The VISES of Garage Journal

[Private Lugnutz]

Dave Thorik kindly identified it for me, so I've been dong some reading.

I haven't even cleaned it up yet. Took some shots when I had it on the bench to spec out (4" jaws, 6" of stock clamping) and inspect. No structural damage that I can see and the jaw inserts are clean and tight.

I'm still not sure if "FPU" (Frabryka Przyrzadow I Uchwytow) is a brand or a plant location or what, but in doing a quick sweep on this thread, I did see at least one other "HI-TEST" model, a 328, whereas mine is a 327. I didn't see any others with the 'Another Hi-Test Quality Product' (obviously for export) decal, which has a few unfortunate finish chips knocked out of it. I am also not sure what that stamp ("PJDb-100") on the dynamic jaw means, and did not see any other Bison-Bial/FPU vises with that marking.

But I love this vise!

 

[Outlawmws]

The "100" is 100 MM (about 4")

Nice find Lugz!

 

[ColumbianRon]

Chop: That Wilton is worth a clean up and painting, rather than a clean up and clear coating. A very nice find.

 

[honza.vosalik]

So I posted this Peddinghaus Record vise wiper thing a few days ago. Kinda bought it for 25 bucks. Dunno why. Guess one of the "american looking square boxes" need to be in the collection. But with a twist: all steel.

This is one of the first generation ones, without screws to adjust play in the dynamic jaw. Even has the swivel base and the seller said the family got it from the Wehrmacht barracks right after the war. (which were close by, later used by the russians). Has a few nicks and dents, but nothing major.

The wipers might have been rope from the factory but I also saw some pictures of metallic wipers. Or maybe the metal part has broken of and the 'oiler' rope is what is left. I haven't looked at mine at daylight yet. So only photos of the classified ad. It's 5" (gotta check), so it fits nicely with my Heuer Primus D.R.P. and vintage Front

Tomorrow I am gonna drop this at work, because then there is a Zeus VS4 locally and a VS2 remotely to fetch and maybe the seller there even has a HS for me, we'll see. When over there I could theoretically get this Barrel (System Koch) vise for just 15 € but this sucker is 6" and weights like 50 kg, so no, thanks.
Will try to take pictures over the weekend and then put everything away, because winter is coming. :/

Looks like a beautiful S150! Too bad shipping would most likely kill this price wise

 

[cmccoy]

CMcCoy

Nice restoration and nice shop! I hope you're not one of those IU fans! Go Boilers!

Yep......sorry but I am a Hoosier fan. But I am also not a Boiler hater. Both great schools and I have many friends that have and do go to both.

Glad you liked the restore. Got 4 more vises to do right now.

 

[RBarnes]

As attested to by this bad copy of an original ad, Wilton Cadets were offered in brilliant orange enamel.

 

[kenc184]

Some have "domed" the freeze plug with some heavy handed persuasion...

shift, outlaw

thanks, I've got the end cap off my latest 1750 so I'll take it O'Reillys sometime and check out their freeze plug collection. Should be able to dome one easily.

I must say this sows ear is slowly becoming a silk purse thanks to the oxy torch and a milling machine!

 

[bastel]

Looks like a beautiful S150! Too bad shipping would most likely kill this price wise

Lugging around the steel Peddinghaus was not fun, first 150 yards, then 3 (extra high) floors up. Anyways, yeah, that's two parcels at max weight = >200€ shipping. That's like ~2$ per pound, maybe that's acceptable But still, I probably can't contact the seller that quickly and it sounds like it's in a garden or so, not somewhere they probably are at 7:30pm.
I look up the whole germany for Zeus, but this is what is available locally or locally almost locally
Plenty of barrels on sight, but the price is not right (for me), cheapest is 35€ with 100 or 125mm width, hard to see on the pictures.
That 50€ swivel Phoenix is like "how did this get here", this is from Remscheidt, if I can trust the good old trademark index here

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The "100" is 100 MM (about 4")

Aha. That makes sense.

Nice find Lugz!

Thanks. Sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

 

[jonshonda]

So I bought a Prentiss No 5 last week which is a pretty rare vise for my area, and sure as sh!t a Prentiss No 22 (No 5 is 6" swivel jaw stationary base, No 22 is the swivel base veesion) pops up semi local to me. Too bad the guy wants $550, and I don't know that I will be able to talk him down off the ledge. Grrrr

 

[va.grouseman]

Jonshonda, what is the condition of the 22?---If it's something like near-mint, might be close to worth about $500.00.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Dave Thorik kindly identified it for me, so I've been dong some reading.

