The VISES of Garage Journal

[NC Rick]

I just drug this vise in this evening. I’m not too sure of the condition but it feels smooth and the nut looks good. The handle is beat but the jaws are pretty good. It looks like a non-cast retainer on the main screw. #954. Seems like a good “user” potentially. I really don’t need it... you guys are getting to me.

Any ideas on vintage? Is this a good vise? I’ll likely repaint it if it all checks out.

 

[va.grouseman]

The date stamp on that one is 1-52. The one in the middle row far left is 6-15-64. The rest are not stamped. The one in the front row with the raised anvil is probably the oldest. It is marked on one side PAT PDG.

Richleh, you answered my question before I could ask.---I was going to ask about the one with raised anvil.---I have one of those PAT PDGs to.---Their getting hard to find---I want one more of them but I haven't hit the lottery yet.
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Smitty, you've done it again.---Very nice Bulldog.---But I see it's missing the standard, cracked slide.---Well none of them are perfect, and you can install the crack yourself.
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Wrench, that Massey looks pretty big, pretty solid, and Stout.---Nice find.

 

[Outlawmws]

Rick, something odd in the jaws as well, the one with the curved inside joint looks right. the other looks like it was a made replacement as its square. what do the teeth look like?

Pics of the retainer? Parker's should be cast with "Parker" on it (unless its really old...)

 

[Outlawmws]

And Yeah, Smitty ***** - again!

 

[Outlawmws]

Wrench guy, if you go to look at it get the D jaw out and make sure the bottom of the slide area on the base is straight, it looks like something might be bent?

 

[Smitty]

I saw this vise in my travels today. I felt it was worth a photo or two.


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[DIESELMECH]

Just bought this vise for $50 at a peddlers mall

 

[chrisnazzy]

Smitty

Nice Bull Dog no. 50! I've been looking for (and bidding for) one for awhile now. I've got a no. 53 with the graffiti script that I got for $40 too and ever since I've really wanted to add one of the smallest Bull Dog's to my herd. Congrats on your find!

NC Rick

Looks like Outlaw beat me to it but I noticed the disparity of your jaw styles on your Parker as well. The later Parker vises had jaws with the square inside like your dynamic jaw does. Looks like someone replaced the entire dynamic/drawbar with a replacement from a later model 954. Everything seems to line up so may not be big deal at all. Do the serrations (or lack thereof) differ from static to dynamic?

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[Smitty]

And Yeah, Smitty ***** - again!

Thanks, I know.

 

[Smitty]

Richleh, you answered my question before I could ask.---I was going to ask about the one with raised anvil.---I have one of those PAT PDGs to.---Their getting hard to find---I want one more of them but I haven't hit the lottery yet.
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Smitty, you've done it again.---Very nice Bulldog.---But I see it's missing the standard, cracked slide.---Well none of them are perfect, and you can install the crack yourself.
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Wrench, that Massey looks pretty big, pretty solid, and Stout.---Nice find.

Thanks VA, I must admit my blood was boiling with all that cracked slide talk the other day.lol

 

[NC Rick]

Outlaw, perhaps I found a forgery? Jaws are pretty beat up. The retainer is a plate of steel. Well made plate of steel but still. The jaw you noticed, I didn’t... has a chip in it but it is a different profile from the other jaw. It seems to conform to the vise body pretty well.

 

[NC Rick]

Chrisnazzi, I’ll have to look more closely tomorrow. The nut is free in the ways and the stake pin is missing, the hole for the stake seems fine. The main screw looks good and the nit looks good but could have been replaced. I don’t think I paid a lot for it but I would not have paid that knowing it was made of mismatched parts. I think the jaws line up. I don’t know enough about this to be properly diligent. I hope I didn’t get ripped off but it I did, it may be the cure

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Chrisnazzy, it seems to be a rare size. I’m going to give it a light clean up and oil it. Post some pics of your 53 when you get a chance, I’d like to see it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Rick, it's not a forgery, it's just had a couple of adjustments over the years.---But all in all it still looks pretty solid and would make a fine everyday beater which every shop needs at least one of.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Chrisnazzi, I’ll have to look more closely tomorrow. The nut is free in the ways and the stake pin is missing, the hole for the stake seems fine. The main screw looks good and the nit looks good but could have been replaced. I don’t think I paid a lot for it but I would not have paid that knowing it was made of mismatched parts. I think the jaws line up. I don’t know enough about this to be properly diligent. I hope I didn’t get ripped off but it I did, it may be the cure

Now that you've posted a pic of the metal plate retainer, It appears your dynamic jaw / drawbar assembly are replaced with one from a late model 954B.

