The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

Damn Smitty

Yeah, I got lucky that day for sure.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Yeah, when he said one hundred bucks a piece I almost passed out. I couldn’t get the wallet out of my back pocket fast enough. I initially passed on the Parker because it has more issues than sports illustrated so I got him down to$50 on that one.

That Parker looks pretty good compared to this poor fella.

I went and picked it up while home for lunch. I'll take it apart tonight once I get home and take a look inside.

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[Smitty]

That Parker looks pretty good compared to this poor fella.

I went and picked it up while home for lunch. I'll take it apart tonight once I get home and take a look inside.

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He said it still functions. I’d wire brush it and slather it in boiled linseed oil. I’m afraid there won’t be much left with all of the welding. To me it’s kind of a cool piece as it sits.

 

[Outlawmws]

The pin is still there. Why would somebody weld the swivel jaw in that vise??

The jaw may have broken on the part that hooks on the main body. So the "Fix" was to hammer the pin in and weld the sides so the jaw would stay put.

 

[wrenchguy]

That Parker looks pretty good compared to this poor fella.

I went and picked it up while home for lunch. I'll take it apart tonight once I get home and take a look inside.

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reminds me of "farmer fixed".

 

[Smitty]

The jaw may have broken on the part that hooks on the main body. So the "Fix" was to hammer the pin in and weld the sides so the jaw would stay put.

Yeah, the vise had been seriously abused. The original handle is gone and they even welded the meatball back together. The base was the only part left in working order.

 

[Stuart in MN]

On the Black Beard Projects Youtube channel, his latest video is cleaning up a massive vise. Never seen one like this before.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Well of course I got right to dismantling the broken Prentiss when I got home tonight.

I'm not sure what I'm astounded by more, how massively broken this poor vise was or how much work went into making it work to some degree again. It's worse than I could have even imagined.

I unscrewed the dynamic out and noticed a ridiculous amount of backlash. Probably measured in inches but the slide didn't hang up at any point and once dislodged I couldn't believe what I was seeing. If the nut looks crooked in there it's because it is just sitting on my garage floor. Once the screw is disengaged fully there isn't anything securing the nut. The entire base of the vise is gone. No dovetail, no machined surfaces for the slide to travel on. No evidence to hint at whether originally a swivel base or stationary vise. Just the walls of the vise body bolted and welded at every point possible to the base plate and upright plates with a huge hole in the base plate for the nut.

The nut itself confirms Prentiss as the mfg. but we all knew that already. Says "22" but I would imagine the stationary no.5 might not necessarily have its own nut. It appears to be in good shape and is certainly still usable.

Amazingly the dynamic jaw assembly really isn't that bad. Definitely used without a jaw for a long time but could be cleaned up and a new jaw installed. No visible cracks and the front of the dynamic actually looks pretty nice.

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[va.grouseman]

Chris, it's obvious that weight was what he was shooting for and it looks like he successfully broke the 200 lb. barrier.


It's also obvious that the PO was a less than armature stick welder like me.---Notice all the chicken poop on top of the plates.---That's him or me strike testing to see if he/I have the heat right.---True mark of a rookie.

 

[chrisnazzy]

The handle is indeed straight. In fact it's really free of any major hammer marks too. One of the ball ends is in great shape and the other is loose and spins but still fully functional.

As for the screw, it also looks to be in useable condition. I can see a bit of wear on a few of the threads but overall not bad.

The collar is another story. Does look like it may have been tack welded at some point.

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[davethorik]

Sitting here looking at my Prentiss 6" swivel jaw, I would think the only way to damage a vise that size, in that way, you would need a piece of equipment like a mini excavator, tractor, backhoe, or forklift. Maybe a press. I suppose a really large, in shape and motivated person could do it with a 20 lb sledge if given enough time.

Is the slide cracked? If not, that's ironically humorous.

 

[va.grouseman]

It's right odd that with all the abuse and alterations on Chris's and Smitty's Prentiss's that neither have a cracked slide.

 

[va.grouseman]

Stuart, thanks for the pic of the huge blacksmith vise.---First for me too.---Look at the size of that main screw.---WOW.

 

[Indexmill]

Imagine how many men fed their families beating the hell out of these old vises... Must have been a very tough life.

 

[va.grouseman]

Imagine how many men fed their families beating the hell out of these old vises... Must have been a very tough life.

Agreed, a tough life indeed---But the moral fiber of the family unit was much stronger then and every family member had their responsibilities and pulled their weight.---And were devoid of any technological distractions that IMO plague todays society.---So the tough life was probably the more rewarding, all things considered.

 

[Marn]

Here is my vise, I'm hoping someone may shed a light in it's manufacturer. Weighs in at 187 lbs stamped T 050 & T49, it has a brass collar behind screw stamped TB 41. Vise has 7" jaws. Former owner stated it came from railroad he worked at. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Man that vise screams early Parker to me. I've never seen one like it though or any vise for that matter with markings like that.

Not to worry.

Va will be right along to share the 2 examples he is all but sure to own.

And then Fierljeppen is sure to chime in with original catalog scans found nowhere else on the internet for your viewing pleasure!

The "vise" force is strong with those two!

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[va.grouseman]

Nope, don't have one of those but it does resonate Parker.---The jaw inserts for sure look Parker.---I'd say that the T 050, and the T49, and the TB 41 are parts numbers for the assembly process.---187 lbs. ain't no slouch.

 

[Outlawmws]

Side view of the jaws would help, but I agree on evidence seen, Parker, or possibly Oswego (also used Parker jaws...)

