Two 519x's
Camera seems to be working well, so here are some images of my Craftsman 519x series.
A word of caution, both were found in adverse conditions and they are the worse for it. Discretion is advised.
The 5195 was on an old concrete floor (poured before before vapor barriers were used) on the bottom of a pile of junk covered with a canvas tarp against the outside wall of a garage that was below grade and looked to pass a good deal of moisture. The canvas retained the moisture and the front jaw, handle and nose are pretty much toast. There is significant pitting all over.
The 5191 also sat on the floor of an old garage, under a bench. It was on its side and also has some moisture problems. Apparently the previous owner was a Tarzan type who beat on things held in vise jaws with a heavy hammer. The "chin" is missing. From my research, these things tend to have glass chins....
My plan, once the weather warms up, is to e-tank them, take them apart and combine the two. Front jaw of the 91 to the rear jaw of the 95.
Have not gotten enough corrosion off to be able to move the front jaws or read the date stamps.
My 2¢ on the manufacturer is Made In Japan. They have some Rock Island characteristics, they have some Reed characteristics, they have some Starrett characteristics, and No Where is the vise marked Made In U.S.A.. For me, this is typical post war Japan - no innovation, but a tremendous ability to improve on the designs of others.
Once I get them e-tanked, I am going to compare the jaws to the ones on my Craftsman 518x series and my RI 574. See how they stack up - Sears may have had the vises made in Japan but sourced the jaws from Rock Island.
JKB
