The VISES of Garage Journal

[lis2323]

htw79: thanks but the pics I've seen show a spring loaded lever (I think) for this vise.

 

[Fretters]

I picked up this Samsonia Perfect No 38 Model J (5" jaws -45#). I THINK it's supposed to be a quick adjust but the lever mechanism is missing and I can't figure out how it's supposed to work

Quite a bit of info available on the vise itself but can't seem to find any pics of the underside. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[lis2323]

Thank you Fretters!

 

[Fretters]

That spring has hooks on either end. One hooks over the nub on the front plate, and the other end hooks into a slot in the nut. That allows you to adjust the spring tension, by turning the nut. That's why the nut has that sawtooth shape on one face. The nut is just a slip fit on the QR lever shaft.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I picked up this Samsonia Perfect No 38 Model J (5" jaws -45#). I THINK it's supposed to be a quick adjust but the lever mechanism is missing and I can't figure out how it's supposed to work

Quite a bit of info available on the vise itself but can't seem to find any pics of the underside. Any help would be appreciated.

Interesting vise for sure! It looks like you're definitely missing the lever and spring assembly, so you'd have to find or fabricate one to get that feature back. I don't have any pictures of the bottom, but I found some instructions on how it's suppose to work. I wish I had better information to pass on.

I have a gut feeling that you have the skills to make it happen. Best of luck!

 

[Fretters]

You can see the diagonal slot in the nut for the spring in this photo, if you zoom in.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Never mind...nice job Fretters!

 

[va.grouseman]

RagTop, I have to agree with Lis2323.---Simplest and quickest is O A torch.---Don't have to heat it plum cherry red, just plenty of heat all around the channel at the bend to keep it malleable, while it's mounted in a hydraulic press, and it should straighten right up.---Same with the screw.---Don't go hog wild and then have to flip them over and straighten from the other side.---Press a little and check, press a little and check.

 

[lis2323]

Fierljeppen and Fretters: thank you both![emoji481]

 

[lis2323]

RagTop, I have to agree with Lis2323.---Simplest and quickest is O A torch.---Don't have to heat it plum cherry red, just plenty of heat all around the channel at the bend to keep it malleable, while it's mounted in a hydraulic press, and it should straiten right up.---Same with the screw.---Don't go hog wild and then have to flip them over and straiten from the other side.---Press a little and check, press a little and check.

Perfect advise for Rag Top! I just checked his profile for location. A LITTLE too far away otherwise he'd be welcome to come over to get it straightened.

 

[RagTopTA]

RagTop, I have to agree with Lis2323.---Simplest and quickest is O A torch.---Don't have to heat it plum cherry red, just plenty of heat all around the channel at the bend to keep it malleable, while it's mounted in a hydraulic press, and it should straighten right up.---Same with the screw.---Don't go hog wild and then have to flip them over and straighten from the other side.---Press a little and check, press a little and check.

Perfect advise for Rag Top! I just checked his profile for location. A LITTLE too far away otherwise he'd be welcome to come over to get it straightened.

Thanks for the infofellas, we have O A Torch but buddy across the alley has the press. I'm gonna give it a shot next day I get to mess with it! I can't wait to get it back in shape!

 

[Bobioz1]

Thanks for the infofellas, we have O A Torch but buddy across the alley has the press. I'm gonna give it a shot next day I get to mess with it! I can't wait to get it back in shape!

I've had a few of those vises. All but one was bent just like yours. I straitened one in the press. No heat required. Slide is made of too soft metal.

 

[Outlawmws]

RTop, those formed steel slides are malleable, so could be straightened cold, however some local heat will make it so less pressure is required, and you are less likely to fracture the jaw casting its in.

All you should need is to where its just barely starting to glow. Have the press and any blocking ready to go. The only concern would be that curved top section. You don't want to deform or flatten it. Can you find or make a block with the same curved saddle, and use that between the press ram and the slide?

 

[mlisac]

I was planning on keeping this Panavise and cleaning it up to use, but I see the metal that clamps the spindle for the vise is cracked. I would guess this is pot metal or something equally cheap. I could not see where to get just this part online. Does anyone have any ideas? Or is anyone looking for one for parts?

