The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
- Start date
Shiftless
Well-known member
Believe me, if it wasn’t for shipping, I’d be in. I live on the other side of the country near San Francisco.
Try putting it in the GJ classified section and I bet a member near you will take you up on your offer.
As far as your mount goes, there are several parts missing. There was originally a center bolt that threaded into your vise body and had threads on the other end. A guy would drill a hole through his bench and hold the vise down using a big cast iron wing nut or threaded swivel handle tightened down from underneath.
My Prentiss Lion head model with through the bench mount has nubs on the bottom of the vise body that engage teeth in an intermediate plate that bolts to the bench top.
.
Last edited:
Fierljeppen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2018
- Messages
- 1,159
floyd612...I don't think that the holes were original. I found about -5- catalog scans, none of which had the holes in the illustrations. The pin removed would allow for the back jaw to swivel for odd shaped items. The catalog scan below is from 1876.
I like the vise outside on the concrete pedestal. Kinda gives a feeling of an outdoor museum.
I like the vise outside on the concrete pedestal. Kinda gives a feeling of an outdoor museum.
Attachments
Shiftless
Well-known member
Fierljeppen:
Thanks for posting that catalog page. We can count on you for impeccable reference material.
You’re right about the art on a concrete pedestal. Here is a shot of some concrete pedestals at the Met in NYC. Unfortunately, they didn’t include any vises in this exhibit hall.
Thanks for posting that catalog page. We can count on you for impeccable reference material.
You’re right about the art on a concrete pedestal. Here is a shot of some concrete pedestals at the Met in NYC. Unfortunately, they didn’t include any vises in this exhibit hall.
Attachments
Last edited:
Shiftless
Well-known member
If the holes were original, I believe they wouldn’t be drilled...they would be cast. If you inspect the holes closely, you can probably tell the difference between drilled and cast.
va.grouseman
Well-known member
Previously posted by floyd612.
I still don’t understand what the bolt holes on the side are for though.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floyd, did you mean holes in the base, cause I don't see any holes in the slide.
I still don’t understand what the bolt holes on the side are for though.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floyd, did you mean holes in the base, cause I don't see any holes in the slide.
Last edited:
Outlawmws
Well-known member
The holes in the base would be used with a drop in pin (old bolt? and corresponding holes would be drilled in the bench at 90, 45 and 180, possibly more, so the thing had a positive lock at those angles. No one likes a vise moving on its pivot when twisting on things...
sqyards
Well-known member
TailGunner3000
Well-known member
Your 614 is a factory stationary base model, hence the "beard." Their later model vises, including Starrett ( parent company ) used the same cast for both stationary and swivel base models, so they employed a smooth bottom base. They had 3 bolt down points in the stationary configuration. One or both of the side holes were used for the swivel locks in swivel configuration. You'll notice the third hole in the rear remains, even though it serves no purpose in the swivel configuration on the later models.A friend gave me this Athol 614, It was his Grandfathers. it's in pretty nice shape under the paint, smooth jaws like my 614-1/2 user but it has the registration "lump" on the front of the base unlike my user.
I would like to see some Athol paperwork showing the option of a smooth base and smooth jaws. At first I thought Lockheed had milled off the "lump" themselves on my 614-1/2, but I've seen at least a half dozen Athols now with a flat bAse that I know it is factory.
Last edited:
Shiftless
Well-known member
sqyards:
Welcome to the group. It’s great seeing that old scout vise mounted and doing work for the next generation.
Here is one I found at an estate sale, still in its original box, evidently never used or even mounted.
Welcome to the group. It’s great seeing that old scout vise mounted and doing work for the next generation.
Here is one I found at an estate sale, still in its original box, evidently never used or even mounted.
Attachments
Reversepolarity
Well-known member
Nice
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
neophyte
Well-known member
floyd612...I don't think that the holes were original. I found about -5- catalog scans, none of which had the holes in the illustrations. The pin removed would allow for the back jaw to swivel for odd shaped items. The catalog scan below is from 1876.
I like the vise outside on the concrete pedestal. Kinda gives a feeling of an outdoor museum.
Not to be a ****, but if you didn’t put any gasketing or other protective layer between the vise and the concrete, you might want to consider removing the vise and doing so.
While cast iron usually fares better than steel, some concrete mixes are highly corrosive to steel, and can cause the steel to rust out far quicker than you might think.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Good warning.
Floyd has already said he’s gonna bring it in. As several have said, it’s too rare and valuable to leave outdoors and beat on.
Floyd has already said he’s gonna bring it in. As several have said, it’s too rare and valuable to leave outdoors and beat on.
It’s in the garage Neo. But saying that, it has been outside in change of season weather for 5-6 years with no corrosion whatsoever. Oil change oil and a spray of Marvel every once in awhile and it looks better than when I got it. One winter it had snow almost to the top of it. These things were made to use and use hard, except for some HF stuff.
