The VISES of Garage Journal

[VISEs]

Thanks Kevin and Outlaw.



Summers being short in my neck of the woods, when the nice weather shows up, I always have much to do outslde with little time to do it. As a result I have not had any time to do updates as there is still so much info to add. I will definitely get back to it when time allows.







Vises, as always, fantastic additions to your already impressive collection.



Comments of starting a vise museum always seem to be mentioned when looking at your collection, as well as Demo's. I remember back, maybe 4 or 5 years ago Demo had stated he was working on starting one; did it come together?



For sure, especially if he hasn't started one, the 2 of you together could easily put something quite impressive with all that the 2 of you have. I would attend for sure!



Last thing, Father's day has come and gone, it would have been a super gift to have gotten yourself. I was hoping you would make a 209 acquisition announcement, but alas, no news I am always hoping that you make the big score.

Demo and I have both talked about a Museum of vises but not much further than that just general conversation. I think I he rounded all of his vises up in one spot you and I both would be blown away!! He has way more than he thinks...

I know everyone is on the edge of their seats about the 209.....just think how I feel!! Just know that a very strong offer has been made and that he didn't say NO, his friends even told him he was crazy if he didn't take it....that said I have the best middle man anyone could ask for in this negotiation and if there is a possibility of me owning then he will make it happen. So stay tuned is all I can say for now.


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[mlisac]

Demo and I have both talked about a Museum of vises but not much further than that just general conversation. I think I he rounded all of his vises up in one spot you and I both would be blown away!! He has way more than he thinks...

I know everyone is on the edge of their seats about the 209.....just think how I feel!! Just know that a very strong offer has been made and that he didn't say NO, his friends even told him he was crazy if he didn't take it....that said I have the best middle man anyone could ask for in this negotiation and if there is a possibility of me owning then he will make it happen. So stay tuned is all I can say for now.


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you're making me tingle

 

[va.grouseman]

As promised....here are a couple I've picked up lately....if you are still keeping count this takes me over 500....And not slowing down! There are still to many cool ones I don't have yet!


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Alex, now it's 1000 or bust.---The 209 being #1000.

Always enjoy the eye candy.

I'm always wondering in the back of my mind if the Smithsonian might one day just flip the Eminent Domain Card out and actually confiscate a nice big pile of antiques like Yours or Demo's or Mr. Moor's, and give you a big fat hardy thank-you for your contribution.---Naa, not the government.

 

[VISEs]

Alex, now it's 1000 or bust.---The 209 being #1000.



Always enjoy the eye candy.



I'm always wondering in the back of my mind if the Smithsonian might one day just flip the Impenitent Domain Card out and actually confiscate a nice big pile of antiques like Yours or Demo's or Mr. Moor's, and give you a big fat hardy thank-you for your contribution.---Naa, not the government.

I'll defend to the death!


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[jakemac]

The impotent domain card ???????

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Imminently impertinent.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Over 800 pair he has


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HAHA. I love this guy. And I'm saving that photo to whip out the next time someone slaps the Scarlet Letter H (for Hoarder) on me!

 

[3baygarage]

As reported in the Garage Sale thread, 3bay found a neat vise a couple days ago – a Desmond Stephan with a Defense Plant Corporation data plate and copper jaw covers.
Links to his posts:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6562412&postcount=3514
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6562422&postcount=3515

I told him I would post some elaborating info over here. This is it…

3bay,

This February 1945 War Department TM –

- has two great photos of a Desmond Stephan double lock down swivel base bench vise.

Fortunately, it has been scanned by the University of North Texas and is on-line. Link to first Desmond Stephan photo here: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29944/m1/73/ Page ahead for the second photo, which shows the same vise with a jig held in the jaws.

What’s interesting about the jaw caps on yours is their composition. Eventually the broad restrictions on copper and brass, being preserved for munitions, caught up to jaw caps. As I first reported in a summary of Limitation Order Schedule VI (Vises) here (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6485654&postcount=631) on the ‘Wilton Dating’ thread, after January 1944, jaw caps could only be made of lead or lead-based alloy. Here is the excerpt itself:

That dates those jaw caps, the date of their fastening to that vise, and most likely the vise to earlier in the war.

As I reported in a summary here (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6509492&postcount=655), also in the ‘Wilton Dating’ thread, Desmond Stephan was supplying vises ($297,000 worth) to the US Army Quartermaster Corps and Navy from 1943 to 1945. Here is their entire record:

Given the data plate on your vise, it sure looks like Desmond Stephan was also making vises for the Defense Plant Corporation. As you already know, the DPC built entire standalone production plants, converted other existing facilities into defense plants, or bought equipment for the purpose of expanding the capacity of an existing plant. The DPC also purchased machine tools and hand tools and allocated them to private industry. According to the WPB Major War Supply Contracts books I have, they also had massive contracts ($13.225M) with the Air Corps, the Corps of Engineers, the Navy and others. None of those contracts were for vises, exclusively, but I suspect they were included in one of the ‘HAND TOOLS’ or perhaps even one of the ‘MACHINE TOOLS’ contracts on this list.

