The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Drivesitfar: I really appreciate your assessment of my vise! I'm still quite curious why my vise is sans a model number, or at least I can't locate one. I don't suppose you have any thoughts regarding whether this could have been from a bad master design, or possibly even a prototype?? In my previous life I investigated criminal actions by unknown perps, so I guess my constant inquisitiveness is in my blood.
I'll certainly enter my vise's date into the link you provided.
Cheers,
Lee
I'll certainly enter my vise's date into the link you provided.
Cheers,
Lee
Anyone ever seen a ratcheting woodworking vise? I don't think there's a name on this, description just says 'condition: good
make / manufacturer: unknown Vintage Vise ratchet clamp bench vise no name markings are 3 and B 14 inches long jaws 7 inches cast iron working vise'
I have no need for it but kinda want it anyway... My weakness is continuing to search for vises when I have neither the time nor money to go out and get them...
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make / manufacturer: unknown Vintage Vise ratchet clamp bench vise no name markings are 3 and B 14 inches long jaws 7 inches cast iron working vise'
I have no need for it but kinda want it anyway... My weakness is continuing to search for vises when I have neither the time nor money to go out and get them...
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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drivesitfar
Well-known member
72: i'd probably buy that vise if it was near me cause i like the style and the action of it. i think a few other members own these and do a search for SHELDON i think is the company's name that made it.
IS: thanks for posting your baby bullet over on the Wilton date stamp thread. if you want to do some research check out the other baby bullets on that thread and tell us how many have #'s on them and how many do not.
I know Bluebolt has an idea of some of the different castings on his Excel sheet on Wilton vises and a few others do to, but i don't think there is one member that knows them all. i don't think Wilton knows them all so have fun and let's figure it out. good luck
IS: thanks for posting your baby bullet over on the Wilton date stamp thread. if you want to do some research check out the other baby bullets on that thread and tell us how many have #'s on them and how many do not.
I know Bluebolt has an idea of some of the different castings on his Excel sheet on Wilton vises and a few others do to, but i don't think there is one member that knows them all. i don't think Wilton knows them all so have fun and let's figure it out. good luck
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Hoping for a little insight here as I'm new to vise restoration. I have an old Wilton bullet that I was about to get started repainting and upon beginning disassembly I noticed the swivel base is broken. I assume that it'll be OK for me to simply use my MIG welder to weld the broken piece back in place and then grind down the welds as best I can so it operates smoothly. But I just wanted to check to be sure there wasn't something crucial I'm missing before I get started.
Here are some pics:
If it was mine......I'd think it as simple and easy a brazing job as may be found.
I've repaired some number of cast parts like that, over the years, and found that brazing, with the torch and common brazing rod, is quite adequate for strength in the repaired part. (that Wilton part is not a really high quality casting, at best, but should be adequate for years of service, with reasonably gentle use.)
Some of the 'details' might be to be sure to have the area to be brazed 'V-ed' out full depth/thickness of the casting, and to finish the 'V' surfaces with a rotary file in a die grinder, to remove any contaminants from the grinding wheel. Pre-heating a small part like that may be easily done with the torch before running the braze, and slow cooling, even by throwing some old rags over the part after brazing, is a good idea.
As a generality, one can't get a good weld in cast iron with a MIG welder.....that is, one may be able to do a 'pretty looking' weld, but it is reasonably certain to be a bit brittle, and likely crack again under load.
cheers
Carla
ryan20021982
Well-known member
Anyone know what vise this is? I can't read anything from the pic, waiting for him to send me better pics.
View media item 71327
View media item 71327
meatsis
Well-known member
Whatever it is, it looks like the jaw support is busted off
joe.striper
Well-known member
if memory serves me that is an HB SMITH westfield ma, pre 1900. missing pipe jaws and broken support as Meatsis pointed out. I have one.
72highboy: Cool vise! I'm pretty sure that Christopher Schwarz (woodworking guru) has/had a vise just like this on one of his earlier workbench builds. I don't know if this info will help in you query, but I'm almost certain he still writes for Popular Woodworking's blog. Cheers!
