The VISES of Garage Journal

[trijeff]

All I can say is get it in your hands (if it isn't already) before VISEs sees it

 

[CRSINMICH]

trijeff: Oh yeah, it's in my hands. Picked it up at an estate sale this morning. $35

 

[sandman54]

Hello Drives it is on its way via Fastenal, really unique looking vise! i will clean it up and put some custom jaws on it and then post some pics Sandman

 

[ROCKNMUD]

The disassembly went good and cleanup is underway. No painting being done, keeping it natural. I can't find any info on the 912. Every other number but that one!

 

[eddieK]

Rocknmud - That is one unique looking Prentiss...any idea about the age? The swivel base lock and the swivel jaw with those notches...very cool vise.

 

[Shiftless]

CRS:
That is certainly a unique vise. I don't recall seeing another anywhere. With the combined experience of the GJ vise squad, I bet you'll get an answer soon.
Are there any casting code marks on the underside?

 

[webbsfive]

Can anyone tell me if this vise is worth anything? It was my dad's and we have no use for it. Not sure what to do with it. IT weighs over 100 lbs easy.

 

[Joefriday]

Went to pick up this Reed 4C last night which was about an hour away from my house. Stopped on the way home to fuel up the truck. Decided to check Craigslist while the fuel was filling up. Found this Reed 1C that had just been posted 10 minutes earlier. And it was only 10 minutes away. What are the odds of finding the largest and smallest Reed combos in the same day? This picture was taken as soon as I got them home. In the picture the jaws on the 4C look worn. After taking a wire brush to them and cleaning out all the dirt and grime, they actually look brand new.

Sweet! The only two vises that I am specifically looking for.

A 2C is the second vise I purchased since getting the bug and I want more C's.

Best,
Rob

 

[jakemac]

Can anyone tell me if this vise is worth anything? It was my dad's and we have no use for it. Not sure what to do with it. IT weighs over 100 lbs easy.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!
WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU ???????


Yes, it has some value. An exact range is difficult without knowing your area. The prices can vary depending. I think $150+ would be a starting point and then go up, it could start higher depending on location and potential buyers.

If I were a lesser man, I'd try to scam it off you. Alas, I'm not.

 

[Joefriday]

Sweet! The only two vises that I am specifically looking for.

A 2C is the second vise I purchased since getting the bug and I want more C's.

Best,
Rob

Ironically I was typing this as Webbs was posting that beauty. Dang!

I am jonesing for a 1C and 4C..

 

[ROCKNMUD]

CRS:
That is certainly a unique vise. I don't recall seeing another anywhere. With the combined experience of the GJ vise squad, I bet you'll get an answer soon.
Are there any casting code marks on the underside?

There is a 10 under the rear swivel jaw on the body and under the front jaw. 440 is on the top of the Dynamic jaw. Any help would be great!

 

[jakemac]

I've got a 3C, now I need to find the rest of the family.

 

[Joefriday]

I've got a 3C, now I need to find the rest of the family.

I'm in the same boat but with a 2C.

 

[FMC1959]

Can anyone tell me if this vise is worth anything? It was my dad's and we have no use for it. Not sure what to do with it. IT weighs over 100 lbs easy.

195 pounds to be exact, or pretty close. That is of course with the swivel base which yours is missing, so maybe around 170 pounds; is the swivel base lying around somewhere you know of? It would definitely help in value, which like Jake said could be anywhere from $150 and up.

Put your location in with your screen name, always helps when you are looking for something or need help.

 

[FMC1959]

I've got a 3C, now I need to find the rest of the family.

I'm in the same boat but with a 2C.

I would say it is not a boat but a ship many of us or in, all looking for Reed "C" vises. I have none and like many, would love to get all 4!

To the vise gurus, did Reed combos always have swivel bases? Looks like that 4c does not have one. There has also been a 2c on my local CL for a while without one.

All the old American vise brochures I have seen always have any of the combo vises as swivel base. Could be inherent to being a combo vise, having pipe jaws, having a swivel base makes holding long pipes easier in confined spaces. It is possible that some were sold without swivel base, but I haven't seen any ads showing that option option.

The CL ad you saw would not be uncommon, I have heard of instances when people grabbed a vise from a bench, it was often easier to remove the vise and leave the base on the bench.