It’s uncertain to me whether the items they were supplying to the services under the contracts above were going directly to those services or to plants those services were using for production. Either way, your vise looks like an early wartime vise made by Desmond Stephan for the DPC for one of their plants or for delivery to one of the services plants.

Thanks Lugz for the great writeup!

I just wanted to repost the pictures.

 

[3baygarage]

-and the jaw covers with a logo of a C inside a triangle. Is it agreed that this is an old Columbian logo as Jakemac and I believe?

 

[joe.striper]

Joe: are you cooking your vises to get that paint to glow or is that just from sitting out in the sun? WELL DONE!!

Just sunset light.

 

[gman007]

Just finished this York for a customer. Paint matches a car he's restoring. These Yorks are nice vises.

Made a new handle, modified the spindle to accomodate a handle tensioner. Color is Hammerite Dark Blue.

Joe
Absolutely first class workmanship. Love the handle, the color and gold York lettering. Your customer should be very happy.
007

 

[VISEs]

Something is not right here....is there an empty spot?!?!?!


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[02superduty]

I know it doesn't compare to king vises. Prentiss 96. My 5th 6" I currently own.
First photo is from the ad. Vise is dismantled, static jaw is already soaking in SG.

 

[joe.striper]

Im not Vises but I can still hold my own! Here are my vises I recently organized and stacked on my new 18" Pallet Racking I picked up a couple of weeks ago. 97% of my vises are there, the odd shaped ones and really big ones that didn't fit on the shelves are elsewhere (7" Prentiss swivel jaw, 8" leg vise, Parker stand etc...). I even labeled some of the shelves...sad part is I have almost no room left.

Different subject. I walked into a seller selling vises from a closed high school. Guy has 9 or 10 Columbian 4" swivel base vises in PERFECT condition. I'm loathe to buy them because I dont think I'll ever sell them, I have the worst time moving these. What do you guys think and what would be the right price?

 

[jakemac]

Depending on condition, I'd place the selling price on those Columbians between $40-$60 each.
Spend time painting them, maybe $60-$75.
They're essentially the same as their Craftsman equivalents.
If you wanted to make any profit, you'd have to get them in the $15-$20 each range.

I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but ..........
While tempting, probably not worth the time.

 

[fullthrottle24]

Different subject. I walked into a seller selling vises from a closed high school. Guy has 9 or 10 Columbian 4" swivel base vises in PERFECT condition. I'm loathe to buy them because I dont think I'll ever sell them, I have the worst time moving these. What do you guys think and what would be the right price?[/QUOTE]

That Columbian pic you posted same as what he is selling? IMHO, stay away if so. I would be more inclined to roll the dice if they were the 1960's version with t jaws. It would be a great user vise, but very little profit if you were to flip them.

 

[compunaut]

Here was my last haul out of his place

Just comparing that Trailer to my 4x8 toy makes me feel...
inadequate

 

[joe.striper]

Different subject. I walked into a seller selling vises from a closed high school. Guy has 9 or 10 Columbian 4" swivel base vises in PERFECT condition. I'm loathe to buy them because I dont think I'll ever sell them, I have the worst time moving these. What do you guys think and what would be the right price?

That Columbian pic you posted same as what he is selling? IMHO, stay away if so. I would be more inclined to roll the dice if they were the 1960's version with t jaws. It would be a great user vise, but very little profit if you were to flip them.[/QUOTE]

No the style is the same. USA made with the T-style jaws. Probably bought in the late 60s or early 70s

 

[Joefriday]

Unreal collections sirs.. That is countless hours of time and effort hunting shown on those shelves and floors.

Amazing effort.

V/r
Rob

 

[KMScott]

Joe nice job on the York and wow what a nice collection. Still want to hear about your machine tools and how they are working for you.

 

[joe.striper]

Joe nice job on the York and wow what a nice collection. Still want to hear about your machine tools and how they are working for you.

Lathe is good...looking for an AXA quick change post for it. Still no surface grinder though...cant find anyone to rebuild it

 

[04chase]

Wow what amazing pics. Very nice collections here.ill contribute with nothing special but some nice looking vises that will be worked.

My half finished c3 and 90% 1765 wilton

All jaws, custom handles from km scott @ benchviserestoration.com.

Thank you again. I still have a 1780 and 1745 wilton to do. Green because that's why we do what we do.

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[jakemac]

MY EYES !!!!!!!
That's a whole lot of green !

 

[cheechi]

I took apart my D44 Columbian to repaint it. I used a pry bar to spread it and it was pretty easy, but I don't have enough clearance to get any pliers jaws around it to close it back up.

