The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

Smitty, great little buy! By the way how's that Intervention you had a while ago working out? LOL

Lol. Yeah, it’s been tough. The good news is that I’ve only bought one vise this week. The bad news is that it’s only Monday.

 

[kenc184]

I've seen that on other prentisses. From all the years of someone letting the handle drop into the meatball, cammed out the hole. A sleeve may not be a bad fix, or is you're replacing the handle, bigger ends would help.

Hmm, thanks Jrobb. I could make larger ball ends - I dug out the radius cutter I made for my lathe 10 or 15 years ago, but bigger ends wouldn't solve the slop issue. Guess I'll sleeve it. This vise is going to be like George Washington's axe by the time it's done ....LOL.

 

[Shiftless]

Clark:
Looking good!
I did a double take when I saw your “free” Prentiss that you just finished. You probably noticed my recent post of the VERY similar vise, one size larger. Here is my pic and your pic together. I suppose “great minds think alike” right?

 

[Jeepster425]

Here's mine, a Dawn 90 Australian. Just been sitting in my garage unmounted for years

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Vise]

Andrew - Another beauty. Great find!

Clark - Very nice Prentiss and looks to be in great condition. Nice work.

Shiftless ended up loading the 8" Yost into the truck. It's taking the place of my Athol 626 which is gonna get a an overdue 'refresh'. Damn Athol base comes close to violating the 100# rule all by itself.

Nice pick up Bob. Did you end up dating it? Also...pics please!

Ken - Would you consider replacing the handle? When there is wear like that I believe some folks will drill to expand the hole to the next size up and then get a handle rod that fits well into that new hole. Good luck with it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Jeepster, that is one nice dust collector.---What do you actually have mounted?

 

[kenc184]

Andrew - Another beauty. Great find!

Clark - Very nice Prentiss and looks to be in great condition. Nice work.



Nice pick up Bob. Did you end up dating it? Also...pics please!



Ken - Would you consider replacing the handle? When there is wear like that I believe some folks will drill to expand the hole to the next size up and then get a handle rod that fits well into that new hole. Good luck with it.

Vise, yes that's the other option. I'm a cheapskate though, and the large diameter drill rod I have and might use for this purpose is a bit expensive to waste on a handle. I have lots of 3/4" bar stock but that's smaller than the stock handle. I think the cheapest and probably best option is to bore out to round then sleeve the meatball. Luckily I'm in no hurry to decide given all the other vises clogging up the floor in my workshop!

edit: I was just thinking (rare!) I could also make a new meatball. I have some 4" long 3" diameter 8620 steel round bar offcuts that I could shape pretty close to the original using my radius cutter on the lathe. Not sure how to get the screw out of the old meatball though.

 

[Vise]

Vise, yes that's the other option. I'm a cheapskate though, and the large diameter drill rod I have and might use for this purpose is a bit expensive to waste on a handle. I have lots of 3/4" bar stock but that's smaller than the stock handle. I think the cheapest and probably best option is to bore out to round then sleeve the meatball. Luckily I'm in no hurry to decide given all the other vises clogging up the floor in my workshop!

edit: I was just thinking (rare!) I could also make a new meatball. I have some 4" long 3" diameter 8620 steel round bar offcuts that I could shape pretty close to the original using my radius cutter on the lathe. Not sure how to get the screw out of the old meatball though.

If you go the route of creating a new meatball you might want to talk to JeffZ about it. I know he attached a new meatball to an old Reed 108 screw.

 

[Productbob]

Here's the Yost- The only date I'm going to remember about this vise is the date I bought a big a-- vise that I can't lift. Perhaps buyers remorse kicking in along with a sore back. Coke can for size but it's sitting on a 3 foot wide table.
The other photo is one of my favorite vises, the Athol 626 that's sitting next to an Athol 623 1/2. Yost is standing in for the Athol while it gets cleaned and painted.

 

[Smitty]

Nice find bob, the vise looks huge.

 

[Vise]

Agreed. Very nice Yost, Bob. That Athol 626 looks very clean as well.

 

[zkling]

Here's the Yost- The only date I'm going to remember about this vise is the date I bought a big a-- vise that I can't lift. Perhaps buyers remorse kicking in along with a sore back. Coke can for size but it's sitting on a 3 foot wide table.
The other photo is one of my favorite vises, the Athol 626 that's sitting next to an Athol 623 1/2. Yost is standing in for the Athol while it gets cleaned and painted.

That should be a 208 due to the swivel base. Those are nice working vises due to the square throat to jaw width. Just don't go crazy tightening or hammering / prying as the extra throat depth puts quite a bit additional stress on the corner where the slide connects.

 

[Productbob]

thanks Smitty, Vise & zkling; it is bigger than I thought it was going to be and thanks for the heads up on the stress points. Athol is pretty clean just want to do something different than an oil finish this time.

