Craftsman/Sears, Vise ID by Catalog

[AngryBeaver]

AngryBeaver, were you able to take some close up photos of the oil plug? If you can, please take a photo of it removed from the vise. Thx

Didn’t take either out. No reason to. Both brass with steel balla. Just a spring loaded ball in a socket for an oil can. Think giant grease zerk.

 

[SteveF]

Thanks AngryBeaver! That shows them very clearly. I wonder if I can find something like that. If not, I'll just plug it with something to make it look finished.

UPDATE: I need to do some measurements but this looks pretty close.

https://www.huyett.com/Products/Grease-Fittings-Lubrication/Fittings/Flush-Fittings/H1814Z3?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2f7bBRDVARIsAAwYBBuPSIDYM-16GCIkQikOiRIO0h5hFZK2yC3ZR20Q2v7QkKWdIuveoukaAoLZEALw_wcB

 

[Outlawmws]

McMaster or Graingers should also have them.

 

[SteveF]

Thanks Outlaw. Those are pretty good also. The one I found looks a little bit closer with the protruding ball like the original, don't you think? I just hope the dimensions work out.

This site is awesome! You folks are very helpful. Thanks for sharing your talents.

 

[pdubss]

I posted this on the tool polishing thread, but though it might be nice here as well. A 5176 I got to replace and upgrade the exposed screw 5240.


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[SteveF]

Nice job! That 5176 was in rough shape.

 

[DFB]

I just picked a second 506-58101 Craftsman and until now did not realize there wre variations on these. The latest one has a shorter anvil, some changes in the shape of casting under the slide on the main body and the base is different the bolt holes are not recessed into the base...interesting. :

This latest acquisition needs the slide locking handle for the base. Anybody got a parts donor?

I did see one on Ebay shamefully shipping was almost as much as the piece.

 

[doubletroubledan]

Just wanted to post a few pictures of my 5242 craftsman and 5244 USA made Dunlap. The craftsman is probably 1940 and the dunlap is 1945 .
Nice $10 finds.

 

[bubinga]

Just wanted to post a few pictures of my 5242 craftsman and 5244 USA made Dunlap. The craftsman is probably 1940 and the dunlap is 1945 .
Nice $10 finds.

Nice Finds.
I have a Dunlap like that.

 

[gsmith22]

ran across this thread in a search for a vise stand. Have any of you ever come across a craftsman branded vise stand for any of the early 30s-50s vises? Trying to come up with a stand and was curious if Craftsman ever had a specific stand for their vises since all of their power equipment from the same period (grinders, saws, lathes, etc.) all seem to have tool specific stands that were available. Anyone ever run across a Craftsman specific vise stand for these early vises?

 

[chrisnazzy]

ran across this thread in a search for a vise stand. Have any of you ever come across a craftsman branded vise stand for any of the early 30s-50s vises? Trying to come up with a stand and was curious if Craftsman ever had a specific stand for their vises since all of their power equipment from the same period (grinders, saws, lathes, etc.) all seem to have tool specific stands that were available. Anyone ever run across a Craftsman specific vise stand for these early vises?

I haven't seen one but that doesn't mean that one didn't exist.

I've been able to acquire 3 of the Craftsman pedestals for grinders that I think you are referencing. I've got 2 Craftsman round top grinders on them and a Baldor buffer. Someday I'd like to find a larger Baldor buffer on its own stand and I've thought of making a new top plate for the extra pedestal that would house a period correct Craftsman vise.

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[gsmith22]

that's what I figured. I haven't seen one either and since the pedestals for the other tools from that era (grinders, table saws, planers, etc.) come up pretty regularly on ebay and craigslist, there probably wasn't a vise specific stand/pedestal. I've looked through the general lines catalogs from that era posted to vintage machinery website and didn't see one so I think the available evidence points toward no vise specific stand/pedestal was available. thanks for your reply

 

[AngryBeaver]

Here’s a 05197 4.5” and a rock island built 5163 4.5” I picked up in Chicago.

The more and more 519x series I get, the more I think they are rock island built.

