The VISES of Garage Journal

[Fierljeppen]

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.

I don't know of any public domain scans of that catalog out there. It's a very small catalog, -6- vises I believe. I'll be dropping another scan from the catalog on trijeff's posting of his Prentiss no. 98 vise on the Vise Info Thread soon.

I'm hoping other catalog owners will continue to provide meaningful scans at the appropriate time.

 

[jrobb316]

So what year did Parker buy Prentiss? It was obviously earlier than the 1950 date I thought was true.

 

[justin.d.richards.9]

Well this has been sitting in the garage for a few months now. Friend of mine had a transmission shop I worked at some years back that was closing down and just gave it to me. Haven't even looked into it until tonight. Good ol NAPA BALKAMP vise. Minus the missing jaw and the welded other everything is here and working fine. Even had the stamp on it when I tore it down. It's completely torn apart right now and getting cleaned up. Everything came apart by hand no penetrating oil needed. Hell for a free little vise I'm not complaining really.










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[oneoldboot]

Just finished these two up. The Chief was missing the base and base screw. I used parts from a Littco #112 to complete it. I really enjoy working on pipe vises.

 

[The real Cletus]

Nice job oneoldboot, especially on the lettering. What way did you go about it

 

[kaje36]

Here is one of My Vises. I recently got it in a going out of business sale for cheap. it just needed a bit of Love, and I think it came out great!

Here is the tear down.

And what you wall want to see, The rebuild!

I ended up coating it in Raptor bedliner, so it can really take some abuse!.

 

[davethorik]

So what year did Parker buy Prentiss? It was obviously earlier than the 1950 date I thought was true.

From what I can tell, it was 1948. But this is just googling- there isn't much out there on the Parker/Prentiss connection. I just got the 456 and there is literally no info online on it. Thanks again to Fierljeppen for being the man with the scans lol

 

[FMC1959]

Here is one of My Vises. I recently got it in a going out of business sale for cheap. it just needed a bit of Love, and I think it came out great!

Here is the tear down.

And what you wall want to see, The rebuild!

I ended up coating it in Raptor bedliner, so it can really take some abuse!.

Great job on the vise and excellent video.....are you in the business? Your video has all the info, with perfect speed ups at the right time. Makes the video enjoyable to watch

Well this has been sitting in the garage for a few months now. Friend of mine had a transmission shop I worked at some years back that was closing down and just gave it to me. Haven't even looked into it until tonight. Good ol NAPA BALKAMP vise. Minus the missing jaw and the welded other everything is here and working fine. Even had the stamp on it when I tore it down. It's completely torn apart right now and getting cleaned up. Everything came apart by hand no penetrating oil needed. Hell for a free little vise I'm not complaining really.



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Looks like a Wilton, pretty sure it is a Wilton Mechanic's vise OEM'd for NAPA. Hard to beat free

Just finished these two up. The Chief was missing the base and base screw. I used parts from a Littco #112 to complete it. I really enjoy working on pipe vises.

Nice little vise, and nice restoration

I don't know of any public domain scans of that catalog out there. It's a very small catalog, -6- vises I believe. I'll be dropping another scan from the catalog on trijeff's posting of his Prentiss no. 98 vise on the Vise Info Thread soon.

I'm hoping other catalog owners will continue to provide meaningful scans at the appropriate time.

Are you related to B100 (Fred)? Plenty of knowledgeable people on this thread, but B100 was one of the tops in old vise knowledge and impressive collection of vise brochure pages, like nobody else. That is until you came along FJ.

Great knowledge, brochures, and contribution you make to this thread

 

[454ragtop]

Gman, regarding the Snap On/Wilton value, if I had it I wouldn't sell it for less than $150, and suspect it would sell pretty quick at that price. Doesn't mean some haven't scored one cheaper, hell I recently bought one cheaper myself, but I think that's a pretty fair price for the buyer and the seller.

 

[scooternut]

Just wanted to show this Wilton 745 main screw that I just cleaned up.





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[Elsinore13]

Todays score. Paid a bit too much, but I have a work bench coming together that I want a big vise on.

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a beaut!
Doesn’t look like it has been misused. No major visible hammer marks on the tail to the tops of the jaw towers.
Should clean up really nice. Nice score!

 

[kwoswalt99]

Just wanted to show this Wilton 745 main screw that I just cleaned up.





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Where did you get that?

 

[AngryBeaver]

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.

I've had about 10 of these over the last year. I've paid anywhere from 100-200 each. I sell the 1750's for 250-300. the 1755's are newer and will bring more. last one I redid and sold to my snap on guy for his home garage. all of these were snap ons to start with, with the exception of one 1750 I redid in snap on Extreme green for myself, and obviously the wilton 1780.

