The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

I think those Athol/Starrett 626 vises weighed around 200 lbs. That's probably one of the heaviest 6" (non combo) vises ever made. Not saying worth it or not, I wouldn't pay that much but I wouldnt mind owning one should the opportunity present itself.

They’ve been for sale for quite a while. I think if he put a $475 tag on them they would have sold a long time ago.

 

[Smitty]

Yes you're right. I had one fun experience buying a vise, the seller only spoke spanish. Wouldn't respond to me in english, but I could see they were reading my messages on facebook marketplace. So I took a gamble and used google translate and started talking to them in spanish. Got an immediate response, did a back and forth of translating my stuff into spanish, and their replies into english and was able to pick it up and utilize my 2 years of high school spanish from 15 years ago to make the transaction in person.

Knowledge is power when vice shopping. Once people realize that you know what you’re talking about they treat you differently.

 

[Smitty]

It’s funny, I keep telling my wife that I’m buying vises as an investment. She always comes back with the same line. “I’ll believe it when you finally sell one”

 

[KMScott]

Shucks, all this chit chat and no vise pictures. Here is a 2" #87 Athol that had from the factory a cheesy way to hold the meatball. so I built a bronze collar and added a new handle. This little guy will have new custom jaws too.

Smitty, do you work on vises or just buy and resell.

 

[Smitty]

I went to a vintage tool swap meet in February and bought an athol vice for $50. Soon after that I found another and another, I haven’t sold any yet.

 

[bsaint]

Yeah I see his listings on CL all the time. He usually seems to have 10-20 vises listed and they are priced at the high end of the spectrum.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I dont know but I dont think they made it 3000 miles out here. But Athol, Prentis and Parkers are abundant as they were all made locally.

 

[Smitty]

Shucks, all this chit chat and no vise pictures. Here is a 2" #87 Athol that had from the factory a cheesy way to hold the meatball. so I built a bronze collar and added a new handle. This little guy will have new custom jaws too.



Smitty, do you work on vises or just buy and resell.

Look carefully at this photo. Does anything look familiar?


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[KMScott]

I went to a vintage tool swap meet in February and bought an athol vice for $50. Soon after that I found another and another, I haven’t sold any yet.

Pic:s?

Here is a Athol I finished a while back. Let's see your Athol's.

 

[Smitty]

Pic:s?



Here is a Athol I finished a while back. Let's see your Athol's.

I fondly refer to this vise as patient zero.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[KMScott]

I fondly refer to this vise as patient zero.

Nice, pictures are a good thing.

 

[PureLeaf]

I had already posted this in Tools of the Old World, but I dont think this thread sees FZA Mondial forged steel vises very often, this one is re-branded by Gedore. Jaw width is 150mm (6 inches).

 

[Smitty]

Nice, pictures are a good thing.

I have no machine shop capabilities but as a life long cabinet maker I have some skills. This was my first restoration of an athol vise that I found at an antique mall.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Smitty]

Nice, pictures are a good thing.

Thanks for the jaws, your work is amazing. I’m waiting to get the handle from you so I can put it all together.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[va.grouseman]

He's the Master.

 

[KMScott]

Nice work Smitty.

That FZA Mondial forged steel vise is sure nice Pureleaf. If I were to buy a new vise I would look at those if available here in the States. How do they serrate those jaws.

 

[KMScott]

Thanks for the jaws, your work is amazing. I’m waiting to get the handle from you so I can put it all together.

What Handle, Those jaws look familiar. Thanks.

He's the Master.

Not for much longer VA, I hope someone takes over where I leave off. My knees and hands can not work much longer.

 

[PureLeaf]

Nice work Smitty.

That FZA Mondial forged steel vise is sure nice Pureleaf. If I were to buy a new vise I would look at those if available here in the States. How do they serrate those jaws.

I'm located in California, so they're definitely available in the USA. I also have 2 Ridgid (peddinghaus) vises which are very similar, come with the same non replaceable jaws, but Ridgid does give them a lifetime warranty, and says they'll replace them if you ever break the jaws. Hopefully I never find out about that.

The hard part has been locating accessories for this FZA vise. I contacted Gedore (the re-brander) about purchasing the option pipe jaws for it. After they did some back and forth with the German home base, they're specially shipping out and selling me a pair at double the price if I was in the EU (50 bucks). Theres also a swivel base available but finding it in the 150mm size, the price was like 140 euros + 40 euros to ship it. I've already got 2 swivel based vises that I never swivel ever. So this vise can stay stationary.

The only small let down of the FZA vise has been that they didn't stamp it "Made in Italy", though it seems clear from all documentation provided by FZA that it is.

Here is an up close of the jaws

 

[Smitty]

Nice work Smitty.



That FZA Mondial forged steel vise is sure nice Pureleaf. If I were to buy a new vise I would look at those if available here in the States. How do they serrate those jaws.

