American Vise genealogy

[ncboat]

New to posting but have been an avid reader. Came to GJ since I am developing a plan for a 34x36 detached shop. Then I got side tracked by Steevo's work bench build and now have 4 roller chests in box's and a custom 14' poplar work bench top and 6' high shelf space. Then I found the equivalent of war and peace in the vise thread. Oh my gawd what a revelation. I of course had to run out and check the vise I have had for 40 plus years. I knew it wasn't one of the prized ones but heck it is 40 yrs old and made it through multiple street rod builds and two yacht restorations.
Here is what I found and even with all my reading here don't have a handle on who would have imported it. Denver CO. In the seventies didn't have a lot of places to buy a vise. We had Sears, Montgomery Wards and a " surplus " store. The vise has a big 4 on it and that name American on the side. The vises in the GJ resource with American in the name don't look like it. I have seen some similarities with some others but am curious of its genealogy/Gene pool since it is stamped Taiwan. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Grant

 

[woody 73]

From what I can recall when the traveling tool tent sales people came to town for two days in the 1970's and 80's they sold those vises by the boat load, of course by Sunday night they were gone and so was any warranty so more then a few people were out of luck.

I hear tell that some of those guys selling all those Chinese tools made tons of money back in the day.

 

[ncboat]

Interesting that a vice just like mine is now on Ebay listed as an "American Machinist" for $99 dollars. The neophyte vise buyer needs to beware. I see lots of vise's listed around me on Craigslist that appear grossly overpriced when reading the threads here. I will probably try and learn who here trades in them and buy one from a GJ member.

 

[Shiftless]

Interesting that a vice just like mine is now on Ebay listed as an "American Machinist" for $99 dollars. The neophyte vise buyer needs to beware. I see lots of vise's listed around me on Craigslist that appear grossly overpriced when reading the threads here. I will probably try and learn who here trades in them and buy one from a GJ member.

How true!

Your best bet it to get one from a fellow GJ vise collector/dealer.
Shipping is many times the deal breaker on anything except rare models or those that fit into flat rate postal boxes.
If you have plenty of time, patience, and the flexibility to go pick up stuff on a moments notice, keep checking Craigslist every few hours seven days a week.

 

[drivesitfar]

NC: welcome to GJ first of all. also your old Taiwan vise might last a while as a welding or outdoor vise, but not built nearly as stout as some of the ones made in the US and England pre 1970's.

i love the WAR & PEACE comment about our VISE THREAD. yep we have guys from all over the world on it talking about one tool. hard to believe isn't it?

if you were local i'd have many options to help you find a vise for your bench, but shipping costs might make it easier if you just became aware of the better vises and found one on your own.

i think you are in ANVIL country so keep an eye out for a good one and i'm sure that there are many many barns and warehouses that have a good old vise sitting on a bench that needs a new home.

good luck and you can PM me if you have any vise questions or just post them up on the vise thread if you want to maybe find a local guy near you that has more than a few.

cheers

 

[Pig9r]

Looks like a Buffalo brand to me. Googling "Buffalo vise" should tell you all you need to know.

 

[ncboat]

Pig9r looks like a winner. They must have made vises for different markets etc. Thanks.

Drivesitfar thank you for the advice and offer. I was born outside of Seattle and lived in Anacortes and Oak Harbor before moving to Denver when I was young. I love the Northwest.

Shirtless I appreciate your insight and would rather support a GJ member if I can't find something local. If anyone comes across a nice 4 to 5 inch I would certainly entertain looking at it .
Thanks to all of you. Grant

 

[Shiftless]

Pig9r looks like a winner. They must have made vises for different markets etc. Thanks.

Drivesitfar thank you for the advice and offer. I was born outside of Seattle and lived in Anacortes and Oak Harbor before moving to Denver when I was young. I love the Northwest.

Shirtless I appreciate your insight and would rather support a GJ member if I can't find something local. If anyone comes across a nice 4 to 5 inch I would certainly entertain looking at it .
Thanks to all of you. Grant

Let's rise to the occasion and get a decent vise into the hands of a GJ brother ncboat. There must be lots of GJ members with "surplus" vises within a reasonable distance of Wilmington NC.

 

[ncboat]

Thank you! Best I have found so far are around Charlottesville about 4hrs away. Parker 624 for 150.00 didn't seem to bad, I look forward to possibly hearing from anyone around here, Myrtle Beach etc. Grant