The VISES of Garage Journal

[chrisnazzy]

I've had stuff like that happen many times, and it's just part of dealing with Craigslist.

It's also further proof that many people ****...no other way to describe it.

Unfortunately, there are also quite a few, mostly silent, forum members who will tank a deal someone else is working on, start a bidding war on a Craigslist ad they didn't see first, etc, etc. If a large, rare vise popped up right now for a really low price, and somebody posted it here, a bidding war would happen, and that vise would very likely silently go into some hoarders collection not to be seen until they die....that's just the way it is.

Some people absolutely do ****! I'm a "glass is half full" type of guy though and unfortunately tend to believe in and hold high virtues such as honesty, integrity and loyalty.

Undoubtedly however, so many people have zero conscience and see greed, deceit and dishonesty as byproducts of doing business.



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[CrotalusAtrox]

I know the guy who got the Baby not me unfortunately, and while he was up there the lady offered him the Athol and Parker he only has Wilton so he called me and asked if I wanted them I said yes if you still want them I would be more then happy to sell them to you at no profit. Yes it ***** that the lady didn't honor her word it has happened to me on a few things. I cant get you the baby for the $100 but i can make some of it right if your interested.

 

[G-ManBart]

I know the guy who got the Baby not me unfortunately, and while he was up there the lady offered him the Athol and Parker he only has Wilton so he called me and asked if I wanted them I said yes if you still want them I would be more then happy to sell them to you at no profit. Yes it ***** that the lady didn't honor her word it has happened to me on a few things. I cant get you the baby for the $100 but i can make some of it right if your interested.

Very big of you

It's telling the woman offered the Athol and Parker to him after she already had a deal made on them. I find that hard to imagine, but easy to believe.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

The guy who bought the Baby called here and said I'll take it she said its $250 now not $100 because all of the calls she was getting on it, he said ok. I guess she figured out she was selling it to cheap and upped the price ****** thing to do to Chris.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I know the guy who got the Baby not me unfortunately, and while he was up there the lady offered him the Athol and Parker he only has Wilton so he called me and asked if I wanted them I said yes if you still want them I would be more then happy to sell them to you at no profit. Yes it ***** that the lady didn't honor her word it has happened to me on a few things. I cant get you the baby for the $100 but i can make some of it right if your interested.

I've been trying to decide how to respond! It should be noted that the bad taste in my mouth over this whole deal is only meant to be directed towards this lady. Even before the revelation that other GJ members were involved I don't blame other potential buyers for trying to procure a good deal on a vise.

I wasn't looking for a Wilton baby bullet. I do search "vise" on CL as often as I have time so when I found a baby bullet w/ powerarm for $100 I knew it was too good of a deal to pass up for a vise I will never otherwise justify the expense to own. I would have definitely not bought it to resell. When she backed out of that sale and told me someone offered her $250 I almost felt bad for her having to make that decision. She stayed on the phone with me for several minutes apologizing and explaining how they really needed the money and she underestimated how much it was worth.

When she sent me pics of the other three I was excited at the possibility of still being able to buy a vise from her. I'm just getting into vises but a large Athol is on my short list as is a Chas Parker. When she backed out again this morning I was less surprised, as I obviously had already been burnt once by her, but no less bummed out. It ***** because I was first on every front for all four vises and I never really had a chance on any of them.

CrotalusAtrox, if I had gone to Kingman this morning I was definitely buying the Chas Parker. I had posted on this thread last night about that vise looking for some info and found that vise to be a "filer's vise". It looked pretty nice in the poor quality pics she sent me and even though I really like the Athol also I had just bought my big Rock Island. I was thinking the Parker was possibly missing the swivel base but I could see it had a hole in both sides so wasn't particularly worried. I suppose I'm looking forward to seeing some higher quality pics of the Athol and Parker so post up some when you get a chance.

Its obvious vise collecting and restoring aren't anything new to you, so ultimately it's nice to know a fellow GJ'er and vise enthusiast resides out here in my neck of the woods. Of course, sometime soon I would love to chat with you about any vises that you might have available to purchase.

Chris.



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[CrotalusAtrox]

Chris I will PM you my number I will be picking up the Vises sometime this week not sure when I live in Tempe the guy who has them lives way on the West side. If you want the Parker and Athol their yours.

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Now back to regular scheduled programming.

 

[G-ManBart]

Now back to regular scheduled programming.

What's up with those jaws? I almost cried when this 403 1/2R left here...

 

[gman007]

I've been trying to decide how to respond! It should be noted that the bad taste in my mouth over this whole deal is only meant to be directed towards this lady. Even before the revelation that other GJ members were involved I don't blame other potential buyers for trying to procure a good deal on a vise.