Lee
Lee
Drivesitfar: Thanks for pointing me towards more sources! I'll certainly see what I find in the masses of data. 
As I'm still getting my bearings, is there a location on the forum for spreadsheets and such, like you mentioned that @Bluebolt created/maintains? Thanks again.
Lee
As I'm still getting my bearings, is there a location on the forum for spreadsheets and such, like you mentioned that @Bluebolt created/maintains? Thanks again. Lee
GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
I can't read it either but I sure see the big braze repair to the neck.
tombell572
Well-known member
EddieK--thanks for that tip. I haven't pulled the vise apart yet but if the swivel pin hole lines up with the center hole on mine then removal of the bolt/pin would be greatly simplified.
Joe Striper--check back a few posts and you will see I picked up the Prentiss vise. It is indeed a nice one as you described. Thank you.
Tom B.
Joe Striper--check back a few posts and you will see I picked up the Prentiss vise. It is indeed a nice one as you described. Thank you.
Tom B.
GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
KMScott
Well-known member
Nice job Get, really like how you finished that Parker. I think we need more pictures. Thumbs Up.
That's been for sale for a long time suppose to be a Illinois mfg I guess but looks like a Parker rebrand or something like that.
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GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
A long time with a belt sander and very careful not to cut the edges off. I took them off and put them in another vise to do the sanding. Grinding the pins down without gouging is a little nerve racking.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
IS: I think BB (Bluebolt) posted the link to his Wilton date stamp excel sheet on that thread and he might also have a link to it in his SIG LINE if you can find one of his posts which i'm sure you will cause he's done a majority of the work on that thread as far as documenting all the wilton bullet vises posted and that he's found elsewhere on GJ.
good luck and post up your findings on the Wilton date stamp thread if you figure out why some baby bullet vises have #'s and some don't.
ALL: i'm picking up my first 6 inch Columbian bench vise this week so i'll do some comparison to my Rock Islands, Reeds, Yost and any other 6 inch vises i own and give my opinion. my guess is i'll still put Rock Islands and Reeds on top, but like i said pre WWII Columbian had an entirely more stout vise than they make today.
good luck and post up your findings on the Wilton date stamp thread if you figure out why some baby bullet vises have #'s and some don't.
ALL: i'm picking up my first 6 inch Columbian bench vise this week so i'll do some comparison to my Rock Islands, Reeds, Yost and any other 6 inch vises i own and give my opinion. my guess is i'll still put Rock Islands and Reeds on top, but like i said pre WWII Columbian had an entirely more stout vise than they make today.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Bigger pic and I enhanced it a bit. still tough. Joe, I'm not seeing "Smith" in there?
Almost looks like it has the Parker screw retainer but with the wing nut swivel, the screw head should be a ball... Maybe the screw was replaced? Also is that braze I see peaking out where the slide joins the jaw?
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ryan20021982
Well-known member
It was posted 3 days ago and I know the guy selling it and have bought other vises from him
I might have to go look its only 10mins away from me
heres another pic but still can't figure it out
View media item 71342
Outlawmws
Well-known member
And again, I'm going to say broken and brazed...
ryan20021982
Well-known member
I agree but still bugs me on what it is
gman007
Well-known member
It looks like it might be
Bignall & Keeler Mfg Co.,
Edwardsville, Illinois
but they seem to have made various machines etc
Bignall & Keeler Mfg Co.,
Edwardsville, Illinois
but they seem to have made various machines etc
gman007
Well-known member
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It looks like it might be
Bignall & Keeler Mfg Co.,
Edwardsville, Illinois
The last L in the Bignall (before &) seems to have been chipped off (see the extra space before &
but they seem to have made mostly pipe threading/gripping and various machines etc
ryan20021982
Well-known member
Yes thats what it is, there are not many to find pics of in the net but I did find this also which is the same but a no.2 vise
https://www.equip-bid.com/auction/2128/item/4069
too bad its broken was for sale for a nice price
https://www.equip-bid.com/auction/2128/item/4069
too bad its broken was for sale for a nice price
gman007
Well-known member
I also found this photo drawing advertising it
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
So it is using the Parker screw retainer. I wonder if it has the distinctive Parker jaws? Possibly Parker supplied them with the base castings and jaws? the screw head sure isn't Parker...
trijeff
Well-known member
Deleted, others were all over this!
wrenchguy
Well-known member
to me another hb smith manufacture with retailer label. you see the braze?
never mind…. i missed the previous page.