Wife just came down stairs to see my latest treasure, saw the Yost, "OH MY GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!"

 

[trijeff]

thanks Smitty, Vise & zkling; it is bigger than I thought it was going to be and thanks for the heads up on the stress points. Athol is pretty clean just want to do something different than an oil finish this time.

Wife just came down stairs to see my latest treasure, saw the Yost, "OH MY GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!"

Mine had the same reaction when I first got the Prentiss 98, now she just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Heyduggee]

Chuffed to bits to have found this little Prentiss here in the UK. I can't imagine that many made it over the pond but I'm glad this one did. From my reading of many Prentiss posts on here I'd guess it was from the '50s, but I'll bow to expert correction.

It's been used but pretty lightly I'd say. Some light wounds where someone has used it as an anvil but otherwise in great condition. Don't love the paint job but hey ho.

 

[Smitty]

Chuffed to bits to have found this little Prentiss here in the UK. I can't imagine that many made it over the pond but I'm glad this one did. From my reading of many Prentiss posts on here I'd guess it was from the '50s, but I'll bow to expert correction.

It's been used but pretty lightly I'd say. Some light wounds where someone has used it as an anvil but otherwise in great condition. Don't love the paint job but hey ho.

Nice find and it looks to be in good condition. I would date your vise from the late teens to the early 1920’s.

 

[Heyduggee]

Thanks Smitty that is fascinating.

 

[Productbob]

Hey nice looking Prentiss, congratulations. What's the green vise sitting in the background?

 

[Heyduggee]

Hey nice looking Prentiss, congratulations. What's the green vise sitting in the background?

Thanks! The greenie is a cast steel Fortis No.9 with QR. My regular user.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Chuffed to bits to have found this little Prentiss here in the UK. I can't imagine that many made it over the pond but I'm glad this one did. From my reading of many Prentiss posts on here I'd guess it was from the '50s, but I'll bow to expert correction.

It's been used but pretty lightly I'd say. Some light wounds where someone has used it as an anvil but otherwise in great condition. Don't love the paint job but hey ho.

I agree with Smitty's age evaluation. Replaceable jaws means post 1910/1911. The "graffiti" style script usually indicates sometime in the 1920's or 30's but no one really seems to know for sure. I would place yours somewhere earlier in that timeframe due to the larger nose (meatball). Graffiti script Prentiss vises more commonly had the later style smaller nose.

As far as those jaws go though, I personally haven't seen Prentiss jaws with that style cross hatching. They look hand cut.Those might be replacements made by a machinist.

Smitty, you've got a couple Prentiss vises, do any of yours have removable jaws that look like that?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Smitty]

I agree with Smitty's age evaluation. Replaceable jaws means post 1910/1911. The "graffiti" style script usually indicates sometime in the 1920's or 30's but no one really seems to know for sure. I would place yours somewhere earlier in that timeframe due to the larger nose (meatball). Graffiti script Prentiss vises more commonly had the later style smaller nose.

As far as those jaws go though, I personally haven't seen Prentiss jaws with that style cross hatching. They look hand cut.Those might be replacements made by a machinist.

Smitty, you've got a couple Prentiss vises, do any of yours have removable jaws that look like that?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

If I had to guess I’d say that the jaws were originally smooth. The serrations look hand cut to me.

 

[Smitty]

Here’s the same model with the stationary base. This vise has the streamlined meatball that Chris was talking about.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Miller72]

23lb
ZeeCo 3

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Picked up this little beauty at an estate sale... a bit rusty but not used hardly at all...

View media item 92643

 

[bulletpruf]

Went to pick up a welding table today and asked the guy if he had any vises or anvils for sale. He had a 55 lb Chinese anvil that I passed on, but I didn't pass on the Rock Island 574. Nice and tight. I think it will clean up nicely. This will likely get pressed into service in the garage shop, working alongside a Wilton 4.5" machinist vise that I restored along with a Morgan 60 that I refurbished as well.

What color were these originally? I'm thinking it will look good with BLO, but still curious as to original color.

Needs some jaws, too. Does anyone (paging Dr. Scott!) make jaws for these?

Almost forgot - is $100 a decent deal on this? It's a keeper, so it's not a big deal if I overpaid.

Scott

 

[bagged89s10]

1953 Buck and Hickman catalogue vice pages. They contain a mixture of brands including Record, Woden, Parkinson, Samsonia, Rededa, Abwood, Taylor, Eclipse, Roebuck, Storn, Mancuna and a few others.

I think I found a “Handy” 3c vise. Anyone have any more info on this 94lb 6” jaw vise?

 

[txlonghorn1989]

bulletpruf There's the pics! Nice vise. At $100 I'd say you ****! Asking the right questions before you left too! Obviously this ain't your first rodeo!

