The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. This is a Prentiss Bull Dog no. 211, the vise has 3” jaws and weighs in at 13 lbs. I’ve only seen a couple of these but never one with arched lettering. The vise is shown in as found condition and is in remarkable shape for its age.

I don’t believe there is a photo of this model in the spreadsheet

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[KMScott]

Got it. What a collection you got Smitty. Have you picked up a 58 or 98 yet? Those are hard to find.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks KMS, always happy to contribute to the spreadsheet. The 58 and 98 are both top five wish list vises for me. The search continues...

 

[rusty65]

Nice condition on that one. I’ve got one also but not nearly as nice.



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[Smitty]

The little bull dogs don’t come up very often. That a great pair you have sitting on the shelf.

 

[rusty65]

The little bull dogs don’t come up very often. That a great pair you have sitting on the shelf.

Thank you. I found the stationary one local and liked it so much I decided to find the swivel base model which i sourced from eBay. They are a interesting sized vises right between a 2 1/2 in and a “full” 3in vise. Mine actually had a odd repair on the rear Despite me never finding a crack anywhere. Here are a few pictures from a while ago I don’t believe I’ve posted before.






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[Vise]

Smitty - great patina on that 3” a bull dog. Gotta love the ones without much work to do.

Rusty - very nice collection of vises you got there.

I picked up some clamp on vises today as a change of pace. The nicest by far is the No. 2 Athol, but the 2” Stanley and the others have their charm.

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice little herd Vise.---The No 0, No 1, and No 2, are the hardest Athol clampers to find.---Nice catch.

 

[honza.vosalik]

Today's pick up- Craftsman 5163 and a really rough Reed 203 1/2. Pretty happy to add that Craftsman to my garage!

 

[davethorik]

Thank you. I found the stationary one local and liked it so much I decided to find the swivel base model which i sourced from eBay. They are a interesting sized vises right between a 2 1/2 in and a “full” 3in vise. Mine actually had a odd repair on the rear Despite me never finding a crack anywhere. Here are a few pictures from a while ago I don’t believe

Nice collection!!

 

[Vise]

Nice little herd Vise.---The No 0, No 1, and No 2, are the hardest Athol clampers to find.---Nice catch.

Much thanks. I don’t know if I realized it has a half nut. Do the No. 0 and No. 1 have the same design?

 

[va.grouseman]

Not sure.---KMS or Outlaw would probably know.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

This 0 is quick adust by lifting up on the front . I would assume the 1 would be the same.

 

[Smitty]

It looks like two huge 8” vises hanging out in the corner. What I wouldn’t give to have the vises and the table.


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[Outlawmws]

Sorry, can't help on the Athol Q - only Athol I have is a 2" #10 clamp on

 

[KMScott]

Athol clamp-on quick release vises. I own a #1 and a couple others that are in my shop's closet that I can see tomorrow. I'm cooking dinner right now.

The #4 Athol that I made a swivel base for was not a quick release. One way to tell quickly is the round head screw under the Dynamic Support.

 

[Vise]

Good stuff. Thanks for the clamp on info guys.

Smitty - love old pics like that. Always makes me wonder what happened to the vises in the photo. A lot of time for them to get lost in 106 years.

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Would be fantastic to have the info on some of these stands consolidated into a spreadsheet too. Such as Vise’s Frank H. Clement stand finished in black oil. And the ATSF vise stands like rtdgfd’s, etc. who has them. Where they came from with picture and associated history. Or the Piece of equipment it came off of and that manufacturers info,etc... 90roadster’s pedestal... etc
Some really great stands out there

 

[Fierljeppen]

You guys nailed it on the clamp-on Simpson vises. The model #'s are: #0, #1 and #2.

I really enjoyed the railroad photo by Smitty. That front vise handle is so long, that it doesn't even need a cheater pipe.

 

[Smitty]

Good stuff. Thanks for the clamp on info guys.

Smitty - love old pics like that. Always makes me wonder what happened to the vises in the photo. A lot of time for them to get lost in 106 years.

I’d like to think they’re still around but if I had to guess most have been melted down by now. Lets face it, these vises were used extremely hard in a rail shop. I’m sure the war effort claimed an enormous number of these vises as well.

As an anvil collector there were two cataclysmic events that wiped out most of the population. WWII and Martha Stewart.

 

[jpickar]

It looks like two huge 8” vises hanging out in the corner. What I wouldn’t give to have the vises and the table.


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What I wouldn't gie to have one of those locomotives!

 

[Smitty]

You must have a really big yard.

 

[Productbob]

Smitty, great RR photo. There's another couple of vises sitting on the table in front of the grounded locomotive as well. Those are huge vises so one of those tables would would need to be part of the buy!

To your point on WWII, an old neighbor of mine worked for Curtiss-Wright in Buffalo during the war building P-40's and P-47's. We talked vises a few times and she always mentioned how they never had enough of them in the plant. Said that they kept the same number they started with in 1941 but couldn't get more once war effort cranked up.

 

[Smitty]

Bob
Good eye on the second table, I didn’t notice it when I first saved the photos.
As far as WWII is concerned I would guess that a lot of older outdated vises were simply melted. Factory workers just had to make do with what that had. It’s interesting to hear first hand accounts from back then to shed some light on what they were going through.

 

[ganymede]

...As an anvil collector there were two cataclysmic events that wiped out most of the population. WWII and Martha Stewart.

