454ragtop
Well-known member
Free work bench with a Wilton(?) vise in NH http://nh.craigslist.org/zip/5879324853.html
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Outlawmws
Well-known member
The workbench top could probably be re-used; the legs, are "material" at best, and then there is the vise. Hmm; Not so sure it's a wilton?...
Looks like a Wilton with a PRC touch and feel...
zoomieport
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Duracraft used to be Taiwan, but the quality of the castings back in the day weren't any better than Chicom is generally now.
zoomieport
Well-known member
I drove an hour and a half once on a grainy Craigslist picture that I thought was a 920 or 925, that ended up being a duracraft, that stayed right with it's owner...
Take Care OUTLAW!
Mike
Take Care OUTLAW!
Mike
454ragtop
Well-known member
454ragtop
Well-known member
Looks great kwhunter. Are the brass swivel locks OEM?
Schurkey
Well-known member
Thanks for the photo. I have three or four clamp-on vices; I don't use them so I never think of them. I'll have to dig them up and see what brands they are.
Wilton 940 before and after; I mixed up paints to get that shade of greenish gray that closely matches the original paint.
Where did you get the rubber pads/cushions for the vice screw handle? My Mac needs those cushions.
CrotalusAtrox
Well-known member
va.grouseman
Well-known member
454, I like your clamp-ons.---Some real clean units.---I have a few clamp-ons and I get a whole lot of use out of one little Prentiss I've got.---Do a lot of house-hold jobs on that little ******.
I have 5 Grand Quick-Set clamp-ons.---I don't know why I keep on buying those things.
Question.---Is your Baby Bullet a Patent Pending, and do you still have the swivel base for it.
I have 5 Grand Quick-Set clamp-ons.---I don't know why I keep on buying those things.
Question.---Is your Baby Bullet a Patent Pending, and do you still have the swivel base for it.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
CA: Sheldon comes to mind or maybe Mark or a couple other members that have owned similar wood vises will let you know. great vise and i really love those old style handles and of course the quick release option. nice grab.
454ragtop
Well-known member
454, I like your clamp-ons.---Some real clean units.---I have a few clamp-ons and I get a whole lot of use out of one little Prentiss I've got.---Do a lot of house-hold jobs on that little ******.
I have 5 Grand Quick-Set clamp-ons.---I don't know why I keep on buying those things.
Question.---Is your Baby Bullet a Patent Pending, and do you still have the swivel base for it.
VA, I had 1 of those grand Quick-sets years ago, can't find it now, not sure if I lost it or sold it. Do have some cool clamps by them though. The baby bullet didn't come with a base, but was stupid cheap at $10. I had the power arm hanging around. Don't remember if it's patent pending, I'll check tomorrow.
454ragtop
Well-known member
My most recent acquisitions from the Thompson swap meet. First up is a Reed 302-1/2 swivel jaw. Somehow didn't end up with an as found pic of this vise, easily the worst one I have ever found/bought. It was an orange blob of totally seized rust, actually thought it wasn't going to come apart at one point. I trick I used to get the swivel pin out was to set up a jack screw under the pin, then used a deep impact socket which just fit over the pin, and whacked it with a hammer. Not sure why someone let it rust like that, 2-1/2" jaws are pretty minty.
Next up is an Athol 622-1/2, 2-1/2" jaw swivel base. Lastly is a Starrett 323-1/2 with a 3-1/2" jaw and swivel base, little rusty, but actually in pretty nice shape.
Next up is an Athol 622-1/2, 2-1/2" jaw swivel base. Lastly is a Starrett 323-1/2 with a 3-1/2" jaw and swivel base, little rusty, but actually in pretty nice shape.
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jimreed2160
Well-known member
Crota--It looks like a Sheldon quick release vise.
mike_paxton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2013
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100% original, except the paint and lubricant
I bought them as faucet replacement parts at Home Depot store.