 

[Shiftless]

webbsfive:
Please post your location. Maybe one of us can help you.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: i own several Reed C series vises and i've seen a ton of them and all have swivel bases. the ones that don't are missing them. i like FMC's reasoning why and hadn't heard the part about people just leaving a swivel base on a bench. i've seen a lot of vises welded to benches or being almost impossible to remove the bolts so either that is the case or cast feet can break off with too much tightening pressure on the bolts hence a busted swivel base that might also have gotten left.

if you have a chance to buy a Reed C series vise even without a swivel i would if it was reasonable cause if you don't have a machinist or the talent to make a swivel base the parts are worth saving.

Sandman: thanks and looking forward to what you do with the Shipbuilder's or cable vise.

 

[jakemac]

Webs - all I saw when I first took a look was the 4C , I totally missed that it was missing the swivel base. The vise was drilled to provide bolt hole to mount it to the stand. It also appears that the support for the dynamic jaw is broken off as well.

The vise is still functional, but all this means that the value to collecters will be on the low end of my estimate.

 

[G-ManBart]

Can anyone tell me if this vise is worth anything? It was my dad's and we have no use for it. Not sure what to do with it. IT weighs over 100 lbs easy.

It has some value, but the damage and missing parts really limit what it's worth.

It should have a swivel base, which is missing, and it has extra holes drilled through it to secure it to the stand. It also has a section of the casting missing that supports the slide/dynamic jaw. All of that combined really hurts the value. It would still be useful, but really only as a user rather than something a collector/enthusiast might buy.

 

[va.grouseman]

Which one of you fellows got the little SALESMAN SAMPLE EMMERT of EBay?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MINIAT...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[Shiftless]

Which one of you fellows got the little SALESMAN SAMPLE EMMERT of EBay?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MINIAT...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

I figured it was you!

 

[eddieK]

Can anyone tell me if this vise is worth anything? It was my dad's and we have no use for it. Not sure what to do with it. IT weighs over 100 lbs easy.

Useless...let me know when to arrive and get that eyesore out of there...

 

[sandman54]

You bet Drives, always happy to rescue a old survivor! I am thinking this is a really neat piece of American history. It shipped late yesterday can not wait to start the massage therapy! Have a nice day Sandman

 

[sandman54]

Webs i might think about cleaning the old girl up and keeping it around just because it belonged to my Father and u are now a member of a infectious vice forum! but that is just how i roll Sandman

 

[twertsy]

If I were a lesser man, I'd try to scam it off you. Alas, I'm not.

Doesn't that ****?.............I've made a resolution to stop doing "the right thing" 'cuz I just keep getting burned.

 

[gman007]

Which one of you fellows got the little SALESMAN SAMPLE EMMERT of EBay?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-MINIAT...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

I am sorry, I did and has I known that you wanted, I would have not overbid

Speaking of ebay prices as well as all the recent posts about Reed 4C and their value, here is one Reed 4C which in 2015 got bid up to $1300 and still did not meet the reserve. Admittedly this one looks in excellent condition (I am not sure if the jaw inserts are new or what). This was being sold by the same guy I mentioned some time back that lives in my neck of the woods and has many brand name blacks smith tools such as anvils, vises (mainly black smith) and sometimes big vises regular (last time he was selling an 8" Morgan- I have also pasted a photo of the 8" Morgan again below) and as mcmlvif pointed out he always uses the "The little cart with cast wheels and the baby buggy like handle " as his trade mark.

I wonder if he ever sold the 4C and for how much?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MINTY-185-lb-REED-4C-MACHINIST-MECHANICS-BLACKSMITH-SWIVEL-BENCH-VISE-ANVIL-/121562119176?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&nma=true&si=ZPlgawOxtr7z9CQ%252FZWqtYMWrIXE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[va.grouseman]

Picked up this Perfection #33.---Looks like it had a pretty rough life and some of it below dirt according to the pitting.---Not sure who made the Perfection but it has overtones of Prentiss, judging from the little overhang up front and the cracked slide.---Any ideas?

 

[meatsis]

Picked up this Perfection #33.---Looks like it had a pretty rough life and some of it below dirt according to the pitting.---Not sure who made the Perfection but it has overtones of Prentiss, judging from the little overhang up front and the cracked slide.---Any ideas?

I was wondering the same thing. I just picked up a #30 perfection vise at a local flea market this past weekend.

 

[meatsis]

Here's a few I picked up at the other flea market with my daughter. A 4" Starrett and a 2 1/2" parker. The parker really cleaned up nice.

 

[KMScott]

The CL ad you saw would not be uncommon, I have heard of instances when people grabbed a vise from a bench, it was often easier to remove the vise and leave the base on the bench.

Reeds like others have a shoulder bolt keeping the swivel base tied together. Which means the vise has to be un bolted from the bench, I built a new shoulder bolt for a 1C I finished last week.