I must be missing something. How do you guys do it when you're putting them back together?

 

[Outlawmws]

Cheechi, can I assume you are talking about the jaw inserts? If so, just close the vise on them...

 

[RG Rude]

I know it doesn't compare to king vises. Prentiss 96. My 5th 6" I currently own.
First photo is from the ad. Vise is dismantled, static jaw is already soaking in SG.

Nice heavy vise. I always like the Prentiss models with the fancy lettering. That looks like a nice one.

 

[cheechi]

not the jaw inserts. There is a ring on the under side of the dynamic jaw that keeps the handle attached to it. It's like a hog ring.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Replace it with a washer and a C clip or a machine collar with a set screw.

 

[drivesitfar]

Joe: great looking racks of vises you've got there that is for certain. WELL DONE!!

while you don't have the volume of VISES collection you have more than your fair share and are well deserving of the VICEMAN handle.

just curious if you have your vises sorted by maker, alphabetized or how you determined where they go or how to find one?

while i agree old Columbian vises aren't big dollar vises the pre 1960's and especially the pre WWII versions are a lot better than vises you can buy today so if i had a chance to buy a few for a reasonable price i'd do it and then have less expensive vises for those that NEED A VISE for their shop or garage.

Vises: I'm sure you'll find a good vise to fill that hole and i bet with your recent hauls you'll need to set up some more racking soon for the new stuff.

 

[tombell572]

Rusty & Drives, thanks for then info--I never would have figured that out and may have drilled the holes through to restore what I believed to be "oil holes".

Tom B.

 

[gman007]

not the jaw inserts. There is a ring on the under side of the dynamic jaw that keeps the handle attached to it. It's like a hog ring.

cheechi
I had the same issue with D43 1/2 and D44. That is a one very hefty and thick C ring.

Now if you want to risk possibly braking the ring you can try what I did. I pried (I hope I am describing this clearly) the two ends of the C ring away from each other VERTICALLY to the plane that they are at. Imagine the C ring is set flat on table. You want to push one end downwards and the other end upwards (ie vertically the plane of the ring away from each other). I did so as much as I needed to slip the ring back on the smooth end (the end near the dynamic jaw) of the cork/acme screw through the vertical gap in the ring. Then used a plier to bring the ends back together in the same plane.

This is in spirit of saying "If it does not work, use a hammer, if it still does not work use a bigger hammer. If it brakes, it needed replacing anyway!"

If it brakes then you might want to follow the suggestion of GETRIDAONE for replacing it with a washer and regular C ring.
007

 

[joe.striper]

I know it doesn't compare to king vises. Prentiss 96. My 5th 6" I currently own.
First photo is from the ad. Vise is dismantled, static jaw is already soaking in SG.

you should send those 6"ers up here. I have room for them and company as well. They would have friends to play with!!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Really nice Red Seal Combination on EBay for some of you Oregonians.---Right pricy but really nice, and a whole lot of vise if you like the big ones.---I have a #25 that I bought off of Autops several years ago, but it is a plain #25 and not a Red Seal.---Same weight and size but not a Red Seal.---Wished it was.---The 25s are huge combos and I wouldn't take a gold monkey for mine but I might have to set down with a Dremel Tool carve Red Seal into the side of it.


LINK------http://www.ebay.com/itm/152547423408

 

[GETRIDAONE]

VA Here is a pattern for you.

 

[MissileBear]

Cleaned, stripped, de-rusted, and oiled. Stanley Victor Jersey 772.

BTW - If anyone has any input on my Union Parker, I'd appreciate it - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363703

 

[02superduty]

you should send those 6"ers up here. I have room for them and company as well. They would have friends to play with!!!!

Joe you cant have everything the north east has to offer.

 

[jakemac]

Joe you cant have everything the north east has to offer.

OMG !!!!
Did I just hear someone's mind shattering ?

 

[Perrorojo]

If I ever get to 500 vises it'll be because I'm single. My wife was not amused when I said I was looking for another one to put on the top shelf.

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[KMScott]

VA, got one of these. Rock Island 544B 195 lbs without the massive pipe jaws. Can't wait to get on this one. Picked it up 3 weeks ago for $75. To heavy and big for the owner. Takes the 6" 577 jaws. Gotta make a stand for this one.

16" tall, 195 lbs, base is 11" wide, 11" safe opening, 27" long. Attn: FMC.

 

[alex71]

Here's a cute little guy I picked up a few years ago. It was in a Kennedy box that I bought, complete with tools. Judging by the way it's mounted, it was either placed into another vise, or used on a grinder with a mag chuck to do fine work.

No markings on it. Jaw width just under 1 1/2". Sitting on a Kurt D675.

Note that the static jaw is in the front.