted on page 463 by Old, brought over from Practical Machinist.---Purported to weigh in at 285 lbs.---Click these links.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=271206&d=1374954888

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=271207&d=1374954888
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here's another 208.---They weigh 291 lbs.

Thanks for the encouragement grouseman. I pretty sure I can limit the 208 acquisition strategy to legal tactics but damn.....this process will probably require great patience. Ed.

 

[drivesitfar]

BP: that is maybe a reason i've stayed on the vintage tool threads for most of my reading and posting for the last few years. it's a bit easier to keep from getting a third mortgage without buying $50,000 cars, $100,000 garages and $10,000 toolboxes like some of the members own. good luck putting the Alpha back together.

JZ: nice comparison and i bet you know which one i like better. funny if they weren't named i might have thought the blue one was the RECORD.

ORC: you'll figure it out and at least you've seen an 8 inch vise in person now. i've yet to see one of the BIG UNS that weigh over 200 pounds, but i just moved my big REED 4C yesterday that is just shy of 200 and since i'm getting old i wonder if i really NEED a 300 pound vise. simple answer is OF COURSE I DO.

good luck

VA: always nice to have you show part of your chain gang and have you squirted a little more oil on them since it's maybe 100 degrees in VA this week?

 

[trents99]

This Reed 2C and a Walker Turner DP from the early 40s was given to me recently. Story is the vice and DP were removed from Liberty ships from WWII. Still working on finding out which ship if I can.

Here's the Reed next to my England Record

 

[Outlawmws]

I got a baby Paramo to go with my baby Record.

The Record is definitely a little better built in terms of heft, material added to weaker locations, and fit and finish. But the Paramo has chrome!

The Record for the win... bigger slide nicer screw and screw head, looks slightly beefier...

 

[bluebolt]

I passed on a Wilton No 4 Patent Pending bullet vise today because it had the letters missing by the swivel base holes on both sides. On the left side the "V" in vise was gone and the "MAD" in Made underneath that was missing. On the right side the "ICA" was missing from Chicago. It had a hefty price on it and I just couldn't see paying that kind of money.

 

[G-ManBart]

Found a couple of post vises at a garage sale today, and thought I had a deal worked out when the actual owner showed up. His grandson was minding things and said he was asking $100 for either vise, but might take less. Grandad came in as I was finishing looking at the first one, and when I asked what he wanted for the second one said he had to get $200 for either one.

The first vise is heavier, has no markings, and actually has clean jaws that have a fair amount of the serrations left....I'd say it was at least 80lbs. It looked better in person than these pics show....I'm sure it would clean up nicely. The second is newer, and clearly marked as a Columbian...worn jaws, that still line up pretty well, but no serrations left to speak of.

I think they were both 5" jaws, but didn't measure them...could have been 5.25" or maybe 5.5" but I got distracted by an anvil and forgot to go back and measure them to be sure. I have the guy's number, so I can call him back to get him to check for me, I'm sure.

Am I dumb for having passed on the first one at $200?






The Columbian...you can see where someone welded some pipe to the leg to make it taller:

 

[warren.albert.77]

Picked this up tonight for 10 bucks. It is in poor shape but works. Can anyone tell me about this brand?

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[G-ManBart]

Picked this up tonight for 10 bucks. It is in poor shape but works. Can anyone tell me about this brand?

That's a Starrett, which had previously been Athol. LaRoy Starrett was part of the founding of Athol, and he actually sued the company successfully, and made enough money that he bought the company. They're more famous for precision measuring devices, but both Athol and Starrett vises were among the most heavily made, and quite desirable. That particular model is a combination vise, having pipe jaws, which makes it even more desirable. If someone hadn't welded on the jaws it would be an easy flip for a couple hundred dollars (depends on the jaw width).

Some good reading on Athol/Starrett here:
https://visecollector.com/history-of-the-athol-machine-company/


For only $10 you get a "you ****!" award

 

[ImperfectSense]

On full disassembly of my Columbian I found several new markings. Inside the static jaws it says it is a 604-2, and on the barrel that the main handle threads into it says "Columbian 40". Both also have repeats of that M on a shield design. Could the 40 be a year? Or does it signify something else?

 

[vintage nut]

Found a couple of post vises at a garage sale today, and thought I had a deal worked out when the actual owner showed up. His grandson was minding things and said he was asking $100 for either vise, but might take less. Grandad came in as I was finishing looking at the first one, and when I asked what he wanted for the second one said he had to get $200 for either one.

The first vise is heavier, has no markings, and actually has clean jaws that have a fair amount of the serrations left....I'd say it was at least 80lbs. It looked better in person than these pics show....I'm sure it would clean up nicely. The second is newer, and clearly marked as a Columbian...worn jaws, that still line up pretty well, but no serrations left to speak of.

I think they were both 5" jaws, but didn't measure them...could have been 5.25" or maybe 5.5" but I got distracted by an anvil and forgot to go back and measure them to be sure. I have the guy's number, so I can call him back to get him to check for me, I'm sure.

Am I dumb for having passed on the first one at $200?






The Columbian...you can see where someone welded some pipe to the leg to make it taller:

I wouldn't have even considered it at that price, I think even $100 is a bit steep. For 50 bucks I'd have probably grabbed the older one.
That said I already have a 4" and a 7.25" post vise, which I paid about 200 bucks less than his asking price for the pair

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[vintage nut]

So I'm probably biased from getting 3 free ones, one of which is a Colombian I gave IHmachinery

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[G-ManBart]

I wouldn't have even considered it at that price, I think even $100 is a bit steep. For 50 bucks I'd have probably grabbed the older one.
That said I already have a 4" and a 7.25" post vise, which I paid about 200 bucks less than his asking price for the pair

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

Okay, as long as I'm not the only one thinking that way! I was thinking $100 was a touch high, but fair in the larger one because the jaws were pretty nice. Any more than that and I couldn't see it making much sense.