The VISES of Garage Journal

[gman007]

Color me jealous! All of the coachmaker's over the last few days are awesome. I really want one (and I promise to only use it for its intended purpose!)[emoji16]

I've been a bit bummed lately because its been teetering around 120 degrees here which means it's even hotter in my garage. I can't even stand to be out there for a minute or two but I've got vises calling my name. I've got 3 done just awaiting paint or final finish and 3 more I haven't even started started yet. Funny how in so much of the country this is a great time of year to be outside. I'm not complaining though. 4 months of sweltering and 8 months of awesome sure beats ice and snow and everything that goes along with winter.

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Chris It never ceases to amaze me how there seems to be a grand conspiracy in life where if you are not looking for something and you are not even interested when you see it, it literally falls into ones lap but one misses the opportunity. But then one gets interested and opportunity never arises again.

When initially I got interested in old American vises (and before I joined GJ) I had several great opportunities to buy top shelf filers and coachmakers at dirt cheap prices but I was not the least interested as I honestly did not have a clue as to their utility and function ( I remember thinking why on earth someone would make the jaws so tall and slender? These jaws are week and this is one lousy bench vise design!). But alas since I have wised up, I have not seen even one around here!

I am telling you it is a grand conspiracy

As for the weather well you could live in Michigan where we have 10 month of winter followed by two month of bad weather
But then again we have no hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, earthquakes, forest fires, Mudslides, floods etc. Actually now that I think about it, cold and blizzard does not sound so bad after all!

 

[Jaydb07]

Ok I see the problem with posting in two places. Following is my final offense. Final assembly of refurbished Morgan 380 6”.


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[Shiftless]

Here is my newest find. Isn’t even out of the car yet.
(I went through the entire months of June and July without buying a single vise.)
(Of course in May I brought home 13)

What vintage say ye Reed experts??

It has a flat nose, cast in jaws, and the screw adjustment for slack in back of the nut. Does the “patent pending” mark correlate to a specific date range?

 

[Jaydb07]

Here is my newest find. Isn’t even out of the car yet.
(I went through the entire months of June and July without buying a single vise.)
(Of course in May I brought home 13)

What vintage say ye Reed experts??

It has a flat nose, cast in jaws, and the screw adjustment for slack in back of the nut. Does the “patent pending” mark correlate to a specific date range?

Epic


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[gman007]

Here is my newest find. Isn’t even out of the car yet.
(I went through the entire months of June and July without buying a single vise.)
(Of course in May I brought home 13)

What vintage say ye Reed experts??

It has a flat nose, cast in jaws, and the screw adjustment for slack in back of the nut. Does the “patent pending” mark correlate to a specific date range?

Shift Does it also have the split collar?

I am no Reed expert but If memory serves me right Somtime back Outlaw stated his notes on Reed R series (flat nose, split collar, oil hole) show that they were first produced in 1942. Now the newer C series with the same features as R series were probable started being manufactured around the same date. Now assuming that this being a patent pending it must be one of the first, my guess would be early 40s.

BTW very nice score

 

[va.grouseman]

Gman, it seems that only in the last decade has anyone shown any interest in vises as a valued tool.---There were a relative few people collecting vises 20, 30, to 40 years back, and they only collected because a vise was an item that just happened to strike their fancy, kind of like some people that collected hub caps, hood ornaments, riding spurs, smoking pipes, cork extractors, political pins, license plates, etc., etc..---And how would a person find himself collecting a bunch of odd items like those?---Not that any of those things had any value at the time, you just somehow found yourself with several, and the collecting bug took over.---Then 40 years later, all of a sudden a value is assigned to the items you've collected, and you find yourself setting pretty.---Look at all those old collectors on American Pickers.---The same could be said for old vise collectors..---A lot of the long time collectors will tell you they got the bulk of their units for cheap and some for free.---Most of them were saving vises from the scrap yard, pulling them down off of a pickup load of scrap iron where an 8'' monster might bring a buck fifty scrap price.---Gone are the days.---Yea, the conspiracy theory is easier to accept.

