The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
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tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Thanks for posting a photo of a Morgan 88 vise with the old style pipe jaws.
We discussed a while back regarding my model 88 with the missing front jaw. Milwaukee (Morgan) no longer sold the old style jaws and I was looking to fabricate a new one. Morgan gave me a chart with dimensions, but the dimensions looked wrong. By my calculations it would hold a minimum size 2" piece of pipe, which is not that useful. So I measured and sketched up the longest front jaw that would fit as that would adjust to the smallest piece of pipe. I fabricated an example out of flat plate to see how it would work as shown in the first photo. It looks pretty close to the one you posted (2nd photo for comparison).
After playing with it a bit I decided to keep it as-is. Later dual jaw pipe jaws (what Milwaukee and most everyone else uses) do not protrude past the flat vise jaws and thus usually do not need to be removed. But tool steel material, shipping etc. costs for me making the new jaws end up being double the cost of the vise. Since I already have other options for holding pipe it was not a cost effective solution.
We discussed a while back regarding my model 88 with the missing front jaw. Milwaukee (Morgan) no longer sold the old style jaws and I was looking to fabricate a new one. Morgan gave me a chart with dimensions, but the dimensions looked wrong. By my calculations it would hold a minimum size 2" piece of pipe, which is not that useful. So I measured and sketched up the longest front jaw that would fit as that would adjust to the smallest piece of pipe. I fabricated an example out of flat plate to see how it would work as shown in the first photo. It looks pretty close to the one you posted (2nd photo for comparison).
After playing with it a bit I decided to keep it as-is. Later dual jaw pipe jaws (what Milwaukee and most everyone else uses) do not protrude past the flat vise jaws and thus usually do not need to be removed. But tool steel material, shipping etc. costs for me making the new jaws end up being double the cost of the vise. Since I already have other options for holding pipe it was not a cost effective solution.
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JaceLorenzen
New member
New to the forum. Purchased a Desmond Stephan Simplex Utility 350 vise on Facebook Marketplace and restored it. This forum was very useful for ideas during the process. The retaining ring on the leadscrew was broke off when I purchased the vise. Looking through this forum I came across the idea to just use a shaft collar and dimple the leadscrew for the Allen set screw to sit in, worked perfectly! Anyone know of a rough date of manufacture on this particular vise?
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ganymede
Well-known member
^^^
Late 40's to late 50's is when those were most popular.
Late 40's to late 50's is when those were most popular.
Interesting morning so far. I finally found a Holland 52 1/2 but the base is missing and appears to have been broken off. The seller also had this Starrett 924 1/2 that’s in great condition. The seller wanted $20 for the holland and $45 for the starrett, I didn’t haggle.
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Old Radar
Well-known member
Didn't haggle?!?!? Just for forms sake, you should have offered him $60!
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Having the ball joint makes them more collectable. Made quick resale of one I had.
I picked another one at a widow's garage sale. Although I discovered it was broken, I was able to make a Power Arm for my 63mm Baby Bison-Bial.
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Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
KM: That machinery looks so clean, I'd have a hard time making chips with it.
Old Radar
Well-known member
Danoak--
Welcome to Garage Journal!
Help us to help you. What do you know about it? What are its jaw width and opening length? What does it weigh? Have you googled Morgan vise? What did you find?
Welcome to Garage Journal!
Help us to help you. What do you know about it? What are its jaw width and opening length? What does it weigh? Have you googled Morgan vise? What did you find?
Shiftless
Well-known member
Danoak:
Here is a catalog page.
The star vises were not quite as beefy as the other Morgan models. (I have one or two in my collection) But still, they are great vises and to me collectible.
Old radar :
We all play the game a bit differently but I bet Smitty, like me, doesn’t offer less when the deal is already great at the given price.
I used to own that model Starrett like he bought but 1/2 inch smaller. Mine was painted up nicely and brought $200. I could have gotten more but the buyer was a fellow GJ member so ....
Like many others, I have brought home package deals of valuable and throwaway items bundled together by the seller. Just get rid of the junk quickly so it doesn’t clog up your storage space. I have sold lesser vises or slightly damaged ones for $10 to happy buyers who accept the flaws.