Reed chamfers the swivel bolt holes at 90 degrees to match the swivel clamps and the hole is rather large so a large washer is needed to attach the vise to a bench without the swivel base. I do not believe reed sold these Combination vises without a base.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here's a few I picked up at the other flea market with my daughter. A 4" Starrett and a 2 1/2" parker. The parker really cleaned up nice.

 

[meatsis]

Yeah I got lucky with this one. It wasn't even for sale. He was using it to display an old weathervane he had for sale. I was actually walking past it when my 4 year old daughter says "look daddy theres a vise! A little one!" He didn't really want to sell it. But he said if you give me $40, you can have it.

Needless to say I took my daughter out for a well deserved ice cream for after that.

 

[Shiftless]

Great story meatsis
Good strategy taking her along. "Look daddy, there's a vise" really helps with making deals.
I'll try to take my almost 3 y.o. grandson with me next time...
The ice cream was a great idea.

 

[drivesitfar]

Meatsis: your little girl has a good/great eye. nice to know she approves of dad's vice for vises.

Shift: TopPop used to take and maybe still does take his 7 year old (maybe 9 now) grandson and sometimes his daughter to auctions and garage sales and craigslist dealings.

TOP: speaking of you have you recovered from your crane wreck on the side of the road and any new finds lately?

VA: good to see and hear you haven't lost the desire to fill in more holes in your chain to keep improving your collection. i know you might be getting a little pickier, but there are still a ton of choices out there i bet we both haven't seen yet. best of luck on the next find/purchase.

ALL: another 80 degree and sunny day here in the PNW and i'm heading to pick up my BARBER CHAIR stands among a few other things.

 

[MissileBear]

The better half got on my case about my growing vise collection...I decided to list the NIB Columbian D45-M4 on eprey. Sad to see it go, but I was hesitant when I bought it and I just never fell in love with it.

I finally removed the 6 coats of paint on this Wilton No. 6 - it took 3 soakings/scrubbings per piece (base, static, and dynamic jaws were all done separately as my soaking bucket is too small). It's been pretty loved, like a farm vise would be.

Question for all you Wilton gurus; the No. 6 has a flat spot on the bottom of the back ring. Is this factory? I compared to my Wilton 350S and it also has a ground down area in the same location. It looks like the castings were poor in this area? I know the 350S is a factory job, as it has the original paint over the grinds. Pretty sloppy, although it is out of site.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's probably where the casting sprue was, They have to pour the molten metal in somewhere, and that is the logical place so when they grind the sprue off its not in your face.

 

[KMScott]

Missile, sometimes the end piece gets rotated and maybe that flat spot should be on the bottom. Wilton sanded all the flash on their castings after assembly and before painting. I have seen this before. You could polish it down to meet if it was not rotated and it will look fine. I use a 4-1/2 angle grinder with a corse disc and finish it up with a Scotch Brite hook and loop pad fit on my angle grinder purchased from McMaster Carr. https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/123/2660/=18aaw8p Good luck and a nice vise you have there.

 

[MissileBear]

Outlaw and KMScott - as always, thanks for the replies.

I thought this might be the remnants of the sprue, but I wasn't sure. I know that many of the old iron was machined clean after casting so you could not see any evidence of the sprue (like Stanley Bailey plane beds). I'm not terribly familiar with Wilton yet....getting there.

KMScott - that is the bottom - it's just a poor picture. I have some of those Scotch Brite pads on my "**** to buy" list, which has become rather lengthy. I think I'm going to keep the No. 6, and the 350S might go to my old man since he's working with a 2 1/2" exposed screw Littlestown.

I'm going to paint the No. 6...probably original color, but who knows.

 

[G-ManBart]

Question for all you Wilton gurus; the No. 6 has a flat spot on the bottom of the back ring. Is this factory? I compared to my Wilton 350S and it also has a ground down area in the same location. It looks like the castings were poor in this area? I know the 350S is a factory job, as it has the original paint over the grinds. Pretty sloppy, although it is out of site.

It's very common for a Wilton to have a tail cap assembly that doesn't quite fit flush in that area....no need to worry.

 

[G-ManBart]

I'm going to paint the No. 6...probably original color, but who knows.

LOL...nobody even knows what the correct color is for Wiltons of that vintage.

There's a lot of talk, theories, and sometimes arguments, but no definitive answer. Some say a light blue, some say a light blue/green, but without accurate color photos of vise taken during that time period we're all guessing. Even an NOS vise from that era will have faded significantly by now so there would be no way of telling for sure.