The VISES of Garage Journal

[joe.striper]

Last 10 days have been crazy for me. I picked up the following:

Parker 473 1/2
Stephens 3"
Parker 434 1/2
Reed 6" 4 foot
Wilton 1780 Tradesman
Acco 2.5"
Wesson Machinist vise #2

The Reed and Tradesman came with a nice height adjustable stand

 

[MayerMR]

Last 10 days have been crazy for me. I picked up the following:

Parker 473 1/2
Stephens 3"
Parker 434 1/2
Reed 6" 4 foot
Wilton 1780 Tradesman
Acco 2.5"
Wesson Machinist vise #2

The Reed and Tradesman came with a nice height adjustable stand

Good gracious...and I thought I accumulated vises fast! Those are some seriously nice hauls, Joe!

 

[joe.striper]

I tried to buy these, but no-go!

 

[joe.striper]

Speaking of BLO, here is a Wilton CO I did with a baked on BLO finish. These are hard to do. The vise has to be nearly perfect and getting a consistent finish is tough.

I baked this one at 450 degrees for 4 hours.

Currently on ebay

 

[RG Rude]

Last 10 days have been crazy for me. I picked up the following:

Parker 473 1/2
Stephens 3"
Parker 434 1/2
Reed 6" 4 foot
Wilton 1780 Tradesman
Acco 2.5"
Wesson Machinist vise #2

The Reed and Tradesman came with a nice height adjustable stand

Awesome haul.

 

[454ragtop]

The rear "slide guide" looks distinctly Parker around 1900.

Thanks Twertsy, suspect you may be right. Doing some research, I found this catalog page from 1915, looks suspiciously like a Parker model 2000. The area Todd pointed out is pretty much exactly like some of my larger older Parker vises. Any other thoughts?

 

[mgmlvks]

My Littlestown 140

Wanted a vintage exposed screw vise to ponder. Interesting to note that in the "golden age" of American Manufacturing - there are plenty of pits, seams and other "defects" that would be called "MIC "stuff"" if from a different era.

Anyway - this one shows signs of a LOT of use as intended, little or no abuse, and a testament to the maker and the user for knowing what they had.

Citric soaked, lightly wire brushed and I was SHOCKED at how much paint was left - so my paint experiments are postponed.

As Found near Ada, Oklahoma

Some after pics:

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks Twertsy, suspect you may be right. Doing some research, I found this catalog page from 1915, looks suspiciously like a Parker model 2000. The area Todd pointed out is pretty much exactly like some of my larger older Parker vises. Any other thoughts?

I don't think there is any question that its not Parker made. It may have been striped of cast in markings for third party sale, and the screws in the jaws may have been because the normal pins were not a good option at that size.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Went to a swap meet this weekend, picked up a couple vises. One is a basic Parker 974, nice shape, didn't get any pics of that one.
Other is this small unmarked vise, 2-1/4" jaws, weighs 7lb 6oz. with the mounting parts. Note the Parker type jaws, but retained by screws thru the working face, not the usual pins thru the top. Has a fairly short screw, limits safe opening to about 2", versus the 2-3/4" of slide sticking out of the static with the vise closed. It also doesn't have a collar of any sort, uses a spring inside the slide to open the jaw, but does have a thrust washer between the "meatball" and the dynamic. Anybody recognize it? My first thought was Prentiss, seems they often made unmarked vises, and the "meatball" looks Prentiss'ish. The Parker type jaws throw it off though. It's in real nice shape, appears to have seen little to no use.

454ragtop...It looks just like my Parker No-0. Check out my photos, everything matches.

You may have a museum piece there. I've only seen a couple and nothing close to your condition. It could be as old as 1867.

Really nice find!

 

[KMScott]

I should have looked at my old pic's. Here is my Parker #0 with 2" jaws. I repaired it several years ago had the same jaw shelf as the one 454 has. My vise looks like Fierljeppen and it to had the face mounting screws. Mine was damaged so much that I had to recut the jaw supports and create new jaws. Then I added a swivel base to it.

 

[Razorhunter]

Well guys how bout another near mint vise for all to see and enjoy!
How's this for a Monday evening-after-work-Craigslist score? I think its all original paint and there's even still remnance of adhesive from the Wilton factory sticker. The old timer I bought it from said he just never used it. DOM is 12/67
Does anyone know if this style of splined nut is original? Ive usually seen acorn nuts on these little Wiltons. Owner was a very nice seemingly honest guy. Says he doesnt recall ever changing them out.
You guys remember that NOS Wilton 300 that recently sold on ebay? It came with its box, it was this very same color grey, and it too had the rectangular shaped sticker on the front of the dynamic. I wish I had saved that pic of the sticker to show with my vise here! I'll be truly sad to see this one go. What do you guys think though?

