The VISES of Garage Journal

[kenc184]

It's starting to look like a battle of the titans......Smitty vs AndrewH.

In Star Trek parlance most of the rest of us are "red shirts".

 

[davethorik]

Dave:
Wow! An NOS Millers Falls swiveling clamp on. I have a Stanley swiveling clamp on but I see more of them around with that name compared to the MF.

Shift, I agree, Stanley appears to have had total ********** of the clamp-on vise market in the past due to the number I see.

I recently missed out on a NOS Stanley version of this vise, so I had NOS fever. However I already have the same Stanley, used, screwed to my living room coffee table, that I use quite a bit. That one is unbranded and factory color was maroon, but it has the Stanley patents cast in on the backside of the clamp. So I wanted something different.

I'll say this, The MF is better for this reason: you can freely swivel it 360° and clamp the swivel lock at any position. The Stanley also spins a full 360° but it has a spring-loaded pin like old Prentiss vises, and a certain number of holes in the base as stops for the pin. The pin may be stronger, who knows.

Nice find Dave. It’s MS-70 for sure.

Thanks Smitty. I got this vise from the same guy I got the Pinch Bug from. He had good taste in small vises, now I do. Lol.

 

[Smitty]

Saturday R&R. I just finished stripping the paint off of the red Prentiss No. 19. I’m calling it B++ condition for a 100 yr old vise. This vise had been used but the slide and jaws are in great shape.



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[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Yours cleaned up real well. Look at the teeth on those jaws!
I thought the teeth on my latest Prentiss were remarkable...yours are better.
Nice find!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Andrew, I think the RI would look tip top with a set of removables with good sharp hatches.---JMO.


Smitty that 19 is a beaut.---I've got one in pretty good condition in everything but the base which has a broken toe.---But even if it had 3 good toes it wouldn't look near as nice as that one.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty:
Yours cleaned up real well. Look at the teeth on those jaws!
I thought the teeth on my latest Prentiss were remarkable...yours are better.
Nice find!!!

Thank Shift, the inventory tag tells me that the vise way originally used in industry but it’s seen light duty for sure.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks VA, it’s always a treat to find one in good condition. I believe this vise to be a transition model when they first switched over to the graffiti script. It still has the first generation meatball that was streamlined shortly thereafter. Here it is next to a circle side for reference. I’ll keep my eye out for a base for your 19.


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[va.grouseman]

Thanks Smitty.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Thanks VA, it’s always a treat to find one in good condition. I believe this vise to be a transition model when they first switched over to the graffiti script. It still has the first generation meatball that was streamlined shortly thereafter. Here it is next to a circle side for reference.


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I knew you had another no. 19 because you've stated you were only missing the 18 and 23. Since it's neat to have two from different generations to compare and see the slight changes over the years of production, I'll wait til you find a third to ask if you want to sell me one!

Great addition to your Prentiss family Smitty!

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[AndrewH]

Andrew, I think the RI would look tip top with a set of removables with good sharp hatches.---JMO.


Smitty that 19 is a beaut.---I've got one in pretty good condition in everything but the base which has a broken toe.---But even if it had 3 good toes it wouldn't look near as nice as that one.

I think so too, and it would allow me to clean up the chips in the casting around the jaws. I will say though that for the age of this vise it’s in really good condition. The leadscrew looks perfect and the main nut is tight. For $380 I really think that I did good, especially once you factor in the rare nature of 7”-8” swivel jaw vises + it has the swivel base and no feet have been broken off or repaired.

Rock Island made vises that would stand the test of time and this particular one shows that as long as you use it properly, nearly a 100 years of service is nothing.

 

[Smitty]

I knew you had another no. 19 because you've stated you were only missing the 18 and 23. Since it's neat to have two from different generations to compare and see the slight changes over the years of production, I'll wait til you find a third to ask if you want to sell me one!

Great addition to your Prentiss family Smitty!

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Thanks Chris, they don’t come up very often in that condition so I feel lucky to have it. You tipped me off to a 19 1/2 at the border that is in a prime spot on my shelf. Thanks again.

 

[Productbob]

Smitty, your new Prentiss cleaned up great. Enjoy the pictures from your workshop-
always something interesting sitting in the background.
bob

 

[Productbob]

Andrew, nice find with the big RI! Did the Columbian 508 show up yet?

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, your new Prentiss cleaned up great. Enjoy the pictures from your workshop-
always something interesting sitting in the background.
bob

Thanks Bob, here’s a couple of pics of some super strength zip ties that I’ve been developing.




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[AndrewH]

Andrew, nice find with the big RI! Did the Columbian 508 show up yet?

Not yet, I had to express mail a money order. Pickup is arranged so I’d guess it’ll be here next week sometime. I’ve gotta go to the terminal on Monday and pick up my monster Parker 60X and get her home as well!

 

[PghJKB]

This morning, on EvilPrey -

In light of the ever rising costs of Wiltons

Surprised that this one did not go for more.

It is the "No Hooks" variant.

JKB

 

[zkling]

Anyone seen one of these? Almost looks like a shop project to me. Front swivel jaw.

 

[Shiftless]

Here’s where I am so far on my Prentiss 52
After removing old paint and crud using the hot Simple Green technique, I was surprised to see so much porosity in the cast iron. Is this usual for Prentiss?
I filed and sanded the lettering to make it smoother when it comes time to paint.
The black cast iron surfaces are bare, no paint, no oil no nothing.

I include a pic of the vise in its “as found” condition.

 

[KMScott]

Nice job Shift, at least 50 more to go. It will be an obsession.