 

[gman007]

VA As usual you are 100% corrrect on all the points. And like you said this is true for many items. I find it comical when I watch some of the older YouTube clips on anvils where they talk about $1/lb for brand name anvils. And now if you find a decent one the rate is around $10/lb

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Here is my newest find. Isn’t even out of the car yet.
(I went through the entire months of June and July without buying a single vise.)
(Of course in May I brought home 13)

What vintage say ye Reed experts??

It has a flat nose, cast in jaws, and the screw adjustment for slack in back of the nut. Does the “patent pending” mark correlate to a specific date range?

Purdy! And that vise ain't bad either. Love me some Anchor Steam AND Reed vises! Nice find Shiftless!

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks Jay,07, 007 and Tex

I drank that cold Anchor Steam right after the picture shoot. I lucked out with that 3C. When I took it apart for cleaning, I noticed that the original machining swirls were still present on the slide... even on the bottom of the slide. That vise didn’t see much use. The jaws are not very worn at all.

007:
Yes, it has the split nut in front. Here is a close up. This is my first experience with the split nut. I loosened the set screw and backed the split nut out a bit to squirt in some lube. After a few turns of the handle, the oil soaked in and everything was smooth. I then adjusted the nut for easy spinning but minimum free play. That is a nice feature, as far as I know, unique to some Reeds of that era.
I haven’t gotten around to cleaning the dirt and grease from the back end adjuster screw.

I would put this vise squarely in the category of neglected but not abused.

 

[jonshonda]

The day I brought my first Wilton home.

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Took it apart for cleaning

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/154822526@N03/42954574764/in/dateposted-public/" title="20180727_073932[1]"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/42954574764_d0b17da748_c.jpg" width="800" height="519" alt="20180727_073932[1]"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

All painted Verde Green from Menards

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[SGHinds]

SG - My Prentiss 26 - paid a bit more than you - but it is great shape! Is the pin original and can you get a pic of it?

I am not sure if the pin is original or not. The 2 gentlemen I got it from didn't have a clue it was even in the garage. They did throw in another small vise that was covered in fine rust. I cleaned it up last night hoping to find another small score only to read "made in Taiwan" stamped on the bottom.

I'll get some photos of the pin tonight.

 

[The real Cletus]

Ok, so last October I posted pictures of a Record vice I was restoring, and i was asked about dis-assembly pictures.

I didn't have any, and I've only just got back to it, so here are some re-assembly pics, and we know what the Haynes manual says

Pic 1: Parts laid out

Pic 2: slide moveable jaw into fixed jaw

Pic 3: Push about half closed

Pic 4: take the nut and...

Pic 5:...place it inside the back end of the screw cover (vise should be turned upside down).
Make sure its oriented correctly, wityh the forward end of th nut towards the jaw

Pic 6: Align the nut in the dovetail

Pic 7: Tap the bigger of the retaining pins into the hole in the base just behind the nut. This
should line up in the body behind the nut, pressing the nut up against an internal lip
and keeping it secure

 

[The real Cletus]

Pic 8: Pull the moving jaw back out
Pic 9: Take the spring and retaining washer
Pic 10: Slide the screw in just enough so you can fit the spring and washer over the end
Pic 11: Run the screw into the nut until it takes
Pic 12: Take the smaller retaining pin and tap it into the hole in the screw, ensuring that it is
behind the washer
Pic 13:Now is the time when you wish you had three hands. You must compress the spring
with the washer enough that the hole on the other side is clear, then tap the pin
through so that it extends both sides of the hole.
Pic 14: Reattach the jaws

 

[The real Cletus]

Pic 14: Grease up the screw and nut with some Holts blue goodness, or your own favourite
libation.
Pic 15: Display proudly beside your everyday working vice

 

[gman007]

The day I brought my first Wilton home.

All painted Verde Green from Menards

Jon Turned out nice! Great Job

 

[jonshonda]

Jon Turned out nice! Great Job

Thanks!

It's going to be a user, so I didn't bother with too much attention to repairing dents or dings, or making it a show piece.

 

[Jaydb07]

Thanks!



It's going to be a user, so I didn't bother with too much attention to repairing dents or dings, or making it a show piece.