Here is a pic I found google searching "954B". If anything it's kind of cool the later Parker Union drawbar would fit the older vise.

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[rusty65]

Thanks Chrisnazzy, it seems to be a rare size. I’m going to give it a light clean up and oil it. Post some pics of your 53 when you get a chance, I’d like to see it.

I like the no 50 bull dogs. I picked one up a year ago for the same price from a junk yard sitting on a work bench just rusting away.


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[Smitty]

I like the no 50 bull dogs. I picked one up a year ago for the same price from a junk yard sitting on a work bench just rusting away.


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Very nice, it looks to be in good condition.

 

[NC Rick]

I’m feeling a little dumb and “taken”. I do see the roll pins in the dynamic jaw and that is something I noticed when I was “inspecting” the vise. I was really intrigued by the cool shape of the Parker jaws but the newer style is just a shadow of the more complex and well fit older style. The main screw has a very square profile thread, not an acme looking thread. I wonder if the nut wasn’t also replaced to facilitate the exchange. The nut fits ok but can be slid back and forth some by hand...

 

[chrisnazzy]

I like the no 50 bull dogs. I picked one up a year ago for the same price from a junk yard sitting on a work bench just rusting away.


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Wanna double your money? I know Smitty ain't sellin!

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[rusty65]

I’m feeling a little dumb and “taken”. I do see the roll pins in the dynamic jaw and that is something I noticed when I was “inspecting” the vise. I was really intrigued by the cool shape of the Parker jaws but the newer style is just a shadow of the more complex and well fit older style. The main screw has a very square profile thread, not an acme looking thread. I wonder if the nut wasn’t also replaced to facilitate the exchange. The nut fits ok but can be slid back and forth some by hand...

Honestly better then finding a hidden weld repair in my opinion.


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[rusty65]

I’ve actually got the pair the 90 and the 50 so they would need to be adopted together. In my last picture I’ve got another pair of twin bull dogs the 3in variants no 212 and 211 I think.







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[Smitty]

Nice collection rusty.

 

[nutjob]

I’m feeling a little dumb and “taken”.

Rick,
This is just a learning experience along the way, for you and for us. Your pictures and everyone explaining what they are seeing helps all of us to recognize the good and the not so good.

I really think one of the reasons that a refurb vise sells for what it does on Ebay is that the seller took a gamble with the original purchase. Some vise's are so covered in gunk and dirt you cannot fully inspect and once cleaned hidden cracks and repairs are found and the potential profit and collectability just went down the toilet.

The Ebay buyer will understand exactly what they are buying and will pay more for that.

Kevin

 

[NC Rick]

Nutjob, your response hits home for me, thank you. I felt like I was competent to look at a used vise and there were specific “focus points” I looked at before deciding to purchase. In the short interaction with the seller, I felt like a horse with blinders on. The fact is, I didn’t now stuff about Parker vises besides that I like the basic but good design and the jaw cap protection.

The seller “dealt in old tools” in contrast to the long time history story from the craftsman who owned my old Reed. At around $100, I can’t complain with regard to the value as a tool in mine or anyone’s shop. It will be hard for me to hold the passion which accompanies other tools with history which I use. I suppose, I have made some of my own history with this vise and the lessons learned.

Thanks for all the nice responses, I think I’ll be OK. I’ll post a few more detail photos once I get into it some.

 

[MayerMR]

Nutjob, your response hits home for me, thank you. I felt like I was competent to look at a used vise and there were specific “focus points” I looked at before deciding to purchase. In the short interaction with the seller, I felt like a horse with blinders on. The fact is, I didn’t now stuff about Parker vises besides that I like the basic but good design and the jaw cap protection.

The seller “dealt in old tools” in contrast to the long time history story from the craftsman who owned my old Reed. At around $100, I can’t complain with regard to the value as a tool in mine or anyone’s shop. It will be hard for me to hold the passion which accompanies other tools with history which I use. I suppose, I have made some of my own history with this vise and the lessons learned.

Thanks for all the nice responses, I think I’ll be OK. I’ll post a few more detail photos once I get into it some.

