The VISES of Garage Journal

[rusty65]

Speaking of prentiss vises here is a trio of 3 generations of prentiss watchmakers vises.

The blue one I believe is the 3rd generation probably produced during ww2 as a radio service tool and or just as a portable vise to repair things in the front lines as there were many baby bullets that were sold to the government for the war effort for this purpose.


2nd generation is the red one. I believe this one was produced from the mid 1930s to 1940 or so when they started making the model like the blue one. The difference between the blue and red is the way the main screw is retained and also the swivel base pull knob on the side on the vise.

1st generation is the nickel plated one. The model was first produced in 1895 and made up until the 2nd generation which I believe is mid 1930s or there about perhaps.








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[BeardedOne]

Thank you both Outlawmws & gman007.

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice siblings Rusty.

 

[gman007]

Rusty
The trio are for sure very good looking. What is surprising to me is the fact that even the first generation had the fairly modern swivel lock mechanism (no under table wing nut type etc) and equally surprising that this mechanism was not changed over 50 years spanning the three generations.

 

[Outlawmws]

Very cool Family Rusty! I'm still watching for my first baby Prentiss...

 

[rusty65]

Rusty
The trio are for sure very good looking. What is surprising to me is the fact that even the first generation had the fairly modern swivel lock mechanism (no under table wing nut type etc) and equally surprising that this mechanism was not changed over 50 years spanning the three generations.

The prentiss swivel base with the spring loaded plunger was patented back in February of 1877. I believe only the early prentiss bull dogs used the under the bench wing nut. Incase any one is interested prentiss started making the bull dog line in 1895 and before that prentiss only made swivel jaw style vises.




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[Smitty]

Re: Rusty65
Beautiful baby Prentiss vise collection and thanks for the informative description.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Rusty

I'd be stoked to have just one baby Prentiss, let alone 3 to compare slight nuances over the generations. Very nice little trio indeed!

Also thanks for the patent date on the spring loaded plunger swivel base. I think that dates my Prentiss 21 between 1877 and 1910 when, as I understand it, they patented their removable jaws.

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[AngryBeaver]

Wanted to add 1 photo of a Starrett 926 and a Reed 4C. Just got the Reed last week, when looking it over carefully, I determined that the vise jaws are integral/cast into the body and jaws. At first I thought someone welded them but there's no seam and they are soft (can touch with a file). I was wondering if there's a "breakpoint" in the manufacturing where jaw inserts are used, or if it was an option? The plant where I work has a Reed 4C which has the inserted vise jaws, as a point of reference.

The Starrett is considerably heavier, interestingly, but has a shorter slide.



I am considering, as a future project, putting both parts of the 4C into the machining center and mill a ledge for some soft or hard jaws as the as-cast jaws are fairly worn and uneven. Since the existing appear to be un-hardened it should not be a bad project.

your jaws are hardened. they were forge welded when cast. there will be a date stamp somewhere on it that will be the month and year, on both the static and dynamic. the earliest reed 4C Ive seen with replacable jaws has been 2/67. my 4C is 4/67 with replaceable jaws. The earliest 1c I've seen was 5/62. https://postimg.cc/xc401P5V

 

[Samurai84]

Longtime lurker thought I would put up photos of my first resto. This is a Craftsman 506-51810. I stole the color scheme from some other member on this thread so my thanks/apologies.

 

[jpmmilner]

Longtime lurker thought I would put up photos of my first resto. This is a Craftsman 506-51810. I stole the color scheme from some other member on this thread so my thanks/apologies.

Sweet... I’m digging that look with the red swoop and black highlights..


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[va.grouseman]

Nice job on the Craftsman, Samurai.---But now it's too pretty to use.


Welcome by the way.

 

[Z3K3Y]

Been tough times around here lately. Sold my Record No. 35P yesterday to help pay for winter tires. Hoping to get back into the vise game soon.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I finished up the 5197 for my personal collection. I used the plastikote T10 machinery gray for the paint. The original craftsman badge was faded beyond use. I managed to find this decal on ebay. It is still missing the swivel lock. Luckily I have the internal pieces. I am still working out how I am going to make the lock and cross bar.

This was a pretty rough example. The jaws still have some scars and I had to use a triangle file to clean up the serrations. I let the paint dry inside in the heat all weekend. I almost painted it over this morning with a whole new color. I am not sure how I feel about the gray color but from what I can find it is as close to original as I am going to get. Everything moves butter smooth. The base swivels like its on a bearing and the lead screw goes in and out with one finger with almost no play.

I enjoyed this project quite a bit and this will be a piece that stays with me as long as I am around.

