The VISES of Garage Journal

[trijeff]

RIP Carla Mae Satra

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Ive had a hot streak lately, I was given a "broken" 1765 wilton / snap-on (only needed rear pins) and now got this. I was on the hunt for a few vises today but over the course of 10 days I was ghosted 4 TIMES by the same seller!!! So this win today makes me feel better about all the time wasted with the other people. I say the same thing in my area, quality vises are hard to come by. I bought this from the guy who removed it from a factory over 30 years ago in Connecticut.

Where I live, vises are like finding unicorns. I have better luck just stumbling across dumped bodies from the cartel! Love the recent finds everyone is sharing! Keep em coming! I live through you all with this hobby!

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Well damn, I should have finished reading through the posts before posting as I did. Now that I see the passing of Carla, my post seems quite insensitive and timing was poor though not intended. I apologize and in no way was trying to diminish the loss of Carla. As I often do - foot in mouth- the body cartel comment was in poor taste and timing. My prayers to Carla and her family.

 

[jmhinkle]

Where I live, vises are like finding unicorns. I have better luck just stumbling across dumped bodies from the cartel! Love the recent finds everyone is sharing! Keep em coming! I live through you all with this hobby!

What part of New Mexico? I was in Rio Rancho for 20 years before transferring to Portland with work about 4 years ago. I found a few vises while there, but wasn't looking until the last 3 years I was there really. It's few and far between in my area now.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Sad news to hear of Carla’s passing. I’ve known her posts to be informative and respectful. Written in the way that a teacher would elevate the readers.

 

[Eric827]

Regarding the Offset Designs, I have almost finished with my restoration of the 4.5" Offset Hollands Carriagemakers's vise I bought from the Cleveland Craigslist a week or so back. (Note from DaveThorik was posted) It did have a weld (not brazed) repair of the dynamic jaw but it's amazingly well done. I think I figured out a possible the cause of the original damage. While wire brushing the jaw tower, a void flaw problem in the outside of the casting became more & more apparent. Ended up being 3 or 4 little pockets about 1/4" deep or so. Used my Dremel to clean out the voids back to clean metal. Used JBWeld to fill & smooth in that area. Otherwise it's nearly perfect. After I make a couple more posts to get my count up, I'll get some pictures up here.

 

[NC Rick]

I have only read a few of Carla’s posts, here and on practical machinists. She is a person I wish I had known. So knowledgable and a good teacher.

 

[KMScott]

Sad day for me hearing of Carla's passing. I wish I have worked with her, I have always enjoyed her posts and learned much. I keep one of her vise pictures close that she restored and hope one day to master her work. Much Respect.

 

[Shiftless]

Kevin:
I never had the privilege of meeting Carla but I have read many of her posts over the years. In my opinion, you and she shared the same philosophy and approach to making and improving objects made of iron and steel. Both of you managed to elevate the craft of machining closer to an art form. Because of your work and the willingness to share, the influence of both of you has been spread around the world.

 

[jmhinkle]

Got a Morgan locally finally, but I settled for something in rough condition. It's a Chicago #140. One jaw is missing screws and was welded on. The weld looks crappy and rough so hopefully I can cut the jaw lines with the grinder to knock the old jaw off and grind off the excess mess. The correct lock for the swivel is missing from underneath and has a bolt and washer trying to do the job. The current parts from Milwaukee Tool do work on these right?

You can also see I bought the parts to make an electrolysis tank in the edge of the picture. Going to need it for this one and the Craftsman labeled Rock Island I got a while back. Now I just need time to work on them. I'm on max OT through mid November currently so it won't be anytime soon.

 

[bikencycle]

I have a few Morgan vises and can send you pictures of the correct parts for your 140.

 

[jmhinkle]

I have a few Morgan vises and can send you pictures of the correct parts for your 140.

Their email help got back to me right away with the current parts list and cost. I believe I'm all set. My only concern is the swivel base on the list and locking stud look serrated like my Reed is, but this Morgan base I have is smooth in the channel. Hopefully the lock stud is correct that they told me to order.

 

[ganymede]

Sad day for me hearing of Carla's passing. I wish I have worked with her, I have always enjoyed her posts and learned much. I keep one of her vise pictures close that she restored and hope one day to master her work. Much Respect.

Never met her but at my workbench and while reading her posts I often had a similar thought.
Always thought she would've been a good person to work for.

Thanks for helping so many people Carla.!
RIP.

 

[KMScott]

In honor of our good friend Carla I post this Rock Island 541B. 3-1/2" jaws opens up to 6" and weights 66lbs. Pretty sweet vise. Finish is Black Oil from Sculpt Nouveau. Vise is tight, new jaws, pipe jaws, handle and swivel handle.