It looks like a 1750 to me. the 1750 is about the size of a normal 400. the 1760 is about the same psychical size as the 450. (abeit) the jaw width.

it is not a 1760. 1760's bring about the same 250-275 cleaned up. the 1765 is the newer one. those can bring 350-400. I bought a almost new 1760 snap on in mint shape for 200. all the others have been badly abused.

if you get it for yourself, get a pair of Kevins jaws. the factory tradesman jaws are powdered steel (not tool steel like the machinist vises). they are brittle and break easy.

they look like torch marks to me also. that isn't a big deal. it burned paint. Almost any working vise will have those as some point. I highly doubt they sat there torching the jaws.... if you are buying it for you, 150-200 is a fair price. anything less it cheap. they routinely bring 250-350 in that condition on ebay.

1755 vs 1760. the 1760 is bigger than the pic makes it look.

wilton 300 is the orange one for size reference.

 

[gman007]

454 and AngryBeaver
Gents
Thank you both for the great info and advice.

 

[va.grouseman]

Elsinore, that's all the vise you will ever need.---One can afford to pay a little extra for a vise he/she plans to keep and use.---With speculating, you have to monitor your overhead and the bottom line a little closer.---Very nice score.

 

[gman007]

Elsinore, that's all the vise you will ever need.---One can afford to pay a little extra for a vise he/she plans to keep and use.---With speculating, you have to monitor your overhead and the bottom line a little closer.---Very nice score.

VA I have to come to always respect your sage advice and comments but this time I am not so sure .

I mean in real world, the statement "that's all the vise you will ever need" for most people is 100% accurate BUT at GJ a man can not live on "tool needs" alone! He also has "tool wants" and in case of tools and in particular vises, as we (GJ members) all know it takes a lot more (and I mean a lot) than one vise to satisfy a man's wants.

And what is wrong with you today, anyway? The poor guy is getting hooked on vises and you are trying sensibly to set him straight! I am shocked and offened

PS
Seriously I am hoping that you are not affected by the recent flash floods in anyway.

PS PS
Plus you have heavy metal protection! God forbid if there was ever flooding in your area, while your neighbors' buildings might float away, yours will be anchored to the ground due to weight of all the vises. See if you had only one vise then you too would be in the same predicament as your neighbors and you say he only needs one vise!!

 

[jrobb316]

From what I can tell, it was 1948. But this is just googling- there isn't much out there on the Parker/Prentiss connection. I just got the 456 and there is literally no info online on it. Thanks again to Fierljeppen for being the man with the scans lol

I think most prentiss vises are older than we realize. Ive done a bit of research on it, and from what I can tell the ones with just the model on the back of the jaw are oldest, 1880s-1900. The script writing seem to be 1900-1910/1920. The semi circle are 1920-1930. I think around 1930 they changed the number system to the 52X/51X. And that stayed until 1948? when parker bought them, changed it again and put meridian CT on the side. I believe the bull dog was introduced in 1886 from an old patent out there I can't find right now, and those vises with the big brass badges may have been a 50th anniversary thing, circa mid 1930s, but thats pure speculation.

 

[oneoldboot]

Nice job oneoldboot, especially on the lettering. What way did you go about it

The krylon short cuts paint pen. Overall, it works well. It some times comes out in a puddle. I find them at ACE hardware.

 

[akasrick]

I think most prentiss vises are older than we realize. Ive done a bit of research on it, and from what I can tell the ones with just the model on the back of the jaw are oldest, 1880s-1900. The script writing seem to be 1900-1910/1920. The semi circle are 1920-1930. I think around 1930 they changed the number system to the 52X/51X. And that stayed until 1948? when parker bought them, changed it again and put meridian CT on the side. I believe the bull dog was introduced in 1886 from an old patent out there I can't find right now, and those vises with the big brass badges may have been a 50th anniversary thing, circa mid 1930s, but thats pure speculation.

This is what Prentiss was selling in 1886. hth

akasrick

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: Prentiss vise company started in the late 1850's if I recall correctly and sorry i don't recall where the thread or catalog pages are that mention more details.

i did just Google and found this 1924 Popular Mechanics page that says Prentiss has been making vises for 68 years which puts it in the range I was thinking.

https://books.google.com/books?id=O...tiss vise company start selling vises&f=false

Scooter: you posted a side pic of a 408 that looks too small to be a big Reed 408 so do tell what vise that might be?

