The VISES of Garage Journal

[anytool]

This is my first post on this forum. Recently picked up a reed #105 in pretty bad shape, Crack in slide, handle missing balls from being broken, and the right hand side, (looking at it from the front, mounting ear was broken off and missing. The upside is I scored it for $30, and spent 40$ to have a local blacksmith/fabricator to recreate the missing ear. Its by no means a mint condition show stopper, but certainly a serviceable unit for $70.

 

[Shiftless]

A.T.:
Welcome to our crazy little corner of Garage Journal. You’re off to a good start. Reed vises are among the best. Will that one be your user? Do you have others? We LOVE pics!

 

[Vise]

This is my first post on this forum. Recently picked up a reed #105 in pretty bad shape, Crack in slide, handle missing balls from being broken, and the right hand side, (looking at it from the front, mounting ear was broken off and missing. The upside is I scored it for $30, and spent 40$ to have a local blacksmith/fabricator to recreate the missing ear. Its by no means a mint condition show stopper, but certainly a serviceable unit for $70.

Welcome! That 105 will be a good user. You could braze the crack in the slide for some additional strength, but should be okay for awhile. Thanks for posting.

 

[zoomieport]

Mini Prentiss collection.

 

[Smitty]

Drooling...

 

[rusty65]

Im just on the look out for a Lewis jewelers vise and I think I will have the prentiss set.



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[va.grouseman]

Rusty, do you have a pic or an AD of a Lewis Jewelers.---I've never seen one or even a pic, but I'm sure it would just almost be a clone of a Prentiss Jewelers.---Or vise-versa.

You and Zommie have very impressive collections of those minies.

 

[anytool]

A.T.:
Welcome to our crazy little corner of Garage Journal. You’re off to a good start. Reed vises are among the best. Will that one be your user? Do you have others? We LOVE pics!

That vise will be used for my more mild vise endeavors. Im big on not using a vise for a press, and not grinding/cutting objects in a vise, especially one of this caliber. as for my other vises, I have a columbian d44 m5, a 4in dunlop, and a littlestown vise.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Major kudos to Smitty, zoomieport and rusty65 on your Prentiss jeweler collections!

va.grouseman...Found a photo and an ad for the Lewis Tool Co. jeweler vises. They were actually very independent, both in business and design from Prentiss before their acquisition.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Here is another Lewis jewelers vise pictured with a small Pittsburgh rotator. Unfortunately these aren't part of my collection.

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[Smitty]

Thanks Jeppen.

 

[va.grouseman]

Chris, those are outstanding.---2 Unicorns.---You need to get up off of some of that old rusty money and procure those.---Just go out in the back yard and dig up a couple of coffee cans.---Those 2 are money in the bank.

 

[TonyCH]

Anybody know what blue this color is oldldh used few years ago?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6837416&postcount=60016

I like it. Looks a lot like modern Hazet blue and IMO much nicer than the modern or even old Record blue.

 

[doily_grunge]

Picked up this 4 1/2” Dawn today cheap. I was going to restore it until I cleaned off all the grease. Now I think I’ll keep it as is I like the patina.

 

[jerryd67]

No, it's not a Parker/Reed/Yost, but happy with the way my very first vise resto came out...

Jerry that restore looks as good as any I’ve seen. Nice job. What process did you use to get the raw metal shiny?

I used a file to remove any existing burrs, followed by wire wheel, spiral sewn buffing wheel w/ brown polishing compound and finally a loose cotton wheel with green polishing compound.

 

[mikeswrenches]

Here is another Lewis jewelers vise pictured with a small Pittsburgh rotator. Unfortunately these aren't part of my collection.

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Chris:
Don’t forget the STEPHENS Vise in the background in front of the cylinder. It is another uncommon vise.

 

[davethorik]

Spotted this weirdo mystery vise on Craigslist.
6" jaw, opens 8.5", weight 160 lbs.
Everything about this vise is non-standard. There is a little bit of damage, but it is very stout and overall good shape.
Fierljeppen knows what it is, of course

Edit: the gentleman who sold it to me was in his 60s. He said he inherited it from his grandfather. He claimed it would easily crush golf balls and also cautioned me to not try to crush .22 ammo in a vise

 

[Outlawmws]

Dave that thing is a brute! Well Done! Got the paint off the lettering yet?

 

[Fierljeppen]

davethorik...You got it! Your Barretts' no.70 vise is a beast. The catalog scan is from 1892, but I believe it was also produced in the 1880's.

I can't wait for you to get the vise taken apart so I can understand how the swivel jaw mechanism works?

 

[chrisnazzy]

davethorik...You got it![emoji481] Your Barretts' no.70 vise is a beast. The catalog scan is from 1892, but I believe it was also produced in the 1880's.



I can't wait for you to get the vise taken apart so I can understand how the swivel jaw mechanism works?