 

[Outlawmws]

Doesn't looks like it would impede use at all. This might be a case where cleaning it thoroughly and getting some super glue in the crack (if its not 2 pieces) would suffice. if it is two pieces, same thing only easier to clean...

 

[dutchgray]

I picked up this Samsonia Perfect No 38 Model J (5" jaws -45#). I THINK it's supposed to be a quick adjust but the lever mechanism is missing and I can't figure out how it's supposed to work

Quite a bit of info available on the vise itself but can't seem to find any pics of the underside. Any help would be appreciated

Worth mentioning that they did sell these in a plain screw version, it would have a square thread screw instead of the buttress thread they normally have, though I have personally never seen one. Many were bodged up after some part of the QR failed however.
It looks like the bottom part of collar retainer/ qr lever bracket is missing.
View media item 48817

 

[lis2323]

dutchgray and Fretters take a look at the underside of my Smithsonia and see what you think.

You will notice that the first couple of inches of thread on the screw are missing. (This does not affect the function of the vise)

.

 

[Fretters]

That's a buttress thread on the screw, but that's not the typical half nut. Hard to tell whether that's factory or not, with never having seen a plain version. That nut looks of better quality than I'd expect for a user mod though.

What does that writing on the nut say?

 

[lis2323]

That's a buttress thread on the screw, but that's not the typical half nut. Hard to tell whether that's factory or not, with never having seen a plain version. That nut looks of better quality than I'd expect for a user mod though.

What does that writing on the nut say?

Close up of writing on the nut.

 

[va.grouseman]

dutchgray and Fretters take a look at the underside of my Smithsonia and see what you think.

You will notice that the first couple of inches of thread on the screw are missing. (This does not affect the function of the vise)

.

Lis2323, I wished you did have a Smithsonia, it would be a one of a kind and I wouldn't rest till I owned it.---Sure would like to know how those threads got sheared.---That took some serious cranking.

 

[lis2323]

Lis2323, I wished you did have a Smithsonia, it would be a one of a kind and I wouldn't rest till I owned it.---Sure would like to know how those threads got sheared.---That took some serious cranking.

Lol. Must have had the Smithsonian on my mind[emoji23]. I'd like to blame it on spell check.......

 

[RagTopTA]

This little 2 1/2" Miller Falls value line (cheap) vise was fun to restore. I had to make a new spindle handle and a cup washer for the mounting screw. The label couldn't be saved so I made a similar one. I thought the swivel base on the economy line vise is a nice feature.

Look what I found today at an Estate sale!

 

[Fretters]

Looking at that photo again, the front plate looks like it has been cast to that shape rather than the lever holder having sheared, so I'm guessing that's probably as supplied from factory. I'm guessing those two holes either side of the nut aren't threaded?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Rag Top
I had to do a lot of belt sanding to clean up the jaws on mine, and you got a handle !
The value line of tools was produced from the mid 50's to the early 60's

 

[CRSINMICH]

Look what I found today at an Estate sale!

From a 1949 Millers Falls catalog.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I compared the two when I got the value line model. The 1700 is exactly the same so I would guess it was a marketing thing. The silver & red is a bit more eye catching than boring black.

 

[CRSINMICH]

From the same catalog page. Btw, it identifies Goodell-Pratt as the originator of the twin guide bar design.

 

[nicktomi]

saw this guy while cruising clist. ..a little out of my price range but seems to be a pretty rare vise

 

[RagTopTA]

RTop, those formed steel slides are malleable, so could be straightened cold, however some local heat will make it so less pressure is required, and you are less likely to fracture the jaw casting its in.

All you should need is to where its just barely starting to glow. Have the press and any blocking ready to go. The only concern would be that curved top section. You don't want to deform or flatten it. Can you find or make a block with the same curved saddle, and use that between the press ram and the slide?

that will be the plan! I want to keep it looking original and not flatten the top out. the first 5 inches or so slide in smooth up to the bend. Its a super tight fir even after filing down a lot of of burrs and such. the end had been hammered on to move the dynamic jaw at some point and was mushroomed a bit had to file it down.

 

[RagTopTA]

I compared the two when I got the value line model. The 1700 is exactly the same so I would guess it was a marketing thing. The silver & red is a bit more eye catching than boring black.

those are cool little vises. the one I have sure is smooth!!

