The VISES of Garage Journal

[davethorik]

I hit this garage sale yesterday. The guy had several vises. I passed on the big blue one it was just too large for me and the gray one was to ugly. I got really lucky that I was able to get him down to $75 for the light blue one that swivels in so many directions!!!

You only paid $5 more than a similar vise costs new at HF

https://m.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/vises-anvils/5-in-multi-purpose-vise-61163.html

 

[kukko]

Went back to the swap meet today, saw more vises, here are some pics.

 

[kukko]

more

swivel jaw Columbian
Emmert
Reeds

 

[kukko]

this is the large vise with bad jaws. it's a Simplex

 

[kukko]

a few others

Sure Grip Boston
a very large post vise

 

[kukko]

more

really liked the quick release / fine adjusting vise, but it did not come home because of the $250 price tag.

 

[gman007]

Giving up a 51xx series craftsman for a Chinese wonder vise sacrilegious in this thread.


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He is surely jesting and trying to get a rise out of everyone here and judging by
the few reactions, I think he might have even succeeded

 

[MissileBear]

Kukko - I want to go to that sale. I've never seen that many vises around here...ever, combined.

Look at those anvils!

 

[honza.vosalik]

I hit this garage sale yesterday. The guy had several vises. I passed on the big blue one it was just too large for me and the gray one was to ugly. I got really lucky that I was able to get him down to $75 for the light blue one that swivels in so many directions!!!

I hope you're just kidding...I'd be all over that Cman.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Ok ok dont ban me! I need this place! I didnt buy the bad vise! I bought the Morgan 160 and the craftsman (5197) together. I even got him to throw in a Wilton cadet I found in the corner at the last minute.

The Morgan has been spray bombed but is in VERY good condition. No hammer marks on the jaws or slide. Locks up tight. The only issues are bent handles on the locks and what I am suspecting is a replaced handle. It has almost acorn nuts on the ends and seems a little long. The stand is nothing to write home about.

The craftsman has some bumps and bruises and is missing the swivel locks but nothing broken or cracked. The jaws have a little wear but overall good. A few dents in the front of the main screw probably cant be fixed but the rest looks good. I admit I dont know much about this series of vises but I am about half way through this thread from the beginning and noticed quite the uproar about them and the coveted 5198.

The wilton has been welded to a plate which I am hoping to be able to remove without damage. The turn lock handles are bent and I dont know if there is supposed to be an end cap on the back??? The jaws are pristine!

I plan on cleaning up the Morgan and the stand to put up for sale. I already have a bigger 6" Hollands I am working on. The craftsman I plan on keeping for now and doing a nice overhaul on as well as the Wilton.

Thank you everyone for making this a sickness for me that I didnt even bat an eye at bringing three more vises home!!

 

[GETRIDAONE]

more

really liked the quick release / fine adjusting vise, but it did not come home because of the $250 price tag.

That is Duane Boyer's stuff. He emailed me about the Stephens vise and asked if I knew what it was. He had never seen one before even though he has sold hundreds of vises in the past.

 

[kukko]

Yeah, that particular pile was his and his dad's. for reasons I'm not going to get into here, i typically don't deal with him. Saw whose pile it was after i recognized a few other items (and the PA plate on the truck) and had asked his dad the price on the vise.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mr. W, you just received absolution.---But don't do that no more.---Bad for my blood pressure.



I thought, if you passed on that Morgan, I was another vote for

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Mr. W, you just received absolution.---But don't do that no more.---Bad for my blood pressure.



I thought, if you passed on that Morgan, I was another vote for

Whats the general thought on where the morgans fall quality wise? Ive seen several on here but not much on where they fall against say a reed or a wilton?

Does anyone know if that cadet is supposed to have an end cap?

 

[kwoswalt99]

Whats the general thought on where the morgans fall quality wise? Ive seen several on here but not much on where they fall against say a reed or a wilton?

Does anyone know if that cadet is supposed to have an end cap?

To me, reeds, hollands, morgan, rock island are all the same quality.

 

[mgmlvks]

Thank you everyone for making this a sickness for me that I didnt even bat an eye at bringing three more vises home!!

Thank-you, my brain has stopped spinning!

 

[KMScott]

To me, reeds, hollands, morgan, rock island are all the same quality.

