The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
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ALLFAST
Well-known member
And the numbers. I still need to wire wheel the top of the slide and determine if any numbers are there. 1920 seems a tad early, but my buddy's has none on the top. His numbers are in the same spot as mine, as depicted in the next shot. I forgot that some text is required in this box or attached photos won't upload. I had a monster week at work, hence the brainfade.
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ALLFAST
Well-known member
twertsy
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CRSINMICH
Well-known member
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.
HAHA!! I spent too much time last night digging around for pics of that bad boy. It is just such a weird combo that nothing I found matched up. I am pretty sure its an Oswego, but the Pittsburgh deal throws me for a loop.
Bummer it is missing the bottom mounting plate though. As much as I want to buy it, I just don't know if I should. I suppose it would make one hell of a vise mounted on a stand.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
HAHA!! I spent too much time last night digging around for pics of that bad boy. It is just such a weird combo that nothing I found matched up. I am pretty sure its an Oswego, but the Pittsburgh deal throws me for a loop.
Bummer it is missing the bottom mounting plate though. As much as I want to buy it, I just don't know if I should. I suppose it would make one hell of a vise mounted on a stand.
smiths patent, cast by oswego tool i believe, made for and marketed by oil well supply co. prolly headquartered in p-burgh. google up "oil well supply vise". urs looks like a later one. i got 1 around here somewhere. if right $, i'd buy that in a heartbeat for a stand. it is missing pipe jaws.
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This one is done and off to the auction.. 1976 Marked Wilton 350 with 4” jaws.. works and looks beautiful. Needs a new home.
I always like the style of that Wilton version. Does anyone know when they changed to the raised anvil design? I thought it was around 1978...
twertsy
Well-known member
Oil Well Supply Co. was headed by Mr. Tonkin, the same man who started Oswego Tool in 1887........so, that makes perfect sense.
All, found this cool article from 1914 Motor World (Page 31 if it doesn't come up) that explains in detail all the different types of vises, and their strengths and weaknesses for their designated tasks. Pretty cool read.
SRU1436
ALLIANCE MEMBER
ALLFASTLOL...I was looking at picking up that 542-BX myself. I decided not to only because of funs. I am glad it ended up being in great shape. The one picture showed it to be in great shape....Congrats
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Jons: if the jaws aren't in terrible shape or welded under all that blue paint and the price is ok you can use steel plate to attach it to your bench with the one screw. or some of milled off the base to make it level and drilled 2 holes through the vise's base to mount it with two screws onto a bench. or make a mount for it that works sort of like a trailer hitch. with as old and unique as it is I might tend to not make it a user, but that would be your call if you buy it. here's my Vanderman #1 that has some steel plate for it's attachment under the bench and it was the only working vise in a closing steel fab company's warehouse that was about 20,000 feet of space so it got it's use for about 100 years. only damage was a pipe jaw broke off a piece so it needs to be remade.
Allfast: great looking Rock Island and happy to hear you've been finding the combo vises.
CRS: thanks again for the catalog page.
VA: i'll look closer at the little Stanley or Victor clamp on vise when I get a chance, but I couldn't see any markings on the first look.
Fier: I like these little vises cause they make great gifts and pretty easy to store. thanks for digging up the information on Oswego and if I recall correctly one of my Oswego vises had a T on it too. the Pittsburgh thing is a bit of a mystery though.
Allfast: great looking Rock Island and happy to hear you've been finding the combo vises.
CRS: thanks again for the catalog page.
VA: i'll look closer at the little Stanley or Victor clamp on vise when I get a chance, but I couldn't see any markings on the first look.
Fier: I like these little vises cause they make great gifts and pretty easy to store. thanks for digging up the information on Oswego and if I recall correctly one of my Oswego vises had a T on it too. the Pittsburgh thing is a bit of a mystery though.
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ALLFAST
Well-known member
SRU1436,
The one from your Grandfather is truly PRICELESS, as I know you wouldn't trade it for anything !
Don't give up on the hunt as good vises are still out there, it just takes persistence which is a grind obviously !
I ended up paying tge seller 160, and I had to drive about 20 miles West of 80, and up a 3% grade into his muddied ranchland.......narrowly avoided barely getting up in 4x4 ! It wasnt quite a cakewalk. The other 542-BX (10-43 production) I'm gifting to my best friend who is well deserving of such a fine poece. I'd be an idiot for hoarding two of the same breed in my situation!
Post of some pictures of yours, and do you know when/how your Grandfather got it, any history? That truly is beyond cool having something like that !
The one from your Grandfather is truly PRICELESS, as I know you wouldn't trade it for anything !
Don't give up on the hunt as good vises are still out there, it just takes persistence which is a grind obviously !
I ended up paying tge seller 160, and I had to drive about 20 miles West of 80, and up a 3% grade into his muddied ranchland.......narrowly avoided barely getting up in 4x4 ! It wasnt quite a cakewalk. The other 542-BX (10-43 production) I'm gifting to my best friend who is well deserving of such a fine poece. I'd be an idiot for hoarding two of the same breed in my situation!