This rare bird was also discussed over on the FB group as well before Dave ended up being the one who snagged it. Looks like Meadville also produced the Barrett's patent vise. Here are a couple other old scans that were posted.

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[Smitty]

Awesome find Dave, that base is massive.

 

[davethorik]

WOW, it's a swivel jaw too? I had no idea. Looks like the pin is on the side. Where the square protrusion is on mine. Thanks guys!

 

[Reversepolarity]

Awesome


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[Reversepolarity]

The swivel lock for the Hollands 46 was missing when I found the vise.
I always liked the lock style of the Parker vises. This vise will be a user. So I am not concerned with it looking all original.
Trouble is....I am a welder, and not a machinist. So this is what I came up with for a Parker style lock bolt.





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[Smitty]

I broke quarantine today to pick up the germ free Wilton. It’s NOS and I got it for a song.


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[davethorik]

davethorik...You got it! Your Barretts' no.70 vise is a beast. The catalog scan is from 1892, but I believe it was also produced in the 1880's.

I can't wait for you to get the vise taken apart so I can understand how the swivel jaw mechanism works?

This rare bird was also discussed over on the FB group as well before Dave ended up being the one who snagged it. Looks like Meadville also produced the Barrett's patent vise. Here are a couple other old scans that were posted.

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Thanks guys.
Chris-i am not on fb so I totally missed out on that discussion. I saw a weird vise, sent link to Fierljeppen. Were there any other nuggets of info in the vise group?

Fierljeppen- it appears there is a sub-base in between the vise and swivel base. You pull the pin and the whole body rotates on this, however the dynamic jaw/slide remain stationary while swiveling entire body. It can only swivel a few degrees either left or right before the slide will be contacted. The slide is not at all in side contact with the body, it appears the slide is supported by the nut (internally).

What a departure from normal swivel jaw design. Wow.

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty scores again!

That one is a real time machine. Looks like a C zero. What’s the story behind it’s NIB condition?

Dave: That’s an amazing find! Congrats!


.

 

[cretedog]

Since we're into car ride pics Smitty.... Big Red Reed. Also germ free. Couldn't get him to ride in the front seat though. Beautiful Wilton by the way....

 

[Shiftless]

Since we're into car ride pics Smitty.... Big Red Reed. Also germ free. Couldn't get him to ride in the front seat though. Beautiful Wilton by the way....

Looks good CD.
Do you have plans to either strip it bare or repaint in a more “appropriate” color? If you like the bright red, that’s cool too...”your vise, your color”, that’s what I always say.
That’s a 405 ?

 

[Smitty]

Shift, Good eye, it’s is a CO that’s never been used.

Cretedog, That big Reed would tear up your front seat for sure, nice find. Post some pics when you get it on the bench, it looks like it’s in great shape.

 

[Vise]

Since we're into car ride pics Smitty.... Big Red Reed. Also germ free. Couldn't get him to ride in the front seat though. Beautiful Wilton by the way....

What model Reed is that? Looks big.

 

[Shiftless]

What model Reed is that? Looks big.

I’m guessing 405

 

[mikeswrenches]

Dave, Nice find on the Barrett's!!

Below are the four vise patents that Mr. Barrett received. The first two are for the swivel jaw. Looking at the patent drawing makes it a little easier to understand how it works.

The other two patents are for vises but don’t concern the swivel version.

284,997 September 18, 1883; 286,990 October 23, 1883;

444,326 June 6, 1891; 453,793 June 9, 1891

 

[Bobioz1]

I’m guessing 405

I have a hunch it’s a 406r.

 

[Shiftless]

I have a hunch it’s a 406r.

Ha ha

 

[Vise]

I have a hunch it’s a 406r.

When this thread is read back 100 years from now, Shift and I will appear to be morons. But things are not always what they seem, dear future reader.

That Barrett’s vise is very cool.

 

[va.grouseman]

Some of us know that you fellows were being silly and facetious, some of us don't.---Some people are quick to recognize humor, some don't appreciate it, and yet some don't have a clue.---I like a good laugh myself and I get misinterpreted a bunch.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for posting that va.

I sometimes insert emojis or a short “Ha ha” to make it clearer the tone of the comment. That is what is lacking in these virtual conversations. When you’re talking with somebody face to face you have the advantage of seeing facial expressions and body language, and hearing tonal inflections in order to best interpret the spoken words.

Posting on GJ is not equivalent to talking to somebody else or a group of people face to face. It’s easy for many people to misinterpret the meaning or intent of a post.

Back to Reed vises in cars...
Here is a pic of the 406 and stand I passed along to loydski.

 

[va.grouseman]

Boy Shift you sure passed a good one.---I've got a 406 and I wouldn't take a GOLD MONKEY for it.---And a good stout stand to boot.---You are selfless.

 

[RBarnes]

I broke quarantine today to pick up the germ free Wilton.

Smitty,
Can I put my name on that tiny nickel plated Prentiss no. 34 1/2 vise you posted the other day, if you don't pull through?