Vise Info Thread

[Mark in Indiana]

FMC:
I picked up some vises last weekend. Here's some information to add to your spreadsheet:

1st Picture:
Bison
COO: Poland.
DOM: 1982.
Model: 63.
Weight: 11#.
Jaw width: 2-1/2"
Jaw opening (at beginning of nut thread) 1-3/4".
Jaw depth: 1-13/16"
Anvil: Y
Pipe jaw: N
Replacement jaw faces: Y
Base: Swivel.
Overall height/width/length: 5-1/4" x 6-1/2" x 9-1/2".

Second picture:
Taskmaster 4.
I saw that you had one listed in your spread sheet. Here are a couple of specs to complete that listing:
Weight: 36#.
Jaw opening (at beginning of nut thread): 4-1/2".

 

[FMC1959]

Mark, thanks for these and the previous Bison vise info.

I wanted to ask you about the 2 models of Bison; one being like a traditional looking bench vise, such as this model 63. The other would be the model that has the dynamic and static reversed, compared to what we are used to.

The one you have the thread on the restoration has 80 on it, as well do many like the traditional style....the 80 being the mm of the jaws. In your restoration thread you called it model PJWK 80; was this written somewhere on the vise or did you look it up on their website?

Till now, a Bison 80, 100, 150 or whatever could be either model, do you know a differentiation? Are all the reverse dynamic/static looking bench vises PJWK + the size?

 

[FMC1959]

A mix of MFR's

Kanca


Emmert 4a and 6a


Marples


Samson


Sevo


Swindens

 

[Mark in Indiana]

FMC:
Please see answers below.

Mark, thanks for these and the previous Bison vise info.

I wanted to ask you about the 2 models of Bison; one being like a traditional looking bench vise, such as this model 63. The other would be the model that has the dynamic and static reversed, compared to what we are used to.

The one you have the thread on the restoration has 80 on it, as well do many like the traditional style....the 80 being the mm of the jaws. In your restoration thread you called it model PJWK 80; was this written somewhere on the vise or did you look it up on their website?

There's not very much information about the FPU vises other than it's the ancestor of the 1240 series vises. I came across the PJWK-80 number on the vise nut (see 1st picture) and made a guess that it was the model number. "mali" a fellow GJer who lives in Poland confirmed my model # theory, and gave me a lot of valuable guidance.

Till now, a Bison 80, 100, 150 or whatever could be either model, do you know a differentiation? Are all the reverse dynamic/static looking bench vises PJWK + the size?

Please see link:
http://www.bison-bial.com/vises/bench-vises

The traditional style of bench vises are the 1250 series (ex; 1250-80, 1250-150, etc). I can only assume that Bison-Bail used that number system on earlier models. However, some 1250 vises made in the 1970s are different than the same looking vises made now. I found this out when I was shopping for a swivel base for my Dad's 1250-80 vise. The mount holes on my Dad's 1973 vise wouldn't line up with a new swivel base. Glad I requested drawings before ordering. BTW: As far as I know, swivel bases are an aftermarket item. Some more fun facts about Bison-Bail that I've stumbled on: They manufactured "Rapid" vises for the American market. They also manufacture some vises that were rebranded. Bison-Bail was good enough to stamp a date on top of the vise jaws (see 2nd picture).

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

 

[FMC1959]

FMC:
Please see answers below.



Please see link:
http://www.bison-bial.com/vises/bench-vises

The traditional style of bench vises are the 1250 series (ex; 1250-80, 1250-150, etc). I can only assume that Bison-Bail used that number system on earlier models. However, some 1250 vises made in the 1970s are different than the same looking vises made now. I found this out when I was shopping for a swivel base for my Dad's 1250-80 vise. The mount holes on my Dad's 1973 vise wouldn't line up with a new swivel base. Glad I requested drawings before ordering. BTW: As far as I know, swivel bases are an aftermarket item. Some more fun facts about Bison-Bail that I've stumbled on: They manufactured "Rapid" vises for the American market. They also manufacture some vises that were rebranded. Bison-Bail was good enough to stamp a date on top of the vise jaws (see 2nd picture).

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Good stuff, this helps a lot

 

[KMScott]

Columbian 203-1/2 from balane.

 

[FMC1959]

Columbian 203-1/2 from balane.

Thanks Kevin, added to the spreadsheet.

 

[GRX]

Great thread. Thanks you for your time & effort.

Do not agree with the spread sheet on the Reed 203 1/2. Says replaceable jaw face = yes.
Ones on mine are definitely hot forged. Maybe because it is a pre WW2 model?

 

[FMC1959]

Thanks.....the 203 1/2 should say no. The 203 1/2 R says yes, as it started with hot forged, then they became replaceable somewhere near the end of the "R" life cycle (I believe) or later when they introduced the "S" and "N".

The "S" and "N" would be when the eliminated the 200 series. Yours would have been a 103 1/2 S, "S" for swivel, "N" for stationary.

Some changes took place during a models life cycle. The "R" was introduced with the "meatball" handle and a few years later changed the the flat mushroom style handle for most of the "R's" life cycle.

I need to get clarification on when the replaceable jaws were introduced and will correct it if needed.

EDIT - I went and changed all "R" models to NO, and put a note that late "R" models did have replaceable jaws...I have a couple of pictures that show screwed in jaws

 

[FMC1959]

Posting this for posterity, GJ member "Vises" had a pic on the vise thread, the rest of the pics are from an eBay seller asking $2500 for this. Here's what he has to say in his as....

