The VISES of Garage Journal

[1320]

Fantastic, thanks for the information!

 

[Smitty]

You’re welcome, happy to help with dimensions.

 

[Productbob]

Smitty nice handle work. how did you attach the end balls?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

1320:Here's a picture of a handle I made for a Rapid 6" bench vise (manufactured by Bison-Bial). To make the handle ends so they would match the original, I cut a groove about 1" from the ends, heated the ends and crushed them.

Edit: Happy to have my desktop back. Still need to work out the bugs. I’d rather fix vises.

 

[Smitty]

Bob, 1.21 gigawatt lightning strike from a clock tower.

 

[Shiftless]

Bob, 1.21 gigawatt lightning strike from a clock tower.

Your welder might be dialed in on too high a number there Smitty!

 

[Smitty]

Lol. Yeah, I was just messing with Bob. That’s the stock handle on the vise, I was just helping with dimensions.

 

[Smitty]

Tap, tap, tap...it this thing on?

 

[Outlawmws]

What barely 5 hours from the last post and you are worried?

 

[Smitty]

I missed out on this today so I’m not feeling very perky right now.


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[bsaint]

Anyone have info on this vise? Might run out and grab it. Kinda cool.




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[Shiftless]

I missed out on this today so I’m not feeling very perky right now.


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Smitty:
Was that a C1 or bigger?
Original paint and the handle and swivels doesn’t look like they were hammered on very much.
Too bad you missed it. I know you NEED another vise.

 

[bastel]

Asking for a friend collecting american vises.
He is wondering if this is a Wilton (because it doesn't say Wilton). I am quite sure it is.

 

[GETRIDAONE]

That looks like an older Wilton C3 with the jaws held in from the back.

 

[Smitty]

Shift, I never heard back from the seller but I’m pretty sure it’s a CO. I hate missing out on a great deal and you can’t have too many Wilton’s. Hopefully a GJ member got it.

 

[bastel]

Anyone have info on this vise? Might run out and grab it. Kinda cool.




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This looks like a "Werkstock Primus" vise (google images: werkstock schraubstock).
Funny, just saw a mint one for 120 on the german classifieds and a not so mint one. Both gone now.
Seems not many were made, and they are not super old, but they have this optional lever so you can use it as mini press for up to 2 metric tons.
You can change the jaw inserts with the push of the button, so if you need to insert some brake jaws to form sheet metal, you can do that. Dove tail can be adjusted for slop.

 

[Outlawmws]

That certainly looks like a tank!

 

[Filly]

Here’s my latest score: Answered an add on Facebook Marketplace yesterday (screen-shot attached of add, I think you’ll all enjoy it)

“Sure I’ll buy your vice grip” almost felt bad about this one, especially when I asked him out of curiosity what his new vise was that he was replacing this one with and he pointed to a harbor freight one... some people just don’t know what they have!

 

[Shiftless]

filly:
Many of us have had brief moments like that one. It’s hard to keep a straight face when buying a “vise grip” like that one for $30. I bet you couldn’t open your wallet fast enough for that deal.

I hope you didn’t risk blowing the deal by trying to negotiate downward because the jaws weren’t really 5 inches wide as advertised but actually 4 1/2.

 

[Filly]

filly:
Many of us have had brief moments like that one. It’s hard to keep a straight face when buying a “vise grip” like that one for $30. I bet you couldn’t open your wallet fast enough for that deal.

I hope you didn’t risk blowing the deal by trying to negotiate downward because the jaws weren’t really 5 inches wide as advertised but actually 4 1/2.

It definitely crossed my mind!! But I already felt like I was robbing him at that point!

 

[dannyr]

There seems to be a lot of knowledge on this forum/thread - I asked similar on a UK forum - no clear answers yet:----
so question-

When were the first 'classic' American bolt down bench vises made? - I guess I mean by this cast iron (or maybe cast steel) main body with jaw inserts and steel screw.

I don't mean blacksmiths wrought iron leg/staple vices or their similar bench derivatives.

