The VISES of Garage Journal

[mxdev]

MX
That is an interesting find and personally I find the 1927 date stamp very curious. I have three Parkers (204,974 and 955) and do not recall a date stamp on any of them but I guess it it is possible during the cleanup (before painting them) I missed the date stamp. So I am curious if there are other Parkers with date stamp out there.

As for the braze job, well in the past on this thread there have been some heated discussions regarding how strong a vise really is after being seriously repaired (brazed, welded etc) and I rather not start another round of discussion here. But I guess if the vise is not excessively stressed, it should serve you well.

I think the back part only broke off after part of the post for the back jaw snapped. It's either that, or the upward stress from the beam snapped it.

Definitely not as strong as brand new, but I think it would still put my Record #6 to shame.

MX
What are the specs on your Record 36p (jaw width, weight etc)?

Your orange stand is super cool! Did you design and fabricate it yourself?

6" Jaws, 4" depth, 7-1/4" opening, ~65#. When looking it up I found some catalog images, probably came from this site.

Yea, I designed and fabbed up the stand. Had a general idea of what I wanted (mobile, balancing, hammer storage) and threw it together with stuff I had laying around. Took some calculation on layout of the wheels so it would balance, but it's pretty stable to move it out to my driveway for cutting/grinding type work.

MX
That is an interesting find and personally I find the 1927 date stamp very curious. I have three Parkers (204,974 and 955) and do not recall a date stamp on any of them but I guess it it is possible during the cleanup (before painting them) I missed the date stamp. So I am curious if there are other Parkers with date stamp out there.

I have never seen a Parker with a date stamp on on it. I did find a man's name
"M.J. Hicks" stamped on the 974 I am working on presently.

The styling of the numbering is also fairly elegant (curves, serifs etc) which would lead me to think it wasn't done with modern letter stamps. Maybe just something a retailer added? From some google searching, consensus is that the bulb shaped screw ended in the 30's so figured it made sense.

 

[rusty65]

Thank you everyone for your kind responses on my little collection. If I had to pick one to be my favorite it would have to be this one simply because I think It’s interesting a previous owner took the time and effort make a neat little almost factory looking mounting plate.



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[chrisnazzy]

Here's a Reed 103 1/2 that I finished awhile back but my daughter did the lettering last night in a dark red metallic.

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[gman007]

Here's a Reed 103 1/2 that I finished awhile back but my daughter did the lettering last night in a dark red metallic.

Chris
Looks great! As per usual you and your daughter did a fantastic job

 

[gman007]

My first local find. Craftsman 5153 made by Rock Island. Not a swivel model, but too nice to pass on at a good price. Next to my Reed 204 for size comparison.

JM
Nice vises

 

[gman007]

Thank you everyone for your kind responses on my little collection. If I had to pick one to be my favorite it would have to be this one simply because I think It’s interesting a previous owner took the time and effort make a neat little almost factory looking mounting plate.

Rusty
Very nice indeed! Whoever made the mounting plate had skills and the quality of the work is clearly indicative of labor of love.

 

[Productbob]

My wife continues to be a loving inspiration for my vise collecting. Last week she mentioned it was "time to stop buying theses things because you're out of room to put them". So I signed in to an online auction to try and grab some more work benches. Got 3 benches and some tools plus a Parker 974 1/2, a columbian 604 and a really, really heavy pedestal grinder for $150 all in!
This Parker has a 1930 Pat date which my other one has none. Didn't look at the grinder very close online so thought it was a small 3/4 hp. Nope; even off the pedestal it took two of us to load it in the truck. Anyway, thanks to my wonderful better half i now have more room to put the iron.

 

[Productbob]

mr. great save on the Wilton!
MX stand is pretty damn cool
chris well done on the Reed
jm nice grab of that craftsman, should clean up nicely

 

[gman007]

Bob
You now officially ****! That is a lot of nice loot for mere $150!

Ps
It is too bad you did not get a hard hat along with all the other stuff that you got, as I have a feeling you will need one to protect your head from a frying pan

 

[jmhinkle]

American Red Seal #56 for sale locally. I'd love to have it, but he's asking a lot for something I'd probably never use.

KMScott, here's pictures for your Vise Document. I was looking data up on it and noticed it didn't have any.

 

[Bessy]

Just refurbished a little RAE 35, made in Ontario (Orillia I think?) Couldn't salvage the sticker unfortunately but I took plenty of pics to try to one day make a new sticker. Mounted to my rolling assembly table (another work in progress).

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[doubletroubledan]

I may as well show off my recent acquisition . This is a later model Starrett 015. Probably only 20 years old. Works like it should. I would sell it for the right price. I bought it on a whim and have too many already.

 

[MayerMR]

I may as well show off my recent acquisition . This is a later model Starrett 015. Probably only 20 years old. Works like it should. I would sell it for the right price. I bought it on a whim and have too many already.

