The VISES of Garage Journal

[gman007]

Just a Columbian 504 I found locally and cleaned up. I know Columbians don't get a lot of love around here but they were made here in Ohio and that was why I wanted one. I'm no expert craftsman like many of you here and my goal was not to make a museum piece but a decent looking and working vise.
Some before shots.

Next I'm looking for a Western Tool or Simplex model to add to my Columbian.

Fox It turned out very nice, well done!

 

[eddieK]

Just a Columbian 504 I found locally and cleaned up. I know Columbians don't get a lot of love around here but they were made here in Ohio and that was why I wanted one. I'm no expert craftsman like many of you here and my goal was not to make a museum piece but a decent looking and working vise.



Next I'm looking for a Western Tool or Simplex model to add to my Columbian.

Looks good to me and even better it's going to be used

 

[twertsy]

Due to the nature of the internet, and the amount of data being added daily, I often (about every 3 months) go back and attempt to find more information for my research. Today, I started back through the vise manufacturers.

I found an interesting tidbit. This article about W. T. Nicholson (Nicholson File) published in 1864 notes that he makes "Clark's Patent Vise." Here is the patent. Anyone ever heard of / seen one? DATAMP notes it as not known to have been produced.

Also, if you go to my Early Vise Patents page, I've found 2 manufacturers for DATAMP patents that are also marked as not known to have been produced.

Thanks! Todd

 

[ROCKNMUD]

I am cleaning up this vise with 1 1/4” jaws. I believe it is a Luther, but no name just X60 on body and 53 on the thumb screw. I was looking at the spread sheet and all Luther listed started with V##. Not an X.
Any thoughts?

 

[drivesitfar]

Rock: very interesting cause another member (Dad's Tools) posted a similar vise as yours with the V60 # on it and you have X60. just so you don't have to scroll through to find his post it's #62822 and Getridofone posted a catalog page around that (before or after) saying Dad's was a Luther.

Twertsy: thanks again for doing all the research you do and share!!!

 

[gman007]

Due to the nature of the internet, and the amount of data being added daily, I often (about every 3 months) go back and attempt to find more information for my research. Today, I started back through the vise manufacturers.

I found an interesting tidbit. This article about W. T. Nicholson (Nicholson File) published in 1864 notes that he makes "Clark's Patent Vise." Here is the patent. Anyone ever heard of / seen one? DATAMP notes it as not known to have been produced.

Also, if you go to my Early Vise Patents page, I've found 2 manufacturers for DATAMP patents that are also marked as not known to have been produced.

Thanks! Todd

Twertsy: Thanks for posting this. The information is indeed fascinating.

 

[eddieK]

Another restore completed -

This one I'm selling

 

[trijeff]

Nice, real nice on that Prentiss

 

[Razorhunter]

Ok so these probably wont be the best pics guys but here's a few teasers of what I got going on. I think I finally settled on Hammered Matte Black (kinda looks dark grey) for the big Starrett 646. I'm still not 100% sure though. Painted the dynamic tonight just to see if I'm still feelin it tom morning before I head to work.
The little Wilton 450 is basically done, save for cleaning up the anvil a bit more. Should've been done before paint, but with care, I can still do it without harming the finish.
The big Reed 604R will be left raw/unfinished and for anyone just tuning in, it's still sadly missing its swivel base. A little prayer to find one was said in the shop tonight just to keep my hopes on the up-and-up!
Notice the giant 800lb Dake Johnson horizontal bandsaw strewn all over the floor in pieces. Pushed carelessly to the side to make way for my recent vise acquisitions. I'm talking 100% neglect. That's how much I love vises.

 

[Razorhunter]

The Dake/Kysor Johnson

 

[eddieK]

Ok so these probably wont be the best pics guys but here's a few teasers of what I got going on. I think I finally settled on Hammered Matte Black (kinda looks dark grey) for the big Starrett 646. I'm still not 100% sure though. Painted the dynamic tonight just to see if I'm still feelin it tom morning before I head to work.
The little Wilton 450 is basically done, save for cleaning up the anvil a bit more. Should've been done before paint, but with care, I can still do it without harming the finish.
The big Reed 604R will be left raw/unfinished and for anyone just tuning in, it's still sadly missing its swivel base. A little prayer to find one was said in the shop tonight just to keep my hopes on the up-and-up!
Notice the giant 800lb Dake Johnson horizontal bandsaw strewn all over the floor in pieces. Pushed carelessly to the side to make way for my recent vise acquisitions. I'm talking 100% neglect. That's how much I love vises.