 

[jonshonda]

Been away for a while, lots of catching up to do. I was laid off from work for a couple of months this summer and decided to purge my small inventory of vises (Columbian 605 and 604-1/2) to generate some funds for other projects around the house. Well, like any good junkie I couldn't stay away for long.

I found a nice Athol 625 (I have been looking for a bigger Athol, Starrett for a while) but it was 2.5 hrs away and I realistically knew I wouldn't be heading in that area any time soon. But for fun I messaged the seller and he eventually offered to deliver it to me for $30. He was asking $120 for it, I offered him $130 delivered and he accepted. Delivered it on time and condition is pretty darn good.

This is my first Athol and while I've only spent a few minutes with it, I can say that overall I am impressed with the design and size. But when I set it next to the big ole' slab of a Prentis s No 95, its not all that impressive...haha

20190920_072515 by Jon S, on Flickr

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Some minty (ok, olive) military surplus vises sold through the government auction site. Not sure if the buyer got that great a deal.

https://gcsurplus.ca/mn-eng.cfm?snc...=1&str=1&ltnf=1&lcn=448382&lct=L&sf=ferm-clos

Maybe if they were those "Guaranteed Unbreakable" RAE's they were worth buying.

 

[mgmlvks]

Some minty (ok, olive) military surplus vises sold through the government auction site. Not sure if the buyer got that great a deal.

Likely a better deal than first appears - there are FOUR of them, and two have vehicle mounting plates!

 

[va.grouseman]

I'd say he got a deal.---Both brands are good vises and good size for working.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Hit a good estate sale this morning. The husband had a big shop with lots of old stuff machines, engines, tools, Model Ts, etc. Among my haul was this Reed 104-1/2 vise. It doesn't appear to have any issues except maybe the handle might be a replacement. It was on a big dimensional lumber workbench with a tag that said it went with the bench but when I asked if they'd separate it they asked what my offer was. I said $80. Sold! It's got 2 patent dates Dec 2 1912 & Aug 11 1914. Anyone got an idea on age? I'll need to clean it up as it's got some caked on grease.

 

[davethorik]

Finally popped my Parker vise cherry. From reading this thread, It seems they are abundant everywhere but Ohio, lol. I've only seen a few in the wild, usually beat to death and missing parts. So the nicest ones are elsewhere or they are already in collections.

Anyway- here she is, no. 973 swivel base. A cute but solid little vise. 3" jaws, opens 3-3/4", weighs 27 lbs. Of course the wrench is missing. And one of the mounting holes in the swivel base was egged out, visible in pic with polar pop cup.

Otherwise, she is a sweetie. The handle brake mechanism still functions. Jaws in good shape, with factory smooth jaws. Turns very nice.

Best part, it was $20.
Also picked up a Prentiss 52 on Monday for $25. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket...

 

[jmhinkle]

Finally popped my Parker vise cherry. From reading this thread, It seems they are abundant everywhere but Ohio, lol. I've only seen a few in the wild, usually beat to death and missing parts. So the nicest ones are elsewhere or they are already in collections.

Anyway- here she is, no. 973 swivel base. A cute but solid little vise. 3" jaws, opens 3-3/4", weighs 27 lbs. Of course the wrench is missing. And one of the mounting holes in the swivel base was egged out, visible in pic with polar pop cup.

Otherwise, she is a sweetie. The handle brake mechanism still functions. Jaws in good shape, with factory smooth jaws. Turns very nice.

Best part, it was $20.
Also picked up a Prentiss 52 on Monday for $25. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket...

Been trying to find a Parker myself, but every one for sale around me has large corners of end the slide busted off. Were Parkers weak in that area or just commonly dropped?

 

[kenc184]

Been trying to find a Parker myself, but every one for sale around me has large corners of end the slide busted off. Were Parkers weak in that area or just commonly dropped?

I've seen the same thing myself, especially on the semi-steel slide models.
Just like for whatever reason Prentiss vises seem susceptible to cracks on top of the slide (due to owner abuse of course)

 

[Outlawmws]

It's definitely drop damage, as there is zero stress on those corners...

 

[LesserSon]

Impulsive purchase this morning. $30 a little less than twice what it retailed in 1952. Craftsman heritage badge 5176. 3-1/2” jaws, opens 5”, 29lbs. Can’t remember if this was a Japanese import or made in USA. Smooth and I see no cracks, but there is a filled hole or something near the rear. Hasty repaint, metallic teal. A least the dirt and oil under the repaint will make it easier to remove.

 

[Nothinghead]

Hey all. I have this Columbian 603 1/2 I got for free and repaired the bottom, but it needs a swivel base.

Does anyone have a base lying around they'd sell me?

I appreciate it!








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[Outlawmws]

NH - There is a "Vise Parts Swap" thread and the classifieds for that sort of post.

 

[Nothinghead]

NH - There is a "Vise Parts Swap" thread and the classifieds for that sort of post.

Got it! I'll dig it up

 

[davethorik]

Two $20 Parkers in 2 days. Today's is a 954 that looks ugly but works like a beaut. Maybe 1/16 of a rotation of slop in the spindle. And like usual, lots of old paint.

Edit: 4" jaw, opens 6-1/4", weighs 45 lbs.

 

[bagged89s10]

my $65 find this week. already in the electrolysis tank.