Pretty sure I have the same vise and the same new paint can waiting for their turn on the restore bench [emoji1303][emoji373]


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[gman007]

Pic 14: Grease up the screw and nut with some Holts blue goodness, or your own favourite
libation.
Pic 15: Display proudly beside your everyday working vise

TRC Thank you for all the detailed steps, it is very informative and nice job on the Record.

It looks like you are a Record guy, are you by any chance from UK or Canada? You night want to update your profile and include your geographic location.

 

[gman007]

Here is a A question for the snap-on (Wilton) vise experts! Yes it is about ever pesky price.

Keep in mind that this vise belongs to sister of a good friend. She is a widow. The vise belonged to her husband. And she could use the money. So I am not trying to score a great deal but a REAL fair price. Her brother asked her to send a photo and that is what she texted him. If the price is out of my range at least I want to give her the right advice on how much to sell it for.


Thanks much

 

[The real Cletus]

From Ireland, gman, so Records are the most plentiful vice this side of the ocean. All of mine actually came from the old metal work room in the school I teach in, to be replaced by new Irwin Records. Quality isn't a tenth of what they got rid of

 

[TTLLOGIC]

Here is a A question for the snap-on (Wilton) vise experts! Yes it is about ever pesky price.



Keep in mind that this vise belongs to sister of a friend. She is a widow. The vise belonged to her husband. And she could use the money. So I am not trying to score a great deal but a REAL fair price. Her brother asked her to send a photo and that is what she texted him. If the price is out of my range at least I want to give her the right advice on how much to sell it for.





Thanks much

$50 is all I'd spend on that. It's seen plenty of Torch'er.




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[The real Cletus]

Here is a A question for the snap-on (Wilton) vise experts! Yes it is about ever pesky price.

Keep in mind that this vise belongs to sister of a friend. She is a widow. The vise belonged to her husband. And she could use the money. So I am not trying to score a great deal but a REAL fair price. Her brother asked her to send a photo and that is what she texted him. If the price is out of my range at least I want to give her the right advice on how much to sell it for.


Thanks much

http://www.armslist.com/posts/51107...oma-misc-for-sale--snap--on-wilton-bench-vise

Here's a restored one, owner is looking for $325. You'll always pay a premium for having that badge, I suppose. Does the snap on life time warranty extend to vices?

 

[Outlawmws]

Gman, What size is that vise? (cause Size matters)

 

[gman007]

Gman, What size is that vise? (cause Size matters)

Outlaw In fact I did ask my friend for the size when I got the photo, he did not know it but he said he is going to go to her house tonight and have a look and provide more info (jaw size and model etc). Per vise spreadsheet there are only the following snap-on models

1745 4.5"
1750 5"
1760 6"
1765 6.5"

From what my friend told me about the rough size I am inclined to think at best this is 4.5" but I will find out for sure.

PS
Loosk like there is also 1740 4" model as well. So again this one might be a 1740.

 

[gman007]

TTLLOGIC and TRC
Gents,
Thank you for the prompt respone and info.

 

[TTLLOGIC]

TTLLOGIC and TRC
Gents,
Thank you for the prompt respone and info.

I bought this one brand new on Craigslist for $150 a few years ago.

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[Shiftless]

007
Here’s an idea...

If you are in a comfortable financial situation, perhaps this is a way to give her some extra money without it seeming like charity. Sounds like she can use it.

To me, an even hundred would be generous considering the condition of that vise. More if you want to for the above reason.

 

[gman007]

Cletus:
Here’s an idea...

If you are in a comfortable financial situation, perhaps this is a way to give her some extra money without it seeming like charity. Sounds like she can use it.

To me, an even hundred would be generous considering the condition of that vise. More if you want to for the above reason.

Shift It was I who asked the question

Thank you for the great advice. And I agree with you. I was thinking something around $100-150 but if it is worth more than that, then I do not want to short change her.

 

[Shiftless]

Sorry 007
I edited my previous post.

IMHO, you are not short changing her with those numbers.
In the off chance somebody visits your shop looking for a half burned up Wilton tradesman vise with a snap on label and offers you a big wad of cash, you can send more to her.