I wasn't looking for a Wilton baby bullet. I do search "vise" on CL as often as I have time so when I found a baby bullet w/ powerarm for $100 I knew it was too good of a deal to pass up for a vise I will never otherwise justify the expense to own. I would have definitely not bought it to resell. When she backed out of that sale and told me someone offered her $250 I almost felt bad for her having to make that decision. She stayed on the phone with me for several minutes apologizing and explaining how they really needed the money and she underestimated how much it was worth.

When she sent me pics of the other three I was excited at the possibility of still being able to buy a vise from her. I'm just getting into vises but a large Athol is on my short list as is a Chas Parker. When she backed out again this morning I was less surprised, as I obviously had already been burnt once by her, but no less bummed out. It ***** because I was first on every front for all four vises and I never really had a chance on any of them.

CrotalusAtrox, if I had gone to Kingman this morning I was definitely buying the Chas Parker. I had posted on this thread last night about that vise looking for some info and found that vise to be a "filer's vise". It looked pretty nice in the poor quality pics she sent me and even though I really like the Athol also I had just bought my big Rock Island. I was thinking the Parker was possibly missing the swivel base but I could see it had a hole in both sides so wasn't particularly worried. I suppose I'm looking forward to seeing some higher quality pics of the Athol and Parker so post up some when you get a chance.

Its obvious vise collecting and restoring aren't anything new to you, so ultimately it's nice to know a fellow GJ'er and vise enthusiast resides out here in my neck of the woods. Of course, sometime soon I would love to chat with you about any vises that you might have available to purchase.

Chris.



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Chris
Like others have said CL war stories are abound. Some month back I saw a fresh CL ad (just before 5 pm at work) selling two 4" Wiltons. Asking price for one with swivel and in excellent condition was $125 and , I think the second one with no swivel was listed for $75 or something like that.

I called the guy right away and told him I will take both but have one hour commute to home (this guy lived 10 min from home which was amazing as I have never seen a Wilton for sale around here). We agreed to meet at the McDonalds close to his home (and mine) at 6 pm.

Just before 6 pm as I was pulling into the McDonalds, I got a two word text from him "Not Available"! To be honest I was so taken back that all I could muster was to text back, "ok thx"! To this day I am not sure why the fxxxx did I thank the guy!
007

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

What's up with those jaws? I almost cried when this 403 1/2R left here...

These are removable jaws little newer style

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Chris
Like others have said CL war stories are abound. Some month back I saw a fresh CL ad (just before 5 pm at work) selling two 4" Wiltons. Asking price for one with swivel and in excellent condition was $125 and , I think the second one with no swivel was listed for $75 or something like that.

I called the guy right away and told him I will take both but have one hour commute to home (this guy lived 10 min from home which was amazing as I have never seen a Wilton for sale around here). We agreed to meet at the McDonalds close to his home (and mine) at 6 pm.

Just before 6 pm as I was pulling into the McDonalds, I got a two word text from him "Not Available"! To be honest I was so taken back that all I could muster was to text back, "ok thx"! To this day I am not sure why the fxxxx did I thank the guy!
007

It ***** never had it happen with a vise but with a vintage post drill. Listed free 3 minute old ad. Four hours later the guy said he was going to have bids for it. He ended up selling it for $300 bucks at the end of it.

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[trijeff]

Now back to regular scheduled programming.

Daaaaaaaaang that's a nice one

 

[trijeff]

I've been looking into vises, but I am clueless at pricing them.

What is considered a fair deal on a used Reeds C series? I am located in Sacramento, CA area, BTW.

How about something like this Chas Parker?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/tls/d/vice/6318050871.html

Here ya go! $150 missing the pipe jaws.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/tls/6319798298.html

Believe that is a Reed 4CA

 

[sandman54]

Yes sir Crotalus some folks will turn inside out for the love of the little man in the green suit!!! back in the day my daddy would whip my *** for that behavior... Also i am glad he is in the happy hunting ground as not to have to wittness whats going on with the Civil War statues!!! got to bounce Sandman

 

[exmaxima1]

I've been trying to decide how to respond! It should be noted that the bad taste in my mouth over this whole deal is only meant to be directed towards this lady. Even before the revelation that other GJ members were involved I don't blame other potential buyers for trying to procure a good deal on a vise......
She stayed on the phone with me for several minutes apologizing and explaining how they really needed the money and she underestimated how much it was worth.