"Up for your consideration is an Odin Universal Corp bench vise. It appears from my research to have been made in the 40's but there is very little information on this vise. It is made in Chicago ill. Weight is about 35 pounds. The Odin corp vise is rare for having removable jaws that can be rotated to different positions.The vise also appears to have been available with different jaws for pipe etc. although this vise only comes with the standard jaws. It has a fixed base. This item is sold as-is and ships to lower 48 only. Don't let this one get away as it belongs in your collection. Thanx and have a great day!!!"

And two questions he was asked...the second question is a good one...

Q: Wow ! Awesome vise - i have been collecting vises over 10 yrs and i never seen one -wish i had the extra money - its worth every penny of your buy it now -good luck
A: Thank you!!!!!!

Q: Are you really asking $2500 for this vise? Or is the decimal in the wrong spot?
A: Find another one for less. Yes it's 2500.00 usd.

 

[FMC1959]

Hollands Combination vises

 

[zoomieport]

I just added this Dawn to the Vise Registry, #6OS

ZOOM

 

[KMScott]

American Scale # 4 Open Screw vise. 4" jaws, opens to 5". Over all dimensions are 17 x 10 x 6

 

[KMScott]

Prentiss 518/528 Bulldog with 6" jaws. Takes the same jaws as the Prentiss 22 model.

 

[KMScott]

American Scale # 3 Has 3-1/4 Jaws. Utility Vise that is a under the bench swivel base. Cast in jaws.

 

[KMScott]

American Scale 35T 3-1/2" Jaws, opens to 4-1/2" and weights 15lbs with replaceable jaws.

 

[zoomieport]

Charles Parker 23X, for the record.

 

[KMScott]

American Scale 63N 3-3/4 jaws 64lbs and 6-1/2" max opening. 8" opening in one of the pic's is not a safe opening since the square slider is in side about a 1-1/2".

 

[KMScott]

American Red Seal 63N, 4" jaws opens to 8". Anyone know the weight?

 

[KMScott]

American Scale 213A 5" jaws 87lbs

 

[KMScott]

Rock Island 75 5" jaws and weighs 90 lbs. Gonna fix this one later because it sure needs it.

edit 3-2019. Fixed it. Did another one in 2025.

 

[zoomieport]

REED's 102 and 102-1/2, for the record...

 

[KMScott]

Athol #68 exposed screw 2" jaws 2" opening.

 

[KMScott]

Athol # 80 3-1/2" jaws opens 6". Early swivel base, 1894 cast in side.

 

[KMScott]

Athol #81 4" jaws opens 5-1/2 and weights 44lbs. Swivel releases from under a bench.

 

[KMScott]

Athol 631 Swivel Jaw. 4" jaws, 7" opening, weight???

 

[KMScott]

Athol 44 Early Coach maker swivel jaw. 4" jaws, opens to 8" and weights 42lbs

 

[KMScott]

Athol Clamp-on #4 1-9/16 jaws, Opens 1-11/16. I own this one and like it.

 

[zoomieport]

Wilton 800N (charity vise) with a Reed 206, for the record...

 

[zoomieport]

Hollands 22-1/2" from AKASRICK, for the record...

 

[wrenchguy]

Wilton 800N (charity vise) with a Reed 206, for the record...

extra good luck to u and its new owner. :thumb up:

r u up 4 another?

 

[zoomieport]

extra good luck to u and its new owner. :thumb up:

r u up 4 another?

I'm up for anything!

 

[KMScott]

Chas Parker #29

30lbs, 3-1/4 jaws and opens up 4".

 

[akasrick]

Victor Jersey
No 741
Stanley Rule & Level Co
New <s>Briton</s> Britain Conn USA
PATD JAN 28 08


2.87lbs. missing the swivel pad, nearest full wt. 3 lbs.
2" opening
1+5/8 jaws
Brown Japanning was alligatored, removed, hard wax applied.
guess they were comfortable advertising 1+1/2" opening; 1+1/2 jaws"

 

[KMScott]

American Scale #13.

5" Jaws and weights 45lbs. Max opening??

 

[KMScott]

American Scale # 14 3-1/2" jaws, weights 35lbs and opens to 4" roughly.

 

[KMScott]

Victor Jersey
No 741
Stanley Rule & Level Co
New Briton Conn USA
PATD JAN 28 08


2.87lbs. missing the swivel pad, nearest full wt. 3 lbs.
2" opening
1+5/8 jaws
Brown Japanning was alligatored, removed, hard wax applied.
guess they were comfortable advertising 1+1/2" opening; 1+1/2 jaws"

Thanks akasrick, I added your pic's to the spreadsheet and updated the spec;s. Kevin

 

[twertsy]

I've got many links to old cats/advertisements on my site. I'd also be happy to discuss converting all that spreadsheet data to something that might endure and make it searchable, sortable, etc. etc....

 

[KMScott]

I've got many links to old cats/advertisements on my site. I'd also be happy to discuss converting all that spreadsheet data to something that might endure and make it searchable, sortable, etc. etc....

Thanks Twertsy, yes Mike and I would love to add what you have and your site is also a great resource for vise information. What will be nice is adding a link to your site to draw attention to all the valuable information you have collected. I can not believe all the vises made years ago, it is overwhelming. Over 2400 listed already. FMC should be thanked repeatably as you also. Thanks for having such a valuably site and offering to share. I'll be in touch. Kevin

 

[twertsy]

Thanks Twertsy, yes Mike and I would love to add what you have and your site is also a great resource for vise information. What will be nice is adding a link to your site to draw attention to all the valuable information you have collected. I can not believe all the vises made years ago, it is overwhelming. Over 2400 listed already. FMC should be thanked repeatably as you also. Thanks for having such a valuably site and offering to share. I'll be in touch. Kevin

I downloaded and installed a new module that allows me to upload MS Excel documents and auto-create pages on the site. I've mapped your file to my vise model form and she's ready to go. Just say the word.