The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Teufel, welcome to the forum.---There's a ton of interesting stuff to be gleaned from these pages.---Nice vice you got.---Perfect size and you ain't going to go to Northern Hydraulics and find any such quality as C.P..

 

[tombell572]

So Teufelshund1097, does your screen name translate to "Devildog"?

Tom B.

 

[Teufelshund1097]

Re: Chas. Parker 974

Teuf Great find ! It looks to be in fairly good shape and nice job cleaning it. I second outlaw, this is an excellent vise and I speak from experience as I have an identical Parker 974 (without the 1930 patent) which were most likely manufactured in 1950s.

The only odd thing about your 974 is the two holes that someone drilled into the jaws on the right hand side! I am perplexed as to why someone would do this to this nice vise! Also you probably know that the swivel wrench is missing.

I was trying to figure those two holes out but haven't the foggiest idea...they're character at this point. When I bought the vise I had no idea it should have a swivel wrench. I now see that they fetch almost as much as I paid for the vice! I will probably fashion my own out of a vintage 6 pt. box wrench when I have time. My 3/4" combination wrench works fine for now.

So Teufelshund1097, does your screen name translate to "Devildog"?

Tom B.

Yes, a colloquial reference to Marines; it's the grammatically more correct version - roughly "Devil's dog".

 

[hitthewall79]

First post! Here is my craftsman 5 1/2 that I restored, and I just picked up these two Columbians today. Big one is a 504, little one is a 143. Does anyone know where I can find parts for these Columbians? I want to get swivel bases for both of them.

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[rusty65]

Holy cow I think I’m in love haha for real I can’t believe no one posted this yet. 6in jaws and 180 pounds of double swivel action. Just pure awesomeness if a member bought this please post pictures in the thread especially if you give it a make over not that it appears that it needs it but would look drool for sure.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Yost-6-Toolm...156588?hash=item284fb817ac:g:X1sAAOSwXf1adHhP




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[GETRIDAONE]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6948855

Here is the original discussion.

 

[trijeff]

Here's an aluminum body clamp on, hadn't seen one of these before. Spindle, handle, round slide and clamp screw (but not clamp handle) appear to be steel, everything else is aluminum. The channel and integrated nut design is pretty neat. 2-1/4" jaws still with most of the horizontal serrations, opens just about 2-1/2". Not quite as tight as a Wilton or baby Bison, but still really nice. Clamp handle is pretty artsy with those little balls. Can't tell 100%, but it says "Lunn Die Casting Co Lodi Ca" so that's cool, it's pretty local to me. Super light, has to be in the 2lb range.

Best part? $11 delivered.

 

[Craftsman C-series]

I seen this Wilton C3 on CL in a town I used to live. It was a 5 hour drive one way so we we made it a “vicecation” as my wife calls it. The price was too good to pass up.

 

[Outlawmws]

Neat clamp-on TR!

Wow, Ten hour drive.... THAT's dedication!

 

[gman007]

I seen this Wilton C3 on CL in a town I used to live. It was a 5 hour drive one way so we we made it a “vicecation” as my wife calls it. The price was too good to pass up.

Craftsman fantastic find! In my books a Wilton bullet specially a C3 in such a great shape is worth the 10 hours drive. And it is supper nice of your wife to call it a vacation.

This reminds me of when My wife and I used to visit my MIL in Toronto. At the border both when entering Canada and entering back into US the officer would always ask what was the purpose of our trip. I used to tell them well my wife says it is a vacation but we are visiting my MIL which according to Genova convention is considered cruel and inhuman treatment, what is the customs
Classification ? I used the get the inevitable elbow jab to the ribs and the Officers would generally chuckle and quickly wave us through .

But one time I must have hit a raw nerve as the officer on US side started telling me his life story and how his MIL lost her job and now lives with them and is driving him nuts. He held us up for a long time and that was the last time I gave that answer.

I hope your wife had a better vacation getting a vise than I used to have visiting my MIL

 

[panchohughes]

Hi all. I picked up this beauty yesterday off Craigslist for $175. I think that was a great price. I don't know what model it is, but I am wondering if/where I could buy the bottom mount plate that would let it swivel.
Thanks!

Edit - I realize now that the 101028 stamped on it is not a serial #, but is a model number.
Looks like I can find a base on Ebay.

 

[va.grouseman]

Holy cow I think I’m in love haha for real I can’t believe no one posted this yet. 6in jaws and 180 pounds of double swivel action. Just pure awesomeness if a member bought this please post pictures in the thread especially if you give it a make over not that it appears that it needs it but would look drool for sure.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Yost-6-Toolm...156588?hash=item284fb817ac:g:X1sAAOSwXf1adHhP




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Must have been a BIN, and someone pulled the trigger immediately and the seller subsequently "Got His Price".---I bought a Yost 208 that way about 4 years ago.---I just had pulled up the EBay site, typed in "monster vises" and a man from PA. had just posted a 291 lb. Yost with 8'' jaws 10 minutes earlier.---I made one PM to him through "contact seller", just to confirm that he had what he said he had, and I pulled the trigger.---Looks and weighs almost identical to the Reed 208R.---Man that double-swiveler is going to be hard to top.

