The VISES of Garage Journal

[Vise]

If you try my floor jack method, have a BF soft blow hammer handy. As the end of the slide starts to go through the static body, it will get cocked. Just release the hydraulic pressure, wack the vise straight and apply pressure.
Good luck.

I think that’s the inevitable next step. This was a total, frustrating failure.

 

[sgtgeo]

So the Morgan Chicago is 100% finished

And the Prentiss #52 needs the lettering outlined.

 

[jeffyhog]

Picked this Parker 436A up last weekend. It looked pretty rough in the ad and I had to drive a good ways to get it. Decided to knock the crappy paint off with a wire wheel and grease it up. Very happy with the condition and its as smooth as can be. Does anybody know how to determine the age of this thing? I'm assuming the A models were later than the 436. There is a few numbers stamped on the top of the slide, but I've had no luck finding how to decode them.

 

[Craftfab]

Don't know if this person is on the forum but came across @ blacksmithtools on IG and saw this video of a lot of nice vises, including a rear swivel jaw Wilton, all just piled in that container. It is a pretty cool account.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwdKWGclFYh/

 

[Fierljeppen]

Picked this Parker 436A up last weekend. It looked pretty rough in the ad and I had to drive a good ways to get it. Decided to knock the crappy paint off with a wire wheel and grease it up. Very happy with the condition and its as smooth as can be. Does anybody know how to determine the age of this thing? I'm assuming the A models were later than the 436. There is a few numbers stamped on the top of the slide, but I've had no luck finding how to decode them.

The age is 1965 or newer. Really good looking vise, but what's up with the miniature beer bottle?

 

[12vx2]

I was looking through some things today and saw this little cast aluminum vise that I picked up several years ago. It is made similar to the cast iron/steel clamp-on vises. It has a 4 and 5 casting number on the inside of the jaws. All aluminum except the bronze nut and thrust/guide inserted and steel screw, guide rods and handle. The end balls on the handle and the handle end of the screw are aluminum. It has plastic jaws. Anyone seen anything like it before?

 

[12vx2]

I picked up this Starrett 923 project vise at a yard sale about a week ago. It was long used after the jaw inserts were gone and has some battering on the jaw shelf, mating face and top edge. The insert screws are broken off and worn smooth. I really don't need any more projects, but at $5.00, I couldn't walk away without it. I hope to clean it up and make some smooth brass jaws before too long.

 

[WAS Jr]

Boley made a lot of watchmaker's tools. They are probably best known for their precision small lathes. The company was established in 1870 in Esslingen, Germany.

I stand corrected,thanks.
Bill S

 

[jeffyhog]

The age is 1965 or newer. Really good looking vise, but what's up with the miniature beer bottle?

Thanks for the info. The stamped number on top of the slide looks like a 7 68, so maybe its a 1968 model. It's a huge vise, makes that beer bottle look small.

 

[KMScott]

I picked up this Starrett 923 project vise at a yard sale about a week ago. It was long used after the jaw inserts were gone and has some battering on the jaw shelf, mating face and top edge. The insert screws are broken off and worn smooth. I really don't need any more projects, but at $5.00, I couldn't walk away without it. I hope to clean it up and make some smooth brass jaws before too long.

Doesn't look that bad, here is a sketch of your jaws and where the 1/4:20 screws are located on your vise. Show us the finished jaws and vise when you finish.

 

[rusty65]

Thanks for the info. The stamped number on top of the slide looks like a 7 68, so maybe its a 1968 model. It's a huge vise, makes that beer bottle look small.

Yeah that’s what it would be. I’ve got a 4in fixed base Parker with a 6-68 date code.



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[LesserSon]

Bonney Ajax 356 Broken Slide

Twertsy
Does your Bonney Ajax 356 (could that be 35B, 35D, or 35S?) have a two-digit number stamped under the dynamic jaw / bottom of the slide?