Unless you bought that vise new, that's very unlikely. I'm not the best authority on the topic, but have Wiltons from that same era, and seen many more as well, and all have steel swivel locks. It appears there are washers underneath as well, which isn't correct, and the swivel lock handles are also a different style than OEM of that era. The swivel locks are nicely done, as are the handles, but very likely replacements. In fact, many vises came with just acorn nuts back then, and people added swivel locks later.
P.S. that doesn't take away from the fact that it's a cool vise and you did a nice job on it
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78C-10
Banned
Thank you for the information as well Outlawmws. I love hearing about old tools and equipment.
Skinny Dennis
New member
First time poster. I really enjoy all the pics of everyone's vises and the great information on restoring. I think I saw an ad for an old vise on CL, and it got me wanting to ditch my crappy Chinese vise from HD and get a real American made vise. My first was a Prentiss 51 that I waaay overpaid for, but it got me interested in vises, so I'll just call my initiation fee. I liked the bare look, so I didn't do much to it as it was already in pretty good shape.
I then purchase an old work bench off CL for $20 that included a Desmond Stephan. I neglected to take "before" pics, but here is my first restoration:
(That's wax on the slide.)
Most recent is a Columbian 504 1/2 I picked up off CL. One of the legs on the base was reattached, so you can't make out the "1/2" as it is covered up.
Original condition:
My next project is a Wilton 940. I'll post pics when I'm done. Thanks for a great website. I really enjoy all the info and conversation.
Thank you kindly.
I then purchase an old work bench off CL for $20 that included a Desmond Stephan. I neglected to take "before" pics, but here is my first restoration:
(That's wax on the slide.)
Most recent is a Columbian 504 1/2 I picked up off CL. One of the legs on the base was reattached, so you can't make out the "1/2" as it is covered up.
Original condition:
My next project is a Wilton 940. I'll post pics when I'm done. Thanks for a great website. I really enjoy all the info and conversation.
Thank you kindly.
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Unless you bought that vise new, that's very unlikely. I'm not the best authority on the topic, but have Wiltons from that same era, and seen many more as well, and all have steel swivel locks. It appears there are washers underneath as well, which isn't correct, and the swivel lock handles are also a different style than OEM of that era. The swivel locks are nicely done, as are the handles, but very likely replacements. In fact, many vises came with just acorn nuts back then, and people added swivel locks later.
P.S. that doesn't take away from the fact that it's a cool vise and you did a nice job on it
I'm not going to enter into an argument with you, but you are off.
The paint, lube and washers are my additions; I added the washers so that the handles, when the vise is locked, are parallel with the body.
The date code is 7-47, so the locks are correct; some where steel, others were brass.
When I've got the vise it hasn't been used for at least 30 years, it was completely dry, the grease was solid on the screw. Jaws, screws, they are all original.
I don't think there are any records from the era, but I've seen vises from the 40s, like mine, with either acorn nuts or machined locks; I have no knowledge when the factory has used ones oner the others. My #3 which has no date code punched on the key, but is from the same time period has acorn nuts.
If you take your time and go through all the 2463 pages in this thread, like I did, you will see all possible combinations that came out of Wilton's doors over the last 70+ years.
In my opinion it is in original condition save a few things... and this is all that matters; I'm not trying to sell it to you or anyone else as NOS.
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Slow down there boss, there's no argument, just discussion.
I have been through every post on this thread, as well as adding quite a few, but I won't pretend to recall every single detail. I don't recall bronze locks with that style handle, but it's possible I missed it.
kwoswalt99
Well-known member
That must be a really old Columbian.
It's on the cover of the 1959 Craftsman hand tool catalog.
Skinny Dennis
New member
If you are referring to the restored one in my post, do you have any idea of a date, or what you see that makes you think it's old? I don't have any idea. I appreciate your thoughts.
kwoswalt99
Well-known member
Well, it's pre-1926, that much can be sure.
Slow down there boss, there's no argument, just discussion.
I have been through every post on this thread, as well as adding quite a few, but I won't pretend to recall every single detail. I don't recall bronze locks with that style handle, but it's possible I missed it.