In the UK I don't see much before a flurry of quick release etc patents 1875-90,and then we suddenly have whole ranges of this type bench vises (eg Parkinsons) (and wood-working vices).

Confession - question partly triggered by acquisition of a very large (to me) Parkinson's Perfect (pre 1900, rusty, but 6 1/2in quick release, over 100lbs, £50 =$65 will post photo later) - and this after I swore to stick to size 00 (in UK = a proper bench vice, but only 2 1/4" wide jaws, typically 5lbs, many makes).

 

[Rileysan]

There seems to be a lot of knowledge on this forum/thread - I asked similar on a UK forum - no clear answers yet:----
so question-

When were the first 'classic' American bolt down bench vises made? - I guess I mean by this cast iron (or maybe cast steel) main body with jaw inserts and steel screw.

I don't mean blacksmiths wrought iron leg/staple vices or their similar bench derivatives.

In the UK I don't see much before a flurry of quick release etc patents 1875-90,and then we suddenly have whole ranges of this type bench vises (eg Parkinsons) (and wood-working vices).

Confession - question partly triggered by acquisition of a very large (to me) Parkinson's Perfect (pre 1900, rusty, but 6 1/2in quick release, over 100lbs, £50 =$65 will post photo later) - and this after I swore to stick to size 00 (in UK = a proper bench vice, but only 2 1/4" wide jaws, typically 5lbs, many makes).

Taking a blind stab at the answer, Charles Parker vises go back to the 1860s (or earlier). Is there another that began before them?

 

[Shiftless]

Prentiss was manufacturing vises around 1880.
Perhaps Smitty can chime in on exact dates with model numbers etc. He is an expert on Prentiss.

I’m sure that English manufacturers were at it earlier than that. But probably not before 1800.

Wooden clamps probably predate any cast iron and steel vises.

Cast iron implements, decorations, and weapons date back to China in the 5th century BC !
.

 

[Vise]

There seems to be a lot of knowledge on this forum/thread - I asked similar on a UK forum - no clear answers yet:----
so question-

When were the first 'classic' American bolt down bench vises made? - I guess I mean by this cast iron (or maybe cast steel) main body with jaw inserts and steel screw.

I don't mean blacksmiths wrought iron leg/staple vices or their similar bench derivatives.

In the UK I don't see much before a flurry of quick release etc patents 1875-90,and then we suddenly have whole ranges of this type bench vises (eg Parkinsons) (and wood-working vices).

Confession - question partly triggered by acquisition of a very large (to me) Parkinson's Perfect (pre 1900, rusty, but 6 1/2in quick release, over 100lbs, £50 =$65 will post photo later) - and this after I swore to stick to size 00 (in UK = a proper bench vice, but only 2 1/4" wide jaws, typically 5lbs, many makes).

I don't have an answer to your question, but would like to see a picture of your Parkinsons vise.

 

[Smitty]

Patents were issued to Mason Prentiss in 1868. The Watertown NY facility started producing vises in 1872. In the early days the vises were simply identified by type and jaw size, they didn’t have model numbers. Machinist, Filers, Wood Workers and jewelers were the original styles produced.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

There seems to be a lot of knowledge on this forum/thread - I asked similar on a UK forum - no clear answers yet:----
so question-

When were the first 'classic' American bolt down bench vises made? - I guess I mean by this cast iron (or maybe cast steel) main body with jaw inserts and steel screw.

I don't mean blacksmiths wrought iron leg/staple vices or their similar bench derivatives.

In the UK I don't see much before a flurry of quick release etc patents 1875-90,and then we suddenly have whole ranges of this type bench vises (eg Parkinsons) (and wood-working vices).



Confession - question partly triggered by acquisition of a very large (to me) Parkinson's Perfect (pre 1900, rusty, but 6 1/2in quick release, over 100lbs, £50 =$65 will post photo later) - and this after I swore to stick to size 00 (in UK = a proper bench vice, but only 2 1/4" wide jaws, typically 5lbs, many makes).