I'm loving that Matt Black - looks great and nice work...is this not addicting?

 

[rusty65]

Well there might be another reypo Corp base and baby Wilton for sale. I certainly didn’t predict a bidding battle for this one i thought it was going to sell for the opening bid to be honest and that was $500.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bagged89s10]

Well there might be another reypo Corp base and baby Wilton for sale. I certainly didn’t predict a bidding battle for this one i thought it was going to sell for the opening bid to be honest and that was $500.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m debating the same thing.

 

[bagged89s10]

Just a Columbian 504 I found locally and cleaned up. I know Columbians don't get a lot of love around here but they were made here in Ohio and that was why I wanted one. I'm no expert craftsman like many of you here and my goal was not to make a museum piece but a decent looking and working vise.
Some before shots.

After

Next I'm looking for a Western Tool or Simplex model to add to my Columbian.

I like the look of those older columbian with the T jaws. I have a couple.

 

[trijeff]

*SPOILER ALERT* Well Mr. I can't take on any more projects turns out to be the exact same fellow as Mr. I cant turn down ridiculously priced Reed 1Cs, even those with wonky handles and cast in jaws. Who knew??

 

[gman007]

*SPOILER ALERT* Well Mr. I can't take on any more projects turns out to be the exact same fellow as Mr. I cant turn down ridiculously priced Reed 1Cs, even those with wonky handles and cast in jaws. Who knew??

I can not blame this not to be named "Mr. I cant turn down", I would love to have one of these even if it was not "ridiculously priced". Nice find!

 

[gman007]

I think I finally settled on Hammered Matte Black (kinda looks dark grey) for the big Starrett 646. I'm still not 100% sure though. Painted the dynamic tonight just to see if I'm still feelin it tom morning before I head to work.

Razor I really like this Hammered Matte Black color, it gives the vise a bit of naked look which most people here like but yet it is painted and protected. It looks great

 

[1foxracing]

I like the look of those older columbian with the T jaws. I have a couple.

I'm happy with it myself, don't think it's super vintage as I found a couple stamping's of 75 on it while cleaning.

If anyone has any leads ( or is hiding away) a Western Tool or Simplex model I would like to have 1 of each of those as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Fox: as far as I know Columbian didn't date stamp their vises and that said i'm fairly certain your vise left the factory in the late 50's or 60's. nice work on the restoration. you'll have to be quick to find another old vise in your part of the country cause there are several members in your area that love vises. so maybe get to know them and maybe that will help your search for the vise for the other bench.

 

[NJVice]

Nice, real nice on that Prentiss

Nj.vice
I LIKE IT LOOKS GREAT. I WOULD LIKE TO BUY IT. AT A FAIR PRICE, PLEASE GET BACK, WITH A PRICE. THANK YOU.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[hemifalcon]

This one is done and off to the auction.. 1976 Marked Wilton 350 with 4” jaws.. works and looks beautiful. Needs a new home.
















Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[454ragtop]

Hemifalcon, looks good, but who put the 4" jaws in the 3-1/2" vise? Be interesting to see how that affects the bidding, if at all.

 

[jonshonda]

This popped up local to me but I cannot figure out what it is. GJ members unite!!

Seller has no info.

 

[wrenchguy]

This popped up local to me but I cannot figure out what it is. GJ members unite!!

Seller has no info.

oswego tool? do a search might bring it up.

 

[BMR24]

Looks a lot like a Parker combo vise to me, just really weird marking castings

 

[MayerMR]

This popped up local to me but I cannot figure out what it is. GJ members unite!!

Seller has no info.

