Cope
Well-known member
Carla, in 1970 I ripped a bench apart trying to do something stupid or another in either a Craftsman or Columbian vise. The vise held on and won the battle, but the bench was a total loss.
The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
BrettJ74
Well-known member
So I didn't go to work today because I tweaked my back last night. And while relaxing and browsing CL I spotted this 
Well needless to say I emailed ASAP {the vise god, a relative of Thor? must have been looking down}
An hour later the gentleman called and I got some info and agreed to purchase said vise.
After the purchase I got it home and while supposed to be resting, I begin tearing it down. Here is what I came up with.
Not being familiar with Simplex vises I was impressed with the build quality.
I continued the wire brushing and then discovered this on the end of the screw.
I have to assume this is a US Navy mark? Anyone have any idea as to the possible age? I have not seen any marking yet.
All in all a good day to miss work, and I think I found a vise to bridge the gap between my little 3.5" Dolex and my big ol' Rock Island
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Well needless to say I emailed ASAP {the vise god, a relative of Thor? must have been looking down}
An hour later the gentleman called and I got some info and agreed to purchase said vise.
After the purchase I got it home and while supposed to be resting, I begin tearing it down. Here is what I came up with.
Not being familiar with Simplex vises I was impressed with the build quality.
I continued the wire brushing and then discovered this on the end of the screw.
I have to assume this is a US Navy mark? Anyone have any idea as to the possible age? I have not seen any marking yet.
All in all a good day to miss work, and I think I found a vise to bridge the gap between my little 3.5" Dolex and my big ol' Rock Island
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Bellaireroad
Well-known member
So I didn't go to work today because I tweaked my back last night. And while relaxing and browsing CL I spotted this
Well needless to say I emailed ASAP {the vise god, a relative of Thor? must have been looking down}
An hour later the gentleman called and I got some info and agreed to purchase said vise.
After the purchase I got it home and while supposed to be resting, I begin tearing it down. Here is what I came up with.
Not being familiar with Simplex vises I was impressed with the build quality.
I continued the wire brushing and then discovered this on the end of the screw.
I have to assume this is a US Navy mark? Anyone have any idea as to the possible age? I have not seen any marking yet.
All in all a good day to miss work, and I think I found a vise to bridge the gap between my little 3.5" Dolex and my big ol' Rock Island
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Nice vise ! I hope your tweaked back survived lugging it around [emoji6]
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
My benches are always anchored to the wall studs in my Garage.
Twice I've ripped the bench loose from the wall, and the vise (a 4" Parker) and its mounting bolts survived... The bench did too; it was just no longer anchored...
Hi, DIF,
The reason that the old Columbian 'malleable iron' vises were cast with 'hollowed-out parts' for a relatively thin section had to do with the restrictions on section thickness for the heat-treat process in production.
You can read, if you'd care to, about the rather sophisticated metallurgy of malleable iron, and the process for making it, with an internet search.
Now, as a practical matter, I've not the vaguest idea as to whether the heavier vises such as Reeds or Hollands, cast from some variety of alloy cast iron, would be significantly stronger, under load, than the lighter Columbian malleable vises, if one considers abusing the vise by using it as a press, or hammer-bending a piece of steel held in the jaws.
One time and another, I've seen plenty enough of battered and broken vises at scrap yards and in flea markets, to be sure.....but those were of many different makes.....the only make I noticed as being more commonly found broken was the 'round-beam' Wilton make, which, in all fairness, is a relatively 'lighter duty' style, for equivalent jaw width. (or maybe the more abusive of mechanics just preferred the Wilton make, for whatever reason???)
cheers
Carla
vintage nut
Well-known member
I just took a look at the bolts holding the record down to my welding table.. I'm surprised I haven't broken them with how many times I've dragged that table around by the vise working on something.
Two cheese grade 5/16 bolts, that's it.
I should really mount it properly sometime...
Put that one on before I really knew anything about vises
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Two cheese grade 5/16 bolts, that's it.
I should really mount it properly sometime...
Put that one on before I really knew anything about vises
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twertsy
Well-known member
Does anyone have any insight into John R. Long? I just went through all his patents, and it's a LOT!
Hopefully someone knows his story? http://toolarchives.com/node/3519
Todd
Hopefully someone knows his story? http://toolarchives.com/node/3519
Todd
Stirring the pot Drivesit? Yeah I do resent it when 'daddy big bucks' comes through MY territory gobbling up MY vises. Its bad enough with Meatsis and Veeps chomping at my heels , but now I have to deal Mr Texas Vise.....Jesus!!! Worst part was I gave him the idea to do it!
