The VISES of Garage Journal
- Thread starter mjozefow
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Ryan, Nice job on the Craftsman! I like the fact that you capped the open end of the swivel lock with a plug. Does it go to the handle hole so its locked in place, or is it floating?
Dan8906
Well-known member
Wish I had a vise or two to restore while we are in this “shelter in place” guidance. Crazy days
Shiftless
Well-known member
We’re both in the same county. Fortunately I have a few that I haven’t gotten around to that will be getting some attention in the coming weeks. Crazy days for sure.
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RTM
Well-known member
There’s a guy on CL who had a bunch of vises out your way.
Here is one of his listings, click more ads to see the total pile. Not cheap, but seems reasonable.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/d/concord-american-scale-no-3-3in-bench/7084162675.html
Dan8906
Well-known member
Hi! Cool.
Just last week I bought a Samsonia 37 Perfect Vise Model J. Its a fixed base and QR mechanism intact. Should have it in hand this week maybe. Another coincidence: I also bought a Record 00 this weekend.
The oldest catalogue I've seen the lineup of model J's in is from 1923 and newest 1953 CORRECTION: its in 1964 too. And this museum piece is from 1929.
Here is mine (sellers pic) and the Samsonia Model J specific pages from the 1940 Parkinson catalogue.
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dutchgray
Well-known member
Parkinson's was making the model F into the late 60's, probably the 70's, I have a mid 60's date stamped example that is ex military, I suspect the model J would have be the same, but its hard to find accurate information.
They were in business until 1984.
They are reall good vices the model J, if you see a decent example, buy it.
They were in business until 1984.
They are reall good vices the model J, if you see a decent example, buy it.
dutchgray
Well-known member
Dutch, I want one of those real real bad.
They take a lot of finding, not often seen, that was Ebay and it was £117, which is a lot for a small vice, but cheaper than my other one, its in really nice condition as well.
Yes, your are right, I found the model J in 1964 B&H catalogue too. In 1971 catalogue there is only Records and Fortis'. But, that is just one distributor, probably doesn't tell the final truth about if they were made or not.
PghJKB
Well-known member
Hi! Cool.
Just last week I bought a Samsonia 37 Perfect Vise Model J. Its a fixed base and QR mechanism intact. Should have it in hand this week maybe. Another coincidence: I also bought a Record 00 this weekend.
The oldest catalogue I've seen the lineup of model J's in is from 1923 and newest 1953 CORRECTION: its in 1964 too. And this museum piece is from 1929.
Here is mine (sellers pic) and the Samsonia Model J specific pages from the 1940 Parkinson catalogue.
Looks like Parkinson was using Chas Parker's 1910 patent swivel base with the double beveled wedge. (US Pat #976521) Patent found here https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageN...6S1=0976521.PN.%26OS=pn/976521%26RS=PN/976521
First page of patent:
The patent expired in 1927 so it was fair game.
JKB
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RyanE
Well-known member
Hi Outlaw - thanks! I believe it may have been one of your posts that clued me in to making the swivel lock with a coupling nut.
The top plug was initially long enough to lock the handle, however I decided I didn't like that and shortened it up. It spun around too much and I had to grind a small slot into it to get it flush again. Then I applied threadlocker to keep it in place.
Happy St. Paddy’s Day to the vise crew at Garage Journal. May the luck of the Irish be with you all.
IPA shown for scale purposes only (cough)
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
IPA shown for scale purposes only (cough)
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
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Thistle2592
Member
dutchgray
Well-known member
Looks like Parkinson was using Chas Parker's 1910 patent swivel base with the double beveled wedge. (US Pat #976521) Patent found here https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageN...6S1=0976521.PN.%26OS=pn/976521%26RS=PN/976521
First page of patent:
The patent expired in 1927 so it was fair game.
JKB
Parkinson's swivel base was about the only English made one worth having, unfortunately they are extremely rare, I must have 20 of their vices now but still no swivels (of that type anyway, the ball vices are different.
KMScott
Well-known member
Interesting that the English made a swivel base copying the Parker's. I would believe they did a better job since most of the Parker's were not machined like they should have been. But they held showing it is a good design and locking method. Shucks I copied their design too a couple years ago and was happy with the results.
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Shiftless
Well-known member
I just finished watching The Quiet Man so I’m still in the spirit.
