The VISES of Garage Journal

[drivesitfar]

BB: thanks for the information on Desmond Stephens, Simplex and Rigid. unfortunately the link has an error message on it so if you can change that link when you get a minute or i'll try to do my GOOGLEFU and find it. also thanks for the Wilton Date stamp information with all that data you looked at and put on your Excel i bet you occasionally dream Wilton Bullets. or maybe it's because you still are able to find a BABY for $5 or $20.

Aussie: happy to see you found your way to the MAIN vice for vises club. looks like you have a pretty nice START. I started a BEST VISES MADE PRIOR TO WWII thread over in Vintage tools and we are talking about Rock Islands being #1 so tell us how you'd rate your Rock base against the other ones. of course since these vises were made 70+ years ago a lot depends on how they were used or abused prior to us owning them, but i LOVE ROCK ISLAND VISES just a bit better than REED and a few others are very very close on my list.

here's the link and welcome to the group: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351094

 

[RobertK]

I have a question for the GJ Vise guys. What do you think a Prentiss 23 vise is worth. It weighs over 250 pounds, swivel base and is in good to great condition. Any thoughts?

 

[VISEs]

I have a question for the GJ Vise guys. What do you think a Prentiss 23 vise is worth. It weighs over 250 pounds, swivel base and is in good to great condition. Any thoughts?

Please post pictures of it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[VISEs]

Hi guys, looks like I have finally found a place to share my passion for collecting and restoring vices. Here is what I have done so far. Record size 0, Record 74 Auto Vice, Samsonia Model 37 J and a good old American made Rock Island 574.



Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Looks great! There are several fella's here that are vise crazy! Not me but some of the others.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[meatsis]

Looks great! There are several fella's here that are vise crazy! Not me but some of the others.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

HAHAHA Good one

 

[RobertK]

Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of the Prentiss 23. I do know there are no cracks, or welds. Has a straight handle...

Sorry no Vise **** to share. :-(

 

[GETRIDAONE]

https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/atq/5934258212.html

This one has been for sale for two years. He thinks he is sitting on a gold mine.

 

[VISEs]

HAHAHA Good one

Especially this one! Ha! This meatsis is certified vise crazy! Lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RobertK]

That is a great example GETRIDAONE. Thanks.

So what would a Prentiss #23 like that be worth? Roughly....

 

[4Nines]

https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/atq/5934258212.html

This one has been for sale for two years. He thinks he is sitting on a gold mine.

Didn't he want like $3,000 for it? Needless to say, he's been sitting on it for at least six months.

 

[wrenchguy]

That is a great example GETRIDAONE. Thanks.

So what would a Prentiss #23 like that be worth? Roughly....

4getit without photos.

 

[RobertK]

I am trying to get my bearings so I can make an educated offer for some larger vises. I have an opportunity for a Prentiss #23 and possibly (long shot) a Prentiss #185. Sadly, I do not have a photo of the Prentiss #23 but here is one of the Prentiss #185. The #185 weighs about 450 lbs. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. This is the only photo I have of a #185.

I have been reading through GJ for years and finally starting to post. Any education the GJ family can share would be great!

 

[kwoswalt99]

A Prentiss 185 weighs about 240 lbs.

 

[drivesitfar]

Robert: isn't it nice to post a vise picture of a vise that dwarfs a gallon of milk container? happy to see you were able to post a picture, but i still have a hard time believing Prentiss built a 450 pound vise. did you weigh it or see an ad?

i know the Prentiss 23 is a BIG UN cause i sold my Prentiss 22 to a member and it is smaller and weighs 165 pounds. you know you are asking guys that don't NEED a vise so they might not pay what somebody that NEEDS one would pay, but you are welcome to PM me and discuss pricing of a Prentiss #23. if the 185 really does weigh 450 pounds i'd love to see more pictures and that would be a very spendy vise if it doesn't have any issues.

WELCOME TO THE GROUP and I bet you have pictures of a bunch of 6 inch and smaller vises you can post if you have time and since we need somebody to offset VISES' hoard i bet a few of the lurkers could and maybe you are another one that has been observing this thread for a while and smiling.

cheers

 

[meatsis]

I have a question for the GJ Vise guys. What do you think a Prentiss 23 vise is worth. It weighs over 250 pounds, swivel base and is in good to great condition. Any thoughts?

It's not over 250 pounds. But it's still pretty big.

 

[VISEs]

I am trying to get my bearings so I can make an educated offer for some larger vises. I have an opportunity for a Prentiss #23 and possibly (long shot) a Prentiss #185. Sadly, I do not have a photo of the Prentiss #23 but here is one of the Prentiss #185. The #185 weighs about 450 lbs. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. This is the only photo I have of a #185.