Thanks, it was a fun project.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Smitty]

What Handle, Those jaws look familiar. Thanks.



Not for much longer VA, I hope someone takes over where I leave off. My knees and hands can not work much longer.[/


I’ll need a proper handle for this vise.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[KMScott]

Here you go Smitty, this handle I built for Nick a couple years ago. Maybe a shop close to you can make one for you. Nick wanted a bigger knob.

I opened up a meatball hole for my Reed 106. this is how I bore the handle holes.

 

[Smitty]

Here you go Smitty, this handle I built for Nick a couple years ago. Maybe a shop close to you can make one for you. Nick wanted a bigger knob.

I opened up a meatball hole for my Reed 106. this is how I bore the handle holes.

Hopefully you can make one more before you retire. I would prefer to have it as close to stock as possible. I’ll contact you in a week or so..

 

[KMScott]

I'm located in California, so they're definitely available in the USA. I also have 2 Ridgid (peddinghaus) vises which are very similar, come with the same non replaceable jaws, but Ridgid does give them a lifetime warranty, and says they'll replace them if you ever break the jaws. Hopefully I never find out about that.

The hard part has been locating accessories for this FZA vise. I contacted Gedore (the re-brander) about purchasing the option pipe jaws for it. After they did some back and forth with the German home base, they're specially shipping out and selling me a pair at double the price if I was in the EU (50 bucks). Theres also a swivel base available but finding it in the 150mm size, the price was like 140 euros + 40 euros to ship it. I've already got 2 swivel based vises that I never swivel ever. So this vise can stay stationary.

The only small let down of the FZA vise has been that they didn't stamp it "Made in Italy", though it seems clear from all documentation provided by FZA that it is.

Here is an up close of the jaws

I see how they cut the jaws now, thanks for sharing. Heat Treated anvil pad and hardened ways. Nice vise.

 

[exmaxima1]

I see how they cut the jaws now, thanks for sharing. Heat Treated anvil pad and hardened ways. Nice vise.

The jaws on the Ridgid (Germany) vises look virtually identical with the curved serrations and general shape. In fact, the entire vise shares an uncanny resemblance to the Gedore (Italy?) vise.

 

[PureLeaf]

What Handle, Those jaws look familiar. Thanks.



Not for much longer VA, I hope someone takes over where I leave off. My knees and hands can not work much longer.[/


I’ll need a proper handle for this vise.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

The handle looks pretty good besides one cap being a hex nut? Looks like you just need to recreate one cap and peen it on?

 

[KMScott]

The jaws on the Ridgid (Germany) vises look virtually identical with the curved serrations and general shape. In fact, the entire vise shares an uncanny resemblance to the Gedore (Italy?) vise.

There is another vise made in Germany that is very similar just to tired to remember, starts with a B if I got any memory cells left.

 

[exmaxima1]

There is another vise made in Germany that is very similar just to tired to remember, starts with a B if I got any memory cells left.

Brockhaus Heuer

I bought a new one and compared it to my Ridgid. I kept the Ridgid.

 

[Smitty]

The handle looks pretty good besides one cap being a hex nut? Looks like you just need to recreate one cap and peen it on?

I hear what you’re saying but I’m planning on doing a full restoration on the vise. The 800’s don’t come up very often so I want to go the extra mile to get it just right.

 

[kenc184]

. Nick wanted a bigger knob.

I've heard there are little blue pills for that endeavor apparently. Or the Swedes will sell you a vacuum device.

 

[Ryan_340]

Here is a Parker 974 I just fixed up. The flat area behind the jaws on the main body had been hammered on and broke off. The original collar is long gone and the collar screw was broke off. The jaw were loose, as the pins were broke off. This old vise was very abused with hammer marks all over it. I ended up grinding the broken area on the main body down so it was smooth, and could follow the shape of rest of it. Repinned the jaws, and made a new collar from a piece of steel.

 

[va.grouseman]

What Handle, Those jaws look familiar. Thanks.



Not for much longer VA, I hope someone takes over where I leave off. My knees and hands can not work much longer.

Well, that is a vise restorers death nail.---And if my old back and knees and all the other bones didn't ache all the time, I'd say "NOOOOOOOOOO, Don't Do It KM".---But as it stands, I totally understand.

 

[gman007]

Here is a Parker 974 I just fixed up. The flat area behind the jaws on the main body had been hammered on and broke off. The original collar is long gone and the collar screw was broke off. The jaw were loose, as the pins were broke off. This old vise was very abused with hammer marks all over it. I ended up grinding the broken area on the main body down so it was smooth, and could follow the shape of rest of it. Repinned the jaws, and made a new collar from a piece of steel.

Ryan
Well done, looks good

 

[gman007]

What Handle, Those jaws look familiar. Thanks.