You found the single thread on the entire internet where posting where stating that one has too many vises is likely to find even the smallest inkling of traction lol

 

[Vise]

Bob- what a deal! The Columbian and Parker (with wrench) look very clean! And the stand will come in handy. Great pick ups!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I picked up this Craftsman 5184 at a garage sale yesterday. It appears to be a Reed. I have seen the Craftsman Reeds before. I did a search of this thread and google. I can find some of the crown top logo Columbian 5184's and some of the long C Reeds. I have not seen anything except a 519x with a heritage badge. Is this some sort of oddball or an in between model? Any guess at the age? This is my first Reed so I don't know where the dates are located.

 

[gman007]

I picked up this Craftsman 5184 at a garage sale yesterday. It appears to be a Reed. I have seen the Craftsman Reeds before. I did a search of this thread and google. I can find some of the crown top logo Columbian 5184's and some of the long C Reeds. I have not seen anything except a 519x with a heritage badge. Is this some sort of oddball or an in between model? Any guess at the age? This is my first Reed so I don't know where the dates are located.

Mr. W

There is good information on the date stamp and its location on the Reed R series from various eras (depending on year of manufacturing it might be at different location) in the following thread REED R Series. Post your Reed date stamps

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Gman,

Thanks, I went through that entire thread just to see if there is another Reed with the heritage badge and couldn't find one. I'll check the date when I get home maybe that will give a hint.

 

[AngryBeaver]

I picked up this Craftsman 5184 at a garage sale yesterday. It appears to be a Reed. I have seen the Craftsman Reeds before. I did a search of this thread and google. I can find some of the crown top logo Columbian 5184's and some of the long C Reeds. I have not seen anything except a 519x with a heritage badge. Is this some sort of oddball or an in between model? Any guess at the age? This is my first Reed so I don't know where the dates are located.

as Gman said, check out My Reed R series post. Yours was a later made reedsman as I call them. these were the last ones made before they went to the 0519X series. I'm guessing about 1948-50 or so based off the spindle and logo. if you clean the paint off, you'll see the month and year stamps. all of the (6) craftsman made reeds Ive had or have were older with the meatball style spindle and had the 44-47 dates on the left hand side. that later ones will have them on the right side. it will be marked on both the static and dynamic. the dynamic will likely be behind the swivel lock. if you wire wheel it, be careful as they are lightly stamped and a course knotted wheel will remove and fill in the stamps pretty easily

yours is the same as a reed 203R most of the craftsman Ive had had the smaller 1/8" or 3/16" stamps instead of the later larger 1/4" stamps as seen in the last one

 

[honza.vosalik]

Gman,

Thanks, I went through that entire thread just to see if there is another Reed with the heritage badge and couldn't find one. I'll check the date when I get home maybe that will give a hint.

Someone on FB sent me pictures of one like 6 months ago.
I hope to fine one with the heritage badge too, lol

 

[Maui]

Mr. W, I suspect that it will likely date to the 1940s.

Maui

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Ok, thanks for all of the info. My 5197 is marked 4/48 so it'll be interesting to see where this one falls in. At first I was kind of disappointed it didn't have the long C but it's growing on me!

 

[honza.vosalik]

Ok, thanks for all of the info. My 5197 is marked 4/48 so it'll be interesting to see where this one falls in. At first I was kind of disappointed it didn't have the long C but it's growing on me!

The badge Reeds are far more rare than the long C Reeds!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Kind of a funny story. I bought it from the same guy I bought a Morgan 160, a 5197, and a Wilton cadet from last year at a garage sale. I saw he was having another sale yesterday. I was on my Harley and didn't have much cash with me at all. It was late in the day and I decided to stop on my way home from work. It took me a while to find the vise. Right next to it was another 3" Craftsman. It was one of the older Rock Island models that have the Craftsman logo sideways in an arc cast into the body. It was much cleaner than the Reed but I've been wanting one for a long time and it seemed more stout with a four bolt base. I only had enough money for one and the seller wouldn't budge much. I chose the Reed quickly because there was a lurker waiting to swoop in. I gave the seller all the cash I had with me $30. I had to pull the dynamic out to get it in my saddle bags. I guess I was lucky yesterday.

 

[AngryBeaver]

the badged reeds were only made for 2-3 years max. there was a slight overlap on the reedsmans to the 519X series. I would bet a lot it being 1947 or 1948. I think the oldest one I saw was a 49' and that was before I started keeping track of dates on the reeds and sold ever vise I ran across...

Make sure to add yours to the reed date thread when you get it cleaned off. I'll also gladly trade you a long C craftsman and pay freight both ways. lol.

 

[wrenchguy]

Make sure to add yours to the reed date thread when you get it cleaned off. I'll also gladly trade you a long C craftsman and pay freight both ways. lol.

yep

 

[Smitty]

Here’s my new Prentiss no. 18, it has 2 1/2” jaws and weighs in at 17 lbs. The vise was painted black and all polished up so it took a bit of work to get it to fit into my collection. I like the inventory stamp on the swivel jaw.