Dannyr: Welcome to the group. I can’t answer about early vises manufactured in the US. However, I noticed that you mentioned a similar vise group to this one. Looks like it would be an interesting read. Can you please provide a link to this group?

 

[redragoon]

Anyone here have the Yost 750 di that would give some thoughts on it?

I also like the ductile iron vs .gray that everything else at the ~$100 price range seems to be (vs. about $200 for the Yost 750 di).

Any alternatives closer to $150 with similar specs or better alternatives @ ~$200?

My dad purchased a clone of that vise (Irwin or Yost). Works well enough for his gun repairs, but he doesn't do any metal work with it.

Capri Tools has some good forged and ductile iron models near this price
https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-10515-Ultimate-Forged/dp/B015NI27ZY/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?keywords=vise+iron&qid=1579813044&sr=8-19-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUjNYVERZVTRLMktCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTIzOTQzMk5XU1NIWTdGMFlTVCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTMyNDc4Wlg0RTRXOTI4RzdKJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-10518-Rotating-Bench/dp/B015NI2BMI/ref=sr_1_30?keywords=vise+iron&qid=1579813044&sr=8-30

The Forward 1745A 4.5 Inch Heavy Duty Bench Vise used to be my recommendation as it is similar to the Wilton designs and uses ductile iron, but I do not know if it is still in stock.
https://www.amazon.com/Forward-1745A-4-5-Inch-Degree-Swivel/dp/B07G57P2QL?th=1

 

[PghJKB]

There seems to be a lot of knowledge on this forum/thread - I asked similar on a UK forum - no clear answers yet:----
so question-

When were the first 'classic' American bolt down bench vises made? - I guess I mean by this cast iron (or maybe cast steel) main body with jaw inserts and steel screw.

I don't mean blacksmiths wrought iron leg/staple vices or their similar bench derivatives.

In the UK I don't see much before a flurry of quick release etc patents 1875-90,and then we suddenly have whole ranges of this type bench vises (eg Parkinsons) (and wood-working vices).

Confession - question partly triggered by acquisition of a very large (to me) Parkinson's Perfect (pre 1900, rusty, but 6 1/2in quick release, over 100lbs, £50 =$65 will post photo later) - and this after I swore to stick to size 00 (in UK = a proper bench vice, but only 2 1/4" wide jaws, typically 5lbs, many makes).

Dannyr
The first US vise patent have found is #127, granted to Linus Dean of Oneida, New York. It does not use a screw, but a rack. 1837

The first non post vise that I have a patent for is #2315, granted to William Sim of Schenectady New York. This appears to have a half round slide. 1841

The first standard three holed, rectangular slide patent, #11137, was granted to Charles Parker of Meridan, Connecticut (THE Chas Parker). 1854

I am sure I am missing some, but there were fires at the US Patent Office in 1836 and 1877 that destroyed many patents.

Am always looking. Maybe something else will show up.

JKB

 

[royce]

Millscott Streamliner 4.5

Kevin Scott fixed me up with a lovely Starrett vise after he got it all dolled up.
Been thinking about this stand for quite some time.
Wanting something with a Art Deco, streamlined look with retractable landing gear, this is what I came up with.

Royce

 

[ricleh]

Beautiful vise and amazing stand.

 

[harley jim]

That is beautiful

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[royce]

Thank you
Ricleh
Harley

Royce

 

[Shiftless]

Fantastic work guys!
Another beautiful collaboration from 2 true metal artists.

 

[royce]

Right on Shift,
Kevin is a darn fine partner

Royce

 

[dkroth]

Can we just end the thread right here?

Wow.

.

 

[Smitty]

Amazing job on the vise and stand guys, truly inspiring.

 

[Old Radar]

Break out the brass stanchions and the red velvet rope! We don't want anyone drooling or getting greasy fingerprints on that work of art!

 

[KMScott]

Dang Royce, can't get enough. Awesome job. Love those handle knobs.

 

[RBarnes]

"Wow" pretty well sums it up. The stand that all other vise stands will be judged against.

 

[va.grouseman]

Now that's an example of something that is worthless and priceless at the same time.---Mighty pretty.