I would not lump a Reed in the vises you mentioned, ever look at a Reed, drilled and tapped a hole in the casting, machined one of their nuts, look in side the Static and you can see the cutter marks where they machined the dovetail, Reed's nuts are all machined and heat treated, made from tool steel. The square slider cavity is broached, I can keep going.

Reeds and Starretts in my opinion are the top USA vises and the other machinist vises are lumped in the next level. I might add the 51xx Craftsman with the Reed but can not say I have taken any apart. I was tapping jaw screws in a Reed 104 today and was scared I was going to break my taps, stuff machines like Nodular Iron. Just my thoughts.

 

[va.grouseman]

Whats the general thought on where the morgans fall quality wise? Ive seen several on here but not much on where they fall against say a reed or a wilton?

Does anyone know if that cadet is supposed to have an end cap?

To get some perspective of where they fall, I like to use the heft factor in their heavier vises.---For instance the 8'' versions in each brand, and compare how much material each was willing to expend.

Now this is a sliding scale because there are some variables to consider.---For instance the type of metal Columbian put in their vises.---But it gives a ballpark idea.

Hollands #28,-----327 lbs.
Reed #208R,------291 lbs.
Wilton 800S-------220 or 234 lbs., depending on the style.
Morgan #180------210 lbs.
Columbian #608--180 lbs.

 

[va.grouseman]

I have to agree with KMS on the REED.---I have one of each of the afore mentioned vises and I'll take the REED over the Hollands even though it's lighter.---The 208R is a Sherman tank of a vise.---Ever look at the tolerances on a Reed Swivel Jaw vise.---They went the extra mile for quality.---I did say it was a sliding scale, but still a pretty good indicator.

 

[Shiftless]

I have a few Reeds as well as a couple of Morgans, Hollands, and Rock Islands
I think the Reeds are better built. Kevin is right about why.
va has a lot of experience too so listen to those guys.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Here is a couple of tubers.

Last night while typing out the post on the Hollands bicycle vise, I seriously may have experienced a telepathic moment. I seriously thought, watch tomorrow VA will post a pic of 2 of these sitting on his wood table.

As always VA, such and expansive and impressive collection you have. Bowdown!





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[kwoswalt99]

I would not lump a Reed in the vises you mentioned, ever look at a Reed, drilled and tapped a hole in the casting, machined one of their nuts, look in side the Static and you can see the cutter marks where they machined the dovetail, Reed's nuts are all machined and heat treated, made from tool steel. The square slider cavity is broached, I can keep going.

Reeds and Starretts in my opinion are the top USA vises and the other machinist vises are lumped in the next level. I might add the 51xx Craftsman with the Reed but can not say I have taken any apart. I was tapping jaw screws in a Reed 104 today and was scared I was going to break my taps, stuff machines like Nodular Iron. Just my thoughts.

Besides the steel nuts on the reeds I don’t quite understand what sets them apart. Reeds and starretts were machined well, but that isn’t as important to me as strength, something the Starretts seem to lack. I’ve only seen the steel nut on one reed vise, all the rest were cast.

 

[donkeyshoes]

I have a Columbian D44. Trying to figure out when it was made.

I am trying to figure out when this Columbian vise was made, its a D44.

it looks like these were made for many years I've seen some info from member FMC1959's Vise Info Spreadsheet - Specs & Brochures (can't put link..) and there is one picture of one there

but this vise is different with the hole in the top for the little cutting tool and I think it's older. The vise has been in Phoenix so its not rusted and it was not used much. My dad thinks it may have been found in the house that his dad bought but isn't sure. There are only a few markings on the vise "D44" on the moving jaw (with a little dot below it not sure if that is significant or not). "COLUMBIAN" on one side and "CLEVELAND, O. MADE IN U.S.A." on the other side.
The Drive nut has an "M" on one side and D44-4 on the other side.
The bottom has "44-3" marked on it with what looks like a 1 below it that was stamped in.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

My guess would be in the 1950's based on it has the hole for the cut off tool. The hole disappeared with the later M2 & M3 suffix added to the model number. Maybe someone can add more info for you.

 

[KMScott]

Finally got my Vinyl Labels made for these York's. If anyone wants any York Labels then mail me a self addressed envelope and I send you enough to use. My address is on my website in the contact us tab. The large Vinyl label I purchased from e-bay, it was still listed the last I looked.

 

[va.grouseman]

That's a real handsome family KMS.

