The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Mslund1, I'd match a steel rod with the diameter of the grooves, split it down the middle the length of the grooves, saw one half off, drill 2 holes through the half round stock and right up through the static bottom, and then thread the holes in the static bottom.---Recess the holes so you can use 2 counter sunk screws.---Or else get some 7018 welding rods or nickel rods and run 4 or 5 passes on top of each other till it's as high as your groove is deep.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks guys for the kind words.

VA, I’ve got a couple of little ones hitting the door tomorrow, I’ll post up.

 

[Bcamos]

That’s a rare vise. Dig deep in those pockets

How deep is deep? I can't seem to find any information on them.

 

[rtdgfd]

Did one company make most of the heavy cast iron bases? I have one with a Reed 108 vise. It came from the ATSF shops in Topeka. Looks similar to your photo. Thanks, Norm

 

[KMScott]

There's so much information in this thread that it's pretty difficult to sort through. With that said, I hope you guys don't mind me asking...what could I expect to pay for a Chas Parker 972 1/2?

Thanks!!
Justin

I would love to see a picture or two of that vise. It would be a great start of your vise collections.

 

[va.grouseman]

How deep is deep? I can't seem to find any information on them.

Pretty deep if the seller knows what he has.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Dave, it sounds like the PO's of both our Reed 405s went to the same "Dun-know-how-use-tool-in-gooder-ways" school of thinking. Sounds like you have yours back up to snuff already, I've not even had a chance to look at mine yet due to competing priorities



Like FJ, I was just perusing through the thread, catching up when I saw Mac's post. I stopped what I was doing and walked out to my garage to check my Craftsman 5170 - no Made in England ANYWHERE that I could see (at least without taking it apart).

I find that Made in England stamp to be exceedingly interesting and would *really* love to learn the backstory on that vise. Maybe it was a licensed build by an English vise maker for export to Europe? Maybe that one just made its way across the pond somehow? Just a thought. For some reason I feel like I've seen other half-round slide 51xx vises (variants of the one I posted) with "Made in USA" on them before.

Is it just me or does the casting seem kind of smooth there, like maybe it was sanded?

Perhaps Sears was afraid of the not-made-here syndrome. I can see this not being as much of an issue north of the border. I notice a lot of British industrial equipment here in any installation from the 50s. It's almost as if we were trying to help rebuild England after the war by purchasing their industrial machinery. My workplace has lots of English Electic motors and switchgear, and the 12000hp turbocompressor at the wind tunnel I used to work at was built by Fraser and Chalmers out of Erith, Kent, England. They were a subsidiary of GEC. It was an amazingly well designed and built machine. Lots of our smaller shop compressors were Reavells, and we had a lot of Wadkin Bursgreen woodworking tools, before some safety engineers came through and condemned them all for insufficient guarding. It was all replaced with cheap Chinese **** with a few extra plastic bits. Same with the sturdy Powermatic drill presses and Dean Smith and Grace lathes...out the door....

I remember going through a generating station built in the late 50s and all the stuff was Metropolitan Vickers, GEC, Howden etc.

I picked up the Craftsman vise and disassembled, bead blasted, primed and painted it a nice light gray. It was in very good condition and will be a good, useful tool. No manufacturers marks, but the static jaw was stamped 04/56, so an oldie but a goodie.

 

[Fierljeppen]

There's so much information in this thread that it's pretty difficult to sort through. With that said, I hope you guys don't mind me asking...what could I expect to pay for a Chas Parker 972 1/2?

That’s a rare vise. Dig deep in those pockets

How deep is deep? I can't seem to find any information on them.

Bcamos...Are you the seller? Sorry, but the last -2- newbies that GJ members helped with questions like yours ended up using the information for their listing on eBay.

 

[va.grouseman]

Bcamos, it does sound a little like you are the seller, not the buyer.---But here's a few pics for size reference if you are the buyer.---A little taller than the 2000s, but the smallest in the 97 series.---If you are the seller, harvesting info for profit is kind-of frowned upon on this thread.---Try the classifieds thread.