 

[gman007]

Hi All
Does anyone here know how much does Hollands No 16 weigh? (the vise spread sheet lists the jaw width as 6" but there is no weight info there)?
thx much

PS
Based on the jaw size and the fact it is stationary base, I am guessing around 130lb +/- 20 lb but that is just a guess

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Found a passed for sale ad, and it listed 127 lbs.

 

[lis2323]

Looking at that photo again, the front plate looks like it has been cast to that shape rather than the lever holder having sheared, so I'm guessing that's probably as supplied from factory. I'm guessing those two holes either side of the nut aren't threaded?

Correct on your observations so you are probably right.

Perhaps "export" models lacked QA? I have yet to see a Record or Woden or Canadian Made vise with QA in person.

 

[gman007]

Found a passed for sale ad, and it listed 127 lbs.

GET: Thanks much for the info and quick response.

 

[akasrick]

Found another adv.
akasrick

 

[gman007]

Found another adv.
akasrick

Cheers

 

[drivesitfar]

007: Hollands are on par with REEDS in heft, quality and almost a copy if you ask me if the names weren't stamped different on their sides. i had a Holland's 15 and 14 that i sold a young member that needed a good vise for the bench he was going to build a few years ago and I've asked him several times to sell me back the vise and include the bench and old metal kitchen cabinets for a bit more and he has continued to DECLINE MY REQUESTS.

I'd say Get's Holland's catalog page listing it at 127 pounds is about right for it's weight and maybe Riley weighed his before he sold it. or maybe the guy that painted it yellow knows it's weight.

Riley's Holland's 16 is a nice vise and no wonder his co workers love it. I just lifted this REED 106 on this stand into my Honda and dang i almost dropped it, but i didn't want to spend the time removing the stand. it's got to come out of my storage that i'm vacating where it was pretty useful, but i'm sure i'll find a good spot for it here.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I bet that Reed would put a ding in your wife's bumper sqeezing into the garage

 

[drivesitfar]

Get: so far she hasn't run into my 350 pound shelf with about a ton of vises on it, but you're right the Reed would win the fight if her Honda CRV got near it. hell a dog ran into me while driving home from dropping my son off at swim practice maybe 10 years ago and the bumper caved and the dog kept running.

if you've been reading my organizing thread and watching my barely survive inching into my bride's side of our 2 car garage i think i only have a unistrut loft to build left above her car that i'm probably going to have do maybe 50 HONEY DO'S to get that approved.

isn't it better to build it and apologize than asking permission and getting denied?

ALL: did you all see the vises our new member in Maine posted over on the Vise repair 101 thread in vintage tools. he stopped at a vise collector's home/shop in his area that showed him a working Prentiss 58 300 pounder (or close to that), Prentiss 22 swivel jaw (165 pounds about), and I think he said the Steven's vise with the lever was an 8 inch jaw. pretty cool trio and wondering which one of you that might be or is he another guy with a vice for vises we might not never see post here on GJ?

cheers

 

[gman007]

007: Hollands are on par with REEDS in heft, quality and almost a copy if you ask me if the names weren't stamped different on their sides. i had a Holland's 15 and 14 that i sold a young member that needed a good vise for the bench he was going to build a few years ago and I've asked him several times to sell me back the vise and include the bench and old metal kitchen cabinets for a bit more and he has continued to DECLINE MY REQUESTS.

I'd say Get's Holland's catalog page listing it at 127 pounds is about right for it's weight and maybe Riley weighed his before he sold it. or maybe the guy that painted it yellow knows it's weight.

Riley's Holland's 16 is a nice vise and no wonder his co workers love it. I just lifted this REED 106 on this stand into my Honda and dang i almost dropped it, but i didn't want to spend the time removing the stand. it's got to come out of my storage that i'm vacating where it was pretty useful, but i'm sure i'll find a good spot for it here.

Drives. Thanks for the information. I thought when moving big vises you always take the dynamic jaw off and move the vises in pieces, but this time not only you did not do this, but also you had the added weight of the stand to deal with.

At the rate you are pumping iron, we might see you on the US weight lifting team in the next Olympics

PS
That is a handsome vise on a good looking vise