Tomorrow I think I’ll attempt to loosen up the JBWeld repair with some torch heat, and see what’s going on.
Spraying the pins with Aero Kroil to soak over night.
Tomorrow I think I’ll attempt to loosen up the JBWeld repair with some torch heat, and see what’s going on.
Spraying the pins with Aero Kroil to soak over night.
ptgarcia
Well-known member
I need an offset jaw vice to hold motorcycle fork tubes while servicing them. Anyone in SoCal have an extra they'd be willing to trade for a Wilton 400S?
Reversepolarity
Well-known member
The vise had no damage at all. The swivel base has some cracks that I have to fix.
Went with a BLO finish. Matches all my leg
Vises.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Went with a BLO finish. Matches all my leg
Vises.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Attachments
va.grouseman
Well-known member
davethorik
Well-known member
Got an odd duck today. It's been languishing on Craigslist for a few months, one small crappy pic. I dismissed it at first, thinking frankenvise. Until I stumbled across a Google books of an old industrial supply type place, listing this Massey Vise Co. Riley patent "Lightning Grip" quick set vise.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US227582A/en
I also found this ad from 1896, and it looks like they could be had as fixed base or thru-bench swivel base. These appear to be swivel base. If so, that would make my 3.5" a #11.
The vise weighs in at 43 lbs and opens 4". Attached is a pic of the cam on the end of the spindle that actuates the smaller rack, pushing it up into the large rack in the top half of the vise body to tighten. It only takes 1/4 turn of the heavy cast iron handle to accomplish this. As a side note, this looks like the same handle found on Massey's quick release woodworking vise.
For the bad, the wing nut has both ends snapped off, but it's there. I'm not sure if the swivel base is original, but it's been with the vise long enough to get the same crappy orange paint. I don't know about the stud, guessing stack-o-washers isn't original
There is also a chip under the dynamic jaw pad. For some reason the two halves of the body are bolted together backwards.
I've never seen one before. I think it's pretty cool. Looks like Massey was around 1890s-1920s. I'm just assuming here, the vise has no markings I can see yet. Maybe Fierljeppen knows more.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US227582A/en
I also found this ad from 1896, and it looks like they could be had as fixed base or thru-bench swivel base. These appear to be swivel base. If so, that would make my 3.5" a #11.
The vise weighs in at 43 lbs and opens 4". Attached is a pic of the cam on the end of the spindle that actuates the smaller rack, pushing it up into the large rack in the top half of the vise body to tighten. It only takes 1/4 turn of the heavy cast iron handle to accomplish this. As a side note, this looks like the same handle found on Massey's quick release woodworking vise.
For the bad, the wing nut has both ends snapped off, but it's there. I'm not sure if the swivel base is original, but it's been with the vise long enough to get the same crappy orange paint. I don't know about the stud, guessing stack-o-washers isn't original
There is also a chip under the dynamic jaw pad. For some reason the two halves of the body are bolted together backwards.
I've never seen one before. I think it's pretty cool. Looks like Massey was around 1890s-1920s. I'm just assuming here, the vise has no markings I can see yet. Maybe Fierljeppen knows more.
Attachments
Rural Pundit
Member
What can you learned viceologists tell me about this Wilton Vise I've recently inherited?
Manufacture date?
It works perfectly, but I do plan to refinish it soon.
Any pro-tips on the best way to clean the slide, or a source for paint?
Manufacture date?
It works perfectly, but I do plan to refinish it soon.
Any pro-tips on the best way to clean the slide, or a source for paint?
Reversepolarity
Well-known member
Unscrew the slide and pull it out.
The date will be on the key stock.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The date will be on the key stock.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Eric827
Well-known member
davethorik- I've seen that ugly orange vise on CL for a while too. Wow, what an interesting quick-acting setup. Good job chasing after it. Makes me think I need to pursue some more of those oddballs.
davethorik
Well-known member
Eric, same! I'm sure every vise hunter in Ohio has, as well. Which was why I was surprised it was on CL so long. It came from a nice suburb of Cleveland had been mounted on the workbench of a back yard jeep garage.
The work bench had a narrow space (2.5") between two upright 2x boards under the work surface where the bolt and wing nut go, that was probably why the ends of the wing nut were busted off to fit the tight space. Oh well. I now have 3 of these style swivels and 2 of 3 have broken but functional wing nuts.
Edit: I found it because I was searching for OLD Parker vises cuz of this thread https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=445796
When I found the Massey in Google books by pure luck.