 

[Bcamos]

Bcamos...Are you the seller? Sorry, but the last -2- newbies that GJ members helped with questions like yours ended up using the information for their listing on eBay.

Full disclosure - I'm not a seller, but I do have one. I've had it for years and never had any idea what I had. I just assumed it was an old vise (which it is) but I never would have thought that it had any kind of value. I have a couple of larger newer vises that I use so this one just kind of sat in the corner of my garage until I randomly decided to Google the words on the side of it yesterday.

 

[va.grouseman]

Bcamos, we still need pics when you can.---And a back story to go along.---And congrats, you don't see many of those.

 

[Bcamos]

Bcamos, we still need pics when you can.---And a back story to go along.---And congrats, you don't see many of those.

I posted pictures in the reply above. I can see them, but it may be because I linked them from another forum. I'll see if I can upload them directly to here.

 

[jmhinkle]

I posted pictures in the reply above. I can see them, but it may be because I linked them from another forum. I'll see if I can upload them directly to here.

We can't see them. Make sure to remove the "s" if the link is "https"

 

[Bcamos]

We can't see them. Make sure to remove the "s" if the link is "https"

Ah that could be it. I figured out how to attach them directly to the post though so they should show up now.

 

[jmhinkle]

Ah that could be it. I figured out how to attach them directly to the post though so they should show up now.

They are showing now. Nice to see those old Parkers in good shape and with the wrench still around.

 

[Bcamos]

Bcamos, we still need pics when you can.---And a back story to go along.---And congrats, you don't see many of those.

As far as the back story, I wish it were cooler than it actually is haha. I don't remember where/when I got it. I just know that I've had it for a long time.

Over the last 5 years I've lived in New Hampshire, North Carolina and now Texas. I've had it at least that long because I remember loading it into the moving truck each time and thinking to myself "Why do I keep dragging this thing with me if I don't even use it?"

I'm not a collector of things, but I do have a hard time throwing away anything useful, especially tools. We just moved in at our new property here in Texas and my wife wants to have a yard sale to get rid of some things. I said, "Okay I guess it's time I finally get rid of this old vise that I don't use" and I added it to the pile. Then a few minutes later something in my brain told me to just do a quick Google search on the markings. That search brought me here!

I'm still undecided on if I want to sell it or hang onto it. Hell, I've had it for this long! I don't see myself diving into the vise collecting hobby, as long range rifles, horses and 3 kids already take up most of my time lol. But if I do keep it, it'll get a nice cleaning with a touch of oil and placed on the shelf.

I really appreciate all of the replies and information that you guys have provided. I can make you this promise though - If I do decide to sell it, it won't be on Ebay for the price of gold. I'd rather pass it on to someone that appreciates it that might otherwise never have the opportunity to own one.

 

[Vise]

Nice Parker Bcamos. Be ready for some PMs asking you to sell it.

 

[Bcamos]

They are showing now. Nice to see those old Parkers in good shape and with the wrench still around.

I noticed that! I noticed that in all of the pictures I've found online, most don't actually have that wrench on the side.

 

[Maui]

Bcamos, whatever you do don’t sell that vise. It is very rare. Cleaned up it would probably look fantastic. I just completed the restoration of my York 150 Vise this morning. Here are some before and after photos. It was not very pretty when I got it, but it cleaned up nicely.

Maui

 

[MayerMR]

Mayer
If I had found one, I would be tickled pink too! Great score

Nice Emmert MayerMR. That is a rare one. Very nice repair too.

Mayer -great little pickup!

Thanks fellas, I'm thinking this one may get a bit of a bump in the order of priority for getting worked on.

Is it just me or does the casting seem kind of smooth there, like maybe it was sanded?

I haven't inspected it extremely closely, but I don't *think* that is the case with this vise - I'll take a closer look when I get home. I would assume, if anything, there was a different casting for vises exported to the USA vs Canada or Europe maybe?