 

[Fierljeppen]

This morning, on EvilPrey -

In light of the ever rising costs of Wiltons

Surprised that this one did not go for more.

It is the "No Hooks" variant.

JKB

I didn't even know that was a thing. I thought it was a casting defect that was missing both the hooks and Pat. Pending. But now that I look closer, the "Made In USA" is centered differently and properly.

I have Wilton ads from 1941-to-current and I've never seen that type of illustration on any of them. Good stuff PghJKB!

 

[PghJKB]

Anyone seen one of these? Almost looks like a shop project to me. Front swivel jaw.

zkling
Looks like that may be a rotator as well?

Or at least has a round slide?

JKB

 

[zkling]

zkling
Looks like that may be a rotator as well?

Or at least has a round slide?

JKB

Agree, I'm not sure if it rotates about the slide axis, but it is a round slide (I think). It was at an estate sale I couldn't make it to. I feel like I have seen something similar before, but can't recall.

 

[Smitty]

Here’s where I am so far on my Prentiss 52
After removing old paint and crud using the hot Simple Green technique, I was surprised to see so much porosity in the cast iron. Is this usual for Prentiss?
I filed and sanded the lettering to make it smoother when it comes time to paint.
The black cast iron surfaces are bare, no paint, no oil no nothing.

I include a pic of the vise in its “as found” condition.

Looks great Shift. What color are you thinking of painting the vise?

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks KMS and Smitty.

I’m thinking flat black with aluminum paint on the lettering but I’m open to color suggestions. Deep bronze green like old land rovers color might work.

Smitty, you have more than a few Prentiss vises, are any of them painted?
.
.

 

[Smitty]

i Look forward too seeing the final product in whatever color you choose. I’ve stripped paint off of a dozen or so and they all seemed to be painted different colors. I haven’t painted a Prentiss yet but I might someday.

 

[Smitty]

Re VA
I found that 18 today. You were right, it wasn’t easy.

 

[Outlawmws]

The bad news:
After an intervention for my vise problem I’ve been in intensive therapy all week and have finally seen the error of my ways.

So "intervention" = you were pulled over for stealing vises?

Nice find on the Prentise!

 

[Productbob]

Andrew-- nice problem to have; how to get the tonnage home

 

[Smitty]

So "intervention" = you were pulled over for stealing vises?

Nice find on the Prentise!

Thanks Outlaw, I just spit Bud Light all over my keyboard.

 

[Productbob]

Smitty, great idea on the zip ties. Replacing my belt with one of your zips would keep me from having to buy larger size pants!

 

[va.grouseman]

Smitty, did you snag that little RED 18 on ePray?---That was a nice one.---Odd that someone would do a 100% red job on a nice little vise like that.---Would have brought a lot more with the right kind of restore.---I started to mention it on this thread but I got scolded the last time I mentioned one for sale.


Let me know when you run off a batch of those Carbon Fibered Plastic Zip Ties.---Like to get about a dozen.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, great idea on the zip ties. Replacing my belt with one of your zips would keep me from having to buy larger size pants!

Good one Bob but I’m not sure I can make them that big yet. Lol

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, did you snag that little RED 18 on ePray?---That was a nice one.---Odd that someone would do a 100% red job on a nice little vise like that.---Would have brought a lot more with the right kind of restore.---I started to mention it on this thread but I got scolded the last time I mentioned one for sale.





Let me know when you run off a batch of those Carbon Fibered Plastic Zip Ties.---Like to get about a dozen.

I just had to have it. The only issue that I can see is one rather unfortunate hack saw dig on the static. The rest of the vise looks sound in every other aspect. I’m not sure how old the paint job is but I can see a little rust underneath. I’ve been searching for an 18 in good condition for quite a while now and this seemed to fit the bill. These are seller pics btw. As far as zip ties go you’re second on the list after ProductBob.



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[Shiftless]

This would have been the “you ****” deal of the month. A Wilton C zero for 5 bucks. Ad said “vise”
I check offer up several times per day but I missed this one. I bet it was gone in 5 minutes.

 

[davethorik]

There was a Wilton 350S on CL early last week for $70 and the vise was sold in 4 minutes, ad yanked in less than 10. The seller said there was already someone that showed up with cash in that time LOL

 

[RagTopTA]

a couple of HUGE vises I bought the last week or so. the first is a Belows, made in Dallas Tx. Actually bought it from GJ member BlueBolt at the Pate Swap meet! The next is a little 1" jaw jewelers vise looks to be.

 

[AndrewH]

Picked up a Athol / Starrett 324.5 today, nothing huge but they are pretty chunky at 90 lbs for a 4.5” vise, just wish I could find a 326! If anyone has one they’d like to sell, let me know!

 

[mikeswrenches]

RagTop, the little 1 in. jaw hand vise is a Colton's patent no. 320224 from 1885. A lot of the larger ones are also marked H & B around the face of the static jaw. Those little ones aren’t real common.
I have the vise portion of the Bellows but never knew what the rest of it looked like. Now I just need to find those parts.

Mike

 

[RagTopTA]

RagTop, the little 1 in. jaw hand vise is a Colton's patent no. 320224 from 1885. A lot of the larger ones are also marked H & B around the face of the static jaw. Those little ones aren’t real common.
I have the vise portion of the Bellows but never knew what the rest of it looked like. Now I just need to find those parts.

Mike

Thanks for the info Mike! I have never seen a Bellows before and Im an hour and half from Dallas. Neat little vises!

 

[lowdowndodge]

Bought this little Parker No. 91 vise this weekend Parker bear for scale. Prentis vise to the left I have had for a while.