 

[drivesitfar]

Pancho: if the Ebay sellers don't have the part # listed on their swivel bases for sale another way to look for them is using jaw width. BTW is yours a 4 inch wide jaw or do tell? a few members here sell bases in case they don't have their Ebay pages up if you need that Wilton to swivel on a bench. or maybe make a trailer hitch type mount attachment for each side of the bench to use it both ways that way or build a stand and have 360 degree access and here's a link to a thread with a lot of vise stands.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252799&highlight=vise+stands

VA: can you lift those big 8 inchers around by yourself in one piece or do you have a fork lift or carry them in 2 or 3 pieces?

 

[Bunk]

Thanks - I like the sound of royal blue for an English vise.

Me too!

View media item 79649

 

[panchohughes]

Pancho: if the Ebay sellers don't have the part # listed on their swivel bases for sale another way to look for them is using jaw width. BTW is yours a 4 inch wide jaw or do tell? a few members here sell bases in case they don't have their Ebay pages up if you need that Wilton to swivel on a bench. or maybe make a trailer hitch type mount attachment for each side of the bench to use it both ways that way or build a stand and have 360 degree access and here's a link to a thread with a lot of vise stands.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252799&highlight=vise+stands

Thanks Drive! Yeah its 4" jaw. Great link. I am actually leaning toward doing a vise stand so that its more flexible to move around.. and not in the way when i am not using.
Appreciate the note.

 

[gman007]

First post! Here is my craftsman 5 1/2 that I restored, and I just picked up these two Columbians today. Big one is a 504, little one is a 143. Does anyone know where I can find parts for these Columbians? I want to get swivel bases for both of them.
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Hit Welcome to GJ. That is a nice restore job. As you might have found in general it is not easy to find parts for old vises. Some of the members here such as Dr. Scott (KMSCOTT) make high quality parts for higher end vises but I do not think for Columbians.

On ebay there is a seller that goes by the name oldtoolnut59. He often has parts for various vises. He is a good guy and is always helpful and also his prices are very fair. You might want to contact him through his ebay store.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/oldtoolnut59?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Hi all. I picked up this beauty yesterday off Craigslist for $175. I think that was a great price. I don't know what model it is, but I am wondering if/where I could buy the bottom mount plate that would let it swivel.
Thanks!

Edit - I realize now that the 101028 stamped on it is not a serial #, but is a model number.
Looks like I can find a base on Ebay.

Panch I believe one of the members here namely autopts has access to genuine Wilton parts and I think he also sells parts on eBay. And if I am not wrong this includes swivel basis. You might want to PM him and see if he can help you.

 

[Buckgnarly]

These two popped up on CL a few months back, paid 90 for BOTH! Restored and painted...the big one will get mounted on a truck brake drum...

 

[hitthewall79]

Hit Welcome to GJ. That is a nice restore job. As you might have found in general it is not easy to find parts for old vises. Some of the members here such as Dr. Scott (KMSCOTT) make high quality parts for higher end vises but I do not think for Columbians.

On ebay there is a seller that goes by the name oldtoolnut59. He often has parts for various vises. He is a good guy and is always helpful and also his prices are very fair. You might want to contact him through his ebay store.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/oldtoolnut59?_trksid=p2047675.l2559



Panch I believe one of the members here namely autopts has access to genuine Wilton parts and I think he also sells parts on eBay. And if I am not wrong this includes swivel basis. You might want to PM him and see if he can help you.

Funny you mention oldtoolnut59, he was the very first person I went to, and he had nothing.

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[Fretters]

Me too!

View media item 79649

Royal Blue is darker than that.

 

[Firewire]

These two popped up on CL a few months back, paid 90 for BOTH! Restored and painted...the big one will get mounted on a truck brake drum...

Wow, nice score for $90!!!

 

[KMScott]

Royal Blue is darker than that.

Fretters Like this one.

 

[va.grouseman]

Wow, nice score for $90!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Drivesitfar.


VA: can you lift those big 8 inchers around by yourself in one piece or do you have a fork lift or carry them in 2 or 3 pieces?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Drive, no, no, and no.---But I did make me a big tripod that I use a 5 ton come-along with that can pick them up with ease because I have used it to lift 1/2 ton rocks and then back my pickup under them and let them down in the bed.---Built a heck of a rock wall this way.---Never tried to move any of the big vises but could if I had to.---Heaviest one is my Hollands 28 at 300 lbs..

 

[panchohughes]

Thanks! Will check that out.

 

[gman007]

Funny you mention oldtoolnut59, he was the very first person I went to, and he had nothing.

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As I said earlier keep in mid that finding parts for old vises (many of which their manufacturer have gone out of business for decades if not over half century or more) is at best a crapshoot and the odds are 99% (ore more) against being able to find a part. If there are any parts available they are generally from cannibalized parts from other vises and over such a long time period that supply dwindles too.