Post of some pictures of yours, and do you know when/how your Grandfather got it, any history? That truly is beyond cool having something like that !
gman007
Well-known member
Twertsy Thanks a bunch, once again this is another great article.
Personally I never get tired of reading this stuff and what amazes me is that for most part these articles are timeless and if one did not know when they were written it would be hard to guess.
ALLFAST
Well-known member
Hemi falcon,
That little Verdi Green Wilton is sure pretty ! I sold my swivel base 1953 3 inch bullet to super cool fellow GJ member for 140, and it had the derelict original faded to dust pea green lead paint on it. Good luck on the auction....it shoud do well.
That little Verdi Green Wilton is sure pretty ! I sold my swivel base 1953 3 inch bullet to super cool fellow GJ member for 140, and it had the derelict original faded to dust pea green lead paint on it. Good luck on the auction....it shoud do well.
gman007
Well-known member
Drives Your Vanderman #1 is really nice and it is a testament to one of your earlier statements that some of these very old exposed screw vises were built like tanks.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
007: yep Vanderman's were not little open screw vises. my #1 is right about 100 pounds and they made a bigger #2 & #3 that were quite a bit heavier. they call this style vise a STEAMFITTER'S VISE in case you didn't already know.
va.grouseman
Well-known member
Twertsy, thanks for all the long hours and fine info.---I have a couple of those Stevens Parallel minis and the Bonnie that looks like a boat with the quick release, and the Parker #94, one arm vise.---But I want a Fisher, an Emertt, and especially that Die Skinners.---And I want them NOW.
---
Excellent articles.
---Excellent articles.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
i'd like more info on the cradle openings in the body and what i think are the loose parts that are used with the cradles. these loose fittings always seem to be missing from the vise. anyone know?
That's my favorite also. Wilton started with the bigger anvil around 1975. I've had both with the same year stamped. I never understood Wilton going with the bigger anvil anyways since its not hardened. They could look ugly if used a lot.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Wrench: are you using maybe the correct terms for the pipe jaws on my Vanderman? not sure what cradle openings and cradles are unless that's a different way of saying pipe jaws.
don't you own a Vanderman #3? does it weigh 150 pounds or maybe more cause I think the #2 weighs 125 pounds?
Jons: yep it's worth $50 for certain especially if the jaw towers are not welded under all that blue paint. more pictures please if you get it and if you find a pair of pipe jaws for that vise you won't believe how big they are.
AutoPts: thanks for the date on Wilton's anvil change. also that is my Vanderman #1 and PM sent.
don't you own a Vanderman #3? does it weigh 150 pounds or maybe more cause I think the #2 weighs 125 pounds?
Jons: yep it's worth $50 for certain especially if the jaw towers are not welded under all that blue paint. more pictures please if you get it and if you find a pair of pipe jaws for that vise you won't believe how big they are.
AutoPts: thanks for the date on Wilton's anvil change. also that is my Vanderman #1 and PM sent.
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gman007
Well-known member
Jon I am not sure if you owe anybody anything, so there is no obligation to buy it. Having said this personally @$50 even with missing base plate and pipe jaws I would buy it as it is not a very common vise but that is just me!
gman007
Well-known member
wrenchguy
Well-known member
i think that vice beens on wisconsin c-list off and on for years now. i'd try getting it 4 less, missing p-jaws and all.
jrobb from milwaukee should know it?
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Wrench: are you saying it's not even worth $50 for a 120+ year old vise that doesn't appear to be welded or cracked and just missing it's pipe jaws? also the vise with the *********** probably works better without the pipe jaws hence most of them being MIA from being taken out and maybe tossed or left sitting on a bench.
007: i'm pretty sure Autopts isn't throwing away a 100 pound Vanderman, but guessing he's got a lone pipe jaw that needs a home in Drive's vise.
007: i'm pretty sure Autopts isn't throwing away a 100 pound Vanderman, but guessing he's got a lone pipe jaw that needs a home in Drive's vise.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
QUOTE=drivesitfar;7101098]Wrench: are you using maybe the correct terms for the pipe jaws on my Vanderman? not sure what cradle openings and cradles are unless that's a different way of saying pipe jaws.
****the pipe bending grooves on the main body... for bending (tweaking) between the threaded ends. if you worked on 100 year old houses using steam or water radiators you'd know what i mean. no easy straight runs and pipe had to be tweaked sometimes during a heating refit from a coal fired gravity furnace.
don't you own a Vanderman #3? does it weigh 150 pounds or maybe more cause I think the #2 weighs 125 pounds?
***my no. 3 = 160lbs.
/QUOTE]
****the pipe bending grooves on the main body... for bending (tweaking) between the threaded ends. if you worked on 100 year old houses using steam or water radiators you'd know what i mean. no easy straight runs and pipe had to be tweaked sometimes during a heating refit from a coal fired gravity furnace.
don't you own a Vanderman #3? does it weigh 150 pounds or maybe more cause I think the #2 weighs 125 pounds?