 

[bulletpruf]

bulletpruf There's the pics! Nice vise. At $100 I'd say you ****! Asking the right questions before you left too! Obviously this ain't your first rodeo!

Not my first rodeo, but I'm not sure it's a "you ****" price. Hopefully, I won't find any cracks or other sins once I strip it.

Thanks

EDIT - Dr. Scott does indeed make jaws for these; have some on the way.

 

[Shiftless]

Heyduggee:
I agree with Smitty on the approximate age and also about the seemingly aftermarket serrations on your jaws. Smitty showed a good shot of serrations on a #50. Here is a shot of the jaws on my #52 for comparison.
My #52 also has the “streamlined” meatball with a small flat area where the words “oil the screw” were stamped at the factory. And also stamped into the edges of the jaws, June 1911? for the patent date of Prentiss replaceable jaws.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I think I found a “Handy” 3c vise. Anyone have any more info on this 94lb 6” jaw vise?

Looks similar to a Woden 186 series vise with the added non-integral swivel base, but not quite the same.

 

[ken w.]

I picked up this Athol 114 L vise the other day while buying a rototiller. It was sitting on the garage floor next to the trash can. I had to take it home. I haven't found much info on this model. I see 114 X , but no 114 L. Any idea of when this was made ?

 

[vigalass]

This guy gets it.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Not my first rodeo, but I'm not sure it's a "you ****" price. Hopefully, I won't find any cracks or other sins once I strip it.

Thanks

EDIT - Dr. Scott does indeed make jaws for these; have some on the way.

My "you ****" was taking into account the fact that we don't get many good old American vises showing up in these parts. Hopefully, everything will be in good order.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Went to pick up a welding table today and asked the guy if he had any vises or anvils for sale. He had a 55 lb Chinese anvil that I passed on, but I didn't pass on the Rock Island 574. Nice and tight. I think it will clean up nicely. This will likely get pressed into service in the garage shop, working alongside a Wilton 4.5" machinist vise that I restored along with a Morgan 60 that I refurbished as well.

What color were these originally? I'm thinking it will look good with BLO, but still curious as to original color.

Needs some jaws, too. Does anyone (paging Dr. Scott!) make jaws for these?

Almost forgot - is $100 a decent deal on this? It's a keeper, so it's not a big deal if I overpaid.

Scott

This one just ended yesterday. I'd say you did okay.


Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Heyduggee]

Thanks again Smitty & Chris for the knowledge.

Heyduggee:
I agree with Smitty on the approximate age and also about the seemingly aftermarket serrations on your jaws. Smitty showed a good shot of serrations on a #50. Here is a shot of the jaws on my #52 for comparison.
My #52 also has the “streamlined” meatball with a small flat area where the words “oil the screw” were stamped at the factory. And also stamped into the edges of the jaws, June 1911? for the patent date of Prentiss replaceable jaws.

Whilst this #50's nose is certainly meatier, I went and had a good look at it in daylight and could see the same "oil the screw" stamp. Does that help narrow down age at all or does it confuse things?

 

[justin.d.richards.9]

This one just ended yesterday. I'd say you did okay.


Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

This makes me sad/angry for the fact there was one of these listed here the other day for $50!! The person never responded to the messages I sent but did read them(item was listed on Facebook) and a day later marked it as sold. Very upsetting that people can't simply respond to a message. Communication is poor with MANY people selling things.

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

 

[bulletpruf]

My "you ****" was taking into account the fact that we don't get many good old American vises showing up in these parts. Hopefully, everything will be in good order.

Ok. I haven't paid too much attention to the for sale ads for vises; didn't realize there weren't a lot showing up for sale.

This one just ended yesterday. I'd say you did okay.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Thanks, that's an excellent data point.

 

[RBarnes]

I posted a photo of this Erie 4c vise some time back, but am wondering if anyone has any information on it (original ads etc.). I has 6 inch wide jaws and weights over 100 pounds. It is about 14 inches tall and 23 inches long when closed. I can find very little information on it.

 

[Handyandy23]

This makes me sad/angry for the fact there was one of these listed here the other day for $50!! The person never responded to the messages I sent but did read them(item was listed on Facebook) and a day later marked it as sold. Very upsetting that people can't simply respond to a message. Communication is poor with MANY people selling things.

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

They probably had a long list of people that had already messaged. If I post something for sale and I get 10 emails asking for it, I offer it to the first person that emailed. Maybe I'll email the second person and tell them if person #1 doesn't show up then they are next in line. But I won't sit there and respond to every single person if there are several.

Then I'll mark it sold once it's picked up. If person #1 says they'll come get it tomorrow I'll say sure and wait.

 

[Productbob]

so intent on getting the Yost out of the truck and into the basement forgot about the other vise that got picked up in the deal. It needs cleanup but it's a hockey puck Reed 104 1/2 R.