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compunaut
Well-known member
jakemac
Well-known member
Yes, it's another version of the Dunlap 5244, made by Columbian.
Unlike the Craftman brand, the Dunlap used the same model number when the style changed. I think there's 3, maybe 4 versions of that model number.
Unlike the Craftman brand, the Dunlap used the same model number when the style changed. I think there's 3, maybe 4 versions of that model number.
damnesia
Well-known member
I personally wouldn't give $50 for it. I don't know what the market is down there, but around here if you wait a couple of weeks you could get a much better vise for 50$ or 60$. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it for light duty. I have 3 of that model, but I don't use them.
Hard pass at $50 for a 17lb vise...I'd rather save up a little more and get a significantly heavier duty vise. I think you'll be dissapointed and looking to upgrade soon unless you're doing very light duty work
Cleaned up the Walworth..still need to finish the collar but the retaining screw is still pretty seized
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Finished up this little Wilton C0, double pin today. I made new pins out of stainless so they wouldn't get rusty. I really like how it turned out. I didn't bother with new jaws, a new handle, or even running the handle on the belt sander as that just seems to make them rust worse. I tried to keep my cost and time down on it so this could be a user for somebody, not a museum piece.
I think the last one I saw like this on eBay went for something crazy like $625...yikes!
I just saw this vise on Craigslist.
mike_paxton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2013
- Messages
- 905
mike_paxton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2013
- Messages
- 905
Columbian large USA woodworking vise with 10 inch jaws, max opening of 12 inches, with quick release and weight of approximately 35 pounds.
Looks like it was never attached to a workbench.
Model # 10R-2A
Mike
Looks like it was never attached to a workbench.
Model # 10R-2A
Mike
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tombell572
Well-known member
"I just removed the swivel pin on my 19 1/2 Prentiss.
One I removed the main nut I found the base center bolt hole lined up with it and just used a drift after the original soak in mineral oil - a lot of Kroil- and a cook in an electrolysis tank, then knocked it right out."
Eddiek--thanks for the above tip. I pulled the swivel base off and removed the main nut as you did. Sure enough, there was access to the bolt/pivot pin from underneath. The bolt was wedged in well so more soaking with Kroil from the bottom and today it popped out with help from the hammer and drift. Machined surfaces on the pivoting jaw and main vise casting are all nice--just in need of a clean-up.
Again, thanks--a potentially tough job made easy.
Tom B.
One I removed the main nut I found the base center bolt hole lined up with it and just used a drift after the original soak in mineral oil - a lot of Kroil- and a cook in an electrolysis tank, then knocked it right out."
Eddiek--thanks for the above tip. I pulled the swivel base off and removed the main nut as you did. Sure enough, there was access to the bolt/pivot pin from underneath. The bolt was wedged in well so more soaking with Kroil from the bottom and today it popped out with help from the hammer and drift. Machined surfaces on the pivoting jaw and main vise casting are all nice--just in need of a clean-up.
Again, thanks--a potentially tough job made easy.
Tom B.
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WOW, A lot of info here. My father gave me this vise 25 years ago and I always remember it being a back up in his garage for 20 years prior to that.
Thought maybe I would give it some TLC but just curious how old it is. I have googled it and found info on Morgan Chicago but not the "STAR" marking on it.
Thought maybe I would give it some TLC but just curious how old it is. I have googled it and found info on Morgan Chicago but not the "STAR" marking on it.
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Not sure what it means but you can still buy them brand new with the star
http://www.milwtool.com/v_star.htm
The Chicago Morgans are the oldest Morgan build from 1920's-1940's, then the Aurora Morgans from 40's-70's then Miluwakee Morgans from 70's to present day