 

[454ragtop]

Wow Fierljeppen, thank you very much. Looks like yours has screws thru the face of the jaw inserts, and the spring/no collar to open the vise. I'm wondering if mine might be a little later though, with the enclosed wing nut versus the nut and wrench shown for yours.

On edit, damn I type slow, you guys snuck in 2 posts while I was typing. Kevin, awesome work on that little Parker, real nice save. I'm not a big fan of the under the bench vise swivel locks, but could never mod one as nice as this.

Razor, I wonder if that baby and base were purchased separately and the owner sourced his own hardware to assemble them?

 

[KMScott]

Well guys how bout another near mint vise for all to see and enjoy!
How's this for a Monday evening-after-work-Craigslist score? Original paint and there's even still remnance of adhesive from the Wilton factory sticker. The old timer I bought it from said he just never used it. DOM is 12/67
Does anyone know if this style of splined nut is original? Ive usually seen acorn nuts on these little Wiltons. Owner was a very nice seemingly honest guy. Says he doesnt recall ever changing them out.
You guys remember that NOS Wilton 300 that recently sold on ebay? It came with its box, it was this very same color grey, and it too had the rectangular shaped sticker on the front of the dynamic. I wish I had saved that pic of the sticker to show with my vise here! I'll be truly sad to see this one go. What do you guys think though?

That one is pretty nice Razor, those Baby's are neat vises. I have one pretty close to yours with a 62 date stamp. All original paint and in about as good of shape as yours. This is my third baby that I have picked up in local Auctions. I am not much of a e-bay fan.

 

[Razorhunter]

Thanks Kevin. I'm not a big ebayer anymore either. Is that a sticker on yours on the tail or a brass tag with adhesive backer?

454, I do not know to be honest. Could be.

 

[MayerMR]

I should have looked at my old pic's. Here is my Parker #0 with 2" jaws. I repaired it several years ago had the same jaw shelf as the one 454 has. My vise looks like Fierljeppen and it to had the face mounting screws. Mine was damaged so much that I had to recut the jaw supports and create new jaws. Then I added a swivel base to it.

Kevin,

That's a cute little sucker, nice job!

Hey do you happen to make the bottom handles for these old Charles Parker vises? I did an impulse purchase on this vise the other night. My intentions were to reach out to you for a new handle when I figure out the size I need anyway.

*edit* oh, and probably those pipe vise pins too...I make stupid impulse purchases...

 

[MayerMR]

My Littlestown 140

Wanted a vintage exposed screw vise to ponder. Interesting to note that in the "golden age" of American Manufacturing - there are plenty of pits, seams and other "defects" that would be called "MIC "stuff"" if from a different era.

Anyway - this one shows signs of a LOT of use as intended, little or no abuse, and a testament to the maker and the user for knowing what they had.

Citric soaked, lightly wire brushed and I was SHOCKED at how much paint was left - so my paint experiments are postponed.

As Found near Ada, Oklahoma

Some after pics:

Nice little vise mgm, keep your eyes on eBay for a broken or cheap parts vise with a good base. I picked one up for a Lakeside vise restoration that is very similar to that one for $8.

 

[jrg]

$4 Columbian 03 1/2 M2. Before and after.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Kevin. I'm not a big ebayer anymore either. Is that a sticker on yours on the tail or a brass tag with adhesive backer?

454, I do not know to be honest. Could be.

It is a sticker. I have some but not as heavy as the original.

Kevin,

That's a cute little sucker, nice job!

Hey do you happen to make the bottom handles for these old Charles Parker vises? I did an impulse purchase on this vise the other night. My intentions were to reach out to you for a new handle when I figure out the size I need anyway.

*edit* oh, and probably those pipe vise pins too...I make stupid impulse purchases...

Bottom handles? Looking at the pictures I can see you need a Spindle Handle. I make handles but not crazy about it. The pipe jaw pins you can make. If buying vises with missing parts then ya gotta learn how to repair them.

 

[MayerMR]

It is a sticker. I have some but not as heavy as the original.



Bottom handles? Looking at the pictures I can see you need a Spindle Handle. I make handles but not crazy about it. The pipe jaw pins you can make. If buying vises with missing parts then ya gotta learn how to repair them.

yeah I know, I'm a bit of masochist...I like to buy things to restore that offer me a challenge to learn something new. I figured I could probably make the pins. That handle on the other hand...ergh - I didn't exactly notice it until post-transaction :/

I think it looked something like this (attachment).

