Ok, ended up buying a vise off ebay

[hwood]

Got this old Athol no 70 for $61.99 off ebay! I'm guessing early 1900's (maybe late 1890's to late first decade 1900's), over a 100 years old. Anybody can vise the age down for me a bit or some info I'd appreciate it.

Not in pristine shape, n I know it's small with no swivel, but for under $62, working, at least painted to a reasonable extent for rust purposes (although I plan to restore, anybody know the original color?, maybe semi-gloss black?), shipped to my door, with an ebay warranty built into the purchase, I'd say it's at least pretty decent deal.

Now tell me how bad I got filleted

Honestly though, what do you think?

Strike over, that's $41.99 total actually.

 

[General Geoff]

FYI for future reference, vises with exposed main screws like that are for light duty usage.

Cool piece of history and OK for modest clamping needs, but I wouldn't crank down on it too hard.

 

[hwood]

Oh yeah I only planned on doing some cursory stuff with it. I still plan on getting that Yost you recommended, unless a monster used oldie comes my way on the relatively cheap.

 

[bob15]

Are you are happy with the vise? If so, you got a good deal as it doesn't matter what other people (myself included) think it is worth. If you really need a value, look on ebay (sold prices) or look at what vises are selling for on c-list (on average) and deduct the wiggle room on the asking price.

This link might help a bit in your vise age: https://visecollector.com/history-of-the-athol-machine-company/

 

[hwood]

Are you are happy with the vise? If so, you got a good deal as it doesn't matter what other people (myself included) think it is worth. If you really need a value, look on ebay (sold prices) or look at what vises are selling for on c-list (on average) and deduct the wiggle room on the asking price.

This link might help a bit in your vise age: https://visecollector.com/history-of-the-athol-machine-company/

I'm content with it. I'm a bit more pragmatic about whether it was a good deal or not. I checked around before I bought in similar fashion, n yeah, vises like this one (although an old athol 70 is rare) sold for close to double, or double on eBay. On clist, well it'd be about $100, easy. Considering no warranty n driving n meeting someone on my time, etc, this was a good deal, objectively to it's value.

I realize it wouldn't be a shop driver, but who's using a 100 plus year old vise to do that, most of it would be a collector appreciative, combined with some use if it were a beast model. Realistically, a new Yost forged steel vise provides the most value, period, when it comes to practical use. Immediately available, warranty, stronger than any old cast vice, n very reasonable price. So of course with these old vises, the price of admission is in part the collectors value portion of the price, use is almost secondary.

So I'm good, I was just checking with the long timers if this seemed like a pretty good deal all around.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I think that's a pretty nice vise for the money when you consider that it was shipped to your door. You could consider mounting it to a nice board to move around, it would be perfect for a light workbench.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[mattblast]

How do you secure this vise to a workbench? I don’t see any mounting holes.

 

[hwood]

I think that's a pretty nice vise for the money when you consider that it was shipped to your door. You could consider mounting it to a nice board to move around, it would be perfect for a light workbench.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Yeah after a restore it could be used for sharpening, holding wood for a funky glue up, holding something to solder, etc. I more of bought it for a restore n some light use. A 4-5 inch slide, heavy duty Parker or something would be for heavier use, but I'm really looking into a new Capri, Yost or the like for heavier use metal work. Warranty n not worrying I might crack an old dog I restored for part collector reasons.

 

[hwood]

How do you secure this vise to a workbench? I don’t see any mounting holes.

Since it's lighter duty, a wooden cleat or machine screws through the slot to tighten it down. I'm going for wooden cleat to avoid marring. There's an empty slide bar hole under the vice.