Not mine, but in original livery and used as an example; the lock missing the handle is Brass and it was originally painted; the vise is about the same vintage as mine. Also, the vise in the middle has the same style of handles as mine.
Skinny Dennis
New member
Thanks, kw. For future use, what is it about the vise that lets you know it's pre-1926?
kwoswalt99
Well-known member
The style, and it doesn't have T jaws.
That's good stuff....thanks!
Picked up this Swinden rotating jaw vice recently off Facebook.
Its unused & never been bolted to a bench
Being in the UK Ive had a few Record, Paramo & Parkinson vices in the past but hadn't heard of Swinden, After a quick search they're used in the MOD here
I like the fact that its got straight & rounded jaws
Heres the full spec on their website
http://www.swindens-vices.co.uk/swindens-4inch-101mm.html
Really good quality & think Ill keep it
Its unused & never been bolted to a bench
Being in the UK Ive had a few Record, Paramo & Parkinson vices in the past but hadn't heard of Swinden, After a quick search they're used in the MOD here
I like the fact that its got straight & rounded jaws
Heres the full spec on their website
http://www.swindens-vices.co.uk/swindens-4inch-101mm.html
Really good quality & think Ill keep it
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kwoswalt99
Well-known member
Neat vice, and those are nice pipe jaws!
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kwoswalt99
Well-known member
FMC1959
Well-known member
Yep, I was the one that overpaid (I really don't think so!
It's another cool little ******!
Take Care!
ZOOM
Nice Stephens you got there Zoomie. I remember you once posted a bunch of your small or "mini" vises. I can't recall if they were all Stephens or a mix with Prentiss, nice collection.
BTW, I have seen brochures that have STEPHENS and some brochures that have STEVENS; do you have any that have Stevens on the vise?
Back in the day, Prentiss bought out many manufacturers and have seen the odd Prentiss vise brochure that looked like the Stephens cam lock type vise; do you (or anyone) have a Prentiss branded vise like these?
Slow down there boss, there's no argument, just discussion.
I have been through every post on this thread, as well as adding quite a few, but I won't pretend to recall every single detail. I don't recall bronze locks with that style handle, but it's possible I missed it.
Anything is possible, but I tend to agree with you G-Man, ; never saw brass spindle nuts for Wilton.
Not mine, but in original livery and used as an example; the lock missing the handle is Brass and it was originally painted; the vise is about the same vintage as mine. Also, the vise in the middle has the same style of handles as mine.
As anything is possible, yours and the pictured could have been special editions, one offs, or possibly even an option Wilton may have had for a period of time. On the other hand, unless the previous owner was the original owner and says they were bought that way, my money would be on someone adding these after the fact.
Maybe Nick (Autpts) would know, the all knowing Oracle of Wilton.
bfallard
Member
Hi All,
New to the forum, although I lurk on occasion.
I just picked up a vise this week and figured I would add it here and hopefully someone can help identify it a little bit. I spent hours searching yesterday, but obviously didn't make it through the billion posts in this thread. If it should be in a different thread, let me know, I'm new.
As far as I can tell it has no real makers mark, so its probably an import, but it does have some striking resemblances to a Morgan 45. The only writing, as you can see, is on the side "4 1/2 Standard Vise", and yes, it does in fact have 4.5" jaws. Sounds pretty generic, but I'm hoping maybe it is something decent. It actually has a very nice feel to it, no real slop or backlash, jaws line up well.
New to the forum, although I lurk on occasion.
I just picked up a vise this week and figured I would add it here and hopefully someone can help identify it a little bit. I spent hours searching yesterday, but obviously didn't make it through the billion posts in this thread. If it should be in a different thread, let me know, I'm new.
As far as I can tell it has no real makers mark, so its probably an import, but it does have some striking resemblances to a Morgan 45. The only writing, as you can see, is on the side "4 1/2 Standard Vise", and yes, it does in fact have 4.5" jaws. Sounds pretty generic, but I'm hoping maybe it is something decent. It actually has a very nice feel to it, no real slop or backlash, jaws line up well.