Not for much longer VA, I hope someone takes over where I leave off. My knees and hands can not work much longer.

Dr Scott
One of the most used phrases in Old Testament is “it came to pass” . And it is true in life that both good and bad things come to pass.

In this case one might say “it came to pass” that the great vise master laid his tools down to rest. One can equally state that it “it can to pass” that the vise restoration world was left orphaned.

So while we as your friends will be very happy for you to get well deserved rest, the day you retire will also be a very sad day for the vise world. And leave one to wonder then if it was a good or a bad thing that came to pass.

 

[kenc184]

I drove 2 hours this morning to pick up this vise. It's a Parker "no" F, as best I can determine it's an 1890's vise of their mid priced "vulcan" line. Has 5-1/2" jaws and weighs about 100lbs.
Jaws still ahve some crosshatching, screw looks nice. Not sure if the front screw retainer is original or not - did the lower priced vises have the fancy scripted retainer? did they even exist in the 1890s?

 

[KMScott]

Dr Scott
One of the most used phrases in Old Testament is “it came to pass” . And it is true in life that both good and bad things come to pass.

In this case one might say “it came to pass” that the great vise master laid his tools down to rest. One can equally state that it “it can to pass” that the vise restoration world was left orphaned.

So while we as your friends will be very happy for you to get well deserved rest, the day you retire will also be a very sad day for the vise world. And leave one to wonder then if it was a good or a bad thing that came to pass.

I am not worthy of these words Gman. But thanks. I still have over 100 vises that will end up in someone's home or shop even after retiring building vise parts for customers. They will be restored, that will be my hobby.

 

[gman007]

I drove 2 hours this morning to pick up this vise. It's a Parker "no" F, as best I can determine it's an 1890's vise of their mid priced "vulcan" line. Has 5-1/2" jaws and weighs about 100lbs.
Jaws still ahve some crosshatching, screw looks nice. Not sure if the front screw retainer is original or not - did the lower priced vises have the fancy scripted retainer? did they even exist in the 1890s?

Ken
Nice find

I do not believe the collar (retainer) is original OEM and in fact I think it is a washer that someone cut up and fashioned as the collar!

 

[Outlawmws]

Ken
Nice find

I do not believe the collar (retainer) is original OEM and in fact I think it is a washer that someone cut up and fashioned as the collar!

 

[kenc184]

Ken
Nice find

I do not believe the collar (retainer) is original OEM and in fact I think it is a washer that someone cut up and fashioned as the collar!

Darn!
Oh well, time for me to remember how to use my cnc mill and at least fashion something more presentable.

These older vises require a huge cutout of the bench to mount unfortunately, so i don't know if it will become a user.

 

[Outlawmws]

Use a spacer block with the 45 deg notch in it.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I drove 2 hours this morning to pick up this vise. It's a Parker "no" F, as best I can determine it's an 1890's vise of their mid priced "vulcan" line. Has 5-1/2" jaws and weighs about 100lbs.
Jaws still ahve some crosshatching, screw looks nice. Not sure if the front screw retainer is original or not - did the lower priced vises have the fancy scripted retainer? did they even exist in the 1890s?

kenc184...I was shooting guns with my Holland MI cousins last year, and my cousin started talking about his Parker "Vulcan" grade shotgun. I told him about the Parker vise models with the same name and decided to investigate a little.

Yep, there's definitely a correlation. The Vulcan steel preceded the Trojan steel and was -1- grade higher. The Parker Trojan shotgun was introduced in 1912, just as the Trojan vises were. Hope this next part doesn't bum out any current Trojan vise owners. The Trojan steel was imported and graded the lowest at no-0.

Your vise was advertised from (1899 - 1912). I dropped you some information that relates to your questions. Good data can get you top $ when it's time to sell.

I'm gifting my cousin an old Parker #19 gunsmith vise next year and hoping he reciprocates with one of his Parker shotguns.

 

[gman007]

kenc184...I was shooting guns with my Holland MI cousins last year, and my cousin started talking about his Parker "Vulcan" grade shotgun. I told him about the Parker vise models with the same name and decided to investigate a little.

Yep, there's definitely a correlation. The Vulcan steel preceded the Trojan steel and was -1- grade higher. The Parker Trojan shotgun was introduced in 1912, just as the Trojan vises were. Hope this next part doesn't bum out any current Trojan vise owners. The Trojan steel was imported and graded the lowest at no-0.

Your vise was advertised from 1900 - 1912. I dropped you some information that relates to your questions. Good data can get you top $ when it's time to sell.

I'm gifting my cousin an old Parker #19 gunsmith vise next year and hoping he reciprocates with one of his Parker shotguns.

Fierljeppen
As per usual you have once again educated us with very informative and fascinating facts! Thanks much