The VISES of Garage Journal

[joe.striper]

That's the most ornate vise I've ever seen! Could you please share whatever history you have on this vise?

It is a lightining Vise made around 1894. I have a copy of the patent and a copy of the company letterhead. 2" jaws. This is the only one anyone
has ever seen, so mega rare.

Thats everythingI know

 

[z-edition 006]

Here i have restored the old pipe vice.

 

[Fierljeppen]

It is a lightining Vise made around 1894. I have a copy of the patent and a copy of the company letterhead. 2" jaws. This is the only one anyone
has ever seen, so mega rare.

Thats everythingI know

Thanks for the information! I'll keep my eye out for another one, but won't hold my breath.

 

[Evergreentree]

Anyone have a date range in my starrett? And metal composition? I’m Sure it’s been talked about before

 

[gman007]

Here i have restored the old pipe vice.

Great job, looks fantastic!

 

[MayerMR]

Here i have restored the old pipe vice.

Great job, looks better than new. Did you ever find any old maker marks on it?

 

[z-edition 006]

Great job, looks fantastic!

Thanks.

Great job, looks better than new. Did you ever find any old maker marks on it?

Thanks. I didn't find anything. So this is still a mystery.

 

[va.grouseman]

And a grown man cried like a baby.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pr...551320?hash=item363c0a7158:g:uyMAAOSwGgdbo~FY

 

[rusty65]

Yes that little broken Prentiss is a sad site indeed. Here is my collection of the little watchmakers and jewelers vises with a couple salesman samples thrown in to complete the look I was going for.
Here is the list as follows from left to right 15 vises in total:
Salesman sample post vise with workbench
Salesman sample anvil with attachments
Prentiss swivel jaw jeweler 1 3/4 jaws
Prentiss fixed jaw swivel base jeweler 2in jaws
Nickel plated Prentiss jewelers swivel jaw 1 3/4
Phoenix vise with 1in jaws and base
Smiths heavy chilled beam vise 1 7/8 jaws
Prentiss jewelers swivel jaw 1 3/4 jaws
Rock island salesman sample 5/8 jaws
Handmade post vise with stand 1/2 jaws
Triumph German vise 2 1/4 jaws
Gemere German vise 2 3/4 jaws
Boley watchmakers vise 2in jaws
Wilton baby bullet on reypo Corp base 2in jaws
Bonney rapid transit 2 1/4in jaws
Prentiss jewelers vise 2in jaws fixed jaw swivel base
Stephens patent vise with 1 7/8 jaws


















Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[honza.vosalik]

Time to restore this Reed 204. It doesn’t really have much original finish appeal left (to me) so I’ll go ahead and paint this one. First Reed I’ve disassembled. Interesting deliberately-cracked nut holds in the main screw. Damn I like Reeds. Everything is so nicely machined and fit.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Nice vise! I hope to find a 204R or 204 1/2R at some point too...
I should have kept the 206R

 

[Burn1]

2", 2.5", No.3, No.4, and 5" in the workshop.

 

[Outlawmws]

Family shots are always cool!

 

[freudianfloyd]

Posted this in another thread but it didnt get much notice so...
I have old beat up Columbian D45 vise that needed a little love. It's not a fancy vise but it is American made. Anyway, here is what I started with...
View media item 86871
And finished to go with my growing Gulf Racing themed garage complete with it's own racing number.
View media item 86894

 

[MayerMR]

Posted this in another thread but it didnt get much notice so...
I have old beat up Columbian D45 vise that needed a little love. It's not a fancy vise but it is American made. Anyway, here is what I started with...

I redid the same vise a few months ago, but it was private labeled by Mac Tools. Good little vise, but I wish it had a better lock down system. Yours looks great, love the color scheme!

 

[freudianfloyd]

I redid the same vise a few months ago, but it labeled Mac Tools. Good little vise, but I wish it had a better lock down system. Yours looks great, love the color scheme!

Yeah, they definitely are not heavy duty but it's just a backup.

 

[MayerMR]

MayerMR -

Looks like that u-beam Athol will clean up nicely. I'm on the lookout for one like it as it's a style I haven't worked on yet. Here's a catalog entry or advertisement dated 1922 that I saved at some point if you're interested.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Thanks for the link!

