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The VISES of Garage Journal

va.grouseman

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Southern-Central VA.
Can anyone identify this vise? No markings at all on it, almost looks custom made.



Looks like 2 torpedos that Zoomieport has.---I think we discussed the possibility of his being high school projects.---Back in the day they actually taught you something you could use.---Not necessary today cause everyone is either studying about food or looking at a phone.---They're either Foodies or Phonies.
 

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Fierljeppen

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Here's a high school project, back in the day, from Tilden Tech High School on Chicago's South-side. It was a high school for students who didn't plan on going to college.

Times have certainly changed.

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va.grouseman

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Yep we've come so far in such a short period of time it's really impressive.---Everyone is highly educated, student loan is 1.5 trillion "aggregate", there are no jobs to be had, and most have to be shown that you can still unlock a car door with a key.:headshake
 

richeyc2000

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Feb 22, 2015
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984
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Europe
Started stripping the Record 74.
I’m missing the pipe jaws that go into it but I can get a reproduction one on eBay.
I’m also missing the set screw for holding in the anvil (it’s stuck tight!!)

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Let the process carry on. [emoji3]
 

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wrenchguy

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Yep we've come so far in such a short period of time it's really impressive.---Everyone is highly educated, student loan is 1.5 trillion "aggregate", there are no jobs to be had, and most have to be shown that you can still unlock a car door with a key.:headshake

Time to learn chinese, odds r u'll get a job.:shocking:
 

nutjob

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NE, PA
but I've been wanting to do one of those cool art deco paint jobs using a couple fancy colors. We'll see. Stay tuned.

I picked up one of these couple of months ago to do the fancy paint polish thing. After seeing how much they sell for I thought it would be a fun project. But after I got home I found the dynamic jaw was bent,broken. Not sure how I missed that when I looked at it but it happens. Parted it out and scrapped the rest.

Good luck with the paint!

Kevin
 

jonhdw

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Jul 28, 2015
Messages
161
Location
Cleveland, OH
Interesting that it has the lower pinned nut, which would indicate the earliest Wilton's. The angle of the tail and the swivel lock are suspect to me though. In my opinion, it's either a super early Wilton or not a real Wilton at all.

Need more information: (jaw width, opening, weight) and more photos, including the bottom.

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Here’s some more pics. Jaws are 4” wide and overall length is 17”. Coming from the owner so I’m trying to get more details.
 

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Fierljeppen

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Here’s some more pics. Jaws are 4” wide and overall length is 17”. Coming from the owner so I’m trying to get more details.

The earliest Wilton vise was advertised in late 1941 as a 4" jaw, with an opening of 5-1/4" and a weight of 37 lbs, which included the swivel base.

This is the 1st non-traditional Wilton bullet with a swivel base, that look's close to an original. The tail piece and pinned nut intrigue me as well. Although, it's probably not an original Wilton, we'd better make sure.

Photos of the jaws would be helpful, along with the jaw opening and weight. It seems that the owner is more camera challenged than I am.

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Shiftless

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East Bay SFO
Does anybody else think that Wilton might have run a small batch of prototype vises before going to the trouble of refining the molds to include lettering?

The swivel lockdown looks quite similar to my 300S.
And compare the ends on the handle I circled.
 

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jonhdw

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Cleveland, OH
Haha yeah the pictures are pretty terrible. I’ll try to get more pictures of the jaws and key to see if there is any date stamp.
 

Old Radar

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San Antonio, TX
Yep we've come so far in such a short period of time it's really impressive.---Everyone is highly educated, student loan is 1.5 trillion "aggregate", there are no jobs to be had, and most have to be shown that you can still unlock a car door with a key.:headshake

Not to get too far off topic here, but this reminded me of a 911 call I heard years ago about a person locked inside their car.


After listening to it, I realized the one I had heard is a different call. I remember the person had to actually be directed to look over their shoulder to find, grasp and pull the knob.

We could also start a thread (if it hasn't been started) on many people's inability to drive to a point three blocks away without a GPS. :headshake:headshake
 

Fierljeppen

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Does anybody else think that Wilton might have run a small batch of prototype vises before going to the trouble of refining the molds to include lettering?

The swivel lockdown looks quite similar to my 300S.
And compare the ends on the handle I circled.

I think it's absolutely possible. It's too potentially significant not to spend a little effort to solving this vise puzzle one way or the other.

We'll see what the next clues give us, but I'd say it's still a long shot, however possible.
 

lucasd2002

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Jan 29, 2008
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67
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ATL-ish
We are looking for a large swivel-base Reed in good structural condition for our workplace. Anyone have a 109/209 or 108/208 that they would part with?

We will pay market value. Cosmetic condition is not important. Proximity to north Georgia is a plus.
 

Vise

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NE
We are looking for a large swivel-base Reed in good structural condition for our workplace. Anyone have a 109/209 or 108/208 that they would part with?

We will pay market value. Cosmetic condition is not important. Proximity to north Georgia is a plus.

Reed 109/209....goodluck. I've only seen one 209 and three 109s show up, although I'm sure more are out there.

I could put you in touch with someone who might sell a 208, but I believe they'd be asking north of $3,000. 108s seem to be popping up with a bit more regularity, although they are still quite hard to find. I would guess you can convince someone with a 108 or 108R to part with theirs for $1,500-$1,700. :beer:


*Edit - I see you want a swivel base. They didn't make a 109 swivel base model. The 108 and 108R are stationary vises as well, but the 108S is the other 8" Reed model that swivels. Those are harder to find then the regular 108 or 108Rs and will probably take $2k to acquire.
 
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Shiftless

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East Bay SFO
Any info on this would be appreciated.