I know that feeling. A few weeks ago I stopped at a local garage sale, saw nothing, and started to leave. The woman seller asked what I was looking for and I said musical instruments (among other things)---she said she had an old banjo collecting dust in the basement if i was interested. I know nothing about banjos but I buy essentially all types of instruments for my kids to dabble with. Her banjo had no markings other than an autograph and city stamp on the back, but it looked to be well made---she offered it for $25. I agreed and just before handing her the cash she thought she should check the internet to see what this was: of course, it comes right up and valued at $3000. Clearly the deal was off, but I had that ****** taste in my mouth all day.....

 

[G-ManBart]

These are removable jaws little newer style

That's interesting. I've had a couple of Reeds with removable jaws, but they didn't have a support shelf like that one. I've seen pictures of the very late style with the large logo that had T style jaws, but I don't recall any with a shelf. Cool!

 

[Maui]

I have a Wilton vise story too where I ended up with that frustrated feeling, but it wasn't the seller that was the source of the problem:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368691&highlight=maui+wilton

Maui

 

[gman007]

Hi All
I would appreciated, if someone can identify this vise (only one side is shown so it is not clear if there are any markings on the other side) or rule out it as being made in USA/England (despite the patina, the handle looks modern, is this an oriental import?)

Also it is hard to tell from the small photo but is there a repair done to the jaws?

Thx much
007

 

[zoomieport]

That's interesting. I've had a couple of Reeds with removable jaws, but they didn't have a support shelf like that one. I've seen pictures of the very late style with the large logo that had T style jaws, but I don't recall any with a shelf. Cool!

All of these REED's have removable jaws and the shelf support.

Take care!

ZOOM

 

[bluebolt]

I had the opposite selling experience lately. I had a breakfast corner nook that I posted on some local Facebook For Sale sites. I had previously posted it without much interest for $80 with other items which had all sold and I created a new ad lowering the price to $60. And then had to deal with 10 messages and countless posts just trying to figure out who was first in line. When I told people their spot in line they started bidding it up to a high of $110. I stuck with the first person and sold it to them for $60

 

[CastleBravo]

Hey guys. I realize there’s a conversational flow going on here. I just wanted to stop in and say hi.

I FINALLY got a chance to work on my Columbian today. I’ve had it over a year and it’s just sat.

At first I took a weak HF pneumatic die grinder to with with a small wire wheel. Eeeeh....

Once I put the Dewalt to it though....holy cow! She chooched right through years of rust, paint and general schmoo.

I’m debating what color I want to go with. Me thinks Columbian buses came from the factory in red, correct?

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[jonshonda]

Regarding CL.

If there enough sharks cruising the same pond every day, you better be the first shark to the prey or another shark will come right behind you and it will be gone.

I have had a lot of luck on CL. I really like the older ads where the seller is asking too much for the item. I find that is the best time to strike with a low offer, and then not worry too much about other buyers muscling in on my business.

But when a hot items comes up at a killer price, they only way to insure it will end up in your hands is to show up first with cash in hand.

I just missed a good deal on winter tires that were a bit of a drive for me...so we planned to meet on the wknd. When I followed up the day before we were to meet, the seller said he sold them. I asked what happened to our arrangement, and he said "words mean nothing, money talks". I ended the conversation by saying "I am sure your grandfather and father would be very proud to hear those words come out of your mouth."

 

[mgmlvks]

Hey guys. I realize there’s a conversational flow going on here. I just wanted to stop in and say hi.

I FINALLY got a chance to work on my Columbian today. I’ve had it over a year and it’s just sat.

At first I took a weak HF pneumatic die grinder to with with a small wire wheel. Eeeeh....

Once I put the Dewalt to it though....holy cow! She chooched right through years of rust, paint and general schmoo.

I’m debating what color I want to go with. Me thinks Columbian buses came from the factory in red, correct?

Yep - that twisted wire is an awesome tool! I believe the Columbian Buses came in many different colors - here is an older one in need of restoration - (smile widely here - love that auto-spell)

 

[damnesia]

Interesting weekend for me! Since purchasing and fixing up my first vise 3 months ago I've been learning alot from all of you in this thread. Unfortunately I have not been able to locally source any more vises. I been looking hard too.....local Craigslist in AZ and in families area in So Cal. Vise searching has also prompted me to sign up for Facebook marketplace groups for the first time as I've always despised FB.

Well Friday night I catch a 17 minute old CL ad for a Wilton baby bullet on a Powerarm Jr (see pic) for $100. I am not particularly interested in Wiltons due to how crazy of money they command but for that kind of deal I call, text and email and the lady called me back a few minutes later. She says I'm first and I said I'll take it. It's an hour drive each way but she says just come out the next day and she'll hold it for me. I even called her back and said "you know I really want to come tonight" and she said it was too late but she reassured me she would hold it for me. She also told me that her son who lives with her also has a few other vises I could look at and I of course expressed my interest in them as well.