 

[RBarnes]

I finished up the 5197 for my personal collection. I used the plastikote T10 machinery gray for the paint. The original craftsman badge was faded beyond use. I managed to find this decal on ebay. It is still missing the swivel lock. Luckily I have the internal pieces. I am still working out how I am going to make the lock and cross bar.

This was a pretty rough example. The jaws still have some scars and I had to use a triangle file to clean up the serrations. I let the paint dry inside in the heat all weekend. I almost painted it over this morning with a whole new color. I am not sure how I feel about the gray color but from what I can find it is as close to original as I am going to get. Everything moves butter smooth. The base swivels like its on a bearing and the lead screw goes in and out with one finger with almost no play.

I enjoyed this project quite a bit and this will be a piece that stays with me as long as I am around.

I think you can never go wrong painting one as close to the original color as you can get.

 

[chrisnazzy]

What in the world do y'all suppose is going on with this vise?

I'm sure it's a Prentiss and it appears to be bigger than my 109lb. No. 21. Obviously looks to have jaggedly cut metal plates bolted to both sides of the static although I'm not sure how that would even be possible.

I literally look at this vise every day as I drive by my neighbors house around the corner. My daughter first spotted it while retrieving a ball from their yard. When she came back and told me about it I put her up to retrieving the ball again but this time taking my phone and snapping a pic. The image she came back with has been perplexing me ever since.

I've been meaning to post it here as I thought it would make for interesting conversation before I eventually catch them outside or better yet, man up and go knock on the door and inquire about it.

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[thin_concrete]

Go knock on the door and ask the resident about it. If it’s just sitting there not getting used, they may be willing to sell it. It does look beefy. Good luck!

 

[Smitty]

What in the world do y'all suppose is going on with this vise?

I'm sure it's a Prentiss and it appears to be bigger than my 109lb. No. 21. Obviously looks to have jaggedly cut metal plates bolted to both sides of the static although I'm not sure how that would even be possible.

I literally look at this vise every day as I drive by my neighbors house around the corner. My daughter first spotted it while retrieving a ball from their yard. When she came back and told me about it I put her up to retrieving the ball again but this time taking my phone and snapping a pic. The image she came back with has been perplexing me ever since.

I've been meaning to post it here as I thought it would make for interesting conversation before I eventually catch them outside or better yet, man up and go knock on the door and inquire about it.

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You should start a pool. I’m putting five bucks on “broke the body in half doing something incredibly stupid”.

They probably through bolted it thinking it would still work, lol

 

[Smitty]

It looks like an early 6” Bull Dog with a stationary base.
I’m estimating 26” long x 10” high


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[gman007]

You should start a pool. I’m putting five bucks on “broke the body in half doing something incredibly stupid”

They probably through bolted it thinking it would still work, lol

Smitty

I believe you are onto something and your theory is very much plausible

 

[gman007]

What in the world do y'all suppose is going on with this vise?

k

Chris
I think the vise was a bad boy and was illegally operating as a press and in the process broke his back. Now he is doing time behind bars (well chain link fence). Off course if there was true justice the idiot who broke the vise’s back should be behind the fence instead.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I'll go with $5 on a pre-1911 Prentiss patent no. 5 swivel jaw vise.

 

[Smitty]

Re: MR. Wonderful
Nice job on the vise btw, the color makes it.

 

[MayerMR]

What in the world do y'all suppose is going on with this vise?

I'm sure it's a Prentiss and it appears to be bigger than my 109lb. No. 21. Obviously looks to have jaggedly cut metal plates bolted to both sides of the static although I'm not sure how that would even be possible.

I literally look at this vise every day as I drive by my neighbors house around the corner. My daughter first spotted it while retrieving a ball from their yard. When she came back and told me about it I put her up to retrieving the ball again but this time taking my phone and snapping a pic. The image she came back with has been perplexing me ever since.

I've been meaning to post it here as I thought it would make for interesting conversation before I eventually catch them outside or better yet, man up and go knock on the door and inquire about it.

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I'm going to go into a left field guess - maybe those pieces were added so it could be welded *under* a bench like an ultra-strong woodworker's vise?

 

[chrisnazzy]

Well this is as fun as I thought it would be. Keep the theories coming and I'll make a point to make contact soon to get some resolve.

For the record, if it wasn't obviously a broken or at least modified vise I'm quite sure I would have already knocked on the door trying to buy it. My thoughts have been Prentiss 22 or 96 with a busted body. I also don't think it was a stationary vise due to it sitting level on the ground. I figure swivel base is missing too. I really hope the plates weren't added just to secure a swivel jaw missing a pin though.

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[Outlawmws]

It looks like an early 6” Bull Dog with a stationary base.
I’m estimating 26” long x 10” high


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I'm only getting 23" long (diagonal of a 2" square is about 2-7/8 X 8 = ~23)

the 10" seems right.