I have been reading through GJ for years and finally starting to post. Any education the GJ family can share would be great!

When a vise like this comes up for sale there is only one thought process. Go get it! Don't worry about the cost just get it. Because if you don't someone else will!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RobertK]

Thanks Meatsis. So the #23 is only 207 lbs. I was told the #185 was one of Prentiss's largest vises and was over 450 pounds...It was the largest vise I have seen and looked large enough I didn't question it being over 450 lbs.

 

[VISEs]

Thanks Meatsis. So the #23 is only 207 lbs. I was told the #185 was one of Prentiss's largest vises and was over 450 pounds...It was the largest vise I have seen and looked large enough I didn't question it being over 450 lbs.

I feel like I'm reading "well I just went and looked at the big boy Pittsburgh vise today almost 700 pounds and I left to think it over for a little bit". Ha!

Robert....you gotta get that vise. Sell your car if you have to. Heck sell your wives car, the neighbors car, take a second on your house, become a pimp, whatever you need to do just get r done! The details of it can be figured out later on. Lmao




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,
Here's a Reed #204 vise that I bought off of CL. Circa 1938? The seller told me that he bought it from the Arkla Industries liquidation in Evansville, In., when they shut down in the 80s. I always like a little history with vises.

It does have some challenges; the missing base bolt, the handle and the hole drilled in the slide. I guess the hole was for a manufacturing need. However, it will be a fun restoration.

 

[joe.striper]

Well, I've been feeling down since Vises started posting. I've felt inadequate, with a poor self image... just down in the dumps...I turned to alcohol and almost to recreational marijuana...then my wife reminded me that I have stuff he doesn't and I think I may be happy enough to just make it through the month....So Vises, do you have either of these? First is a Lewis vise on factory stand, second is a Parker vise stand. The vise on it is a 4" Parker

 

[meatsis]

Well, I've been feeling down since Vises started posting. I've felt inadequate, with a poor self image... just down in the dumps...I turned to alcohol and almost to recreational marijuana...then my wife reminded me that I have stuff he doesn't and I think I may be happy enough to just make it through the month....So Vises, do you have either of these? First is a Lewis vise on factory stand, second is a Parker vise stand. The vise on it is a 4" Parker

LOL here's one I know he doesn't have. An Athol 628. In fact, I only know of two others being found. And one of them is missing the swivel base.

 

[meatsis]

Here's another one that's not very common.

He's probably got a dozen of them though

 

[MissileBear]

LOL here's one I know he doesn't have. An Athol 628. In fact, I only know of two others being found. And one of them is missing the swivel base.

WAAAANT.

Lots of vices pop up in your neck of the woods. I'm jealous...it's pretty dry out here.

 

[G-ManBart]

All,
Here's a Reed #204 vise that I bought off of CL. Circa 1938? The seller told me that he bought it from the Arkla Industries liquidation in Evansville, In., when they shut down in the 80s. I always like a little history with vises.

It does have some challenges; the missing base bolt, the handle and the hole drilled in the slide. I guess the hole was for a manufacturing need. However, it will be a fun restoration.

I just picked up a 204 that looks identical if you want to borrow the swivel bolt to get a copy made.

 

[4Nines]

Well, I've been feeling down since Vises started posting. I've felt inadequate, with a poor self image... just down in the dumps...I turned to alcohol and almost to recreational marijuana...then my wife reminded me that I have stuff he doesn't and I think I may be happy enough to just make it through the month....So Vises, do you have either of these? First is a Lewis vise on factory stand, second is a Parker vise stand. The vise on it is a 4" Parker

 

[drivesitfar]

MB: once you figure out that you need to take road trips to get the BIG UNS or RARE ones you'll enjoy the fruits of Meatsis and Joe's collections. they don't know the meaning of NOT TOO FAR and like my handle's name says i rarely do either. maybe the reason your area doesn't have any vises is cause those two and a few more characters bought them.

VISES: you are on top of your game today sir and DAMN FUNNY too.

 

[G-ManBart]

Thank you for the info. I did get the screw out now to find a similar replacement for it. Looks like the year on this one is stamped 6-71 do you happen know what color that would have been? The light blue or Verde Green?

Neither Verde Green or the light blue is really correct for vises in that time frame. They were a mixture of blue/grey/green that I haven't been able to find. I did buy a 1968 production vise that had original paint, so I took the base to a local paint shop and had it color matched.

I sold that vise, but this past weekend picked up a 1972 production 9450 that has some of it's original paint left. I painted a tail cap with the custom paint and staged this photo to show the two next to one another. It's not perfect, but pretty close. I'm going to make a paint chip with the new stuff, and have them tweak it slightly next time I have some made.

The paint on the dust cap has is glossier, but I expect that's age to the vise more than anything.