 

[va.grouseman]

Well I said in post 66648 that the Columbian #608 was 180 lbs..---But after a little searching, I see that they are 170 lbs. according to 1937 and 1940 ADs.---My bad.---


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1937-PAPER...hinist-Clamp-Stanley-Mohawk-B-C-/152260959743

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1940-PAPER...teel-Leg-Woodworkers-Vise-Vises-/311735581427

 

[davethorik]

Spotted a few cool vises today. Didn't buy any.

Rock Island 6" combo vise w/ thru bench swivel base

Reed 134-1/2 exposed screw vise...pretty cool. Is made in the newer style with split collar and replaceable jaws. Rear photo shows nut separate from body (and replaceable) and slide still has keyhole opening, lol.

Last pics, an Oil Well Supply Co. Pittsburgh PA "no. 2 COMB" vise. Looks like a thru bench swivel possibly missing original base. One side has T in a circle markings. Who was this made by?

 

[davethorik]

Closeup of the Oil Well Supply Co.
I'd guess 3.5"

 

[kwoswalt99]

Closeup of the Oil Well Supply Co.
I'd guess 3.5"

Circle t is Oswego.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Closeup of the Oil Well Supply Co.
I'd guess 3.5"

It's a Smith Pattern No. 2 with 4" jaws, made by the Oswego Tool Co..

J. J. Tonkin was the founder of Oswego Tool and he was also involved with the Oil Well Supply Co. of Pittsburgh. The "Smith Pattern" eventually became the Oswego Tool "Ontario" vise.

Oswego Tool also made combo vises for Parker and Armstrong according to some of my directories.

Hope that answers your question.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Spotted a few cool vises today. Didn't buy any.

You are a stronger willed man than me Dave. I'm not sure I could have had the opportunity to purchase those vises and not came home home with at least one of them. I suppose if the prices were astronomical and non negotiable. Was that the situation?

That Rock Island is pretty sweet and has its pipe jaws too!


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[1foxracing]

Finally got my Vinyl Labels made for these York's. If anyone wants any York Labels then mail me a self addressed envelope and I send you enough to use. My address is on my website in the contact us tab. The large Vinyl label I purchased from e-bay, it was still listed the last I looked.

Thank you for producing those! I'll be sending you a envelope this week.

 

[XCMTB83]

Oh yeah, I saw this tonight too. The seller has it listed as a Hollands pipe vise which it may very well be. It sure looks like a bicycle vise though like I had seen in this Prentiss ad at some point. What do you all think? Anyone have a bicycle vise?

Edit: Found it. Hollands bicycle vise. Got to be a super rare vise though huh?

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Being an avid cyclist I would love to have that vise...

 

[davethorik]

Thanks for the replies. Pics were taken at the Coolspring Power Museum in Coolspring PA. They sure have some interesting stuff. They use the vises, why there was the brass piece clamped in the Oil Well Supply, so they aren't for sale. But, they have a decent swap meet.

 

[MayerMR]

I returned home from my work trip this morning and went and met up with a former colleague from "across the pond" who was nice enough to act as a vise mule for me and brought me this pretty little Portuguese-made Oliva No.2. I don't know how uncommon they are over in England and Europe, but they aren't too common over here in the states as far as I've seen. I was set on my mission to acquire one after seeing a No. 0 Oliva posted by Kevin (KMScott) in the Vise Information thread - such a nicely styled little vise.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I returned home from my work trip this morning and went and met up with a former colleague from "across the pond" who was nice enough to act as a vise mule for me and brought me this pretty little Portuguese-made Oliva No.2.

I'm not really into the euro vises but I agree with ya, that's a cool looking vise! Congrats.

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[kwoswalt99]

Can’t say I’ve ever seen one of these before. A ******* Parkolumbian.

 

[trijeff]

I returned home from my work trip this morning and went and met up with a former colleague from "across the pond" who was nice enough to act as a vise mule for me and brought me this pretty little Portuguese-made Oliva No.2. I don't know how uncommon they are over in England and Europe, but they aren't too common over here in the states as far as I've seen. I was set on my mission to acquire one after seeing a No. 0 Oliva posted by Kevin (KMScott) in the Vise Information thread - such a nicely styled little vise.

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[chrisnazzy]

Yup, love my 00

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Can't wait to see the finished product on that Reed. Knowing what you're capable of, I'm sure it's going to be pretty awesome.

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