Elsinore: the Reed 205 is about all the vise most of us will ever need, but you are posting on the vise thread where a few of us have maybe a bigger vise to use or several. i'd wipe yours down and put on a coat or two of BLO (dispose of rags either in a metal can with a lid or hang to air dry cause they can self combust and have burnt down many a guy's shop) with some new grease and it's good to use for another 50 years.

Fierljeppen: I also really appreciate all your posts with great information and catalog pics.

ALL: I found another Reed 4c in the wild that needed a new home and it's headed to my woodshop on the stand it came with. i'll wipe it down and put some BLO on it and put some new grease on the main screw and a little on the slide and swivel where there is metal to metal contact.

 

[gman007]

ALL: I found another Reed 4c in the wild that needed a new home and it's headed to my woodshop on the stand it came with. i'll wipe it down and put some BLO on it and put some new grease on the main screw and a little on the slide and swivel where there is metal to metal contact.

Drives Very nice score both on the majestic Reed 4c and the nice stand to go with it.

And since you have two 4C now, I want to remind you of

Luke 3:11
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

In the Reed 4C vise world, the "him that hath none" refers to me

 

[Shiftless]

Drives:
Nice score on the 4C
With age comes wisdom and I hope that you are wise enough to not hurt yourself picking up awkward and heavy items. And to dress appropriately for the job at hand.
In the movie, Harry Callahan said “A man’s GOT to know his limitations”

007
To paraphrase...
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s vise”

I used to have a somewhat ratty 4C but I sold it. I recently obtained a much nicer 3C
They’re out there...you just have to keep your eyes open and a few extra dollars in your vise fund.

 

[Elsinore13]

Elsinore, that's all the vise you will ever need.---One can afford to pay a little extra for a vise he/she plans to keep and use.---With speculating, you have to monitor your overhead and the bottom line a little closer.---Very nice score.

I used to own a old dirt bike. Now I own “about” 40 of them. I used to own a gun, now I .... Why would vises be any different?

About the only thing this vise will do is slow down my horniness for smaller vises.

 

[dutchgray]

This was a bit expensive for what it is but they are not common and I have never seen such a nice example.
View media item 85583View media item 85584View media item 85585View media item 85581View media item 85582Nice little 2 Wilson.

 

[gman007]

I used to have a somewhat ratty 4C but I sold it. I recently obtained a much nicer 3C
They’re out there...you just have to keep your eyes open and a few extra dollars in your vise fund.

Shift I think I remember your 4C, was that the one with funky welded base?

In all honestly I have never seen a 4C or even 2C, 3C around here. I know My friend's son managed to score a nice 1C few month back and that was again the first one I had seen around here.

I am however drooling over a Yost 34C that is for sale but if I was to spend that kind of money on a vise, I would need to be ready to spend a lot more on a top notch divorce lawyer

 

[gman007]

This was a bit expensive for what it is but they are not common and I have never seen such a nice example.

Nice little 2 Wilson.

Dutch Very nice and congrats

I can pretend to be vise sophisticated and knowledgeable and say yes I course I know what this vise is and what it is used for but that would be far from the truth. In all honestly I did not even know such a vise existed. Thanks for posting it.

I can see from the diagram at least one example of its utlity. Also from the actual photo, it seems the static jaw can rotated and the different groves on the static jaw can might be used to hold different size pieces, is this correct?

 

[rusty65]

I think most prentiss vises are older than we realize. Ive done a bit of research on it, and from what I can tell the ones with just the model on the back of the jaw are oldest, 1880s-1900. The script writing seem to be 1900-1910/1920. The semi circle are 1920-1930. I think around 1930 they changed the number system to the 52X/51X. And that stayed until 1948? when parker bought them, changed it again and put meridian CT on the side. I believe the bull dog was introduced in 1886 from an old patent out there I can't find right now, and those vises with the big brass badges may have been a 50th anniversary thing, circa mid 1930s, but thats pure speculation.

To add to your comment any Prentiss with cast in jaws should be pre 1911 when they patent the removal jaws on there vise. So any vise with removal jaws is after 1911. And a I believe they switched from the round swivel base pull up knob around 1925 to the lever style and I think the graffiti lettering style stopped around 1930 and then switched to the script style and then to the 5xx series around 1938 around ww2 era.


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[AngryBeaver]

Shift I think I remember your 4C, was that the one with funky welded base?

In all honestly I have never seen a 4C or even 2C, 3C around here. I know My friend's son managed to score a nice 1C few month back and that was again the first one I had seen around here.

