The VISES of Garage Journal

[G-ManBart]

Picked up a clean C2 Friday and got it turned around in 24 hours. It was originally on a military truck according to the previous owner.







Nabbed it's big brother C3 today.





Completed the C series...the C1 needs some help!

 

[royce]

Reed 105 and a new stand/ work station
Put a few widgets on this one that may be handy.

Royce

 

[PacificaVette]

i just found this Prentiss "Bulldog" vise on Craigslist. The model is either 25 3 1/2 or 26 3 1/2, as both are model numbers are on the dynamic jaw. The "Vise Database" that is published on google docs:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805

does not seem to describe this vise. Could this vise be something unusual?




I have a couple of questions for our vise experts here. When opening the vise from a closed position, you can turn the handle about 4 revolutions before the dynamic jaw begins to move. The handle and screw move outward for almost an inch before the dynamic jaw moves at all.

When I partially disassembled the dynamic jaw/slide, I could see that there is a spring clip and a "bushing" on the the shaft of the screw. The bushing is placed toward the thread side of the screw, with the spring clip ( e-clip) on the outer (handle side) of the screw. Should this bushing be relocated to the outer side of the spring clip? I'll try to get a clear picture, if that would help.

View media item 69412
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[royce]

A few more pics, loaded with tools

Royce

 

[va.grouseman]

PacificaVette, you get the slop out of that thing and you got a dandy vise there.---I love those split base Prentiss's.

 

[drivesitfar]

PV: yes your sleeve needs to be on the other side of the spring clip and your slop problem/issue is solved. if you need help ask again or post it over on the Vise repair 101 thread in vintage tools. i can't recall any of my old Prentiss vises having a sleeve and spring clip so that might be a prior owner's fix to replace an old crown nut or it could be original.

good luck

 

[ALLFAST]

Pacifica Vette....did you buy this from Tom in Belmont or thereabouts? We spoke on the phone and he wasn't able to ID it, sent me a horrible picture, and I just couldn't get over to him.
Nice score !

This other discussion on this vise (random net discovery...no ownership known) style...I LOVE this thing !


And Bart...you are killing me with your scores and restos.....very motivating Sir !


Shawn

 

[JZiggy]

Move over, Paramo.

A big thanks to a good friend (you know who you are) for the lead on this one. I guess I never need to buy another vise... that's what I told my wife anyway

 

[RagTopTA]

Picked up this Wilton bullet 4" off Let Go tonight for $40!! Been looking for one for a while now! Score!

 

[Shiftless]

Rag Top:
One hell of a good deal on that bullet.

JZ:
Another legendary 4C has surfaced. Looks great on your bench. Congrats!
Any plans to spiff it up?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have no idea as to a maker. I remember someone posting one of these 18-24 months ago. I love these vises to death. Ive never seen one in the flesh.

I have the Fred C Moran, and one of us GJers has the Flexivise in Arizona, IIRC.

We maybe sort of concluded that Fred C Moran sold his design? to Flexivise. I don't really remember. It's buried in the thread somewhere....

Mine doesn't have the side pin. (And I put the hold down clamp bolt back in to my base)

Moore and Getridaone..awesome vises!

 

[PacificaVette]

Pacifica Vette....did you buy this from Tom in Belmont or thereabouts? We spoke on the phone and he wasn't able to ID it, sent me a horrible picture, and I just couldn't get over to him.
Nice score !

This other discussion on this vise (random net discovery...no ownership known) style...I LOVE this thing !


Shawn

Yes, I got it from Tom in Burlingame. He's moving and is selling off a lot of tools. I think I got a pretty good deal---$40.

I would still like to learn a bit more about the history of this vise. The older Prentiss vises were built in NY, but this one is stamped as built in Connecticut. The stationary jaw is stamped with the model number, "26 3 1/2", and the dynamic jaw is stamped with both "25 3 1/2" and "26 3 1/2". I guess that the dynamic jaw was used in both models, but my vise does't seem to fit the description in the vise database. Hmmmm....

 

[PacificaVette]

PV: yes your sleeve needs to be on the other side of the spring clip and your slop problem/issue is solved. if you need help ask again or post it over on the Vise repair 101 thread in vintage tools. i can't recall any of my old Prentiss vises having a sleeve and spring clip so that might be a prior owner's fix to replace an old crown nut or it could be original.

good luck

Thanks! It doesn't look like it would be difficult to make that switch. I wonder if that flimsy little clip is sufficient, or I should be looking to do something else. I've seen threads on the Prentiss crown nut, and I don't recall a fix like the one that was done on mine.

 

[RagTopTA]

Rag Top:
One hell of a good deal on that bullet.

JZ:
Another legendary 4C has surfaced. Looks great on your bench. Congrats!
Any plans to spiff it up?

yea I was super excited , it had been on Let Go for 10 hours an noone had picked it up! I have a 4 1/2 combo I got for $10 about a year ago. Now I just need a baby!