 

[Fierljeppen]

It's a Parker Railway style vise, but the size doesn't show up in any of my Parker catalogs. This one will take a group effort to solve.

I found some good information in KMScott's spreadsheet that may help.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1516979&postcount=2207

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2011695&postcount=3406

Here's some photos from -2- other GJ members looking for the same information.

 

[KMScott]

The Jaws on this T49 are a little different then the Parkers, I do not believe Parker made this vise. The jaws are thinner in the radius area like the Combination vises Parker makes, the 20 degree angle Parker uses under the top arc is almost straight on these jaws and it looks like the jaws are screwed on instead of pinned. These jaws are made for beating to protect the vise from breakage and possible this vise was specially made for the Railroad vise like this one HERE. The jaws really show how different they are in Demo's picture that Fierljeppen posted. I am curious on the maker too.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I'm really confused if the mfg is still in question. In this pic that Fierljeppen posted, that is clearly a Parker collar.

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[Outlawmws]

It's a Parker Railway style vise, but the size doesn't show up in any of my Parker catalogs. This one will take a group effort to solve.

I found some good information in KMScott's spreadsheet that may help.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1516979&postcount=2207

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2011695&postcount=3406

Here's some photos from -2- other GJ members looking for the same information.

Those jaws in the pics, while similar to Parker, are very different. I'm with the good Dr. that these were not Parker. They do not even come close to the diagram in the Parker RR vise ad...

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm really confused if the mfg is still in question. In this pic that Fierljeppen posted, that is clearly a Parker collar.

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Possibly a replacement part? The jaws are certainly not typical Parker.

 

[KMScott]

The collar in the post that Marn showed is a collar much smaller then the Parkers. The Bronze cast collar does not match the width of the Dynamic cast ledge. Never seen a Parker collar made like that. The collar in Fierljeppen is clearly a Parker collar like Chris mentioned.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Very similar in size and weight to this Howard vise. The retaining collar is a different configuration but functions the same.

 

[Smitty]

Just picked up this 5” 85lb vise this morning. The guy said he couldn’t tell who made it but I could tell from the photo in the ad what it was.


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[jrobb316]

I'm not killing it like Smitty apparently is, but picked up 3 this week. Rock island made cman 5163. Rock island 594 for $20. Jaw shelf needs repair but shouldn't be a big deal. And a Starrett 925 missing one jaw. Will be placing a jaw order for a few vises before the Dr retires.

 

[kenc184]

Sure glad I don't live in So Cal trying to compete with Smitty, he's like a vise vacuum. LOL

 

[RedVise]

I am fond of small, and clamp on vises. I have a few interesting ones.
There is a Prentiss 73 1/2, a quick release wood vise, Power-Kraft quick release (gift from the Craptin) and one that has a loop where you would expect to see the pipe jaws.
Wood vises; 2 of the Columbian aluminum version, one with the clamp with the older ears, Cman aluminum, and a Binks and Cotton steel version.
Next is a nice Stanley 700 , a Champion and the quick release no name.
Bench vises: Theres a Rae,a Majestic, and a Littlestown that I kept because the PO drilled thru it to set pins for a repair. I wouldnt use it but I respect the work he put into the repair.
Then there is a quick release Power Kraft, Prentiss 73 1/2 and Littlestown.

 

[RedVise]

Here is a small Athol and Bonney. Repaired 91 1/2 Luther , saw vises and a pipe vise.

So most are USA made but I will grab a foreign one if I like it.

Brian

 

[RedVise]

What the heck, I am here, so will post these up.

These are up for sale.
Record, Colombian, Samson , Milwaukee and a Balco (Japan).

Brian

 

[Shiftless]

Here is an exceptionally nasty looking Athol 614 I rescued from the bottom of a pile of junk in an antique store in Carson City NV on Thanksgiving weekend. I just finished getting it unstuck and cleaning it up. The paint color is Rustoleum soft iron. Here are some before and after pics.

 

[Loydski29]

Well it’s been a bit of a dry spell for me lately but today I finally found a baby Wilton been try to get one for awhile now. A little size comparison to my reed 107!


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[Loydski29]

SHIFT that Athol came out great!


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[Shiftless]

Loydski29:
Thanks!
And I bet you’ve got some great plans for that baby bullet.
What’s the story on that raised up anvil section? I’ve seen it before. Was there a certain time period or set of circumstances under which Wilton made them that way?

Speaking of contrasts here is an old pic from my files with one of my babies sitting with a Reed 406. You might recognize the double swiveller.

 

[Outlawmws]

A true diamond in the rough find Shift! Well Done!

 

[Smitty]

Well it’s been a bit of a dry spell for me lately but today I finally found a baby Wilton been try to get one for awhile now. A little size comparison to my reed 107!


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I saw that vise this morning at about 8:30 and messaged the seller the second I saw it but it came back as sold. Dude, you scored big time. I was afraid that it went to the Bell Gardens guy but it just made my day seeing that you got it.

 

[Shiftless]

Congrats again loydski,
With that additional information, you deserve it!
Beat out Smitty (not many can do that) and better still, beat out the infamous Bell Gardens Guy...

 

[Smitty]

Here is an exceptionally nasty looking Athol 614 I rescued from the bottom of a pile of junk in an antique store in Carson City NV on Thanksgiving weekend. I just finished getting it unstuck and cleaning it up. The paint color is Rustoleum soft iron. Here are some before and after pics.

I seem to remember you posting something about finding a vise with the worst paint job ever. Beautiful restoration, I took a screen shot for my file.