 

[trijeff]

Yep, pretty sure that one would get the big thumbs up from Carla, Kevin ... WOW!

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[Fierljeppen]

To Carla!

 

[Smitty]

Carla was well before my time here but I feel I knew her a bit. Through my endless google searches for vise and anvil related questions her name came up constantly. Her knowledge and willingness to share it will live on through the internet.

Cheers

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

If you want Percision packaging and shipments use:
Trijeff!

 

[Vise]

Like you guys, I read many of Carla’s posts and was always better for it. RIP

 

[the intimidator]

Who can tell me anything about the Smart vise company? Picked this little guy up at a yard sale and decided to give it a home. Don't mind my super awesome resoration job no prep and a half can of flat black high heat paint hahah she's going to be a user and I'm in the process of mounting it to my box. Curious of some history on this vise all google searches bring up wood working vices

 

[KMScott]

Thanks Shift, Jeff and Fierljeppen. I appreciate your comments.

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Sorry troubles posting...
Very pleased to have safe delivery of my new baby from Trijeff. Love the absolute stout crating. Such a professional!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

I'll miss Carla's posts.---She had a rare knowledge and grasp of metallurgy, and her posts always left you knowing a lot more than you use to and looking forward to the next.---She will be missed.

 

[trijeff]

Sorry troubles posting...

Very pleased to have safe delivery of my new baby from Trijeff. Love the absolute stout crating. Such a professional!!!

Woohoo! Glad you got it and KNOW you will enjoy it. Thanks for the crating kudos. Can't wait until you do a full reveal, wish I could have seen your face the first time you saw it

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[va.grouseman]

Who can tell me anything about the Smart vise company? Picked this little guy up at a yard sale and decided to give it a home. Don't mind my super awesome resoration job no prep and a half can of flat black high heat paint hahah she's going to be a user and I'm in the process of mounting it to my box. Curious of some history on this vise all google searches bring up wood working vices

Intimidator, I have a Smart's #66, a #7-11, and an #8-12.---Odd number system Mr. James Smart had there.---I have some history on the Smart vise if I can find it.

Found it.

Found some history on the Smart's Manufacturing Co.



The founder and namesake of the James Smart Manufacturing Company had a remarkable career. Born in Scotland in 1819, his family emigrated to Canada when he was 15 years old. The family began farming and logging near Ottawa, while James set out to apprentice as a tanner in Brockville. He moved to Kingston to practice this trade, meeting a newly arrived Scotsman named Alexander McKenzie. McKenzie ended up in Sarnia, where James joined him in founding a tannery. McKenzie went on to eventually become Prime Minister. James married a London girl, but shortly thereafter his tannery was expropriated by the Grand Trunk Railway. James set out on his own to California, founding another tannery until the great fire of 1850. After that, he went into the lumber trade, but his health was poor so he tried gold mining in the mountains for several years. He managed to make some money at this, and returned to Canada in 1854, purchasing the old Gilmour Foundry on the waterfront in Brockville and establishing the Brockville Novelty Works. He began turning out a variety of foundry items, with the American Civil War helping business immensely. The business turned down during the great depression which began in 1872. At the same time, his nephews operated a rival business, Smart & Shepherd, which specialized in the production of a solid-chisel mortise. In 1886, their company was acquired by Smart. In 1891, the company was renamed the James Smart Manufacturing Company. In 1893 they took over the Chowan and Cunningham foundry in Kingston, moving the equipment to Brockville. By 1895 the plant covered 2-1/2 acres and the company was employing around 300 workers and operating 7 days a week. Their product offerings were very wide: stoves, ranges, and furnaces, lawn mowers, steel butts, carriage and cabinet makers' hardware, iron castings, pumps, hollow ware, house furnishings, to name a few. Around this time Smart took on some business partners, and there is some indication that he was forced out of the business by them, making it necessary for him to take other employment as the Sheriff of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville. He died in 1906. Around 1910, the company was acquired by Canada Foundries and Forgings Ltd.


Canadian Machinery, 1921

In 1920 the plant covered 7 acres and the company offered a number of product lines: the stove and furnace department included a full line of cooking and heating stoves and ranges, warm air furnaces and registers; the general hardware department offered builders and house furnishing, cabinet and carriage makers hardware in cast, wrought iron and brass, pumps and plumbers goods, wrought steel butts and hinges, warm air registers, lawn mowers and rollers, jack screws, vises, warehouse trucks, copying presses, and many lines of labor saving tools and machines. In the tool department you could find cast steel hammers, hatches, sledges and axes. In 1965, Brock Engineering of Montreal purchased the firm, closing the Brockville plant two years later and moving what was left to Montreal.