I haven't even cleaned it up yet. Took some shots when I had it on the bench to spec out (4" jaws, 6" of stock clamping) and inspect. No structural damage that I can see and the jaw inserts are clean and tight.

I'm still not sure if "FPU" (Frabryka Przyrzadow I Uchwytow) is a brand or a plant location or what, but in doing a quick sweep on this thread, I did see at least one other "HI-TEST" model, a 328, whereas mine is a 327. I didn't see any others with the 'Another Hi-Test Quality Product' (obviously for export) decal, which has a few unfortunate finish chips knocked out of it. I am also not sure what that stamp ("PJDb-100") on the dynamic jaw means, and did not see any other Bison-Bial/FPU vises with that marking.

But I love this vise!

I also have a Hi-Test marked 327 in similar condition. Mine is stamped 4". I also have a 3" that has a date stamp (around 1971 if memory serves). Nice vises. Here is a link to a thread on Practicalmachinist regarding. I really like Rivet608's story.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/unique-vise-find

 

[jonshonda]

Jonshonda, what is the condition of the 22?---If it's something like near-mint, might be close to worth about $500.00.

Looks decent from the pics, but not many vises around here bring money like that. Plus I'm not about to shell out that kind of cash for ANY vise!!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I also have a Hi-Test marked 327 in similar condition. Mine is stamped 4".

Thanks for chiming in, tool_scrounge. That's interesting the variations in the jaw width markings. Was it stamped "HI-TEST" in the jaw like mine is? Or did it have the "Hi-Test" decal? Or both? If you've already posted pics here, please post the link to your prior post. I'd like to see it. And thanks for the link to the PracticalMachinist piece.

 

[mxdev]

Cleaned up, painted, and some repairs the Charles Parker 375 I picked up a while ago.

Cleaning it up, I found that where the swivel jaw is pinned in place was snapped, and the entire back part snapped off. The braze job is excellent from what I can see and isn't just on the outside. Once it was bolted on my bench, I tightened the vice as hard as I could without a cheater bar, and I don't think it's gonna snap.

Never removed the jaws since they are in excellent shape, just gave them a bit of polish.

Put a new set screw, spring and rod in the handle retention end so the handle doesn't swing around. Bought a brass washer and grinded/filed it down to fit on the lead screw and dynamic jaw. Lastly used my OA torch to heat up and straighten out the handle.

I really like the look of the vice when it was just raw steel, but I just always end up painting them for some reason. I went with red because I found a can of quality automotive spray paint in my garage that was custom mixed, and can't figure out who or where it came from.

Only comment I have is coming from having a bunch of 70's era Record vices, I can't believe how smooth and tight this vice is. Lead screw feels like it's a shaft on bearings...

 

[KMScott]

Been pretty busy the last three months and not posting much but watching close for the Spreadsheet. Purchased my new old Bridgeport for after retirement so I can still restore vises. This one is in great shape. I also picked up a 12" Troyke Rotary table with a cross slide, it is like having a manual CNC, could actually make a swivel base. Snapped a photo of the previous owners vises too.

 

[ColumbianRon]

@mxdev: I too like the bare iron look, but it draws rust like a magnet, so I always paint. I have found a paint that closely matches the bare look. I used it on a cheap little anvil, and it looks almost like the real thing.

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

Ok I am moving in next door so I can pay you for some machining classes!!!!
Awesome!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I know these aren't a popular item on this thread, but I found an interesting saw sharpening vise at the flea market today. Saw sharpening vises are fairly common as a category, I have a few, including a Disston, and I've seen plenty more in my travels, but never one like this before. It is essentially two pieces. The base, which clamps to the bench and has a provision for a ball joint, and the vise with the ball joint, which provides a swiveling action that can be clamped into a more conducive position depending on the work. Kind of neat. Not branded.

 

[mxdev]

@mxdev: I too like the bare iron look, but it draws rust like a magnet, so I always paint. I have found a paint that closely matches the bare look. I used it on a cheap little anvil, and it looks almost like the real thing.

What brand/colour? Most of what I have seen locally is basic or tractor colours.

 

[Smitty]

When I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer.


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[Woodreaux]

I just picked this vise up at an auction (surplus from an offshore / oilfield company called Seacor Marine). It was an online auction, and all I could see in the pictures was the 1765 and Made in the USA. It also has the numbers 111823 on the opposite side of the static jaw. I assumed it was a Wilton Tradesman.

When I picked it up today, I discovered that there is no name anywhere on the outside.

Did Wilton produce unbranded vises? It seems to have been painted at some point, so I suppose a name plate on the side might have come off. What do you all think?

Thanks in advance

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[ColumbianRon]

What brand/colour? Most of what I have seen locally is basic or tractor colours.