NC, this has happened to me before, and like what Nutjob says, just use it as a learning experience. Heck, at this point, when I'm bored and in need of a project, I have actually purposefully seeked-out "lost" cause vises that have been repaired, are broken, or missing parts, etc. and view it as a challenge to "revive" them into usable tools again. I view it as challenge to my skills in both repair/restoration and in finding parts needed to rescue the little bit of history they represent. Some of these vises have become favorites due to their previously unwanted status, but they also make great gifts to folks who need a user-vise, since generally the value of them to a collector is greatly diminished - but folks just starting out and needing a good user-vise find them to be perfectly acceptable gifts.

Here is an orphan that I revived, that I still have yet to part with, for no apparent reason, since I don't use it:

Abused Reed 1C Restoration

S/F,

-Matt

 

[gman007]

I found this beautiful Prentiss Bull Dog no. 50 today, it has 3 1/4 “ jaws and weighs in at 22 lbs. The vise is shown in as found condition and is in remarkable shape for 90+/- year old vise. The price tag said $48 so I asked him how much for cash and he said $40, needless to say I couldn’t get the wallet out of my back pocket fast enough.

Smitty
Prentiss magnet strikes again! Nice score

And as outlaw said "Smitty *****"

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Gman

 

[gman007]

Thanks Gman

And for the record not everyone can be a Smitty the Prentiss magnet ! I tried to pull a Smitty and fell flat on my face!

This morning I noticed there was a three day local estate sale at a farm near by and that there was a nice older Prentiss 22 listed (no prices were given). I did not have any time to call and see if it was still available until lunch time. I was going to go grab it at lunch if it was still available.

The guy who answered the phone was from the "professional" Estate Sale company managing the sale. He said it sold first thing in the morning. So I asked how much? The guy said $125 . So I said that is a really valuable vise and he responded $125 is about right price for it. "Professional"!!???

 

[txlonghorn1989]

And for the record not everyone can be a Smitty the Prentiss magnet ! I tried to pull a Smitty and fell flat on my face!

This morning I noticed there was a three day local estate sale at a farm near by and that there was a nice older Prentiss 22 listed (no prices were given). I did not have any time to call and see if it was still available until lunch time. I was going to go grab it at lunch if it was still available.

The guy who answered the phone was from the "professional" Estate Sale company managing the sale. He said it sold first thing in the morning. So I asked how much? The guy said $125 . So I said that is a really valuable vise and he responded $125 is about right price for it. "Professional"!!???

I'm curious why you'd tell a professional estate sale company the value of these vises? Tired of getting good deals on vises are you? I personally think the prices at estate sales are already high enough. Am I missing something?

 

[gman007]

I'm curious why you'd tell a professional estate sale company the value of these vises? Tired of getting good deals on vises are you? I personally think the prices at estate sales are already high enough. Am I missing something?

You have a good point there but I guess was so surprised that my response was involuntary.

 

[MayerMR]

You have a good point there but I guess was so surprised that my response was involuntary.

"No! Bad gman! Bad!"

 

[Smitty]

Gman, I saw that ad this morning. I’m willing to bet that there were four guys racing to the bench when they opened the doors. I would have bribed the guy to get in early.

 

[Shiftless]

Yep, I agree... that was indeed a bad move, Gman...I’m sure you will learn to constrain similiar outbursts in the future.

 

[KillNThrill24]

Only picture I have right now, but I picked this up from a friend last night. I didn't have one at my house, and he brought me a collection to pick from. We both agreed this would be prefect for my use, and it's in great condition with basically brand new teeth. Excited to get my bench built and this bad boy mounted. What's also cool is it's from when they were built in Cleveland, which is where I work. I swear the new stuff you find at home depot and such just can't compare!

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[va.grouseman]

Really nice Columbian there KillN.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

You have a good point there but I guess was so surprised that my response was involuntary.

That makes sense.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I've been waiting for this sucker since Dec28, so almost 3 months! Had it shipped from oversees, this week it finally washed up in LA, this morning it made it through customs and if I'm lucky, I'll have it at home this weekend!

 

[Shiftless]

Merry (late) Christmas to you , Honza !

 

[Smitty]

My mini post vise arrived in the mail today and I couldn’t be happier. It has a beautiful original patina and looks to be hand made in the late 1800’s. You can tell an artisan back in the day put quite a few hours of hammer time into this piece getting it just right.


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[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Wow! That is an amazing piece to add to your growing collection. Great score.

KillN:
That’s a good one. Is that your first vise?