The VISES of Garage Journal

[TTLLOGIC]

that base is awesome ... did it come with a t-handle for the hole?

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No unfortunately, I am going to make one that matches the original.


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[z1kzonly]

Hello, long time since I posted. Just want to check on a REED 3-1/2" utility vise? Any value?? Before I clean it and paint it? Or should I leave original patina? I did not see any 3-1/2 on ebay. Did see 4-1/2. I want so bad to glass bead the brass plates and paint it. Polish the handle.

Plus my old standard go to Columbian I use every day. Never knew what it was till I sanded paint off it today when I took these pictures.

Thanks for any opinions.

Marty in Buffalo, NY

 

[z1kzonly]

Funny story about the COLUMBIAN vise. When I was working at a big printing plant, I worked in shipping, night shift. An unknown machinist or ??? Must have took this vise to steal it! The skill trades guys had trike bikes to ride around the plant. So one night I see this vise stashed away, hidden behind a guard rail near the dock doors. It sat there about 2-3 weeks. So whoever stashed it, never got the chance to take it! So guess who did? ME!!! That was in the early 1980's.

 

[z1kzonly]

While I am at it, Here is an old pipe vise that was in my Grandfathers old city house. This looked like this when I was 5 as young as I remember. Down in cellar with my little stash of tools and a workbench with a little clamp on vise.
But old, olny markings are in the picture. over the years, I took the old square head nuts & bolts out and put reg. stuff in there. I assume something from Pennsylvania? With the keystone emblem?

 

[LesserSon]

That’s an interesting pipe vise. The keystone could be a logo for any number of Pennsylvania-based manufacturers, but with the “RR” on it, it really resembles the logo for Pennsylvania Railroad (1846-1968). Usually, there’s a “P” between the two Rs...
The “pat’d” surely must reference the lower jaws, the only unusual thing about it: two rotating, toothed cogs.
I looked on line, but turned up nothing so far.

 

[z1kzonly]

Thanks, me too, I looked over the years to sell it on ebay or whatever?
Never seen one like it. I'm 60. My Moms Grandfather had this house. It was built in Buffalo, NY in 1880
I was thinking the PAT'D means "patented"

 

[Fierljeppen]

While I am at it, Here is an old pipe vise that was in my Grandfathers old city house. This looked like this when I was 5 as young as I remember. Down in cellar with my little stash of tools and a workbench with a little clamp on vise.
But old, olny markings are in the picture. over the years, I took the old square head nuts & bolts out and put reg. stuff in there. I assume something from Pennsylvania? With the keystone emblem?

That's a pretty rare pipe vise. I found a catalog scan from 1905.

 

[LesserSon]

Ah-ha! So that is H.F.Renner’s patent of Oct1900, manufactured by Hollands in Erie PA. Part of the “Keystone” line, and nothing to do with railroads. The “RR” is the size.
Here’s a one-“R” version that sold on eBay:https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/192513523611
I posted a different Hollands pipe vise on this thread, here.

 

[Mr_P]

It's been a while since I posted, but jut ran into this interesting piece. Might be a broken blacksmith vuse, but have any of you ever seen one of these? I like the star cutout it's got.

 

[Mr_P]

It's priced at $48. Should I pull the trigger? Or pass?

 

[TTLLOGIC]

Picked up this really nice Columbian 603 1/2 M2 for $20 Needs a little cleaning up, but appears to be for the most part unused. Jaws and perfect.

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[Steelheader]

It has been over a month since i posted about the my Reed 403 1/2 find.

I have finally "restored" the vise. I was going to go all the way with prep and paint, however I liked the patina after the the wire wheel work so much, I decided to leave it raw and just ended up coating it with paste wax.

The screw engagement on this vise is pretty great with about one and a quarter inch of movement of the handle at the end to get the jaw moving.

I did attach a before image for reference.

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[davethorik]

Picked up this really nice Columbian 603 1/2 M2 for $20 Needs a little cleaning up, but appears to be for the most part unused.

You hoarding all these vises or flipping them?

 

[TTLLOGIC]

You hoarding all these vises or flipping them?

Hoarding for the inevitable vise apocalypse. [emoji16]


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[Steelheader]

While restoring the the Reed 403 1/2 in an earlier post, I also stumbled upon another vise while cruising the "for sale" sites.

I picked up this Parker 384 1/2 A Swivel Head vise for $70. All the original parts seemed to be present. It looks like it was barely used and the jaws have good sharp serrations.

The person had left it out for a yard sale so it picked up a bit of rust on the base after all the local rain. Once again the pin for the swivel head was seized, but this time I went at it with a little more gusto and got it out in less than a day. I stripped it down to parts and did a bit of wire wheel work on the small parts and left the red paint on it for now.

