The VISES of Garage Journal

[romanop1]

Wow Joe, that’s truly an amazing collection. My back hurts just looking at it.

Awesome pic!

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Thank you Smitty between my Dad and grandpa I have a S**t load of vintage tools. The vise has just always been there. I just built of 30x40 garage with radiant heating system. I’m and just about done. I’ve acquired a 72”x 30”
Butcher block top that I’m going to restore to new condition , I would love
To see that vise shining mounted on it. I don’t know what it is about that vise )or vises I general) but it seems like a lot of people on here have the same passion for them!

Welcome aboard the crazy train of vise-aholics. Enjoy the ride.

 

[romanop1]

I think it’s great that you’re making your late father’s vise a family heirloom. Looks like you just need to clean it down to bare metal, paint and polish it. Whatever questions you have will be expertly answered here. BTW: I restored my late father’s vise, now displayed in my bar room.

Thanks Mark!

 

[romanop1]

Welcome. We might be able to help if we knew what you needed to know. Do you have a more specific question?

Thanks 454 I sent you a email because I didn’t realize I had to unclick the link until I have 5 posts.. crazy lol.

I’m just looking for any info I cN find on that Modal number. Would
Like to know the year. I’m thinking 60’s

 

[davethorik]

That craftsman looks like it was made by columbian. I'd guess vintage 60s.

 

[Outlawmws]

Roman, the "506" in the model No. represents the manufactured that made the vise for Sears, in this case, Columbian. The Crown Craftsman logo was used primarily in the 1960's - Some overlap pre and post, depending on the item.

What jaw width does the vise have?

You can find some more Catalog info in this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149519

And may be able to narrow the time span.

 

[Serrat Yasargil]

I got sick of my filthy shop so I paid a younger guy from one of the boards to help me re-arrange the shop. I paid him a Prentiss 6" swivel base vise. Worth every penny.

I now have a place for my 7" Prentiss with its 52lb factory pipe jaws, my Athol shelf, Reed Shelf, Parker shelves, Wilton shelf and my foreign vise shelf (foreign vises taking the jobs American Vise's won't do).

I also did this early parker baby bullet for John Dyer. I used 3 coats of flat camo and 2 coats clear. I like the color.

OMG Joe! That is a beautiful sight! I envy that kid that got paid a Prentiss for his work!!!! It might be the camera lens, but it is even more impressive looking with they way the blue steel shelf appears to be bowing under the weight of the vises. Just Awesome! Really enjoyed getting to see all that and want to see more of your eye candy!

 

[joe.striper]

Picked up this unusually numbered Parker 5 1/2 X
the other day. 7.125" jaws, about 180 lbs.

A beautiful vise

 

[joe.striper]

OMG Joe! That is a beautiful sight! I envy that kid that got paid a Prentiss for his work!!!! It might be the camera lens, but it is even more impressive looking with they way the blue steel shelf appears to be bowing under the weight of the vises. Just Awesome! Really enjoyed getting to see all that and want to see more of your eye candy!

The shelf IS bowing under the weight!

 

[Productbob]

Joe: the big Parker is a great addition to your freshly straightened up collection!

 

[GeoBruin]

My dad made a work bench for me and adorned it with a Wilton C2 he found in my uncle's junk pile. Needless to say it needed some TLC but it's looking pretty good now!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[Shiftless]

Geo:
That C2 came out great!
Welcome to GJ and the vise pages.

 

[romanop1]

That craftsman looks like it was made by columbian. I'd guess vintage 60s.

Thanks

 

[romanop1]

Roman, the "506" in the model No. represents the manufactured that made the vise for Sears, in this case, Columbian. The Crown Craftsman logo was used primarily in the 1960's - Some overlap pre and post, depending on the item.

What jaw width does the vise have?

You can find some more Catalog info in this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149519

And may be able to narrow the time span.

@outlaw if memory serves me correct the jaws are not smooth and have to measure the length.


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[romanop1]

Roman, the "506" in the model No. represents the manufactured that made the vise for Sears, in this case, Columbian. The Crown Craftsman logo was used primarily in the 1960's - Some overlap pre and post, depending on the item.

What jaw width does the vise have?

You can find some more Catalog info in this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149519

And may be able to narrow the time span.

The jaws are not smooth I’d have to measure the size.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

my 4" jaw Columbian made craftsman, any idea on the year? and that's not a crack on the end of the slide.

 

[va.grouseman]

My dad made a work bench for me and adorned it with a Wilton C2 he found in my uncle's junk pile. Needless to say it needed some TLC but it's looking pretty good now!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Your dad knows what he's doing.---Very nice setup Geo.---The C2 looks great and is the perfect size vise.