I just wrapped up the restore on the little Athol 113 over this rainy weekend - she did clean up pretty nice.

After a night in the electrolysis bath and some wire brushing:

And then after some minor polishing and sanding - the pitting was just too deep to get it completely back to looking new - but after some paint and and detailing, she's ready to start her new lease on life!

 

[Jaydb07]

Thanks for the link!



I just wrapped up the restore on the little Athol over this rainy weekend - she did clean up pretty nice.



After a night in the electrolysis bath and some wire brushing:

And then after some minor polishing and sanding - the pitting was just too deep to get it completely back to looking new - but after some paint and and detailing, she's ready to start her new lease on life!

Bravo. Really well done. What paint is that?

 

[Jaydb07]

2", 2.5", No.3, No.4, and 5" in the workshop.

That’s one helluva lineup. Well done.

 

[MayerMR]

Bravo. Really well done. What paint is that?

Thanks Jay!

It's "Gloss Sage Green" paint and primer in one by Rust-Oleum. I really like it, but when I found it, it was on clearance at Home Depot for about $3/can, so I bought the rest of the cans they had on the shelf. Goes on easy, dries fast and is forgiving with runs if you get a little overzealous on a coat...whoops.

 

[Jaydb07]

Thanks Jay!



It's "Gloss Sage Green" paint and primer in one by Rust-Oleum. I really like it, but when I found it, it was on clearance at Home Depot for about $3/can, so I bought the rest of the cans they had on the shelf. Goes on easy, dries fast and is forgiving with runs if you get a little overzealous on a coat...whoops.

That’s a great color and I’ve used it for metal things in my backyard mini-orchard. Excellent product.

 

[FMC1959]

Anyone have a date range in my starrett? And metal composition? I’m Sure it’s been talked about before

My guess would be around 1910 to 1930, give or take. IIRC, those would be the years both Athol and Starrett appeared on the vises. It is not steel (forged or cast), probably a cast iron or ductile iron.

Someone else might be able to add some clarity to my guesstimates.

Posted this in another thread but it didnt get much notice so...
I have old beat up Columbian D45 vise that needed a little love. It's not a fancy vise but it is American made. Anyway, here is what I started with...
View media item 86871
And finished to go with my growing Gulf Racing themed garage complete with it's own racing number.
View media item 86894

Cool paint scheme, inspired by Gulf racing cars?
https://modular4kc.com/2011/04/22/design-friday-the-color-of-gulf-racing/

 

[AngryBeaver]

Been wanting a vise on the service truck for about 5 years now.... couldn’t see putting a high dollar one on it, so this 50 dollar c1 will work just fine. Decided not to use the swivel.
One pin, or bolt to pivot it three directions, no. Swivel bases do break. No swivel lock Dow’s to come loose.

All bolt on, all removable. Fully adjustable. “Jam” bolts welded on to ensure there is zero slop and 100% Ridgid. Harbor freight 12” receiver section drilled and tapped bolted into the existing frame/hutch assemble.

The a Combination of two adjustable hitch setups, 7” diameter 3/8 plate welded to one end of the adj hitch.

Waiting on some 5/8 Allen bolts to show up for safe security measures during normal use, then can remove it all together when I get into shadyville. Going to pick up a dry up pick jaws from nick this week since I’m in his stomping grounds.

Some bright obnoxious color to help people not run into it, either by leg or vehicle.

 

[RBarnes]

Been wanting a vise on the service truck for about 5 years now.... couldn’t see putting a high dollar one on it, so this 50 dollar c1 will work just fine. Decided not to use the swivel.
One pin, or bolt to pivot it three directions, no. Swivel bases do break. No swivel lock Dow’s to come loose.

All bolt on, all removable. Fully adjustable. “Jam” bolts welded on to ensure there is zero slop and 100% Ridgid. Harbor freight 12” receiver section drilled and tapped bolted into the existing frame/hutch assemble.

The a Combination of two adjustable hitch setups, 7” diameter 3/8 plate welded to one end of the adj hitch.

Waiting on some 5/8 Allen bolts to show up for safe security measures during normal use, then can remove it all together when I get into shadyville. Going to pick up a dry up pick jaws from nick this week since I’m in his stomping grounds.

Some bright obnoxious color to help people not run into it, either by leg or vehicle.