 

[Fretters]

Fretters Like this one.

That's more like it.

 

[gman007]

In case anyone in Chicago area is interested, there is STEWART HANDYWORKER VISE which seems to be in good shape (I think it is missing the name metal tag/plate) but it is fairly pricy, listed on CL.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/tls/d/anvil-vise-drill-and-grinder/6476858094.html

 

[gman007]

Fretters Like this one.

Dr. Scott I am fairly sure those good looking jaw inserts are your creation, and also guessing from the high quality of the restoration that might also be your work. If so, it seems that you are partial not only to American vises but also to English viCes (should make Fret feel proud )

 

[KMScott]

Dr. Scott I am fairly sure those good looking jaw inserts are your creation, and also guessing from the high quality of the restoration that might also be your work. If so, it seems that you are partial not only to American vises but also to English viCes (should make Fret feel proud )

I always wanted to work on English vice's and bought this one at a auction a couple years ago. It was out side for years in the Colorado weather, some rust but not bad. Did a few repairs and found that the Wilton 1760 (6 x 1 x 5/8 ) jaws fit it to a Tee. I was impressed with the beefiness of Paramos and like the casting lines like the lip to keep chips from falling on the square slider. This was a fun restoration and made a customer happy that uses it every day who was from over the pond.

 

[gman007]

I always wanted to work on English vice's and bought this one at a auction a couple years ago. It was out side for years in the Colorado weather, some rust but not bad. Did a few repairs and found that the Wilton 1760 (6 x 1 x 5/8 ) jaws fit it to a Tee. I was impressed with the beefiness of Paramos and like the casting lines like the lip to keep chips from falling on the square slider. This was a fun restoration and made a customer happy that uses it every day who was from over the pond.

Exceptional job (as per usual) , the restored vise looks brand new (well with the exception of the jaw inserts which are better than the new OEM inserts and the superb custom lettering)

 

[6pony6]

So I came across this Athol 624 1/2 vise today. It’s a little rough, but for $20, I couldn’t just leave it there. It weighs in at a solid 75 lbs.

Along with the swivel base for the vise, the seller had these 2 other swivel pieces pictured. Does anyone recognize what vise they may be from? I don’t have any use for them and would gladly offer them up for parts if anyone could use one or both.

Hope I can clean this up enough to use.

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[gman007]

So I came across this Athol 624 1/2 vise today. It’s a little rough, but for $20, I couldn’t just leave it there. It weighs in at a solid 75 lbs.


Along with the swivel base for the vise, the seller had these 2 other swivel pieces pictured. Does anyone recognize what vise they may be from? I don’t have any use for them and would gladly offer them up for parts if anyone could use one or both.

Hope I can clean this up enough to use.


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6pony6 Wow $20 for Athol 624 1/2 ! Very nice find.

 

[Bcom]

These two popped up on CL a few months back, paid 90 for BOTH! Restored and painted...the big one will get mounted on a truck brake drum...

Wow thats a steal!

 

[Outlawmws]

Dr. Scott, that Paramo came out GREAT!

6P, Usuck... that is all.

 

[bhydro]

Re: Chas. Parker 974

I was trying to figure those two holes out but haven't the foggiest idea...they're character at this point. When I bought the vise I had no idea it should have a swivel wrench. I now see that they fetch almost as much as I paid for the vice! I will probably fashion my own out of a vintage 6 pt. box wrench when I have time. My 3/4" combination wrench works fine for now.



Yes, a colloquial reference to Marines; it's the grammatically more correct version - roughly "Devil's dog".

I picked up one of these a few months ago for my 974. Not original, but works great and cheap. https://www.google.com/search?q=cha...=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=VCSEmqrnVLIv6M:

 

[gman007]

Among other common traits such as love of vises, tools, cars etc. that most members here share it seems getting approval of the wife for one's addiction is also a common theme. This wise vise seller even has sage advice for the buyer (he must be speaking from personal experience) !

"ASK YOUR WIFE BEFORE YOU EMAIL"

PS
Not sure what to make of "PLEASE REPLY WITH A PHONE # OR YOUR SPAM"!

 

[CRSINMICH]

Double Score
I know I've said I'm not actively seeking vises anymore but what was I supposed to do when I saw these two pictured at a nearby estate sale? Stay home? I don't think so! Not at $25 per!

 

[Shiftless]

Let me be among those awarding suckage where suckage is due.

CRS

6pony6

Great scores fellas!

 

[trijeff]

6P and CRS ... you ****

007, I personally just say I am going to "look" at a "tool" from a CL ad, and typically provide a estimated time I will be gone (the shorter the better). I find that if I say I'm going to "get" a "vise" then it's an entirely different reaction. Only two words difference (look/tool versus get/vise), but a world of difference in reaction. The only question I usually get is whether it's to keep or flip.

 

[hitthewall79]

So I'm taking a look at this Yost 104, right now the guys asking $55 for it, is that a good deal? Non removable Jaws, and stationary base, if that matters

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