 

[KMScott]

Picked up a clean C2 Friday and got it turned around in 24 hours. It was originally on a military truck according to the previous owner.

Nabbed it's big brother C3 today.

Completed the C series...the C1 needs some help!

G-Man, Wow are you in Wilton Heaven. Really nice stuff you seem to get every week. Just drive down the street to the local Wilton store and get the base you need for the C1. Just kidding. Thanks for sharing and all your informative posts.

Reed 105 and a new stand/ work station
Put a few widgets on this one that may be handy.

Royce

Royce, you out did your self on this one. You have a complete work station in one spot. So much fun making stuff and I am jealous. I can not wait to retire and play. Do you have a spot for this in your work? Thanks for sharing this awesome vise and stand.

 

[royce]

G-Man, Wow are you in Wilton Heaven. Really nice stuff you seem to get every week. Just drive down the street to the local Wilton store and get the base you need for the C1. Just kidding. Thanks for sharing and all your informative posts.



Royce, you out did your self on this one. You have a complete work station in one spot. So much fun making stuff and I am jealous. I can not wait to retire and play. Do you have a spot for this in your work? Thanks for sharing this awesome vise and stand.

Thank you Kevin,
Good luck on your retirement, it really frees up time for building stuff.
I retired 5 years or so ago and have still put in over 2000 hours a year.
I **** at retirement and need to learn to say no!!
I think this vise will be the mainstay in my home shop.
I have been working on a shop layout for a couple years and have not finalized it yet.
Royce

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,

Struck rusty gold at an auction last Saturday in Lynnville, Indiana.
Here are some pictures:

1st. Picture; Columbian 604 vise. 4" jaws. Circa: Late 40s - 50s.

2nd. Picture; A little Bison 1250-63 vise. 2-1/2" jaws. Circa: 1982.
Being a Bison vise fan, I couldn't resist. Sorry I didn't place a soda can next to it. It weighs 11 pounds. I think this little one is cuter than a basket full of kittens. My wife doesn't agree with that statement.

3rd. Picture; Taskmaster 4. 4" jaws. Does anyone have any information? Name of manufacture? Date of manufacture? Country of origin? Any other fun facts about this vise?

4th. Picture; Craftsman woodworking vise. 7" jaws.

5th. Picture; A vintage Delta scroll saw. 24" throat. Circa: 1950s.

6th & 7th. Pictures. The haul.

 

[Scout3918]

Awesome score Mark.

how do you like my avatar? probably don't look familar does it? lol

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: great haul. i can't tell your where or maybe when your Taskmaster was made, but i bet it would make somebody a great user. have you managed to keep all those Bison (FPU) vices you've picked up or at least a few?

just an FYI and not sure why it's a big deal, but you might want to edit the one picture with your license plate showing. i'd like to know why that is a big deal, but i'm sure it's cause of the IDIOTS that can't figure out how to survive without taking something that isn't theirs.

GMAN: yes that Wilton magnet of yours is sure working well. have you found the tweak to make it work as well for Reed, Rock Island and Athol/Starrett or does that magnet demand another expensive upgrade. are you believing me now when i mentioned that your area might have more vises than Joe and Meatsis' VISE HEAVEN? seriously i see maybe one or two vises a week that are worth buying and you'd probably turn those down cause either too expensive or not good enough.

wow from farm fresh to freshened up in less than 24 hours. WELL DONE!!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Who got the Pittsburg Auto vise from Waynesville NC ???

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Scout:
The first time I saw your Avatar, I did a double-take...I thought it was my vise.

Drives:
The only Bison manufactured vises that I sold were a Bison 1250-150 and a Rapid 6".
The only ones that I'm keeping is a 1250-80 (my Dad's) and the FPU; PJWK 80 that I restored last year (one of my bar room shelf decorations). I have a 6" Rapid on the shelf that I plan to restore & find a good home for it. Juries out on the little Bison 1250-63.

I pulled the image that has my truck & trailer with the license tags, per your recommendation. I don't know why plates should be blocked out when showing them on the internet. I guess better safe than sorry. Thanks for the tip.


Cheers All.

 

[meatsis]

Who got the Pittsburg Auto vise from Waynesville NC ???

I don't know. But why didn't you get it?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I got the CL alert and it was already deleted when I looked at it, that was two hrs. later. I was outside working in the yard instead of doing nothing in the basement and missed it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mark: yep those Bison FPU vises are pretty sweet. you're welcome about the plate tip and not sure if we should worry about it or not so i'll try to find out more on why most of the plates are blocked out or not shown.

GET: is that a sale just today? there was a 5 incher Pittsburg vise that sold last fall up in PA or maybe a state around there. i think CRETE in South Dakota has Pittsburg bench vise and not a the barrel vise that looks like the 695 pounder. the one bought last fall had some issues with it's jaws if i recall correctly. do you have any more pictures of the one you missed? also if you don't miss one now and then you are not human.