SMH
The way I see it is you should be kicking your own ****!! I went in for your sloppy seconds and came out with rusty gold!! How in the world could a person with the call sign VISEMAN miss something as amazing and important as a stand and vise like this?!?!? Now that is a mind blower!
True I was educated by big Joe about these vise stands but I'm a self taught picker!! And happy to provide a refresher course to anyone not able to flush the full covey!
Yeeeeeee haaawwwwwww!
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IHmachinery
Well-known member
Bellaireroad
Well-known member
View attachment 1
So I've been wanting one of these ever since Big Joe told me about them. The problem was there was close to zero chance I was ever going to get one as all of the available ones had been sold. For those of you who know me know that I will put forth a great deal of effort to acquire an item if I really want it.
That said I sent a guy back to the original place where these stands/vises came from and asked him to cover every possibility....I couldn't believe when he sent me these pictures! He found one!!!!
I don't know much about them yet. However, Big Joe does if you have any questions I bet he will know the answer.
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So what's the make, model , date of birth, etc?
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PghJKB
Well-known member
Check through my posts, I have one about Long and his patents. Pinch Bug, Versa Vise, Pittsburgh Vise and it's variants, Permutation Vise, etc... I have a good deal of research on him. Right now I have him at 32 vise related patents.
He was quite a character and had patents for inventions other than vises.
He moved around a bit as well, If you check his Letters of Patent there are several different address in PA and Ohio.
His association with the Pittsburgh Vise Company and George P Blackiston is most likely a very interesting tale.
On Blackiston:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2010/01/19/the-sad-strange-case-of-the-1912-blackiston/
Blackiston also made on improvement to Long's Pittsburgh vise and holds a patent for it, #877699
USPTO URL:
http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNu...6S1=0877699.PN.%26OS=pn/877699%26RS=PN/877699
JKB
joe.striper
Well-known member
The stand is a combination of makers. The base was made by JJ Adams, the factory where we found them. The top part was made by Parker. The patent shows it was made during the civil war. I will be restoring mine this summer.
As far as I know there were about a dozen of these. I know where 5 of them are. The remainder are in individual hands.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
this, i ain't never seen a broke Columbian, but i ain't been around in vise madness that long.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
nice, real nice, are the jaw towers hollow on this 1? i have a 7" with a "C" in a upside-down triangle that i believe dates pre 1921. i can't remember if the towers are hollow on it.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
i have the same stamp on a 1940 cat engine data plate. nice find.
Does this help?
I measured the base on my C3 that also has no center hole, and no inner ring, and got 11 1/2" as well. I bought it from a buddy who had two identical C3s. He kept the one with a broken base foot, and last Saturday we replaced the entire swivel base assembly.
I got an assembly from Autopts, we pulled the center pivot pin out and it went together perfectly. The center pin required some heat and channel locks (just rotate it and it will come up) but that was all it took.
If you need instructions on how to disassemble the swivel jaw portion, post over on the vise repair thread.
This is the swivel assembly that you need:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILTON-VISE...966517?hash=item237f8f8135:g:7FwAAOSwnNBXVZwx
Slinger646
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2017
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joe.striper
Well-known member
I've been looking for reeds for a little while now.. Seem to be very scarce around here..I feel like I just hit a mini jackpot... $40... Only problem, initial inspection looks like the static was welding back on to the slide... Will clean up tonight and get a better look... But for FORTY DOLLARS it was coming home with me [emoji4] 
Cheers!!
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Cheers!!
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vintage nut
Well-known member
Is anyone else not able to see half of the recently posted pictures? Or is it something on my end
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twertsy
Well-known member
I can't see any of those pics....
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454ragtop
Well-known member
I was just about to post the same thing. VISEs pics aren't showing, tried clicking on the link for larger photo, but get a security cert. warning. Not sure why the pics don't get loaded directly to the site, kind of a bummer with all the nice stuff VISEs seems to find.
Nice find I'd bet that split nut up front is worth 40 dollars by itself being a 6in reed.I've been looking for reeds for a little while now.. Seem to be very scarce around here..I feel like I just hit a mini jackpot... $40... Only problem, initial inspection looks like the static was welding back on to the slide... Will clean up tonight and get a better look... But for FORTY DOLLARS it was coming home with me [emoji4]
Cheers!!