Saturday she calls me as I'm getting in my truck to head out. She's acting all distraught and sad and says she's been getting calls all night and morning. She says someone has offered her $250 and she has to take it. Of course I know what they are worth but I'm left virtually speechless. I asked her how she wasn't sick to her stomach about going back on her word but I stop short of telling her off. I think mainly I was thinking about salvaging the ability to see the other vises because I of course had no idea what else she had.

I text her an hour later and asked if she could email me some pictures of the other vises. She sends me 13 pics of an Athol 625, a Chas Parker 574x and a Prentiss 19. The Prentiss has a chunk missing near the logo on the static but the other 2 look awesome. So I call her and talk to her and her son. They tell me $150 for the Athol, $50 for the Parker or $175 for both. They tell me to come out the next day after they get done with a prior engagement in the morning.

Text her this morning asking if I should head out. She texts back 40 minutes later.....'no need, sold both." I'm sure someone will find some way to blame me but ultimately I'm just really taken aback by how someone can sleep at night knowing that there word and integrity mean nothing.

The same thing happened to me over the weekend. Made an arrangement to pick up the vises the same day and then there is radio silence all day. The guy gets back to me telling me he sold the Wilton for more than he was asking on CL but still had the other vise for sale, but the price was higher on that now too. Now the second vise ( a Prentiss, the one I was really after ) is priced higher than what I would pay for it. The original price wasn't even amazing, but a good deal none the less. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

 

[akasrick]

Thanks 007. Everytime anyone posts these old catalog pages in this thread I save them to my recently created "Vise" album on my phone. I seem to have more info on Parkers than any other but none of them had anything about the 574. I wonder what the "x" designates.

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See https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716&page=13

Post#258, another page for your collection.

akasrick

 

[Shiftless]

Rock Island 542 bx
Just came home with me from a very fair C/L seller
I paid a dollar a pound for this one...$80
4 1/2 inch jaws
Pipe jaws, as usual, are MIA
Birtman electric tag is dirty but intact
Just needs paint

Btw, what special meaning lies in the bx suffix?

 

[KMScott]

All of these REED's have removable jaws and the shelf support.

Take care!

ZOOM

Zoomie, some of those are not the combo vises. I'd be curious if the jaws from the 1C to the 4C fit the swivel jawed ones. Might want to support the swivel jaws. Nice collection. You getting healed up? Can you throw a horseshoe yet?

 

[schor]

I decided to not put copper jaws on it and am calling it done. Not sure when I will actually use it, but I will one day.

 

[I_know_Nothing]

Rock Island 542 bx
Just came home with me from a very fair C/L seller
I paid a dollar a pound for this one...$80
4 1/2 inch jaws
Pipe jaws, as usual, are MIA
Birtman electric tag is dirty but intact
Just needs paint

Btw, what special meaning lies in the bx suffix?

The seller of the 542BX is a very cool dude and flips a lot vises on CL and is a lurker here.
Good job on the price as he said he was very firm at $100.00 and just lowered it twice from originally $150 which is still a fair price. Maybe he needed the cash to buy the Reed 4CA.
He has another 542BX that he did a great resto on.
Few theories I recall, are BX = semi steel casting or swivel base or extramural factory, perhaps Columbian made.

Someone over on Practical Machinist had a tensile strength list that had Rock Island, American Scale, and the semi steel Parkers and some Prentiss vises rated at 30,000 psi, and Columbian combo at 60,000 psi. I took a screen but my laptop was stolen and I have not been able to find it again.

 

[G-ManBart]

All of these REED's have removable jaws and the shelf support.

Take care!

ZOOM

I wasn't saying they don't exist, I just hadn't seen one before that I noticed.

I have since found one or two pictures of Reeds, with the shelf and removable jaws, but a couple of the ones in your picture really don't look like they have the shelf. The angle makes it hard to tell, but I saved the file and magnified it as much as possible...would love to see them from the side.

 

[Bcom]

Hi All
I would appreciated, if someone can identify this vise (only one side is shown so it is not clear if there are any markings on the other side) or rule out it as being made in USA/England (despite the patina, the handle looks modern, is this an oriental import?)

Also it is hard to tell from the small photo but is there a repair done to the jaws?

Thx much
007

The vise looks Asian to me. The dynamic jaw support looks kinda like Lion Indian vises but the spindle screams asian.

 

[gman007]

The vise looks Asian to me. The dynamic jaw support looks kinda like Lion Indian vises but the spindle screams asian.