 

[zoomieport]

Hello All!

I hope you are all well!

I picked up another Craftsman #5241 "double swiveler" today, I thought I'd share it with Y'all...

Here you go...

Take Care!
ZOOM

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Mark: yep those Bison FPU vises are pretty sweet. you're welcome about the plate tip and not sure if we should worry about it or not so i'll try to find out more on why most of the plates are blocked out or not shown.

GET: is that a sale just today? there was a 5 incher Pittsburg vise that sold last fall up in PA or maybe a state around there. i think CRETE in South Dakota has Pittsburg bench vise and not a the barrel vise that looks like the 695 pounder. the one bought last fall had some issues with it's jaws if i recall correctly. do you have any more pictures of the one you missed? also if you don't miss one now and then you are not human.

It was posted at 10:30 this morning and deleted before 12:30 when I looked at my email. The picture above is all I could see. Ad read " Large vise that tilts & rotates. $500.00 "

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Mark: you're welcome about the plate tip and not sure if we should worry about it or not so i'll try to find out more on why most of the plates are blocked out or not shown.

Sorry if I'm going off topic. One can look up a plate and find out a small amount of information that may seem irrelevant at the start, but can lead to the protected information. I trust GJers. However, best to be careful. Now...Back to vises.

 

[RG Rude]

Move over, Paramo.

A big thanks to a good friend (you know who you are) for the lead on this one. I guess I never need to buy another vise... that's what I told my wife anyway

Very nice. I am now looking for a 2C and 1C to complete my collection.

 

[JZiggy]

Thanks!

If anyone has dimensions for the adjustable nut stop pin that would be greatly appreciated. Mine is missing and just has a loose-fitting basic pin in there right now.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mighty good stuff popping up on these last 2 pages.

 

[G-ManBart]

GMAN: yes that Wilton magnet of yours is sure working well. have you found the tweak to make it work as well for Reed, Rock Island and Athol/Starrett or does that magnet demand another expensive upgrade. are you believing me now when i mentioned that your area might have more vises than Joe and Meatsis' VISE HEAVEN? seriously i see maybe one or two vises a week that are worth buying and you'd probably turn those down cause either too expensive or not good enough.

wow from farm fresh to freshened up in less than 24 hours. WELL DONE!!

The magnet has a Reed setting now as well...it's reeled in a 204, 204R, 204 1/2R, and a nice 404 lately. I'm still working on the other brands, but I'll get there!

When I got done with that C2 I thought the same thing you've said many times...that may be nearly the ideal home shop vise. I can't imagine almost anybody really needing more vise than that except for a very few folks who have big rigs or heavy equipment.

 

[G-ManBart]

Could this be anything but a York? It's got a heavy coat of paint on it, and I don't see anything other than the "150" on the side. Did anybody ever make a York knockoff? It's heavy, seems well made, and figured it was worth a $50 gamble.

 

[drivesitfar]

Gman: definitely worth the $50 gamble and i'd bet it's a York. of course with it's age which might have been during WWII hard saying who made the vise or how much time they saved by not putting any name in the mold to cast it. the jaw supports look a bit odd so can you take a look at them and maybe post up a few more pictures of it open cause it doesn't look quite right?

glad to hear your magnet has many many settings and looks like it's got a European one too.

 

[vintage nut]

I've always thought a 4.5-5" combination vise would be a great choice as an only vise. I like the reeds myself.

I'd probably lean more towards a good swivel jaw though. One of those tools that once I got one I had no idea how I lived without it. I have a 3.5" rock island, but if I could only pick one vise it'd probably be the 5" Parker swivel jaw on my dad's bench...

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[vintage nut]

I'm waiting for someone to come up with a C clamp magnet... Never have enough of those

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[joe.striper]

Could this be anything but a York? It's got a heavy coat of paint on it, and I don't see anything other than the "150" on the side. Did anybody ever make a York knockoff? It's heavy, seems well made, and figured it was worth a $50 gamble.

definitely a York. I have a 120 that has no name either.

 

[zoomieport]

I'm waiting for someone to come up with a C clamp magnet... Never have enough of those

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

How many you need?

 

[VISEs]

Recently I've experienced such outstanding, gentlemanly, deal and leads from a few participants of this GJ that I wanted to publicly thank them.

Good ole zoom zoom boxed up and sent two Wilton baby bullets to my boys and they absolutely love them! What a gent he is! Thanks zoomieport!






Also Meatsis! Wow! He sent me a lead this morning that I couldn't pass up! Check it out....paid $200 for it!
Dang Meatsis, if you were a woman I'd kiss your lips! Thanks bud!







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[vintage nut]

How many you need?

I buy every good deal on them I can find. What I'm really looking for is a few more bridge clamps right now... Only managed to find 1 2" one

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[scooternut]

Good on you Zoomie!