 

[dogdog]

whats with all the vises ... do you actually needed / used all of them or just having some fetish with them?

 

[kwoswalt99]

whats with all the vises ... do you actually needed / used all of them or just having some fetish with them?

Don’t ask don’t tell...

 

[AngryBeaver]

everything in life is for sale. I typically double my money on vises

 

[bmurph44]

Hello all......First time poster, Google search lead me to this message board. I have an old Craftsman vise model number 5169. I think by tightening it too tight using a cheater bar (stupid me) I have bent the long screw and it now has a very annoying kink in it when tightening and loosening the vise. I'm looking for some advice on how to fix it, I've tried straightening the screw but because of the tight tolerances I can't seem to get it perfect. This was my fathers vise and I want to keep it so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MayerMR]

Hello all......First time poster, Google search lead me to this message board. I have an old Craftsman vise model number 5169. I think by tightening it too tight using a cheater bar (stupid me) I have bent the long screw and it now has a very annoying kink in it when tightening and loosening the vise. I'm looking for some advice on how to fix it, I've tried straightening the screw but because of the tight tolerances I can't seem to get it perfect. This was my fathers vise and I want to keep it so any help would be greatly appreciated.

When you say you bent the main screw, do you mean you think you torqued/tweaked the portion inside the vise with the threads on it? If so, that's a first that I've ever heard of that happening. You can verify this by removing it and laying the threaded portion on something flat (it doesn't need to be perfect, top of the workbench should be fine) and leave the knob and handle portion hanging over the edge. Rotate the handle along the bench; does it have a bump like it's not laying flat anywhere? If not that isn't your issue - I'd be surprised if it was that. More than likely, you probably bent the dynamic jaw and/or the slide when you used the cheater bar and it's causing the binding.

 

[bmurph44]

More than likely, you probably bent the dynamic jaw and/or the slide when you used the cheater bar and it's causing the binding.

Thank you Mayer for the response, I think you may be correct I have attached a few pictures tell me what you think.

 

[Outlawmws]

I don;t think the screw is bent. I agree, I think you bent the slide. Some careful press work should straighten it as I believe that is one of the formed U slides?

 

[Shiftless]

I don;t think the screw is bent. I agree, I think you bent the slide. Some careful press work should straighten it as I believe that is one of the formed U slides?

I think outlaw has the best guess as to what is wrong. Those particular vises have a rather vulnerable slide which is easily bent if abused. I have one on the the shelf that is just like that. It looks great..it just doesn’t work right. Some guy wasted his time refinishing it and I bought it for parts at a very low price.

 

[MayerMR]

Thank you Mayer for the response, I think you may be correct I have attached a few pictures tell me what you think.

Definitely a bent slide. As Outlaw says below, some work in a hydraulic press would straighten it out.

I don;t think the screw is bent. I agree, I think you bent the slide. Some careful press work should straighten it as I believe that is one of the formed U slides?

I have one of these vises (or one of its similar cousins) and yes, it is a press formed-U slide.

 

[bmurph44]

Definitely a bent slide. As Outlaw says below, some work in a hydraulic press would straighten it out.



I have one of these vises (or one of its similar cousins) and yes, it is a press formed-U slide.

So it’s fixable. Could someone explain how to bend it back straight with a hydraulic press, sounds like it could be a bit difficult.

Thanks again to all that took time to respond.

 

[Outlawmws]

I would probably set it on the table and apply pressure on top of the slide next to the jaw.

Go slow as you don't want to over bend or break the casting.

 

[bmurph44]

I would probably set it on the table and apply pressure on top of the slide next to the jaw.

Go slow as you don't want to over bend or break the casting.

Do you think this Harbor Freight Arbor Press would do the job? I know it's cheap but I'll probably only need to use it one time.

 

[MayerMR]

Do you think this Harbor Freight Arbor Press would do the job? I know it's cheap but I'll probably only need to use it one time.

There is no way that that arbor press would work. In this particular case, since you don't have a press, you'd be time and money ahead to just take it down to a local machine shop and pay them $15 or so (prob a 1/4 hr labor) to bend it back properly. Better yet, you could see if anyone on this board is nearby and see if they'd help you out if they are properly equipped in their shop.