 

[Bobioz1]

Well guys how bout another near mint vise for all to see and enjoy!
How's this for a Monday evening-after-work-Craigslist score? Original paint and there's even still remnance of adhesive from the Wilton factory sticker. The old timer I bought it from said he just never used it. DOM is 12/67
Does anyone know if this style of splined nut is original? Ive usually seen acorn nuts on these little Wiltons. Owner was a very nice seemingly honest guy. Says he doesnt recall ever changing them out.
You guys remember that NOS Wilton 300 that recently sold on ebay? It came with its box, it was this very same color grey, and it too had the rectangular shaped sticker on the front of the dynamic. I wish I had saved that pic of the sticker to show with my vise here! I'll be truly sad to see this one go. What do you guys think though?

Strange that it has a painted anvil surface.

 

[jaxpc]

First time poster here. I have a new shop, and I'm finally getting some better tools. It's time for a "real" vise, and not a starter/cheap vise. But, I'm stuck in Southern California. There doesn't seem to be any farm auctions, or sales where there would be appropriate vises to be found, in the wild. Craig's list and Ebay are good, but I would like to see the vise before I buy. Is there a reliable source for good vises in the Riverside, CA. area?

 

[Outlawmws]

Craig's list and look before buying. Lots of other people have managed to find good vises in the LA basin. Swap meets maybe. Estate sales are usually better for vises that yard sales.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I put a ratchet on my C1. A little write up here- https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388958

 

[joe.striper]

I put a ratchet on my C1. A little write up here- https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388958

You will appreciate that the Athol vise company made a ratchet handle vise over 100 years ago! I'll throw a pic up soon.

 

[meatsis]

You will appreciate that the Athol vise company made a ratchet handle vise over 100 years ago! I'll throw a pic up soon.

Here’s one of my mini ratcheting Athol’s.

 

[eddieK]

Here's my ratcheting 714

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Thanks for the pics on the ratchet vises.

So, the handle is fixed? And then gear and pawl inside?

 

[mikeswrenches]

Thanks for the pics on the ratchet vises.

So, the handle is fixed? And then gear and pawl inside?

The link to the patent will help explain how they worked.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/bc/b3/ac/4ea51e86221b66/US1012226.pdf

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Thank you mikeswrenches. Good read.

 

[Razorhunter]

Nice, great info mikes!

 

[va.grouseman]

Perched up on top of a 450

Still breastfeeding.

 

[jrobb316]

Parker 974 totally naked. Excellent shape except for a few slide dings. Filed them flat, very tight vise. I'm very impressed with Parkers quality. Factory flat jaw varient. Had a buyer come over the other day to look at a Prentiss 20 I had listed. He drooled over my Rock island 577 I had on the bench, he ended up walking away with the Prentiss and my broken rock island 577 (broken dynamic and swivel base), so I'm into my complete 577 for under $100 and a little fuel money. Still on the fence if the Parker stays or goes, my herd is getting pretty thin.

 

[Thrumcap]

As the ice recedes and painting temperature approaches again, I went for a drive on the weekend to look at “a huge vise” listed on kijiji. I thought it looked like a Parker 240 7” double swiveller.
Yup!











$75, in the trunk. 222 pounds. Missing a bar handle on the screwdown. With a little coaxing, the top swivel will pop loose. The solid brake piece on the bottom is the first I’ve seen of that type.

Thrumcap

 

[Thrumcap]

Turns out there was also an antique show in town. Two more trunk additions. which made the eight hour round trip alright.

It took a while to remember which manufacturer uses the crest, but it looks like a Hollands 2 1/4””. Does anyone have a catalog entry for this?





And a Starrett 86.



Thrumcap

 

[jrobb316]

Damn that's nice. As far as the swivel being one piece, that is weird, especially since the hole for the pin is on the other side of the swivel lock, like every other Parker I've ever seen.

 

[CRSINMICH]

1925 Hollands catalogue

 

[CRSINMICH]

Better picture

 

[454ragtop]

Damn that's nice. As far as the swivel being one piece, that is weird, especially since the hole for the pin is on the other side of the swivel lock, like every other Parker I've ever seen.

The one piece brake is common on early Parkers, the other hole is to give the user the option of which side they want the lock handle.

Thrumcap, great score on that huge Parker!!! That Starrett looks pretty interesting too.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Thrum, You seem to have a knack for finding the big vises. It 's my guess the two piece brake replaced them because of cracking. I had to repair one I had that was broken.
The Hollands is a " Keystone" I think

Looks like I was late on the reply and didn't refresh for new posts

 

[Thrumcap]

While the camera is out, here’s another set of pianomakers’ vises found in a barn in New Brunswick last fall. These weigh about 80 pounds each I think.








Thrumcap