I really like what you have done to get a sensible, usable, vise on your service truck.

 

[gman007]

Been wanting a vise on the service truck for about 5 years now.... couldn’t see putting a high dollar one on it, so this 50 dollar c1 will work just fine. Decided not to use the swivel.
One pin, or bolt to pivot it three directions, no. Swivel bases do break. No swivel lock Dow’s to come loose.

All bolt on, all removable. Fully adjustable. “Jam” bolts welded on to ensure there is zero slop and 100% Ridgid. Harbor freight 12” receiver section drilled and tapped bolted into the existing frame/hutch assemble.

The a Combination of two adjustable hitch setups, 7” diameter 3/8 plate welded to one end of the adj hitch.

Waiting on some 5/8 Allen bolts to show up for safe security measures during normal use, then can remove it all together when I get into shadyville. Going to pick up a dry up pick jaws from nick this week since I’m in his stomping grounds.

Some bright obnoxious color to help people not run into it, either by leg or vehicle.

AB Nice job, looks good and while the color definitely makes it stand out which is a great idea, IMO it is NOT obnoxious.

 

[jonshonda]

Burn1's Wilton vise game is on FIRE!!

 

[Jaydb07]

Been wanting a vise on the service truck for about 5 years now.... couldn’t see putting a high dollar one on it, so this 50 dollar c1 will work just fine. Decided not to use the swivel.
One pin, or bolt to pivot it three directions, no. Swivel bases do break. No swivel lock Dow’s to come loose.

All bolt on, all removable. Fully adjustable. “Jam” bolts welded on to ensure there is zero slop and 100% Ridgid. Harbor freight 12” receiver section drilled and tapped bolted into the existing frame/hutch assemble.

The a Combination of two adjustable hitch setups, 7” diameter 3/8 plate welded to one end of the adj hitch.

Waiting on some 5/8 Allen bolts to show up for safe security measures during normal use, then can remove it all together when I get into shadyville. Going to pick up a dry up pick jaws from nick this week since I’m in his stomping grounds.

Some bright obnoxious color to help people not run into it, either by leg or vehicle.

A great plan and a great outcome.

 

[lis2323]

Well thought out AngryBeaver. [emoji106]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[chrisnazzy]

Anyone have a date range in my starrett? And metal composition? I’m Sure it’s been talked about before

I'm only chiming in because I think FMC said maybe 1910-1930.

I would say that is off by quite a bit. Sorry FMC. I'm certainly no expert but I believe the Starrett vise Evergreentree has here is more likely to be from the 1970's or even 80's. I have an Athol 624 that I bought from the original owner who said it was new in the late 50's to early 60's. It has some of the later features that transferred over to the new LS Starrett vises including the swivel base that is square on 2 sides and the conical ends on the handle.

I also just posted this chart dated 1975 that shows the LS Starrett model numbers as "new" compared to their corresponding former Athol vise model numbers.

Either way Evergreentree, your Starrett is a highly sought after vise and I believe many here use one as their user vise. It's a later example from an American vise manufacturer that was known for building their vises like tanks.

Chris.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[kenc184]

Oops! Posted my find in another forum here, didn't know there was a 3000 page thread on vises!

Picked up this Hollands 23-1/2H this weekend off C.L. for $75. My first decent bench vise, I have it disassembled and all looks good. Just going to clean it up and lube it. Still has the original olive drab green paint.

I assume the "H" in 23-1/2H means heavy or heavy duty rather like Stanley with their 4-1/2H plane? anyone know what the specific difference is between the 23-1/2 and the 23-1/2H? Cheers!

 

[gman007]

Oops! Posted my find in another forum here, didn't know there was a 3000 page thread on vises!

Picked up this Hollands 23-1/2H this weekend off C.L. for $75. My first decent bench vise, I have it disassembled and all looks good. Just going to clean it up and lube it. Still has the original olive drab green paint.

I assume the "H" in 23-1/2H means heavy or heavy duty rather like Stanley with their 4-1/2H plane? anyone know what the specific difference is between the 23-1/2 and the 23-1/2H? Cheers!

Ken
Nice vise for a reasonable price.

I am not sure if there ever was a 23-1/2. All the ones that I have seen have the H and it could even could stand for Hollands as well as who knows what else.