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
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va.grouseman
Well-known member
Shiftless
Well-known member
Wow! I’m green with envy over matching bullet twins labeled Acme Tool Co.
“Acme tools” always make me think of this...
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va.grouseman
Well-known member
Green vise post for the Holiday
Kevin
Kevin, I'll see your Columbian and raise you one.---Nice job on your Columbian by the way.
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trijeff
Well-known member
Who needs green beer?
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
Swivels in general seem quite rare here in Europe - or atleast in parts where I have lived or bough vises from. At the moment I don't remember any of my friends using one and even in pro shops they are not common at all. I don't know if they never picked up because of the war or maybe early ones were not very good and that caused them to become unpopular? Or maybe something else?
When I bought my Rigdig/Peddinghaus forged steel vise I did buy the swivel base too but after many years the swivel is still in its original box.
BTW. Anybody tried if the swivel from cheap chinese Record knockoff would work with real English Records? I would like to give a swivel a try but genuine ones seem to cost 2-5x what a good old Record vise/vice does (ie. $100-150). It would be a cheap test as the Chinese vises are very cheap - of course the swivel will be low quality too but at least I could try how it works and feels with a Record.
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dannyr
Well-known member
Same in England as in Finland -- although swivel options were listed for many of the makers/ranges of vices, I would estimate that of older quality vices, fewer than one in 20, maybe even 50 on the used market has a swivel base. Might of course be a higher proportion those exported to some countries. Swivel jaws even rarer.
Not seen many of the German bench vices with swivel either.
Not seen many of the German bench vices with swivel either.
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GETRIDAONE
Well-known member
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5565718&postcount=2777
Link above is a Parkinson that I traded for about five years ago. The picture is after restoration. The decal isn't to good but better than nothing. The brake shoes had a lot of pits in the casting so they were not to good.
Link above is a Parkinson that I traded for about five years ago. The picture is after restoration. The decal isn't to good but better than nothing. The brake shoes had a lot of pits in the casting so they were not to good.
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dutchgray
Well-known member
In the UK and I suspect most of Europe, if you want a good used vice with a swivel base, its best to look for an American one, they are not common either but they do come up, I suspect most are left over from WW2.
Unlike in the US they can often be got quite cheap when you do find them, though there are always a few sellers asking high prices for them. I have 3 or 4 American vices on swivels, the best being a 6" Reed that I picked up a couple years ago for £25, from Ebay.
Large vices are best mounted on a stout steel post anyway and you move yourself to the best position for the work IMO.
Unlike in the US they can often be got quite cheap when you do find them, though there are always a few sellers asking high prices for them. I have 3 or 4 American vices on swivels, the best being a 6" Reed that I picked up a couple years ago for £25, from Ebay.
Large vices are best mounted on a stout steel post anyway and you move yourself to the best position for the work IMO.
Productbob
Well-known member
Hi gents, sorry I missed St. Patty's day; school district testing elementary school kids the last week for the virus so everybody was on pins and needles.
Nice collection of green ones you were all showing off Here's another green one as a last hurrah!
All tests were clean on the kids so practicing social distancing I grabbed a Reed 104 4 hole base plate today. Also got a very nice JM Williams 6" chain vise that has seen an easy life.
Nice collection of green ones you were all showing off
Here's another green one as a last hurrah!All tests were clean on the kids so practicing social distancing I grabbed a Reed 104 4 hole base plate today. Also got a very nice JM Williams 6" chain vise that has seen an easy life.
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Dan8906
Well-known member
Hi gents, sorry I missed St. Patty's day; school district testing elementary school kids the last week for the virus so everybody was on pins and needles.
Nice collection of green ones you were all showing off
All tests were clean on the kids so practicing social distancing I grabbed a Reed 104 4 hole base plate today. Also got a very nice JM Williams 6" chain vise that has seen an easy life.
That’s Reed is sweet! Easy to find in your area?
Productbob
Well-known member
Dan thanks! we are fortunate here in western New York- Erie, PA, the home of Reed is close by. Find a lot of good vintage Reed vises as well as Hollands fairly often.
Dan8906
Well-known member
kald
Well-known member
Finished a refresh on a recently acquired Reed 106. Came out pretty good considering how nasty and used it was. Operates very smooth. The jaws are not perfect but still have lots of life left.
NICE!! What paint?