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va.grouseman
Well-known member
I get the same thing.---I think someone is trying to slip in the back door and do us harm.---There's always an A-Hole out in cyber space somewhere, screwing with somebody.---They can't live and let live.---It's just the nature of the beast.
Cope
Well-known member
My benches are always anchored to the wall studs in my Garage.
Twice I've ripped the bench loose from the wall, and the vise (a 4" Parker) and its mounting bolts survived... The bench did too; it was just no longer anchored...
Mine was, as are all of my benches. I use 3/8" or 1/2" lag screws.
ptgarcia
Well-known member
jakemac
Well-known member
If 4", I'd be in the $35-$50 range, depending on condition and prices in your area.
This style looks really good when spiffed up with a two-tone paint job.
This style looks really good when spiffed up with a two-tone paint job.
excelsisba
Well-known member
No triangle anywhere on mine. The dynamic jaw is hollow for sure but can remember on the other one. Wish I could tell the model number but the casting is tough to read. The first number could be a 3, 6 or 8....
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ptgarcia
Well-known member
Thanks for the reply. Seller has verified it's a 4" and claims the second swivel lock is not missing, rather the base comes with the two holes so the user can mount the lock on the side of his/her choosing. Is this true?
joe.striper
Well-known member
Vises pics aren't loading? Bwaha,ha,ha...hey Vises stay out of my territory...or else. Pictures wont post today...tomorrow who knows...???
454ragtop
Well-known member
Picked up 5 vises at the swap meet Sun. First is a Bonney and a little 1-1/2" clamp on. Probably wouldn't have bought the Bonney if not for the recent post here, not really a fan of thru the bench vises. But the deciding factor was that it appears to have all the mounting parts, near as I can tell. Strange that the only piece that says "Bonney" is the plate that screws to the bench under the vise. I was afraid I already had an example of the little clamp on, turns out I was right, oh well, no biggie, it was cheap.
Next up is a sweet little Athol 623, really nice shape, nice checkering on the jaws.
And then there's the Parker 953, forgot to take pics before I started working on it. It was frozen solid, and I suspect some idiot broke the collar trying to force it open, will need to either source or fab a collar. Anybody have an extra, could buy or trade for it, have an extra #2 Parker wrench I'd trade, or maybe other parts/tools? Too bad, cause it really didn't take much to free it up, and it has some of the nicest Parker jaws I've ever seen.
Will show the Prentiss swivel jaw, swivel base in the next post.
Next up is a sweet little Athol 623, really nice shape, nice checkering on the jaws.
And then there's the Parker 953, forgot to take pics before I started working on it. It was frozen solid, and I suspect some idiot broke the collar trying to force it open, will need to either source or fab a collar. Anybody have an extra, could buy or trade for it, have an extra #2 Parker wrench I'd trade, or maybe other parts/tools? Too bad, cause it really didn't take much to free it up, and it has some of the nicest Parker jaws I've ever seen.
Will show the Prentiss swivel jaw, swivel base in the next post.
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454ragtop
Well-known member
The fifth vise from the swap meet Sun. is this Prentiss 4-1/2" swivel jaw swivel base. Pretty nice shape other than a couple issues, first being the back edge of the swivel jaw is chipped. Not sure how this would have happened, this area doesn't seem to really do anything. I'll probably grind it down to smooth the edge out, unless someone has a better idea. It's also missing the lever to pull the pin up to release the swivel, probably end up fabbing something unless someone has a spare they want to part with. Swivel jaw pin came right out after a light tap to the side of it with a brass hammer. Jaws are in pretty nice shape. No marks, model #, or ID on anywhere that I could see, not even on the static jaw behind the swivel jaw where they sometimes do.
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trijeff
Well-known member
Yeah, what's really strange is that it's not all pictures, just the recent ones. Go back a handful of pages and pics are fine. So must be something going on with the uploading mechanism, sounds like there is a certificate authentication issue, too. Hope this gets sorted soon!!
vintage nut
Well-known member
Everyone's avatar has disappeared for me as well
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454ragtop
Well-known member
I wonder if it's a Tapatalk thing. The only pics I can't see are VISEs last few posts, but I'm on my computer, not my phone.
meatsis
Well-known member
Weird. I can see everything except VISEs pictures. On my phone and my PC