A couple weeks ago, Mrs LS texted me a photo at the flea market that got my immediate attention. $10 later, I was the happy owner of the second Bonney Ajax on this thread. It’s a No32, 3” jaws. Well, the static jaw isn’t quite 3” as it is missing a chunk.
Today I started stripping away the sloppy pale green (it was on the slide and jaws!) and rust. Under it, there may a darker green but also a splotch of dark blue. First thing I spotted was a stamped “2nd” on the side of the dynamic jaw, which I suspect may mean the missing chunk in the static happened at the foundry. Despite this flaw, the vise looks to have had plenty of use.
Then, on the bottom of the dynamic, just under the spindle hole, a “27”. Hmmm. 1927?

 

[LesserSon]

Couple more views of the static jaw.
Edit: new bathroom scale says my Bonney Ajax no.32 weighs 18.4lb. I estimate from the missing chunk this model probably averaged 19lb.

 

[Productbob]

Sgt, nice work on both vises!

 

[va.grouseman]

Don't know if this person is on the forum but came across @ blacksmithtools on IG and saw this video of a lot of nice vises, including a rear swivel jaw Wilton, all just piled in that container. It is a pretty cool account.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwdKWGclFYh/

Yea, he's a member here.---I was bidding on that same pipe vise that looks like a lobster claw that he keeps snapping, and that's the only one of those that I've ever seen.---He just wanted it worse than me.---He hasn't posted here in a while but I'll bet he's been lurking and looking occasionally.---And also, what you see on the video is just an appetizer.---He's got tons of good rust.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Was wondering how you knew the age was 1965 or newer? I saw a 436 that had an 1880 patent date on it, so I wondered if some 436A's could also be a little older than 1965?

I'd be really interested in seeing the 436 w/ the 1880 patent date. As far as I know the really old Parker vises of this style were numbered entirely different. Fierljeppen can probably give you a better idea of around what time Parker switched to the 43x numbering on their combo vises.


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[Fierljeppen]

Was wondering how you knew the age was 1965 or newer? I saw a 436 that had an 1880 patent date on it, so I wondered if some 436A's could also be a little older than 1965?

Fair question...I base all of my responses on printed data. Although printed data is not infallible, it's usually more accurate than not.

In this case, I took the information from a 1965 Parker catalog, which was the first catalog to add letters to the end of the vise models. These letters were also added to the castings of the vises, as seen on post-1965 Union-Parker vises.

I don't have your 1880 patent information, but I do have a 1876 catalog scan showing Parker's patent combo vise, which seemed to change very little over the years. It's a remarkable design that has certainly stood the test of time.

 

[meatsis]

Was wondering how you knew the age was 1965 or newer? I saw a 436 that had an 1880 patent date on it, so I wondered if some 436A's could also be a little older than 1965?

The patent you saw was 1930. Not 1880. Once you hit the #’s with a wire brush you can see them clearly

 

[Smitty]

Here’s an earlier 436. I’ll take a better pic of the stamp when I get there.


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[Smitty]

Here’s a pic of the patent date, it’s kind of hard to read but Meatsis was right it’s 1930.
Jeffyhog, your 436A is in beautiful condition. Those rarely come up around here.


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[Mr. Wonderful]

Wow everyone picked up some nice iron lately. I came across these two craftsman vises. Nothing special. I didnt have one of the art deco style vises in my collection. $20 for the pair seemed fair. The 51856 seems to be somewhat of an oddball. Most information I come up with seems to say made in China but this one is marked USA so I dont know what to make of it???

 

[va.grouseman]

I've got a 436 and it's a 1930.---If yours was 1880, I think it would have a long stem that pokes down through the bench and has a huge tightening nut.---But you may have a unicorn there.

 

[meatsis]

Yes like VA said. If it was made in 1880 it would have the bolt through the bench for the swivel. And the model #’s were totally different back then. The early 6” combo Parker’s were #289 1/2 I believe.

 

[AndrewH]

Since we’re all tossing our 436’s in the ring, I’ll post my mint condition one that I bought 5 or so years ago. Appears to be all original, in near perfect condition. It is also a 436A.

 

[AndrewH]

Interesting that my 436A has the same funny looking screw head on the swivel base with the ****** sticking up out of it?