I am however drooling over a Yost 34C that is for sale but if I was to spend that kind of money on a vise, I would need to be ready to spend a lot more on a top notch divorce lawyer

Thats the first newer style Yost with the "anvil" area that I've seen that doesnt say Michigan...

I have an old style 34C that just says USA also... can't find much info on it on the age, other than i don't think it was ever used. I have it priced high so if it sells, cool. if not i'll keep it. its amazing smooth for such a large vise. makes a Wilton C3 look small.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for posting jrobb and rusty I will save your info to my files.
I have a couple of Prentiss vises but I’m still looking for a graffiti style lettering model.

007:
Yes, that’s the one. Home made “hell for stout” welded up base made of 3/8 inch plate steel. I sold it to a guy who ran a custom diesel exhaust shop. He has several employees who I suppose aren’t always gentle with their vises. He had been looking specifically for a Reed 4C after seeing lesser vises fail in his shop. He didn’t need a swivel. Bingo!

 

[dutchgray]

Dutch Very nice and congrats

I can pretend to be vise sophisticated and knowledgeable and say yes I course I know what this vise is and what it is used for but that would be far from the truth. In all honestly I did not even know such a vise existed. Thanks for posting it.

I can see from the diagram at least one example of its utlity. Also from the actual photo, it seems the static jaw can rotated and the different groves on the static jaw can might be used to hold different size pieces, is this correct?

I actually have 3 of these now, but the others are larger and one is a different version.
The static does rotate, the little lever at the back locks it in the straight position.
It has a built in soft jaw which covers the serrations on the dynamic, but will pivot out the way when you don't want it.
The price on the sheet is 50 shillings (600 pence) which means its pre decimalisation (I think 1973) but I would say 1950's myself, its equivalent to £2.50 in modern money I think.
Its for precision holding of small odd shapes for hand work.

 

[kaje36]

Great job on the vise and excellent video.....are you in the business? Your video has all the info, with perfect speed ups at the right time. Makes the video enjoyable to watch

Nope, not at all, Learning every video I make, watch my first video at your own risk, But I enjoy it and want to make a lot more!

 

[Qualitytools]

Members, I have the opportunity to get a couple of vises (shown here) however, I am not sure what they are worth. They appear to have little wear on them so I wanted to hear from those experts in Vises on their worth, quality and anything else you can tell me about them please. Thanks!

 

[gman007]

QT Pricing vises is always tricky as there is no set standard or market short of possibly going by eBay prices as some kind of standard.

In any case the Morgan is definitely a quality vise and it is a machinist vise. While the CM is a lower quality mechanics/workshop vise. The Morgan 35 is a 3.5” stationary base (swivel base vises usually are worth more) and on eBay, one in good shape might sell for say $100-125. Personally I would not pay more than $50-60 (but that is just me, some might be willing to pay more and some will pay less)

The CT 5180 swivel base workshop vise also has 3.5” jaws and if I was to get one I would not pay more than $20-25 for it.

If you had to get only one of these vises I would recommend the Morgan.

 

[Qualitytools]

gman007, Thanks for the prompt reply! Much appreciate your input, any idea how old they are? Thanks again

 

[gman007]

gman007, Thanks for the prompt reply! Much appreciate your input, any idea how old they are? Thanks again

QT I am by no strech if imagination a vise historian or expert! But I think the CT 518x were manufactured starting around 1960 initially by Columbian and later on in Japan.

As for Morgan, well that is where it shows I am a bad vise student as I did not pay attention in this classroom when real vise experts were discussing Morgans. I think I remember something like where they were manufactured (Chicago vs Milwaukee and Chicago Morgans are older) puts a date range on the manufacturing date but that is where the extent of my recollection ends. I am sure some of the real vise historians and experts will set both of us straight and this time I will try to pay attention to the teacher

 

[Outlawmws]

The Craftsman is late 50's + 60's IIR, and that one was made in Japan.

EDIT: At least from 1960 - at least 1973... That one is made in Japan so probably 70's or so.


The Morgan was made in Chicago era, so 1929-47.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK G-man Morgan class is in session:

Chicago '29-'47-Early were grey, later blue
Aurora '47-'70
Milwaukee '70 to present

 

[Outlawmws]

And the Craftsman Vise thread:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149519

 

[gman007]

OK G-man Morgan class is in session:

Chicago '29-'47-Early were grey, later blue
Aurora '47-'70
Milwaukee '70 to present

Outlaw Cheers!
Funny enough this being an open book test I was cheating and just managed to find the post by WWIIJeep on 3-22-2014 which has the exact same info.
My problem is I am too lazy to take notes and rely on memory and as we see that is not working too well