***my no. 3 = 160lbs.
/QUOTE]
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
twertsy: Thanks for the link to that vise article. I can't wait until I have time to read it.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
Wrench: are you saying it's not even worth $50 for a 120+ year old vise that doesn't appear to be welded or cracked and just missing it's pipe jaws? also the vise with the *********** probably works better without the pipe jaws hence most of them being MIA from being taken out and maybe tossed or left sitting on a bench.
007: i'm pretty sure Autopts isn't throwing away a 100 pound Vanderman, but guessing he's got a lone pipe jaw that needs a home in Drive's vise.
i don't think its that old, its missing other stuff, pipe jaws are really hard or impossable to find for it, but easy to remove when working deep, if its been on c-list for years i'd try for less. to me... now it doesn't stimulate the reach into the back pocket. to him ????? good luck with ur decision.
ALLFAST
Well-known member
Alright GJ,
My investigation is COMPLETE! The DOB is " 4 45". Does anyone here know if the 1220 could be the sequence of production for this model (542-BX Rocky) or perhaps the Employee ID, or inspector number ? That little clean up was done in about 2 minutes with my 25 year old Craftsman 3/8 electric drill motor and an old brass wire wheel. It's going to clean up great. I'm calling the original color a light battleship gray. The one on the left is dated 10 - 43 , and I got that a few months back for 150. Got the new one for 160 (advertised as 125, offered 150 to hold for 5 days, and didn't have change, so 160 was happily given).
My investigation is COMPLETE! The DOB is " 4 45". Does anyone here know if the 1220 could be the sequence of production for this model (542-BX Rocky) or perhaps the Employee ID, or inspector number ? That little clean up was done in about 2 minutes with my 25 year old Craftsman 3/8 electric drill motor and an old brass wire wheel. It's going to clean up great. I'm calling the original color a light battleship gray. The one on the left is dated 10 - 43 , and I got that a few months back for 150. Got the new one for 160 (advertised as 125, offered 150 to hold for 5 days, and didn't have change, so 160 was happily given).
wrenchguy
Well-known member
This popped up local to me but I cannot figure out what it is. GJ members unite!!
Seller has no info.
jons, another concern.... the slide looks shortened to me. do ur research and know the specifications b4 u go look at it. i do stand 2b corrected.
wrenchguy
Well-known member
yes thank u all, ur all able to search and come up with more great info than i could ever find.
ALLFAST
Well-known member
ALLFAST
Well-known member
NJ.VICE LOOKS GREAT WISH IT WAS MINE! .This one is done and off to the auction.. 1976 Marked Wilton 350 with 4” jaws.. works and looks beautiful. Needs a new home.
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drivesitfar
Well-known member
Wrench: good point that maybe the slide has been shortened so maybe why it hasn't sold. since vises like that usually have broken or welded towers for that price i'd probably pick it up for parts and i'm not even that fond of that style. i've got a Morgan 88 that has a sort of similar look and Parker made one too. not a lot available anymore cause like i mentioned their design didn't lend itself to being hit with a hammer or sledgehammer.
thanks for the heads up on the cradles and hence these vises being called STEAMFITTER'S VISES.
Jons: here's my Morgan 88 to maybe show you some detail that the mystery vise might be missing. obviously my Morgan is newer, but not too far off the same design.
thanks for the heads up on the cradles and hence these vises being called STEAMFITTER'S VISES.
Jons: here's my Morgan 88 to maybe show you some detail that the mystery vise might be missing. obviously my Morgan is newer, but not too far off the same design.
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AngryBeaver
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is that a 4.5" jaw or 4"? want to sell one of them? MY 130lb 543B is my favorite vise and want a smaller brother to it
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N.J.VICE
Yes , please do i don't know much about vises. But pick up A rock #547 or 574 half to look again. Theirs numbers on the bottom of the vice.if you turn IT upside down. There's numbers were, there one big bolt, in the middle of base. That holds the two main parts together. There's numbers in to or 3 different places. Don't know much about vices but i will learn. Vice is in great shape i uses them a lot .did plumbing as a trade. Any help would be great. Need pictures let me know.. thank YOU very much .WOULD THAT BE THE DATE 10 46
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.N.j. vice for to tell if it matter it has 4 @ 1/2 in jaws the rock island vice
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ALLFAST
Well-known member
Angry Beaver,
You have a NICE vise there for sure ! If, you can find one if those a 542-BX will be easy. It's a 4.5" jaw and is about 79#. The one on the left is going to my best friend, and I'll be buried with the one on the right ! I've had this chat with a few friends and we all have some 150 pound plus 6 inch vises.....we all agree that a 4.5 combo vise is the perfect daily driver vise for the common man, and you can easily move it without killing yourself or a few hours !
How did you find your big Rocky ?
You have a NICE vise there for sure ! If, you can find one if those a 542-BX will be easy. It's a 4.5" jaw and is about 79#. The one on the left is going to my best friend, and I'll be buried with the one on the right ! I've had this chat with a few friends and we all have some 150 pound plus 6 inch vises.....we all agree that a 4.5 combo vise is the perfect daily driver vise for the common man, and you can easily move it without killing yourself or a few hours !
How did you find your big Rocky ?