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's a pic of the Prentiss #185 with the channel iron slide.---Don't think it will clear 450 lbs. though.---The Columbian #204 1/2 weighs 61 lbs..---The 185 should be 7.37 times as big as the Columbian.:------------If it's 450.

EDIT---I believe I would have to weld me a slab onto the side of that slide and make it a boxed in.---It would be a one of a kind.


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/81/86/0b/81860b6bb7b29f92b9b1bcb4587e3bcc.jpg

 

[meatsis]

MB: once you figure out that you need to take road trips to get the BIG UNS or RARE ones you'll enjoy the fruits of Meatsis and Joe's collections. they don't know the meaning of NOT TOO FAR and like my handle's name says i rarely do either. maybe the reason your area doesn't have any vises is cause those two and a few more characters bought them.



That's exactly what it is DIF. I actually drove to PA for that big Athol. 3 hours each way. Like you said I don't know the meaning of TOO FAR. A few years ago I was gonna drive down to NC to buy a Reed 109 with the 4 bolt base for $350. I called the guy right as I was about to leave my house. He told me he sold it to someone else because they offered him $400 for it. That one really hurt

 

[kwoswalt99]

EDIT---I believe I would have to weld me a slab onto the side of that slide and make it a boxed in.---It would be a one of a kind.

You would have to cut a slot for the main nut.

 

[454ragtop]

Neither Verde Green or the light blue is really correct for vises in that time frame. They were a mixture of blue/grey/green that I haven't been able to find. I did buy a 1968 production vise that had original paint, so I took the base to a local paint shop and had it color matched.

I sold that vise, but this past weekend picked up a 1972 production 9450 that has some of it's original paint left. I painted a tail cap with the custom paint and staged this photo to show the two next to one another. It's not perfect, but pretty close. I'm going to make a paint chip with the new stuff, and have them tweak it slightly next time I have some made.

The paint on the dust cap has is glossier, but I expect that's age to the vise more than anything.

On my monitor at least, that looks just like Plasticote T10 Machinery Gray.

 

[454ragtop]

All,
Here's a Reed #204 vise that I bought off of CL. Circa 1938? The seller told me that he bought it from the Arkla Industries liquidation in Evansville, In., when they shut down in the 80s. I always like a little history with vises.

It does have some challenges; the missing base bolt, the handle and the hole drilled in the slide. I guess the hole was for a manufacturing need. However, it will be a fun restoration.

A couple times in the past when I've run into the missing pivot bolt, I find a regular bolt with the right thread and then make a flanged bushing on the lathe.

 

[Bcom]

Robert: isn't it nice to post a vise picture of a vise that dwarfs a gallon of milk container?

 

[G-ManBart]

On my monitor at least, that looks just like Plasticote T10 Machinery Gray.

It's got quite a bit more blue/green in it than machinery gray based upon what I've seen, but I'm sure a lot of that is based upon monitors as you suggest.

It's a peculiar color and the paint shop spent probably 45 minutes going through books, using a color wheel, etc. At one point I had all three guys leaning over it with color books, etc, etc....it was actually a bit funny.

 

[VISEs]

Well, I've been feeling down since Vises started posting. I've felt inadequate, with a poor self image... just down in the dumps...I turned to alcohol and almost to recreational marijuana...then my wife reminded me that I have stuff he doesn't and I think I may be happy enough to just make it through the month....So Vises, do you have either of these? First is a Lewis vise on factory stand, second is a Parker vise stand. The vise on it is a 4" Parker

I don't have those but I want them both!!!!!! How much $$$???

Nice ones!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VISEs]

84 bucks with tax.
I'm in a sad little town and headed out.
No markings.
Let me know ASAP if it's good for a trade to one of you.

Thanks.
(just looking out for you....)
3.5 inch jaws
Sorry, I should have measured.

I'm in


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rusty65]

Well finally got a pair of these universal jaws. I tried them on a athol vise and they didn't seem to fit very well so I put them on a newer style Parker vise and they seem to work pretty darn good.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bcom]

Do you have a link for those jaws?

No doubt. I cant figure out what im looking at in that pic.

 

[Bcom]

Oh ok i see now. Those are vintage jaws. No purchasable in a store
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/universal-equalizer-vise-jaws-pat-50106296
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-vice-jaw-137608278

 

[454ragtop]

It's got quite a bit more blue/green in it than machinery gray based upon what I've seen, but I'm sure a lot of that is based upon monitors as you suggest.

It's a peculiar color and the paint shop spent probably 45 minutes going through books, using a color wheel, etc. At one point I had all three guys leaning over it with color books, etc, etc....it was actually a bit funny.

It has a lot of blue in it. I use it quite a bit, I'll get a pic of something so you can see.