Bcom
Thanks much for the info
007

 

[TinkTinkForge]

5” Bonney and a 2”

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[Rileysan]

I was browsing CL this evening and came across a listing for a Wilton 1740 for sale. I send the seller a message telling him I think he did a hell of a job on the resto only to find out he's a GJ member. Nice job, Brettjull! If I was a Wilton collector, I'd be all over this!

Brian

 

[G-ManBart]

5” Bonney and a 2”

That post vise is adorable!

 

[G-ManBart]

I was browsing CL this evening and came across a listing for a Wilton 1740 for sale. I send the seller a message telling him I think he did a hell of a job on the resto only to find out he's a GJ member. Nice job, Brettjull! If I was a Wilton collector, I'd be all over this!

Brian

That is a nice job, and a very early 1740...it has the early pipe jaws that are really nothing more than two raised ridges on each side. I would love to know what the date stamp on the key shows.

That would have originally had a name plate with big, bold, red letters that would look cool with that blue. I don't think I've seen that color used on a bullet before, but it looks nice!

 

[zoomieport]

Zoomie, some of those are not the combo vises. I'd be curious if the jaws from the 1C to the 4C fit the swivel jawed ones. Might want to support the swivel jaws. Nice collection. You getting healed up? Can you throw a horseshoe yet?

I can pick one up (10lb weight limit still, well I'm trying to listen...), just can't throw it yet...
I'll see if the jaws are a fit, I assume they are...
The only ones I've found like that are the combos and swivel jaws...?

Take care, Sir!

Mike

I wasn't saying they don't exist, I just hadn't seen one before that I noticed.

I have since found one or two pictures of Reeds, with the shelf and removable jaws, but a couple of the ones in your picture really don't look like they have the shelf. The angle makes it hard to tell, but I saved the file and magnified it as much as possible...would love to see them from the side.

I didn't mean to insinuate you hadn't seen them, sorry... I don't type well, so my responses are typically short and misunderstood, just like me, LOL!
I just made a point to collect that particular feature, so I like to show em off when I can, like a proud papa!

Take care!
Mike

 

[mlisac]

Did you request grey iron or ductile cast iron for your bionic parts? And does it swivel?

I can pick one up (10lb weight limit still, well I'm trying to listen...), just can't throw it yet...
I'll see if the jaws are a fit, I assume they are...
The only ones I've found like that are the combos and swivel jaws...?

Take care, Sir!

Mike



I didn't mean to insinuate you hadn't seen them, sorry... I don't type well, so my responses are typically short and misunderstood, just like me, LOL!
I just made a point to collect that particular feature, so I like to show em off when I can, like a proud papa!

Take care!
Mike

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: thanks for the welcome back!!

REGARDING CRAIGSLIST all i have to say is where is it written that the seller has to sell to the first person especially since the first two are usually spammers? also Craigslist has about a 10 or 15 minute gap from when we list something until it's posted so who's the ones getting first shot or who's got the best search engine or app on their phone? i agree that once i firm up an appointment to buy or sell it should be a deal of course if appointment changes or product isn't as advertised the deal is subject to change. there's enough threads about Craigslist BS in Free Parking if you want to rant so please keep those posts to those threads cause if we haven't got burned or a bum deal in life you just are not buying or selling enough stuff. even good people are swayed by the almighty buck. I'll stop there cause being in a job getting paid on straight commissions for almost 30 years i've seen and heard of more than a few things and it was for a lot more than a few benjamins. cheers

TinkTink: can't say i've seen a blacksmith vise that small with the full leg on it and your Bonney is unique. nice finds!!

Riley: i agree Brett did an amazing job on that Wilton. with you now and Brett and Oregon Rock Crusher picking up almost every good old vise to surface i don't need to run as many rescue missions to Portland these days to pick some up. i hope you don't re injure your shoulder picking up all the cool stuff you keep finding.

Brett: great job on the Wilton restoration and your skills are improving on each one.

Zoomie: were you testing the clamping power of your Reed 4c on your wrist? OUCH and hope you have a good Dr. to help you get it back to where it was.

good luck

 

[BrettJ74]

That is a nice job, and a very early 1740...it has the early pipe jaws that are really nothing more than two raised ridges on each side. I would love to know what the date stamp on the key shows.

That would have originally had a name plate with big, bold, red letters that would look cool with that blue. I don't think I've seen that color used on a bullet before, but it looks nice!

Here you go G-Man she is a 8-78.
And thanks for the props, everyone who sees that blue loves it and I figured it a nice change from the same old Wilton colors.
DRIVES: Nice to hear from ya and thank you as well.
Brian: another thanks to you for the extended props.