Last edited:
Rural Pundit
Member
dannyr
Well-known member
Got an odd duck today. It's been languishing on Craigslist for a few months, one small crappy pic. I dismissed it at first, thinking frankenvise. Until I stumbled across a Google books of an old industrial supply type place, listing this Massey Vise Co. Riley patent "Lightning Grip" quick set vise.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US227582A/en
I also found this ad from 1896, and it looks like they could be had as fixed base or thru-bench swivel base. These appear to be swivel base. If so, that would make my 3.5" a #11.
The vise weighs in at 43 lbs and opens 4". Attached is a pic of the cam on the end of the spindle that actuates the smaller rack, pushing it up into the large rack in the top half of the vise body to tighten. It only takes 1/4 turn of the heavy cast iron handle to accomplish this. As a side note, this looks like the same handle found on Massey's quick release woodworking vise.
For the bad, the wing nut has both ends snapped off, but it's there. I'm not sure if the swivel base is original, but it's been with the vise long enough to get the same crappy orange paint. I don't know about the stud, guessing stack-o-washers isn't original
There is also a chip under the dynamic jaw pad. For some reason the two halves of the body are bolted together backwards.
I've never seen one before. I think it's pretty cool. Looks like Massey was around 1890s-1920s. I'm just assuming here, the vise has no markings I can see yet. Maybe Fierljeppen knows more.
Good find.
I have the English version Entwisle and Kenyon (UK Riley patent 1877, just a few weeks after the Smith patent for a similar mech. but with a pinion toothed cam) - mine looks identical to yours - including the hammered handle, and 'anvil' area. The UK version is scarce, the wood-working version quite sought after. The only markings are usually on the loose small toothed part which the snail cam lifts to meet the rack - mine just has a number, but some are marked E&K. Also the 'anvil' area on mine has 'The ---- (Lightning?) Vice' cast in but mostly obscured by its use as an anvil.
I don't think the UK E&K or Smith/Syers lasted long, being superseded by the Parkinsons QR, patented in 1882 which was copied by Record etc as soon as the patent expired.
There's a good summary of the history of the woodworking versions on the smallworkshop.co.uk website.
This type works very well for quick holding for filing, welding etc but is not one for a high tonnage grip for iron bar bashing or for a long squeeze grip - thus the deformed handle.
Mine is the 4in fixed base, but has the tapped hole for conversion to swivel. Not much original paint left on mine, but I think it might have been a pale grey/green.
I do like to use a vise that might be 140 years old and going strong for the next *** years
danny
Last edited:
GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
Rust-Oleum Verde Green is easier to find but Hammerite Lt. Blue is a better match. I use a scotch bright pad cut in strips for polishing round shapes.
The vise I restored is also dated 1977, it has the Rust-Oleum paint on it. Good luck with the project and post pictures when done.
Attachments
Reversepolarity
Well-known member
It will require quite a bit of work on the swivel base.
For the BLO, I baked the pieces in a gas grill. Wiped on the oil with a rag. The. Put the pieces back in the grill. I did 3 coats.
Basically just the same as seasoning a cast iron skillet.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Shiftless
Well-known member
R.P.:
That BLO finish looks great!
Do you have a separate dedicated gas grill for baking BLO parts or can you use the same one for grilling steaks and vises?
Get:
I agree with your tips about paint colors and for using scotch brite for polishing. I also use those 3 inch diameter scotch brite drill mounted flap wheels.
That BLO finish looks great!
Do you have a separate dedicated gas grill for baking BLO parts or can you use the same one for grilling steaks and vises?
Get:
I agree with your tips about paint colors and for using scotch brite for polishing. I also use those 3 inch diameter scotch brite drill mounted flap wheels.
Last edited:
Reversepolarity
Well-known member
I just use my regular grill.
I use it to preheat cast parts before welding also.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: update on the C Parker 41
Tore it down today. Front jaw Slide came out smoothly,everything looks good there. The pin came out with one tap of a small hammer, the rear swivel jaw moves smoothly and with a little Marvel oil ,easily. The repair on the main pin area, was brazed. I don’t know why it looked like some kind of epoxy at first.. It looks like the original flat headed flush fit pin is there but for whatever reason, they brazed it where it wouldn’t come out.
Tore it down today. Front jaw Slide came out smoothly,everything looks good there. The pin came out with one tap of a small hammer, the rear swivel jaw moves smoothly and with a little Marvel oil ,easily. The repair on the main pin area, was brazed. I don’t know why it looked like some kind of epoxy at first.. It looks like the original flat headed flush fit pin is there but for whatever reason, they brazed it where it wouldn’t come out.
Attachments
Shiftless
Well-known member
Thanks
I was concerned that some lingering BLO smell would affect the taste of food later cooked on the same grill. Maybe grilling the vise parts with the lid open would be less risky re: lingering BLO odor.
I was concerned that some lingering BLO smell would affect the taste of food later cooked on the same grill. Maybe grilling the vise parts with the lid open would be less risky re: lingering BLO odor.