 

[GeoBruin]

Your dad knows what he's doing.---Very nice setup Geo.---The C2 looks great and is the perfect size vise.

Thanks!

I had him attempt to recreate his bench where I spent much of my youth standing on a milk crate banging away on his "Snap-On" vise (which I later learned was a re-badged Wilton, though somewhat smaller).

I found it tough to find a good trade-off between the height of the work surface and the height of something chucked up in the taller vice. To that end, a smaller vise might occasionally be preferred but I'm sure the weight and wider jaws will also come in handy (besides, it was free!).

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[kenc184]

I know this was talked about recently, but why the eff is ebay collecting sales tax for a sale in Ohio to me in California? I thought sales/use tax was for in state purchases only?
It was a private seller, not a company.

 

[Shiftless]

my 4" jaw Columbian made craftsman, any idea on the year? and that's not a crack on the end of the slide.

Emerald:
That looks to be a Craftsman 5191. Prevailing thought here is that it was made for Sears by Rock Island. If you close the jaws all the way and look at the top of the slide, you might be able to see the factory date markings. Expect to find a date near 1950.

Ken:
That topic is likely to generate a major off topic diversion. Is there already a thread somewhere devoted to that? IDK...

 

[va.grouseman]

I know this was talked about recently, but why the eff is ebay collecting sales tax for a sale in Ohio to me in California? I thought sales/use tax was for in state purchases only?
It was a private seller, not a company.

Don't ask, you can't get a strait answer.

 

[fullthrottle24]

Emerald:
That looks to be a Craftsman 5191. Prevailing thought here is that it was made for Sears by Rock Island. If you close the jaws all the way and look at the top of the slide, you might be able to see the factory date markings. Expect to find a date near 1950.

This vise is actually made by Columbian. It has the t pinned jaws. Time frame would be late 50’s early 60’s. It has similar characteristics to the earlier Rock Island(allegedly) Craftsman 51xx vises.

 

[va.grouseman]

Here's one for the discriminating Prentiss collector.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/JEWELER-WA...a=1&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

 

[Smitty]

Va, it’s a beautiful little vise but it seems a bit high.

 

[Shiftless]

Full throttle:
After looking at my 5191 I can see several differences between it and the similiar vise posted by emerald coupe .The mounting plate is different and the shape of the emblem is different. Also the shaping on the side of the main vise body is different. The nose with those distinctive grooves looks to be the same.

 

[wrenchguy]

my 4" jaw Columbian made craftsman, any idea on the year? and that's not a crack on the end of the slide.

"Crown Top" tag i believe used mid 60's thru mid 70's.

 

[va.grouseman]

Va, it’s a beautiful little vise but it seems a bit high.

It's a beautiful little vise but it's a LOT high.---Just eye candy.

 

[Smitty]

Jeppen, Nice avatar


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[txlonghorn1989]

Emerald:
That looks to be a Craftsman 5191. Prevailing thought here is that it was made for Sears by Rock Island. If you close the jaws all the way and look at the top of the slide, you might be able to see the factory date markings. Expect to find a date near 1950.

I didn't realize the Craftsman Crowntop badge was as early as 1950. Not implying anything simply stating my lack of knowledge. Cool to know and cool vise!

 

[GForceJunky]

Picked this bad boy (Wilton 600S) up today. I paid full asking price ($450) but he drove about 75 minutes to meet me part way, so I only had about 4.5-5 hours total driving versus about 7. Worth the $50 it sounded like I could have knocked off.

This thing is entirely unused. The vise was never mounted to the swivel base and neither were ever mounted to anything. I think the vise itself had been laying on its side on a floor or something for a bit, or was stored somewhere with moisture, because one side is almost immaculate and one side has a decent bit of surface rust.

I lubed all the moving bits with some SuperLube and cleaned the rest off and gave it a light coat of camellia oil in addition to a soft scrub with a blue Scotchbrite (the softest one). Looks great! Thing is a beast...pop can for scale, of course.

Considering these retail for $1500 I think this might qualify for a 'you ****'.

 

[Smitty]

It's a beautiful little vise but it's a LOT high.---Just eye candy.

There seems to be a question whether the pin striping is original or not. $575 is high for the vise and that’s why it’s not moving.
Actually I just bought the same vise with nickel plating and the Prentiss name on the front for a lot less. I’ll post up when it gets here at the end of the week.

 

[Smitty]

Gforce
That’s a time capsule Wilton for sure, nice find.

 

[davethorik]

Picked this bad boy (Wilton 600S) up today. I paid full asking price ($450) but he drove about 75 minutes to meet me part way, so I only had about 4.5-5 hours total driving versus about 7. Worth the $50 it sounded like I could have knocked off.

