The VISES of Garage Journal

[dwall174]

I have an C Parker # 229 vise I acquired a few yeas ago, I took it all apart & wire-wheeled it to clean everything up. I'm trying to figure out what the original color was so I can repaint it. It looked like the original finish was black, But it could have been a dark grey?

I tried doing a search for a Parker 229 & didn't come up with anything?

Also is there a way to figure out it's approximate age buy the patent dates & fhe model # ?

Doug

 

[Joefriday]

Rob
That is a very neat looking vise.

Honestly some days back I was thinking what happened to Joefriday, he used to restore a nice vise or two everyday? Did his bride make him join VA (Vise Anonymous) and he quit cold turkey and now has to admit everyday that he was a former vise addict?

As far as vise cold spell, well dude you probably bought every vise there was within 50 mile radius of you already, so it is not surprising. But seriously nice find and welcome back.
007

Ha.. Thanks 007.. No VA for me but I did have to finally take some vises off the kitchen counter.

I've been reading here, just haven't had anything to post but you guys have been digging up some great vises.

I don't think I've found them all in my area yet but I do need to get my tail back in gear and beat the bushes some more.

Take care,
Rob

 

[Bcom]

I picked up this Wilton display stand from eBay, I was hoping to put my 450SJ of the bottom and the 350SJ on top, but the 450SJ is too tall for the bottom shelf...

So I think I'll just fill the whole thing with baby bullets.

Take care!
ZOOM

Zoom this is awesome!

 

[Bcom]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! Those stands are kick ***!

 

[Outlawmws]

Zoomie and Tink tink. those Wilton stands are awesome!

 

[gman007]

I have an C Parker # 229 vise I acquired a few yeas ago, I took it all apart & wire-wheeled it to clean everything up. I'm trying to figure out what the original color was so I can repaint it. It looked like the original finish was black, But it could have been a dark grey?

I tried doing a search for a Parker 229 & didn't come up with anything?

Also is there a way to figure out it's approximate age buy the patent dates & fhe model # ?

Doug

Doug
Wow, your 229 is in exceptionally good condition, very nice.

As for color, according to drives in this old thread

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263479

"Parkers were black or a shade of green."

I painted one of my Parkers black (BTW when I got it, it seemed to have remnants of the original black color) , here are some photo's that might give you an idea if you like the black color on a Parker.

As for age, again based on what I have learned and been told by vise experts here, since patents is good for 20 years, and apparently since after patent expiration date, there is no reason to put the patent date on the vise, your vise might be manufactured between 1920 to 1930.
007

 

[lis2323]

FMC and Royce: Your kind comments regarding my post vise stand are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[dwall174]

Wow, your 229 is in exceptionally good condition, very nice.

Thanks 007 !
Yeah I also thought it was in really good shape for it's age, But that's also part of my problem with it "I don't really want to use it"

I originally got it for use on my welding bench, But after cleaning it up I realized how good of shape it was in.

One aspect of the vise which seems odd to me but I like is the smooth jaws, It will work out good for holding woodworking projects.

As for color, according to drives in this old thread
"Parkers were black or a shade of green."

Black is what I assumed it originally was.

Doug

 

[JohnWelder]

Got this big Wilton a few weeks ago, it was going to be scrapped. Currently stuck and sitting in diesel/atf, but can't gripe too much for $40. Anyone know what these realistically go for restored/unstuck?

<a href="https://ibb.co/bPCF3G"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/hoHhiG/IMG_2025.jpg" alt="IMG_2025" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/dw1Wcb"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/iL6xHb/IMG_2026.jpg" alt="IMG_2026" border="0"></a>

 

[Shiftless]

JohnWelder:
A 6 inch bullet, 600S, for $40??? Nice Score!

Let me be the first to say...
You ****!

Once you get it unstuck, you can get 10x your money no problem. Fully restored maybe 20x.
It is truly amazing what some people will send to the scrap pile.

Yours has the (by many) preferred bolt in from behind jaws. And they look to be undamaged.
In some markets, you might approach a grand for that vise.