 

[kenc184]

Ken
Nice vise for a reasonable price.

I am not sure if there ever was a 23-1/2. All the ones that I have seen have the H and it could even could stand for Hollands as well as who knows what else.

Hi gman,
There definitely is, there's one for sale on my local CL right now. Here's a pic.



Unless they just started marking them differently??

 

[FMC1959]

I'm only chiming in because I think FMC said maybe 1910-1930.

I would say that is off by quite a bit. Sorry FMC. I'm certainly no expert but I believe the Starrett vise Evergreentree has here is more likely to be from the 1970's or even 80's. I have an Athol 624 that I bought from the original owner who said it was new in the late 50's to early 60's. It has some of the later features that transferred over to the new LS Starrett vises including the swivel base that is square on 2 sides and the conical ends on the handle.

I also just posted this chart dated 1975 that shows the LS Starrett model numbers as "new" compared to their corresponding former Athol vise model numbers.

Either way Evergreentree, your Starrett is a highly sought after vise and I believe many here use one as their user vise. It's a later example from an American vise manufacturer that was known for building their vises like tanks.

Chris.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Chris, you could be right as i am no expert either. My dates were based solely on the fact that Starrett & Athol both appear on the vise. I thought later models only had Starrett.

 

[MayerMR]

Oops! Posted my find in another forum here, didn't know there was a 3000 page thread on vises!

Picked up this Hollands 23-1/2H this weekend off C.L. for $75. My first decent bench vise, I have it disassembled and all looks good. Just going to clean it up and lube it. Still has the original olive drab green paint.

I assume the "H" in 23-1/2H means heavy or heavy duty rather like Stanley with their 4-1/2H plane? anyone know what the specific difference is between the 23-1/2 and the 23-1/2H? Cheers!

HA! Ken, you're the one that swooped in and offered him $75 for that one and swooped it out from under me! Nice grab

 

[kenc184]

Yikes! I didn't know there was any other interest.

Nice to know at least one other person thought it was worth having!

 

[MayerMR]

Yikes! I didn't know there was any other interest.

Nice to know at least one other person thought it was worth having!

Definitely! It's a nice vise. Glad another member has it...as long as you clean'er up and paint her and make her all purty.

 

[kenc184]

A clean up and lube, yes, but no paint! I like that the original paint is still on there.

 

[akasrick]

kenc184

See that you made it over here fromhttps://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402721

trying to answer your question from there
Originally Posted by kenc184
Thanks for the lubing/cleaning tips.

Should I be concerned about what I clamp and how hard I clamp it in the cast-in-the-base jaws? I assume they are much softer than hardened replaceable jaws?

I believe those jaws are hardened and welded to the towers. Look to be in good shape! Why not just add protectors to them.

Originally Posted by kenc184
Even with only three mounting lugs, the rotary base had to overhang the bench edge for the fixed jaw to align with the edge of the bench - am I missing something? IT doesn't seem like the three lugs are any better than four? Although I suppose with four, the front two are engaging very close to the edge?

Maybe they didn't overhang and had to dig the end of the bench off to receive the lockdown nut back into place and not to unmount the vise. My guess

akasrick

 

[MayerMR]

A clean up and lube, yes, but no paint! I like that the original paint is still on there.

That works!

Might I suggest that you do the same as I did with my old Reed 1C; I purchased it in nice original condition, but the vise had surface rust in many places. I used Purple Power degreaser and plastic and brass bristle brushes to clean it up nice while preserving the original paint. After it was done, I wiped it down with a light coat of boiled linseed oil and set it in the sun (mid-summer in Dallas, so it was hot) and let it cure for a day (in this current season, you can let it sit inside for a few days and it should still cure just fine).

Before:

After:

It serves to protect the vise from rusting and preserves the original finish. Looks good and works well!

S/F,

-Matt

 

[Ksem89]

Figured I should add my vise to this thread! Picked this Reed No 205 up for free on craigslist and with the advice and help on this forum brought her back to her old glory.

k

 

[kenc184]

kenc184

See that you made it over here

trying to answer your question from there

akasrick

Rick,

Thanks! I'm glad that the jaws ARE hardened! Interesting that they welded them to the cast iron, that's not a trivial task - at least not for me. Explains why they look so good after what? 70-80years?