This thing is entirely unused. The vise was never mounted to the swivel base and neither were ever mounted to anything. I think the vise itself had been laying on its side on a floor or something for a bit, or was stored somewhere with moisture, because one side is almost immaculate and one side has a decent bit of surface rust.

I lubed all the moving bits with some SuperLube and cleaned the rest off and gave it a light coat of camellia oil in addition to a soft scrub with a blue Scotchbrite (the softest one). Looks great! Thing is a beast...pop can for scale, of course.

Considering these retail for $1500 I think this might qualify for a 'you ****'.

Was this vise listed on Akron, Ohio Craigslist?

Btw, self suckage isn't allowed here. To be honest, I don't think it is a you **** price, plus that drive time. $100, ok you ****.

That being said, if you are keeping it and happy with it, that is great and all that matters. I too paid a lot for a nice 6" USA vise. It is a real treat to have a vintage vise that nobody else has messed up yet.

If you bought this to flip well...good luck.

 

[bastel]

There seems to be a question whether the pin striping is original or not. $575 is high for the vise and that’s why it’s not moving.
Actually I just bought the same vise with nickel plating and the Prentiss name on the front for a lot less. I’ll post up when it gets here at the end of the week.

That nickel one on ebay wasn't really cheap?!

btw that here was "cheaper"

I now and then check sold listings for prentiss vises and yeah.. expensive.

Mine hasn't any traces of gold left, only remains of the burgundy red paint. Did only some have that paint job? But I can soooo live with that

 

[GForceJunky]

Gforce
That’s a time capsule Wilton for sure, nice find.

Thanks! Haven't looked for the date code yet but will soon enough.

Was this vise listed on Akron, Ohio Craigslist?

Btw, self suckage isn't allowed here. To be honest, I don't think it is a you **** price, plus that drive time. $100, ok you ****.

That being said, if you are keeping it and happy with it, that is great and all that matters. I too paid a lot for a nice 6" USA vise. It is a real treat to have a vintage vise that nobody else has messed up yet.

If you bought this to flip well...good luck.

Okay, no suckage then. Haha it was indeed the one listed in Akron, OH. As for the drive time, it's a company vehicle, company fuel, and the wife was out of town, plus I do engine calibration for a living so the drive is just extra data for me, ergo I consider it a wash. I've made longer drives for lesser things

But yes, I am keeping it and I am happy with it. It's a brand new Wilton 600S...aside from a bit of surface rust it's every bit what I'd get for $1500 if I ordered one today, so no complaints whatsoever. In the Detroit and Greater Toronto Area (my two home bases) I have never seen one of these, especially unused, for anywhere close to a reasonable price. Even the 450/450S vises tend to be listed around this price. I can't be bothered to flip tools, especially when I have them in my possession. One might say I have an addiction

I have kept my eyes open for other big ol' girls - Columbia, Reed, Chas Parker, etc. but I can never seem to find the 6" or bigger models for sale, or if they are they're either a) beat to **** and/or b) hilariously expensive. I would love to get my hands on an 8" (or bigger) vise.

Now that I have this, though, I'm mainly looking for a nice 4.5"+ vise with pipe jaws. I still don't have anything great for holding anything long and round, and I work with a lot of round stuff. Maybe I should just get a standalone pipe vise. Anyone have any recommendations on a dedicated pipe vise?

 

[rusty65]

That nickel one on ebay wasn't really cheap?!

btw that here was "cheaper"

I now and then check sold listings for prentiss vises and yeah.. expensive.

Mine hasn't any traces of gold left, only remains of the burgundy red paint. Did only some have that paint job? But I can soooo live with that

The nickel plated prentiss vises are a whole other animal. The one he bought with a little blue magic would look like a million bucks. The finish has just tarnish from age and some polish would roll back the years and also protect the finish for years to come. These two nickel plated examples I used evapo rust followed by blue magic and I believe the results speak for them selves.



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[KMScott]

Nice work Rusty.

 

[Smitty]

Rusty
Wow, that’s quite a transformation. I never would have thought that the vise would clean up so well. I’ll definitely be picking up some Blue Magic, thanks for the tip. Here’s a seller pick of the one I’m expecting on Friday.

The vise doesn’t have any rust on it but it’s quite tarnished like you mentioned.


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[Shiftless]

Smitty:
That little guy is gonna clean up great!
Count me in on the idea to grab a jar of Blue Magic to try out. I have been using Mothers polish and Simichrome for a long time but always open to something that might work better.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks shift, the vise has 90% of the original nickel plating so it should clean up pretty well.