I could not find much info on this vise but the A designation seems like it is one of the later models before the switch to a different manufacturer. I will say that the manufacturing quality is down from the Reed, but it is still a lot nicer than the Asian vises on Amazon. The thread engagement is definitely looser as it takes over a half turn of the handle to get the dynamic jaw to move.

This thing is nearly twice the size and weight of the Reed and kind of a bear to move. However I still like this vise a lot. But that Reed did kind of spoil me.

No before pics but there is a combo pic of my Parker, Reed, and Irwin "Record" vises.

 

[rusty65]

Just curious but it appears your Parker swivel jaw is missing the cross pin on the swivel jaw. I think it keeps the swivel jaw from lifting up? Any way it looks great nice and straight with little wear or abuse.


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[txlonghorn1989]

It has been over a month since i posted about the my Reed 403 1/2 find.

I have finally "restored" the vise. I was going to go all the way with prep and paint, however I liked the patina after the the wire wheel work so much, I decided to leave it raw and just ended up coating it with paste wax.

The screw engagement on this vise is pretty great with about one and a quarter inch of movement of the handle at the end to get the jaw moving.

I did attach a before image for reference.

Thanks for all the great info!

Nice work on both this Reed and the Parker Steelh! I also like my vintage vises to look their age.

 

[gman007]

Picked up this really nice Columbian 603 1/2 M2 for $20 Needs a little cleaning up, but appears to be for the most part unused. Jaws and perfect.


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TTLLOGIC Man you're on the roll meaning. Another nice one at a great price

 

[Rileysan]

Hoarding for the inevitable vise apocalypse. [emoji16]


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I am SO going to use that line!

Brian

 

[gman007]

While restoring the the Reed 403 1/2 in an earlier post, I also stumbled upon another vise while cruising the "for sale" sites.

I picked up this Parker 384 1/2 A Swivel Head vise for $70. All the original parts seemed to be present. It looks like it was barely used and the jaws have good sharp serrations.

The person had left it out for a yard sale so it picked up a bit of rust on the base after all the local rain. Once again the pin for the swivel head was seized, but this time I went at it with a little more gusto and got it out in less than a day. I stripped it down to parts and did a bit of wire wheel work on the small parts and left the red paint on it for now.

I could not find much info on this vise but the A designation seems like it is one of the later models before the switch to a different manufacturer. I will say that the manufacturing quality is down from the Reed, but it is still a lot nicer than the Asian vises on Amazon. The thread engagement is definitely looser as it takes over a half turn of the handle to get the dynamic jaw to move.

This thing is nearly twice the size and weight of the Reed and kind of a bear to move. However I still like this vice a lot. But that Reed did kind of spoil me.

No before pics but there is a combo pic of my Parker, Reed, and Irwin "Record" vises.

Steel Nice scores and great restore jobs too.

 

[TTLLOGIC]

When all that's left is Chinese iron. I'll have a safe space [emoji23]


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[gman007]

I am SO going to use that line!

Brian

Do you think this line will finally convince one's bride that there is a method to madness of hoarding vises?

 

[Steelheader]

Rusty, the cross pin is present and in place and is actually the mother of all coil pins being about 3" long.

When disassembling the vise for clean up, I had a heck of a time trying to figure out how the swivel head was held in place. I could see there were some type of pins in the holes on sides of the vise but I was not sure how big/long they were. The other part was there was mud and this horrendous, gag inducing, gunk in those holes that that kind of hid what was in there.

I was worried that they were two short pins that I would drive into the vise and would never get out. I decided to just go for it and luckily the pin drove out and all the way through.

I doused that pin and the inside of the vise with brake cleaner to kill the smell. It was that bad.

Funny story. My 14 yr old came down when I started working on removing the jaw. Being a 14 yr old boy, I assumed the smell was coming from his mouth and yelled at him to go brush his teeth..JEEZ! Felt bad after that.

Just curious but it appears your Parker swivel jaw is missing the cross pin on the swivel jaw. I think it keeps the swivel jaw from lifting up? Any way it looks great nice and straight with little wear or abuse.


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[Outlawmws]

Do you think this line will finally convince one's bride that there is a method to madness of hoarding vises?

Nope!

 

[gman007]

When all that's left is Chinese iron.


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Sad part is that this might not be far from the truth!

 

[Imazagi]

Any idea what this is?
The anvil horn and covered spindle makes me think Craftsman. The seller says he sees no maker's mark. I'm in Europe.