 

[va.grouseman]

I don't know why but the pics of the 972 1/2 never came through on my pc.---?

 

[KMScott]

Shucks va, I just added your pic:s to the spreadsheet, I have been waiting a long time for pic's for the 972-1/2. Awesome collection you have, some day I have to visit you, I do have family in Virginia and getting things rolling for my move to South Carolina for the Winter.

 

[Vise]

Thanks fellas, I'm thinking this one may get a bit of a bump in the order of priority for getting worked on.



I haven't inspected it extremely closely, but I don't *think* that is the case with this vise - I'll take a closer look when I get home. I would assume, if anything, there was a different casting for vises exported to the USA vs Canada or Europe maybe?

Mayer - somehow missed your Emmert. Fantastic find. That is one repair that adds some character. Great pick up!

 

[zoomieport]

Wow, great pickups both Mayer and gman.

So I showed my wife Zoomie's loaded garage and trailer (which I am certain is not even close to all he has) in an effort to say "look, I don't have a vise problem" and the first words out of her mouth were "is that guy married?" Touche, well played.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Is it weird that the same EXACT conversation happened to me?????

My girlfriend doesn't mind at all, she thinks it's "cute", LOL!
Yes, we live together...

 

[va.grouseman]

Come on KMS, I'll take you on a tour from one pile to the next.---And I mean that literally.

 

[va.grouseman]

Zoomie, by now she has done some GOOLING, and she knows you are setting on a gold mine.

 

[peterp]

Bcamos, whatever you do don’t sell that vise. It is very rare. Cleaned up it would probably look fantastic. I just completed the restoration of my York 150 Vise this morning. Here are some before and after photos. It was not very pretty when I got it, but it cleaned up nicely.

My vote goes to "after" . Looks awesome! What paint did you use?

 

[Maui]

Thanks Peter. I used Rustoleum Cobalt Blue Metallic. After the paint had cured I applied two separate coats of clear gloss and let it sit for about a month. The photos really don’t do it justice - in direct sunlight this paint looks amazing!

Maui

 

[zoomieport]

Zoomie, by now she has done some GOOLING, and she knows you are setting on a gold mine.

She would like her side of the garage back though...

 

[Smitty]

Cone mandrels, swage blocks and tons of anvils. What more could a guy want. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that many anvil stands in one place, they’re super rare in my neck of the woods.

 

[gman007]

Cone mandrels, swage blocks and tons of anvils. What more could a guy want. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that many anvil stands in one place, they’re super rare in my neck of the woods.

Smitty
Check this out

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6570745&postcount=56237

 

[gman007]

She would like her side of the garage back though...

Zoom
So now I know why there is not a single anvil left to be found in MI !!!

 

[Smitty]

Smitty
Check this out

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6570745&postcount=56237

Yeah, I’ve drooled over that pic before. My first thought is that they must not have earthquakes there.

 

[Smitty]

I just realized it’s a video and watched it, no wonder why anvils are so rare.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Smitty]

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. This is a Prentiss jewelers vise no. 39, It has 2” jaws and opens 2”. The vise still has about 90% of the original oxblood paint on it and is in great condition for its age. This is listed in the spreadsheet but there’s no photo.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Outlawmws]

Sell all those anvils in one go and the anvil market would collapse!

 

[zoomieport]

Here are some baby Prentiss’s.

 

[gman007]

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. This is a Prentiss jewelers vise no. 39, It has 2” jaws and opens 2”. The vise still has about 90% of the original oxblood paint on it and is in great condition for its age. This is listed in the spreadsheet but there’s no photo.

Smitty
Fantastic score! man you just keep raising the bar

 

[gman007]

Here are some baby Prentiss’s.

Honestly, all I can muster to say is Hoooooooooolly craaaaaaaaaaaaaap

 

[Vise]

Smitty cool 2 incher in fantastic shape!
Zoomwhat model is that big Prentiss in the anvil pic? Impressive collection.