Personally, if it was at a garage sale on my block, I wouldn’t pay much over $50

 

[jonshonda]

In the couple years I have been looking locally for Wilton Vises, they very rarely pop up and when they do they are usually asking close to $200. I just paid $100 for my 1750, and although it wasn't a great deal they just don't come around every day.

 

[ptgarcia]

Out here I'm sure that would be list at $200+ and a quick sale at $100.

 

[Outlawmws]

I suspect those "burns" are simply black overspray. (based on other black overspray elsewhere in the pic) I would also suspect that it should clean up pretty easily.

Also wanting to point out that Gman asked for a fair price to both his friend's widowed sister, and himself. and we are all to often here, looking for the Usuck deals. A fair price to both won't be a bragging rights deal, or even "what I would pay"

 

[TTLLOGIC]

I suspect those "burns" are simply black overspray. (based on other black overspray elsewhere in the pic) I would also suspect that it should clean up pretty easily.



Also wanting to point out that Gman asked for a fair price to both his friend's widowed sister, and himself. and we are all to often here, looking for the Usuck deals. A fair price to both won't be a bragging rights deal, or even "what I would pay"

Hard to say for sure, but the inconsistency in the coloring leads me to believe that its burnt from torch work. I think the black paint mark the vise happens to be now sitting on is merely coincidence.

With that being said and feelings aside, $50 for a torched up rebranded tradesman is far from a "you **** price" and IMO very fair. Whether or not you want to pay extra for the loss of a loved one factor is up to them and is certainly not the question I was answering.


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[rusty65]

Honestly I think you guys are going crazy on the the torch marks thing it’s a vise if you want nice paint repaint it and clear coat it. The vise would be a 250 dollar vise with fresh paint. so in my opinion 150-175 isn’t crazy at all fair market price in the current condition imo.


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[TTLLOGIC]

Honestly I think you guys are going crazy on the the torch marks thing it’s a vise if you want nice paint repaint it and clear coat it. The vise would be a 250 dollar vise with fresh paint. so in my opinion 150-175 isn’t crazy at all fair market price in the current condition imo.


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Crazy till you've seen a few that split in half right at the edge of the heat affected area after some good torch heat abuse. Clean it up sure you can find the right person to buy it for more than it's worth. But as it sits, the story of what kind of life it's had has been told. No amount of paint and polish would make me want to pay an extraordinary amount of money for it.


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[Fierljeppen]

Took a little bit of time today to start working on my Prentiss no. 456. Today was focused just on the slide, as I got a tight spot about 1/2 way when putting back together. Cleaning screw and nut yielded no results, filing slide next step.

It looks like the slide of this vise was used as an anvil more than actual vise usage, so there was a fair bit of mushrooming about 6" front the end. However there is a spot on all 3 sides where metal not oxidized, about where the vise body would be with vise closed. So, i think this sat somewhere for a while without being used.

Acetone, rag, scraper, stiff wire brush, and a new Hecho en Mexico Nicholson file made quick work of the job.

Look at the bottom of the slide. Is that typical? It appears to be hand-scraped/flaked flat, like on a precision machine.

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Here's a 1948 Prentiss catalog scan that you requested. I can't recall ever seeing a Prentiss 456 Meriden made one before.

 

[davethorik]

Here's a 1948 Prentiss catalog scan that you requested. I can't recall ever seeing a Prentiss 456 Meriden made one before.

Thank you! Yes it appears there arent many by the lack of examples. I'm surprised I found a vise that has not appeared yet in this thread!

 

[Gerard]

Here's a 1948 Prentiss catalog scan that you requested. I can't recall ever seeing a Prentiss 456 Meriden made one before.

Is there a scan of that whole catalog somewhere? That's the first scanned page I've ever seen from a Meriden-era Prentiss catalog.

 

[KMScott]

Fierljeppen, you are the best. All your catalog pages are sure handy. Thanks for sharing.

 

[trijeff]

Fierljeppen, you are the best. All your catalog pages are sure handy. Thanks for sharing.

^^^^ THIS

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