 

[gman007]

I saw this AD, $175 for what appears to be Parker 206 (5") and American Red Seal 64 (4"). It also stated one needs a handle. Not a problem for me, can easily have one made. Not the best deal in the world but pretty reasonable. I am partial to Parkers have three Parkers (204,974,955) and would love to have a 206.

Then I see the second photo one needs a handle, right what about missing most of the slide?

 

[z1kzonly]

Hi, Thanks. I have never seen one either. I am thinking the PAT'D means "Patented"??

 

[z1kzonly]

That's a pretty rare pipe vise. I found a catalog scan from 1905.

Thank You so very much!! I never had the patience to search more than I have. I better find some old flat, square head bolts & nuts.

 

[Maui]

gman, the Parker 206 also appears to be missing the pin that should engage in the swivel base to rotate it (this pin is missing in the last photo). I would pull the swivel base off and look inside. You may find that even more of the internal parts are missing. To me the Parker is a parts vise at this point.

 

[gman007]

gman, the Parker 206 also appears to be missing the pin that should engage in the swivel base to rotate it (this pin is missing in the last photo). I would pull the swivel base off and look inside. You may find that even more of the internal parts are missing. To me the Parker is a parts vise at this point.

Maui
After I saw the busted slide, I did not even pay attention what else is wrong with the vise. That was big enough reason for me for a pass on this one.

 

[davethorik]

Any idea what this is?
The anvil horn and covered spindle makes me think Craftsman. The seller says he sees no maker's mark.

Looks like a China special to me.

 

[Maui]

gman, I agree. I would have passed on them too.

 

[rusty65]

I saw this AD, $175 for what appears to be Parker 206 (5") and American Red Seal 64 (4"). It also stated one needs a handle. Not a problem for me, can easily have one made. Not the best deal in the world but pretty reasonable. I am partial to Parkers have three Parkers (204,974,955) and would love to have a 206.

Then I see the second photo one needs a handle, right what about missing most of the slide?

Those are also listed on eBay for a dollar bid and I don’t even think the Parker is worth 50 cents unless you scrapped it I guess. Seriously though maybe some parts are good but heavily rusted and probably pitted maybe the red seal would be worth 50 cents a pound but that’s all I’m giving them.


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[Gerard]

Spotted a vise on eBay that has me really intrigued. It's marked as a Columbian 604 which is a standard 4" Columbian model... except this one looks absolutely nothing like a typical Columbian and instead looks more like a Parker 974 but without the special Parker jaws and collar. Never seen anything like this. Does anyone have an explanation or any evidence of this in a catalog?

No affiliation with the seller but here's the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Columbian-604-Bench-Vise-/163132001474

 

[Fierljeppen]

Spotted a vise on eBay that has me really intrigued. It's marked as a Columbian 604 which is a standard 4" Columbian model... except this one looks absolutely nothing like a typical Columbian and instead looks more like a Parker 974 but without the special Parker jaws and collar. Never seen anything like this. Does anyone have an explanation or any evidence of this in a catalog?

No affiliation with the seller but here's the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Columbian-604-Bench-Vise-/163132001474

That's a 1st generation Columbian, probably pre-1915. I found a 1918 ad of a 2nd gen Columbian for comparison. 3rd gen was the "T" style jaws around 1925.

That's one of the oldest Columbian vises I've seen.

 

[Gerard]

That's a 1st generation Columbian, probably pre-1915. I found a 1918 ad of a 2nd gen Columbian for comparison. 3rd gen was the "T" style jaws around 1925.

That's one of the oldest Columbian vises I've seen.

That's

Awesome. Thanks for the info. On closer look there are some more subtle differences from Parker styling, but at first glance it sure looked like one to me. They really developed a totally different, uniquely Columbian style later on.

I also had no idea they were "malleable iron" all the way back then. I thought that was a much later development.

 

[davethorik]

Awesome. Thanks for the info. On closer look there are some more subtle differences from Parker styling, but at first glance it sure looked like one to me. They really developed a totally different, uniquely Columbian style later on.

I also had no idea they were "malleable iron" all the way back then. I thought that was a much later development.

I've never seen one either, which is strange bc easily 60-70% of used vises in my area are Columbians.

Another interesting Columbian that *was* made by another mfr are the early swivel jaw models, which were made by Prentiss and labeled Columbian. I've only seen one. Easily spotted by lettering on the side of the dynamic jaw, instead of the vise body itself like most other vises.

At some point, Columbian figured out how to make them themselves.

 

[justin.d.richards.9]

Found this browsing around local ads. It's got a hefty price tag attached.. Listed as 6" jaws and 18" opening. Any idea what this is worth in its current condition?




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[TTLLOGIC]

Columbian 403 1/2 $10

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