 

[drivesitfar]

JW: hard to say what you'll get cause you need to go in your GJ profile and put in your location for one thing. different areas get more or less money. also condition means EVERYTHING so spiff it up and post more pictures and not that a bunch of guys that own a bunch of vises would pay what it's worth, but with those jaws bolted in from the back make it one of Wilton's better designs in my mind.

WELCOME TO GJ!!

ALL: one of the vises i picked up this week is a 4 inch FPU Bison. I already had a 3 inch one that I LOVE cause these little vises really are built well.

for some of you that don't know the static slide goes back and the front jaw stays in place.

 

[royce]

I hope Royce reposts it. I'd really like to see it!

Terry

Thanks Terry
I just put some vise stand albums in my profile for all to reference, if they desire.

Royce

 

[gman007]

JW: hard to say what you'll get cause you need to go in your GJ profile and put in your location for one thing. different areas get more or less money. also condition means EVERYTHING so spiff it up and post more pictures and not that a bunch of guys that own a bunch of vises would pay what it's worth, but with those jaws bolted in from the back make it one of Wilton's better designs in my mind.

WELCOME TO GJ!!

ALL: one of the vises i picked up this week is a 4 inch FPU Bison. I already had a 3 inch one that I LOVE cause these little vises really are built well.

for some of you that don't know the static slide goes back and the front jaw stays in place.

drives
Thank you for the education on the FPU. I think these are made in Poland right?

Please do not hate me but I have to ask you the usual stupid question, can you please provide a rough idea of the value? Let me illustrate what I am asking with an example. Take the case of a 4" Wilton bullet, it is usually (a fair price and not a super fantastic deal) worth several hundreds of dollars, some places it might be around $200 and somewhere else might be around $400 but its worth is in units of $100. A Columbian mechanics vise on the other hand is units of $5-10. What about value of FPU?
Thx
007

 

[drivesitfar]

007: FPU Bison vices made in POLAND i think are easily as good of quality as a Wilton Bullet, but they are different. that said they are not very well known and except for me and a few other members here that have found them nobody has ever heard about them. this one was a 90 minute drive so i didn't rush off to buy it and it sat on Craigslist for maybe a week or so for quite a bit less than a benjamin until i made the effort to drive out and meet the very nice seller.

that said i probably will sell off a lot of other vises (vices) i own before this one ever goes up for sale cause i love my other one that is a 3 inch version. it would be great for a smallish workbench or for jobs that are too big for my baby bullet and too small for my Reed 2c or Reed 404.5 so maybe i'll get one mounted when i cure part of my FSD (flat surface disease).

Ask Mark from Indiana what he thinks about them cause he owns or has owned more than a few and if you get to see one in person or one comes up for sale if it's not broken BUY IT. I've seen some abused that had broken off statics as the base where they slide and at least one 6 inch one with a broken swivel part underneath the vice, but the two I own are in great shape and weren't abused.

cheers

 

[gman007]

007: FPU Bison vices made in POLAND i think are easily as good of quality as a Wilton Bullet, but they are different. that said they are not very well known and except for me and a few other members here that have found them nobody has ever heard about them. this one was a 90 minute drive so i didn't rush off to buy it and it sat on Craigslist for maybe a week or so for quite a bit less than a benjamin until i made the effort to drive out and meet the very nice seller.

that said i probably will sell off a lot of other vises (vices) i own before this one ever goes up for sale cause i love my other one that is a 3 inch version. it would be great for a smallish workbench or for jobs that are too big for my baby bullet and too small for my Reed 2c or Reed 404.5 so maybe i'll get one mounted when i cure part of my FSD (flat surface disease).