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[gman007]

Here’s my new Prentiss no. 18, it has 2 1/2” jaws and weighs in at 17 lbs. The vise was painted black and all polished up so it took a bit of work to get it to fit into my collection. I like the inventory stamp on the swivel jaw.

Smitty
Wow, what an amazing specimen! Great score

PS
In all honesty just today, I was thinking to myself Smitty must be on "vise vacation", as usually you seem to score a quality vise every day or at least every other day

 

[va.grouseman]

Real real nice Smitty.---I think the 18s pop up less frequent than the 1 3/4'' baby swivel jaw Prentiss.---Of course I'm basing my observation on what I see on Ebay, you never know what's trading hands on the back channels.---I too like that unique stamping on the swivel jaw.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Gman, I couldn’t pass up an 18, they rarely come up.

 

[Smitty]

Real real nice Smitty.---I think the 18s pop up less frequent than the 1 3/4'' baby swivel jaw Prentiss.---Of course I'm basing my observation on what I see on Ebay, you never know what's trading hands on the back channels.---I too like that unique stamping on the swivel jaw.

Thanks VA, it seems like only one or two come up per year on eBay. This ones pretty clean but is does have some saw marks on top. Yours is one of the cleanest examples I’ve seen. The stamping looks like a company’s initials and inventory number, it’s kind of unique to the vise.

 

[Mslund1]

Finished up the monarch 401 I acquired in a package deal a few weeks ago.

Thinking I’ll leave it natural.

Had to do some repair/machining to get it back in shape

Machined the top of the jaws flat again, this must have been the grinders vise of choice, the jaws were about .100” sloped from side to side.

This one also was missing the “swivel lock” underneath, either broken or ground off along the line. Faced the bottom of the base and added a key to it.

The extra holes in the base were also added at some point in time. Presumably to solid mount it to a bench










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[rusty65]

Just some random vise pictures From a couple years ago I don’t believe I’ve posted before.



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[DFB]

American Red Seal #56 for sale locally. I'd love to have it, but he's asking a lot for something I'd probably never use.

KMScott, here's pictures for your Vise Document. I was looking data up on it and noticed it didn't have any.

Nice looking vise

 

[DFB]

Well I got to inspect that Trojan vise a little closer at work today...it has brazing build up on both sides at the mounting ears. looking it over I cannot see its ever been broke And you know this is the 3rd vise I have seen in my small circle with the same type of weld buildup. I'm really thinking its some old Yankee thing. Reinforcing the possibly known weak spots.

Fix it before breaks

 

[Outlawmws]

1927 Chas Parker 375 I picked up for $60.

Looks like at one point someone really clamped on down on it and bent the handle, snapped the entire back off and snapped off part of the post for back swivel post. Also has a small piece chipped off the dovetail for the nut, but doesn't seem to impact anything.

The braze job looks pretty solid, and well built up. But the adjustable jaw was welded. The weld to the body looks good, but they added a support plate inside and that weld is full of porosity.

Plan is to clean it up, give it a paint job and just use it as is and replace my Record #6. Not keen on cutting a triangle out of my workbench, but I think this vise is worth it.

Are there any patent dates cast into the vise?

You can use a wood spacer under the vise and cut the triangle out of that.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mslund, that is one nice Lions Head.---Even the pipe jaws are pristine.

 

[KMScott]

Finished up the monarch 401 I acquired in a package deal a few weeks ago.

Thinking I’ll leave it natural.

Had to do some repair/machining to get it back in shape

Machined the top of the jaws flat again, this must have been the grinders vise of choice, the jaws were about .100” sloped from side to side.

This one also was missing the “swivel lock” underneath, either broken or ground off along the line. Faced the bottom of the base and added a key to it.

The extra holes in the base were also added at some point in time. Presumably to solid mount it to a bench

If you have a mill then you should fit those jaws a little better. Use a Carbide end mill to fit the channel on the jaws so all jaw steel touches cast. Then true up the faces. Having gaps behind jaws could cause the jaws to break. Nice vise.

 

[chrisnazzy]

The badge Reeds are far more rare than the long C Reeds!

There is one on Ebay right now but the "Buy It Now" and shipping are a bit steep IMO and there are more than a few saw and grinder marks and possible weld spatter on the tops of the jaws. Otherwise it doesn't appear to be in bad condition.

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[AngryBeaver]

543b?

 

[chrisnazzy]

Here’s my new Prentiss no. 18, it has 2 1/2” jaws and weighs in at 17 lbs.
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Nice Smitty! That's your 2nd No. 18 right? I had this one in my watch page too but only for the fun of seeing how the auction went. When I saw what it went for I actually thought, I wonder if Smitty snagged this one? Congrats, it's very nice and I agree, it looks way better now that you've worked your magic.

BTW, go to Ebay and type Prentiss 18 into the search right now. You'll probably be as surprised as I was.

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