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Here is a catalog page.
The star vises were not quite as beefy as the other Morgan models. (I have one or two in my collection) But still, they are great vises and to me collectible.
Old radar :
We all play the game a bit differently but I bet Smitty, like me, doesn’t offer less when the deal is already great at the given price.
I used to own that model Starrett like he bought but 1/2 inch smaller. Mine was painted up nicely and brought $200. I could have gotten more but the buyer was a fellow GJ member so ....
Like many others, I have brought home package deals of valuable and throwaway items bundled together by the seller. Just get rid of the junk quickly so it doesn’t clog up your storage space. I have sold lesser vises or slightly damaged ones for $10 to happy buyers who accept the flaws.
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Like shift said it was a pretty good deal to begin with but I was also trying to build up a little good will. He has a massive vise at his home shop that he’s considering selling.
Old Radar
Well-known member
Maybe I should have put this little emoji in my post to indicate it was intended to be tongue-in-cheek.
4” jaws, 35lbs. I will have to measure the opening length. I found the website but I haven’t found much else. I was wondering how old it might be. I bought it for 35 bucks. It seems to be in pretty good shape.
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I am curious about each vise company and the largest vise they ever made? Has anyone put together a list of these? Reed has a 209 in their literature, and that is the largest I have heard of from Reed, what about other companies?
Old Radar
Well-known member
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241342
See posts #4, #6 #14 & #15 for a discussion on dates.
Here is a picture of one I restored 4 years ago. It has 4in jaws but uses the same parts as a 3in Morgan kind of a odd duck vise but hey it was what they did to make a low cost quality vise. also sone before pictures
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Here is a picture of one I restored 4 years ago. It has 4in jaws but uses the same parts as a 3in Morgan kind of a odd duck vise but hey it was what they did to make a low cost quality vise. also sone before pictures
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That’s really nice! I want to add the base to mine.
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KMScott
Well-known member
You bet Smitty, thanks so much for all your help. I'll be watching.
KMScott
Well-known member
tool-scrounge, you are preaching to the choir on steel prices. I get asked all the time to make pipe jaws and guys just do not get it that the asking price of $90 for each pipe jaws is still cheap. I gave up on customer pipe jaws. If you need any specs on these pipe jaws for the 88 then let me know. I could draw them up if needed.
Oh No Mark, it's gonna get used for about everything I will be doing after retirement. the mill is in excellent shape and making vise parts will not wear this machine out. I remember building Plastic Injection Molds on Bridgeports just like this one and although being slow they handled the heavy cuts well. The old J Head Bridgeports are pretty rugged. This one did not come with the J-Head, that is why the base and table are in such great condition, never seen a Bridgeport with the way covers like this one. If I can find these machines living in the mountains then you guys should be able to find machines in your area.
What did I see today? How did that Wilton sneak into Germany 
Anyways, the Zeus haul from Leipzig was a bust.. HS wasn't there, and the VS2... well they didn't want to take photos and they had no clue anyways, but apparently it lived a hard hard life, a hole and a cracked anvil (like the VS6 I own has). Which was fixed.. radically. Still bought it for parts. It was cheap. (Well travel expenses double the price, but whatever.) For example if I could get that other VS2, I could swap the dynamic jaw and get one good one out of it.
BUT. The VS4, I got. In very good shape. I could compare it to the Zeus 3, and there were differences. Compare the images closely. Though the biggest difference is hardly visible on the photos. Took measurements and all, so the vise info thread will get some.. info.
The Peddinghaus looks 'nice' by daylight. Imagine a almost 5" vise with over 6" extension with the nut fully engaged, so a bit more is possible. Looking like the american square box vise. But only 20 kg with swivel base. Later models were adjustable to remove play.
Anyways, the Zeus haul from Leipzig was a bust.. HS wasn't there, and the VS2... well they didn't want to take photos and they had no clue anyways, but apparently it lived a hard hard life, a hole and a cracked anvil (like the VS6 I own has). Which was fixed.. radically. Still bought it for parts. It was cheap. (Well travel expenses double the price, but whatever.) For example if I could get that other VS2, I could swap the dynamic jaw and get one good one out of it.