Ask Mark from Indiana what he thinks about them cause he owns or has owned more than a few and if you get to see one in person or one comes up for sale if it's not broken BUY IT. I've seen some abused that had broken off statics as the base where they slide and at least one 6 inch one with a broken swivel part underneath the vice, but the two I own are in great shape and weren't abused.

cheers

Drives
Thank you very much for the prompt response and as usual great educational information and advice.
007

 

[va.grouseman]

Can't wait to see who cottoned on to this one.---$845.00, why that's chicken feed.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Sm..._trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&autorefresh=true

 

[TinkTinkForge]

Va. I hung in there for awhile.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Can't wait to see who cottoned on to this one.---$845.00, why that's chicken feed.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Sm..._trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&autorefresh=true

I had this in my watch page also since it was posted here a day or two ago. I guess I'll be the one to ask what this had going for it that would command 34 bids and $845 final price.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Outlawmws]

Only one anyone has seen?

It's cool, and I guess if you are made of money that's chump change... Me, I'm with you guys

 

[_vin_]

My mom picked this up for me. Jaws are in usable condition.

 

[drivesitfar]

007: you are very welcome and i hope you find one to see in person or maybe own of your own some day cause these old FPU Bison vises are nice.

Dave: that's what threw me off when i first saw pictures of the vice and when the seller told me the back jaw moves i had a good hunch it was a FPU or a good knock off. thanks for the 411, but that label is history if i decided to strip it and use our new Linseed oil mix we are cooking up instead of BLO. or i could just clean off the crud and dirt and put the Linseed over the original paint like i've done on several of my vises.

 

[JohnWelder]

JohnWelder:
A 6 inch bullet, 600S, for $40??? Nice Score!

Let me be the first to say...
You ****!

Once you get it unstuck, you can get 10x your money no problem. Fully restored maybe 20x.
It is truly amazing what some people will send to the scrap pile.

Yours has the (by many) preferred bolt in from behind jaws. And they look to be undamaged.
In some markets, you might approach a grand for that vise.

Yeah I was pretty stunned when I found out they were going to scrap it, and I knew it was worth something, but not that much! Will offset a good chunk of the hydraulic crimping machine I bought from them

JW: hard to say what you'll get cause you need to go in your GJ profile and put in your location for one thing. different areas get more or less money. also condition means EVERYTHING so spiff it up and post more pictures and not that a bunch of guys that own a bunch of vises would pay what it's worth, but with those jaws bolted in from the back make it one of Wilton's better designs in my mind.

WELCOME TO GJ!!

Oh never really noticed the profile stuff, I'm in New Hampshire. I bolted it down to some 6x6 today and sledged it loose with some brass round inside the slide. I think the code on the slide means it's from 06/1960? I'll post up some more pictures later when I've time to sandblast it and repaint.

<a href="https://ibb.co/g56eyG"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/eXV6dG/IMG_2072.jpg" alt="IMG_2072" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/ib9ckw"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/nEvHkw/IMG_2073.jpg" alt="IMG_2073" border="0"></a>

 

[wrenchguy]

My mom picked this up for me.

i believe this is a 1st on here! great for her!

 

[Shiftless]

JohnWelder:
Congrats on busting that slide loose. Many of us have used other more complex and time consuming methods to bust loose frozen slides. You just stepped up with your BFH (big effing hammer) and accomplished your goal without fooling around.

 

[gman007]

My mom picked this up for me. Jaws are in usable condition.

Way too go mom, great job!

It is hard to tell from the photo, is that a prentiss?

007

 

[Rileysan]

My mom picked this up for me. Jaws are in usable condition.

Your mom is a Queen amongst queens. Tell her she is admired by vise collectors nationwide!

Brian

 

[gman007]

JohnWelder:
Congrats on busting that slide loose. Many of us have used other more complex and time consuming methods to bust loose frozen slides. You just stepped up with your BFH (big effing hammer) and accomplished your goal without fooling around.

But it takes a Wilton to withstand this kind of persvation

 

[Jarhead0408]

Can't wait to see who cottoned on to this one.---$845.00, why that's chicken feed.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Sm..._trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&autorefresh=true

Can you imagine how incredulous the sellers must be? That auction started at $10!

 

[Shiftless]

Can you imagine how incredulous the sellers must be? That auction started at $10!