Made in Pittsburgh, so there is a clue

 

[ALLFAST]

Hello GJ members !,
With some good vise Karma I've managed to procure 2, yes two, of the desireable Rock Island Model 542-BX in the last 3 months. The first one has the typical date stamped on the top of the slide (10 43), and the one I gleefully drug home today is stamped 12 20 on the UNDERSIDE at the head of the dynamic. My other GJ buddy bought a 574 stamped as mine, from the mid 1940s. I thought most swivel vises (especially those of pre 1925) had the big screw and threaded rod with the plate, not a real base. Does anyone know if the Rock Island 542-BX was made before the 1940s ? This one I got today is literally unused and in superb condition. The gentleman I got it from said it came with the house he bought, and the original family had owned this Ranch for maybe 100 years. The thing is so damn nice, I can't believe my good fortune on this one ! I have no reason to doubt it's not original condition or has been modofied. The paint seems original and faded. It has 2 of the 3 original pipe jaw inserts, and they as well as the original jaw inserts are nearly a 10/10.

Thanks in advance!
Shawn

 

[SRU1436]

Allfast. I have one of those and it was made in 1945. Acquired it from my grandpa, it’s my go to daily user.

 

[va.grouseman]

 

[chrisnazzy]

2nd this......need pics of them together.

As far as the stamp underneath my 3 Rock Islands have variations of that but I'm not sure it's a date stamp. IIRC, one of mine is stamped 1444 but it has matching stamps on many of its other parts. To the best of my knowledge the only actual date stamp RI did was on the top of the dynamic where you found the date on one of your vises. All 3 of mine are stamped month and year there. Have you done some wire wheeling on the one you just got? A little more work on that area of the slide might reveal its stamp.

As far as 542bx catalog entries you're out of luck as far as I now. I'm really amazed at how few RI catalog pages there are. I've never even seen one with any of the combo vises or swivel jaw vises listed. If someone has some RI pages please post them though.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[ALLFAST]

SRU, Yes it's a great sized tool for sure. I have just twice tried to upload photos......don't know what happened....I couldn't find the RI catalog with the 542-BX, and am wondering about the 12-20 stamping. If it's legitimate for the model, plus it has a Birtman tag which I thought was 1930 to early 1950s ???!!!!

 

[ALLFAST]

I need to do a mored thorough wire wheel of the top tomorrow and will report back. My buddy's 574 has his date 4 46 on his, under the dynamic nose joint. His upper slide was clean, and his was covered in a slight surface rust. A very original and lightly used piece.

 

[drivesitfar]

Allfast: are you trying to download more than 1 or 2 pictures at a time? while GJ is making this change to a new server or system the picture sizing is pretty critical. I can usually manage to get 7 pictures per post if I need to, but i usually download 1 or 2 or sometimes 3 at a time to get to my 7. today i had 1 that wouldn't post so I went back in my cell phone and sent the picture to my email to save it in a smaller setting and it worked out just fine.

ALL: I should know who makes these little clamp on vises, but i don't at the minute so anybody want to help me name him or her that I picked up today?

 

[trijeff]

Drives ... Stanley

 

[ALLFAST]

DIF, I only did 2, then one. Hit upload, upload accepted, then close window at bottom......no go

 

[drivesitfar]

TJ: thank you

Allfast: are you doing it from your cell phone? don't close the window the next time maybe and then submit and maybe pictures will show up is my next guess.

BTW very nice finds and i'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your PRISTINE ROCK!!

 

[Fierljeppen]

This popped up local to me but I cannot figure out what it is. GJ members unite!!

Seller has no info.

All right, I'll admit that I'm a sucker for a vise mystery, so here's what I've got.

It looks like a Smith Pattern combo vise that was made by Oswego Tool, because of the "T".

My documentation shows that the Smith Pattern combo vise was made by Oswego Tool from 1915 - 1920's. It also indicates the proper model #.

But, made in Pittsburgh? Close, but no cigar.

 

[taco7]

Anyone interested in a Chas Parker 89 1/2 send me a PM. I have no affiliation with the seller, but have bought from him before. It looks big/rusty, but it reportedly works. Too big for me unless it's a collector's item.

 

[va.grouseman]

Drive, look on the back of the slide and see if your vise has the heart emblem for the Stanley Sweetheart table clamper.---If it doesn't, I'd say you have a Stanley Victor vise.---They both have similar features.

 

[Fierljeppen]

ALL: I should know who makes these little clamp on vises, but i don't at the minute so anybody want to help me name him or her that I picked up today?

drivesitfar...You may want to check out KMScott's website to see the amazing things he's doing with those types of vises. I think that he's on to something.

http://www.wiltonviseparts.net/stan...th-2-1-2-jaws-jewelers-vise-with-swivel-base/