 

[bmurph44]

There is no way that that arbor press would work. In this particular case, since you don't have a press, you'd be time and money ahead to just take it down to a local machine shop and pay them $15 or so (prob a 1/4 hr labor) to bend it back properly. Better yet, you could see if anyone on this board is nearby and see if they'd help you out if they are properly equipped in their shop.

I kinda figured that wasn't going to work, I'll check around town and see if I can come up with a solution.

Thanks again!

 

[MayerMR]

I kinda figured that wasn't going to work, I'll check around town and see if I can come up with a solution.

Thanks again!

You bet. I hope you can get it sorted out. Good lesson on what you can and cannot do with bench vises. And that sometimes a you need a bigger tool for the job.

 

[Tricolor]

Hello,

First, I'd like to say thanks to the vast amount of information and expertise in this thread and the site in general. Really neat stuff.

I recently acquired a No. 5180, and from reading this thread it looks like it's the middle one from the 1945 catalog. On the upper right side near the fixed jaw, there is a faint stamp of the numbers 346.

Does anyone know if there is any significance to those numbers? from what I can see those are the only stamps; It does have the "No. 5180 / Craftsman /Made in U.S.A / Patent No., as shown in the catalog.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Outlawmws]

Generally other random numbers are for either the casting mold, or for matching parts during the final machining/assembly of the vises. (If you see stamped numbers on the D jaw and body for instance, and they match its to keep the two together for final assemble.

 

[Tricolor]

Thanks for the reply! This is one neat piece of history ��

 

[drivesitfar]

TriColor: Welcome to GJ first of all.

also when you post up questions some of us don't have all the #'s memorized and we all like pictures of old vises and tools so if you can post up a few of your vise I (we) might be able to give you some more information about your vise like who made it for Craftsman/Sears along with maybe a few ideas on how to clean up or repair if it needs some.

ALL: without me looking through the entire thread while i'm posting here I just picked up a Long C 5 inch 5183 made by Reed that i'm guessing left Reed's factory in the 1930's. anybody know a catalog page or a better date range do tell? it also has some cool old jaw covers on it that really protected it's jaws.

 

[Terry D]

Would anyone know the original color of the 5152 Craftsman vise

 

[Outlawmws]

Would anyone know the original color of the 5152 Craftsman vise

Right in the ad: "Grey Enamel Finish" (think Battleship Grey)

 

[Terry D]

Right in the as: "Grey Enamel Finish" (think Battleship Grey)

Thanks Outlaw

 

[zoomieport]

Great thread outlaw!

 

[bluebolt]

I am still trying to find out what catalog (Sears big book or Craftsman catalog) and year this picture is. But judging by the Underlined Craftsman logo AND the Samson vise on the same page I think it is right around 1930. FINALLY a catalog page for the mysterious 5241 and the 5222 is probably real close in years.

 

[Fierljeppen]

bluebolt...The 1936 scan is from zoomieport's posting on the "big vise" thread this morning. I just found the 1941 scan from a Craftsman Mechanics Tools catalog. I looked at a 1942 Craftsman catalog, but the 5241 wasn't listed.

It seem's that zoomieport has "cornered the market" on this vise model.

 

[bluebolt]

LOL Zoomieport posted that picture on a Facebook Vise page but I didn't know his "real" name and didn't make the connection until he posted on the big vise thread.

 

[gman007]

ALL: without me looking through the entire thread while i'm posting here I just picked up a Long C 5 inch 5183 made by Reed that i'm guessing left Reed's factory in the 1930's. anybody know a catalog page or a better date range do tell? it also has some cool old jaw covers on it that really protected it's jaws.

Drives
I have not been to this thread for a while, so I just saw your post. Your Craftsman Reed looks like a transition model. It has the oil hole and base of the latter Reeds but the nose is a meatball . So I am wondering if it is from around 1940s.

What is really curious about your 5183 is the Parker Jaw inserts that seems to have been adapted. Is this what happens when a Parker mates with a Reed, they have a craftsman offspring