That vise is really rare so there were no comparable sales. If at least 2 bidders get the idea that nobody else deserves to own "their" vise, bidding will devolve into a ******* match where there is no telling what the final selling price will be.
I bet everyone who sells unusual stuff on eBay has a similar story. I do.

 

[gman007]

Can you imagine how incredulous the sellers must be? That auction started at $10!

It is possible that there seller might have set as reserve! If memory serves me right just recently a member here listed a nice Wilton that they had restored and the auction started very low and then went into several hundreds of $ and it still did not meet the reserve.

And to shift’s point, had the seller set the starting bid to something highl say $300-$400 , he might have potentially scared away the buyers, so it is possible that the seller instead started low to reel the buyers in and then let biding frenzy take over! Plus he had the reserve if this strategy did not work.

 

[southy]

These are a couple of my vices that i have acquired over the last few years, 1st is a peter wright vice, 2nd is a small vice used for the milling attachment on my Myford ML7 lathe ( unfortunately the i am missing piece that sits on the moveable jaw, but i can re-manufacturer that at a later date, 3rd is a HYLO 2 speed machine vice i purchased 2nd hand and restored for my Bridgeport, i also have a 8" machine vice with a swivel base for a drill press but dont have any photos of it on me..

Hope you enjoy

 

[Fretters]

I'll post up some more pictures later when I've time to sandblast it and repaint.

Steady on the blasting, especially if you're planning to sell it on. It doesn't go down well with some, due to the finish it leaves.

 

[jpickar]

This is a Wilton C2. It looks like it didn't have a bullet nose on it. Did they come that way?

 

[Shiftless]

This is a Wilton C2. It looks like it didn't have a bullet nose on it. Did they come that way?

You are missing the end cap. No big deal. You can have one made by one of the members here, KMScott is the first that comes to mind, or just get a freeze plug of the appropriate size from the auto parts store for a buck or two.

 

[Shiftless]

Did anybody else notice that this thread has reached 3000 pages?

 

[Scout3918]

Did anybody else notice that this thread has reached 3000 pages?

yep, I was just thinking same thing.

 

[Shiftless]

The guy that started all of this hasn't posted anything in over 2 years. I bet he would be surprised to learn that his thread has grown to what it is today.

In his honor I am reposting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

mjozefow

We have seen everyone's toolboxes so let's see the vises! (no, not vices )

I'm sure there are some really cool ones out there.

Large or small, let's see them all!
Here's my Charles Parker 107 and my Wilton 1780:

The Wilton has an 8" jaw and weighs about 110 lbs.
The CP has a 6" jaw and weighs about 140 lbs.

 

[jpickar]

You are missing the end cap. No big deal. You can have one made by one of the members here, KMScott is the first that comes to mind, or just get a freeze plug of the appropriate size from the auto parts store for a buck or two.

It is missing the whole bullet nose piece. Not just the end cap.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmm, His website is also MIA; Sounds un-good...

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: some of the Wilton C2's are a bit stubby looking, but you have the piece with the pins that holds the vise nut so maybe just an end cap will give it a better look. nice looking vise, but not as nice as the older double pins in their pipe jaws design. some members have used a galvanized chain link fence type dust cover that you'll need to trim a bit to make it work and not sure they come big enough for a C2, but it would make it rounder and not so stubby.

Shift: yep i can't recall MJoze even posting when i starting posting on this thread when it was only 5000 posts about 4 years ago. we've seen several members disappear since then for maybe one reason or another and BigCaddy comes to mind.

i can't recall anybody passing on to the GOLDEN VISE (VICE) HEAVEN in the last 4 years that were regular posters, but i know several members that are not posting so hope they are still alive and above dirt so to speak.

ALL: for those of you that like to take a break from reading this or any thread on GJ for a while and then read in a block of posts when you have time there is a new setting in your GJ profile where you can view 100 posts per page that I use which might help you. even with 100 posts per page this thread really does have a lot of posts and even more views as we approach 10 million views.

WELL DONE EVERYBODY!!