 

[trijeff]

Chris already sorta mentioned it but I think it is just to permanently set the swivel jaw to operate as a purely static jaw vise. Unless accompanied by some welds I'm not sure what sort of break those plates and bolt placements would secure.

The dynamic looks like it was used for quite some time without a jaw.

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[Smitty]

I'm only getting 23" long (diagonal of a 2" square is about 2-7/8 X 8 = ~23)

the 10" seems right.

Yeah, you’re probably right. I can’t scale chain link fences like I used to.

 

[454ragtop]

Yeah, you’re probably right. I can’t scale chain link fences like I used to.

I see what you did there

 

[rusty65]

Chris already sorta mentioned it but I think it is just to permanently set the swivel jaw to operate as a purely static jaw vise. Unless accompanied by some welds I'm not sure what sort of break those plates and bolt placements would secure.

The dynamic looks like it was used for quite some time without a jaw.

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That’s exactly what I was thinking. The repair was to hold the swivel jaw from moving side to side if it is a swivel jaw model which I’m guessing it is as well.


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[va.grouseman]

Looks like a donor only vise.---Even donating 2 pieces of plate for the scrap pile of future projects.---He must know your a vise man Chris.---He's baited the trap and now just waiting to reel you in.---He knows it's not a question of if but when.


Had a neighbor do that to me some time back, but he was using #1 copper as a tempter.---He knew I cleaned, saved, and sold copper on a very small scale so he moved 2 big pallets of 3 phase #1 copper from a 100 yards down in the middle of his storage area, right up against the fence where I had to drive by and look at it going to and from work every day.---Just inches away.--- Must have been 1500 lbs. of shinny copper there.---Not sure what the ulterior motive was but I think he wanted me to inquire or make an offer.---But I'm a little leery of favors and markers being called in on a future day so I never bit.

 

[Smitty]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. The repair was to hold the swivel jaw from moving side to side if it is a swivel jaw model which I’m guessing it is as well.


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A Prentiss 22 is about 13” tall and weighs in at 168 lbs. I believe this to be a Bull Dog.

 

[autopts]

What in the world do y'all suppose is going on with this vise?

I'm sure it's a Prentiss and it appears to be bigger than my 109lb. No. 21. Obviously looks to have jaggedly cut metal plates bolted to both sides of the static although I'm not sure how that would even be possible.

I literally look at this vise every day as I drive by my neighbors house around the corner. My daughter first spotted it while retrieving a ball from their yard. When she came back and told me about it I put her up to retrieving the ball again but this time taking my phone and snapping a pic. The image she came back with has been perplexing me ever since.

I've been meaning to post it here as I thought it would make for interesting conversation before I eventually catch them outside or better yet, man up and go knock on the door and inquire about it.

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Maybe the pin was missing and since he never saw swiveler before, got super P.O'd and made sure that back jaw would never move again.

 

[rusty65]

A Prentiss 22 is about 13” tall and weighs in at 168 lbs. I believe this to be a Bull Dog.

Either way I must admit my Prentiss Vise senses would be going off the charts even with the repair and to be honest I’m always curious on how strong some of these repairs are and have a interest in testing some of them.


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[Smitty]

Re: Chrisnazzy
My second guess is that it’s a 130 lb jack stand.

 

[Fierljeppen]

A Prentiss 22 is about 13” tall and weighs in at 168 lbs. I believe this to be a Bull Dog.

If it ends up being a Bulldog no. 96 vise, I'm paying you off in nickles.

 

[Smitty]

If it ends up being a Bulldog no. 96 vise, I'm paying you off in nickles.

This is a Prentiss no. 22 that I have. Look at how far the bottom of the slide and meatball are off of the deck. Compare it to the vise on the ground. Even if they took the swivel base off it still has a raised cylinder on the bottom.
I like nickels btw


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[Fierljeppen]

This is another Prentiss no. 22 that I have. Look at how far the bottom of the slide and meatball are off of the deck. Compare it to the vise on the ground. Even if they took the swivel base off it still has a raised cylinder on the bottom.
I like nickels btw

Your Prentiss no. 22 is a late 1920's to early 1930's and I'm guessing the mystery vise is much earlier and missing it's base. You may be right and it's too late for me to change my answer.

chrisnazzy...Time to meet your neighbor, and soon!

 

[Smitty]

Your Prentiss no. 22 is a late 1920's to early 1930's and I'm guessing the mystery vise is much earlier and missing it's base. You may be right and it's too late for me to change my answer.

chrisnazzy...Time to meet your neighbor, and soon!

Agreed, I feel like I need to know this poor vises sad tale of woe.

 

[Steel A Rod]

Old Goodell Pratt drill press vise. The base is not GP, but looks good and works great.