BUT. The VS4, I got. In very good shape. I could compare it to the Zeus 3, and there were differences. Compare the images closely. Though the biggest difference is hardly visible on the photos. Took measurements and all, so the vise info thread will get some.. info.
The Peddinghaus looks 'nice' by daylight. Imagine a almost 5" vise with over 6" extension with the nut fully engaged, so a bit more is possible. Looking like the american square box vise. But only 20 kg with swivel base. Later models were adjustable to remove play.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
va.grouseman
Well-known member
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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Smitty, that hexagon handle makes it a one-off.
---I like it.---Looks well done and stout.---And the rest of it is a real peach.---Nice score.---Wish we had of kept score of the combos that still had their PJs and the ones without, so we could have established a percentage.Attachments
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
Interesting. I cut my teeth (pun intended) on a J head, at a plastics injection molding plant. Although I was an electrician at the time, I had an interest in machining and the boss would have me crank away. I never did jobs of the caliber that you do, but I repaired a lot of molds, components and built fixtures. Good times.
mxdev
Well-known member
I gave my Record #6 that was on my bench to my Dad, and this one is going to be my primary. Got a picture of the 372? I couldn't find it in the vices spreadsheet
The Prentiss 353 1/2 cleaned up fairly well.
VA I would guess I’m 50/50 on pipe jaws and that’s because Wilton’s seem to stay put.
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VA I would guess I’m 50/50 on pipe jaws and that’s because Wilton’s seem to stay put.
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I’ve got a buddy that found a reed 406 R that he’s restoring. He sent me picks that the collar was broken but I assured him that it’s supposed to be a 2 Pc set up. What I’m not sure about is whether the main screw should be welded to the meatball? Any insight would be appreciated.
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KMScott
Well-known member
Smitty, it should be welded or at least pinned, if not then it will pull apart when opening. What is not shown is if the spindle threaded shaft is attached to the meatball beyond the replacement piece.
Do you still own and run the Haas for most jobs?
My new Wilton/Snap On 1750 purchased today. The gentleman stated he would not take one dollar less than $40 for it, so I kindly obliged him. Old retired mechanic, he said he bought it in the late 80s. In perfect working order!! It only took me 10 minutes to wire wheel all the rust off. I think I’m going to turn it into a Snap On vise ��......seriously tho. Extra proud of this find because I don’t live in Vise Belt of Michigan, Ohio, New York, or Pennsylvania where it’s raining USA vises apparently!!!
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KMScott
Well-known member
Yes I still have my Haas and Milltronics. Selling my home next year and will sell off my equipment. Bridgeport, lathe and surface grinder will stay with me. Can just about do most repairs with these machines.
Nice find.
In Louisiana, quality vises seem to be few and far between. But I did manage to find a 6.5" Wilton Tradesman at an auction this week. I think I'm going to clean it up and use it as a blacksmithing vise.
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CrotalusAtrox
Well-known member
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
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They came with a Wilton decal and if used much promptly comes off.
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Smitty- I dig that Prentiss combo vise. And that’s a hell of a deal on that Starrett too.
I finished up the Prentiss 58 yesterday. The color is Burnished Amber hammered by Rustoleum, which I think looks nice with the stellar set of KMScott replacement jaws. Next up will be mounting it on a big stand.
Also, for those asking about the Parker 978, I haven’t forgotten about it. It actually started to flash rust under the clear metal oil. So I’ve wire wheeled it and applied two new coats of black metal oil (see last pic), over which i’ll apply sculpt nouveau clear guard and wax. Hopefully that will seal it well before I mount it on the stand once and for all.
I finished up the Prentiss 58 yesterday. The color is Burnished Amber hammered by Rustoleum, which I think looks nice with the stellar set of KMScott replacement jaws. Next up will be mounting it on a big stand.
Also, for those asking about the Parker 978, I haven’t forgotten about it. It actually started to flash rust under the clear metal oil. So I’ve wire wheeled it and applied two new coats of black metal oil (see last pic), over which i’ll apply sculpt nouveau clear guard and wax. Hopefully that will seal it well before I mount it on the stand once and for all.
trijeff
Well-known member
Vise, that 58 out turned out REALLY great! Super work there, sir.
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