It's Rustoleum's Soft Iron Primer/Paint. Even though it says it is primer combined with the paint, I primer the metal first and then paint.

 

[Smitty]

KMS
That Bridgeport looks way too clean. It looks like it has a ton of life left in it. Nice pickup

 

[Smitty]

So this ad popped up on the board last night.


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[rtdgfd]

Is there a Rock Island 136 This is the best I can make out on the casting. It is a swivel jaw vise.

Thanks

 

[Smitty]

Here’s another pic


Jeppen?

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[davethorik]

With that little pad where it looks like lettering is at on the side of the body, my first guess was Meriden Prentiss. But what looks like balls on the end of the handle has me doubting that guess, mounting feet don't look right either. I'm sure you will show us when you buy it, Smitty, whatever it may be. Lol

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Dziś dołączyłem do 'Klubu Bison-Bial S.A. Vise'!

Translation: Today I joined the 'Bison-Bial S.A. Vise Club'!

As I was saying in the 2019 Garage Sale thread earlier this morning, I had no idea what this was when I saw it at the flea market and neither did the seller. It looked European, but the decal in English was throwing me, and the markings on the jaw were obscured by grime and rust. But it was undoubtedly stout, I loved the look, the squat, low-slung profile, the dovetail ways and slide (which passed the one finger test like butter even though it was obviously rusty and needed grease), the fact that the rear jaw is the dynamic jaw, and little elegant engineering design details - like tucking the spindle handle for the swivel base into the corner of the overhang between the body and the base.

Welcome to “The Cool Kids With Bison-Bila Vises Club!
Some FPU vises were marked in Western countries as Hi-Test and other names. Is there a date code on the front jaw?

 

[Smitty]

The vise wasn’t for sale, I had to message him and talk him into selling it. Dave, I must say your eagle eye is in focus tonight.

 

[mxdev]

It's Rustoleum's Soft Iron Primer/Paint. Even though it says it is primer combined with the paint, I primer the metal first and then paint.

Thanks, I'll have to check out my local home hardware. Owners are usually in and can be convinced to order some in if they don't have it. Any pictures of some painting examples?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Welcome to “The Cool Kids With Bison-Bila Vises Club!

Is there a date code on the front jaw?

No. Just the HI-TEST, the POLAND, and the 327 model number markings.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Smitty - "When I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer"

are those parts for post vises? are they kind of big or is that a photo perspective thing?

-jeff

 

[Smitty]

Smitty - "When I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer"

are those parts for post vises? are they kind of big or is that a photo perspective thing?

-jeff

They are indeed post vise parts and I suspect perspective makes them look like 8 inchers.
Moe used to say “when I nod my head you hit it with the hammer” and then Curley would hit him in the head with the hammer. Classic three stooges.


If you look closely at the photo they appear to be drifting bolt holes.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Jeppen?

I'll feed off davethorik's clue and go with a post-1937 Prentiss swivel base vise. It could be a Meriden or slightly earlier, maybe?

 

[Shiftless]

They are indeed post vise parts and I suspect perspective makes them look like 8 inchers.
Moe used to say “when I nod my head you hit it with the hammer” and then Curley would hit him in the head with the hammer. Classic three stooges.


If you look closely at the photo they appear to be drifting bolt holes.

Everybody knows you don’t use a wooden mallet when doing anvil work!
(Larry getting back at Curley) but good work with the tongs on Curley’s ear

 

[Smitty]

Lol, saved to files.

That looks like a Hay Budden

 

[Smitty]

Here’s the mystery Prentiss 353 1/2 it has 3 1/2” jaws and weighs in at a hefty 55 lbs. The handle isn’t original but I get to brag to VA that I actually found a Prentiss with the pipe jaws intact. It’s in pretty good condition for a combo vise.

Good eye Dave and Jeppen

KMS, let me clean it up and I’ll post better pics in the info thread. It has to sit next to the pristine 354 1/2 on the sheet.
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[davethorik]

Well it looks like my instincts were right, that replacement handle threw me for a loop though. Nice find!

 

[ALLFAST]

Paging any owners of a ROCKY 542-BX with all of its ORIGINAL pipe jaw inserts intact. Hello all, I'm wondering if anyone out there has an Rock Island Model 542-BX and can tell me how their pipe jaw inserts are configured. ? I have 2 of these now, one with no pipe inserts, and the other has 2 originals, which are mounted in the fixed jaw. My question is, is the jaw insert on the dynamic side exactly the same as the other 2, or would it be different altogether ?
Thanks for any assistance in advance ! Regards, Shawn