The above information was summarized from two excellent on-line Ontario history pages: The Collector's Shop and Owen Bosman's Home Page.



James Smart Manufacturing Company, Brockville Canada


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRaZSvbVWf...mart+Plant.JPG
__________________
RS-67-327


Once upon a time things were made with pride, design flaws were an anomaly.
Now they're made with speed and greed----designed to flaw----and pride is the anomaly.

 

[the intimidator]

Cheers Grouseman!! Have any pictures of you're vices? Thanks for the bit of history any idea as to a sage of the 7-11 Thanks a lot

 

[AndrewH]

Well, haven’t posted here much lately but figured I’d give an update of my finds in the last few weeks, just to add them to the archive and share for anyone that’s not apart of the Facebook groups!

Smallest to biggest:

2” Prentiss jewelers double swivel
2.5” Columbian 102.5
7” Prentiss 57
7” Yost 107
8” Holland’s Keystone L
8.5” Yost 108

I’m really excited about the 8” Holland’s, the only other 8” Keystone that I’ve seen is the one Brad has! Plus I’m almost complete with having at least one 8” vise from every manufacturer, the only thing I need is a Rock Island 67 (if someone has one they want to sell! )

Enjoy!

 

[va.grouseman]

Intimidator, sorry, I have no idea on the ages of these vises.

I sent 6 pics, did they not come through?

 

[va.grouseman]

Andrew, when you come back, you come back strong.

 

[Shiftless]

Andrew:
Wow! What a haul!

 

[Shiftless]

Here is my latest acquisition...

Just a lowly Wilton Scout with 4 inch wide jaws but it seems new, evidently unused and still in its original box.

Got it an estate sale less than a mile from my house for $10

During which time period were these produced? Anybody know?
.
.

 

[jmhinkle]

Can someone enlighten me as to what model Columbian this is? Doesn't match up to anything in the database between model numbers and sizes.

 

[bastel]

Saw this gem while browsing the classifieds a few days ago. Been doing that ever since I missed that Zeus4 VS6... and this here didn’t match my alerts, just pure luck. Pounced hard and luckily could reach the seller via message. Half an hour after it went up, I had it. There was competition. This is a rare Meier & Weichelt Mini Zeus VS vise. Faithful to the big ones up to the last screw. Can you see the curves? Jaw width is 3.5 cm (1.4”), extends to 4 cm (1.6”). Has some minor nicks. Original color seems to be black like they all were. No idea if this was a regular product (watchmakers vise) or just a gimmick, but there must have been a lot of work put into these.

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Bastel
Those are absolutely beautiful! I really admire the Zeus - very fortunate! It is hard to really get a feel for the size of the vises whether they are small or large, but your last picture does put it into perspective.

 

[bastel]

Bastel
Those are absolutely beautiful! I really admire the Zeus - very fortunate! It is hard to really get a feel for the size of the vises whether they are small or large, but your last picture does put it into perspective.

The big one is in parts right now, but here two images for perspective

 

[Fierljeppen]

Here is my latest acquisition...

Just a lowly Wilton Scout with 4 inch wide jaws but it seems new, evidently unused and still in its original box. Got it an estate sale less than a mile from my house for $10

During which time period were these produced? Anybody know?

Some ownership notes for the Wilton Scout Vise owners.

The "Scout" was first introduced in 1950, replacing a very similar "Hanco" model. It had a design change in 1960, before being succeeded by the "Home Line" vises around 1970.

Although it was Wilton's lightest duty model, it was very stylish and had a worthy production life.

 

[trijeff]

"More wampum in your teepee", my how times have changed! Good stuff as always Fierljeppen

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[Shiftless]

Fierljeppen:
Thanks for posting that great info about the Wilton Scout. I saved the image of the catalog page and will print it out to display with the shelf worn and oil stained cardboard box.
I have a Wilton Shop King already so this one will go on the shelf next to it. That will make me get started on the restoration of the shop king because right now it would look quite sad sitting next to the NOS Scout.

Trijeff:
Yes, good example of NOT politically correct!
I have seen magazine ads from that era showing (alleged) doctors or dentists in white lab coats posing in a medical office type scene, smoking a cigarette and endorsing one brand or another.

 

[va.grouseman]

Bastel, I really do like those Zeus vises.---I wished some of those would cross the pond.

 

[Smitty]

This extremely colorful Wilton 450S popped up on the board this morning for a crazy low price. The vise is dated 1/53 and is in great condition for its age. I’m not quite sure what the WE designation is.



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