Yes sir, no wrench with these guys as far I can tell.

 

[AndrewH]

Also none of the 436's pictured on here have the same style lettering shown in this ad. Anyone have a 436 with this style lettering?

Even though the photos today are making them look somewhat common. 436's still probably one of, it not my favorite vise. Hard to beat the giant massive jaw look it has.

They definitely aren’t that common, I love the styling of the 436. I’ll likely never sell it because I know I couldn’t find one in the same condition to replace it!

 

[AndrewH]

And the quest continues! I just picked up this big ole girl, 8” American Scale Co 58! It also came with a sweet stand that turns it into a swivel vise!

Getting down to the last few, now my list is:

Holland’s
Prentiss
Yost

As always, if you know of an 8”+ for sale from those manufacturers, please do let me know!

 

[Svt_ivan]

Y’all aren’t the only ones scoring some giants lately...

As you can see it’s obviously missing the clamp, looks like some previous owner chopped it off and mounted it on a piece of wood. But other than that, it’s in great condition.

Any master machinist care to help me out with swivel base for it?

 

[AndrewH]

Y’all aren’t the only ones scoring some giants lately...

As you can see it’s obviously missing the clamp, looks like some previous owner chopped it off and mounted it on a piece of wood. But other than that, it’s in great condition.

Any master machinist care to help me out with swivel base for it?

Send it to me and I’ll gladly machine a swivel base for it and add it to my growing herd of small vises!

 

[Svt_ivan]

Send it to me and I’ll gladly machine a swivel base for it and add it to my growing herd of small vises!

Sure what’s your address? Lol

Can you go back and edit your previous comment, just delete the last portion of it.

 

[Shiftless]

You guys are scoring some amazing vises out there.

Svt: I know everything is bigger in Texas, but where did you get such a huge cigarette lighter???

 

[12vx2]

KMS, thank you for the print. Your generosity with your knowledge and experience is greatly appreciated.

 

[Smitty]

Y’all aren’t the only ones scoring some giants lately...

As you can see it’s obviously missing the clamp, looks like some previous owner chopped it off and mounted it on a piece of wood. But other than that, it’s in great condition.

Any master machinist care to help me out with swivel base for it?

Nice find, that is so cool.

 

[PghJKB]

I don't know, either way they are pretty old. Like to see the patent...

The 1930 patent is most likely #1778576 granted to P.H.D. Walker and assigned to the Charles Parker Company of Meriden, Connecticut.

It can be found here:
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageN...1=1778576.PN.%26OS=pn/1778576%26RS=PN/1778576

JKB

 

[Smitty]

This 6” Parker is on the board in my area for $225. The seller does mention the fact that it had a major repair in its history. That’s quite the desert varnish patina.


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[va.grouseman]

Jeffyhog, Andrew, and RB, all three 436As are top notch specimens that make a lot of mouths water.---Fine examples.---And rapid-fire pics like those are what make this thread so interesting.

 

[ken w.]

I picked up this Hollands No. 14 of Erie , Pa. off FB today. It kind of shuddered as you tighten the screw. A few squirts of Kroil and it's smooth like silk now. I think I'm going to repaint this one as it's in really nice condition. What year was this made and is the original color red ?

 

[Svt_ivan]

You guys are scoring some amazing vises out there.

Svt: I know everything is bigger in Texas, but where did you get such a huge cigarette lighter???

 

[ken w.]

I also picked up this Howard Iron Works vise. It has a broken mounting foot , but it opens and closes smoothly. I normally wouldn't buy a broken vise , but as I'm in the Buffalo area where it was made I thought I'd save it from the scrap yard. I only gave $ 20.00 for it. I'm going to refinish this and make it a wall hanger. How about a year it was made and the original color ?

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Svt ivan.

Any master machinist care to help me out with swivel base for it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


I know one fellow that could, and has turned some Stanley clamp-ons into the prettiest little swivel based units you've ever seen.---So it can be done, but I'll just leave it at that.---He's a busy fellow.