You got a good deal. That’s a great vise. My user is a C1
What else do you want to know? Clean it up, grease the screw and slide and put it to work.
Or sell it and make a few bucks profit.
 
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Woodreaux

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Sep 30, 2019
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47
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Louisiana
I bought a grinder and pedestal at auction with the intention of cleaning up the base to use with a blacksmiths post vise.

Since some of you all use these old cast iron bases for vise stands, I thought you might have some guesses as to what it was originally designed for.

Its about 31" tall including the add on steel plate on top.

Any thoughts as to what it is?
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WWShop

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MN
I just wanted to share some before and after pictures of my Reed 204R.
 

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Shootinok

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Oklahoma USA
Here’s a Post vise offering...
I had an old drill press base I mounted a couple grinders to that I never was really happy with the set up.
So - I cut down the post, welded a plate on top and turned the table to the side. I drilled a hole in the cast base for the vise’s post base.
I mounted my rail anvil to the base and created a small metal working center. 3630ca44101c4975aa73f9cc211a35ff.jpg98a116e4604d51f78953f114819b3cae.jpg
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Last picture is after a coat of BLO to keep it from rusting.

Realizing the cast base can’t take a lot of hammer blows, it will not be used for blacksmithing (not by me anyway) so it should hold up to my intentions.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

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va.grouseman

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Fierljeppen has got the right idea.---He's putting together a 5198 Craftsman the old Johnny Cash way, 1 piece at a time.---That's the only way most of us are ever going to see one.;)
 

Andy1234

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Jul 5, 2018
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Location
St Louis
We are looking for a large swivel-base Reed in good structural condition for our workplace. Anyone have a 109/209 or 108/208 that they would part with?

We will pay market value. Cosmetic condition is not important. Proximity to north Georgia is a plus.

There's an 8" Morgan w/ a swivel base on ebay for $1000, located in West (by God) Virginia, and he's willing to ship it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/large-vise-morgan-8/254586173641?hash=item3b4684b8c9:g:BB4AAOSw1ZJerc7O
 

Woodreaux

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You scored big time, that’s a beautiful stand.
Thanks! Any guesses as to what it originally held up? There seems to be space for a pedal at the bottom.

I'm thinking I'll wire wheel the rust off and then will have to decide between BLO or enamel for the finish. A few other projects are ahead in line at the moment though.

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GETRIDAONE

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May 21, 2013
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Auburn, GA
I bought a grinder and pedestal at auction with the intention of cleaning up the base to use with a blacksmiths post vise.

Since some of you all use these old cast iron bases for vise stands, I thought you might have some guesses as to what it was originally designed for.

I have a stand that appesrs to have had apedal to work something on top ? It is to tall @ 38" to use for even a small vise. I guess it could be used as a display stand.
My Parker 976 bolted direct to this machine ? stand like it was made for it. We will probably never know what they were originally used for.
 

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Dandy Dave

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Copake, NY
Posted in the Antique tool Section. Perhaps here is a better place to post this big old Vise. Reed Model 4C I acquired last year after buying a collection of tractors and other stuff from an estate. The barn is getting close to falling down that it came out of. Weighs 185 LBS. The Date Stamp is 3/47. Going to build a stand for it. Someone on this site was collecting data on these Vises a while ago from what I found on the internet. Yeah, That Tape on the floor is stretched over 2 feet. That is a Model A Ford engine in the background so you can judge the size of this beast.
 

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Dlavallee22

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East Bridgewater, MA
Wow beautiful 4C DandyDave! The jaws and jaw towers look to be in amazing shape and hardly used. That’s an awesome find and one of the best vises ever made. Definitely a keeper!
 

WhoWhatNow

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Feb 22, 2011
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Collegeville, PA
Here is one I finished up over the weekend. Nothing crazy, just stripped the old paint and rust and slapped some paint on. I really like the Parker swivel jaw design better than the Prentiss design.

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Shiftless

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...buying a collection of tractors and other stuff from an estate.

D.D.:
That 4C is in great condition. Congrats on the find.
But I couldn’t help but be impressed as well at your casual statement about buying a collection of tractors.
I have bought rollaway tool boxes full of stuff to get what I wanted but you are in a much bigger league. :bowdown:


WWN:
Nice Parker! The jaws look to be in super condition. If that is the result of “slapping on some paint” I’d like to see a vise where you did it more carefully. Just kidding...that looks great!
 
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Vise

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Apr 16, 2019
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575
Location
NE
Dave - Beautiful 4C. That one will clean up nice.

WhoWhat - I'm partial to the 380 series Parker swivel jaws. Looks great.

Get - I like that wider stand with the circular cut outs. What's that thing weigh?
 

nutjob

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May 8, 2008
Messages
808
Location
NE, PA
Here is something a bit different.

6" Bridgeport milling machine vise. Weights 70lbs

Has a few divots someone filled in.

Kevin

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RTM

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May 13, 2019
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SF Bay Area
I have a stand that appesrs to have had apedal to work something on top ? It is to tall @ 38" to use for even a small vise. I guess it could be used as a display stand.

That is an AutoSoler stand. Maui and I have both posted pics of them, I think in the garage sale thread. I am thinking grinder for mine. That grinder shown is a throw away, an 8" is awaiting a home, as well as an older, bigger bare motor
 
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Dandy Dave

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Copake, NY
...buying a collection of tractors and other stuff from an estate.

D.D.:
That 4C is in great condition. Congrats on the find.
But I couldn’t help but be impressed as well at your casual statement about buying a collection of tractors.
I have bought rollaway tool boxes full of stuff to get what I wanted but you are in a much bigger league. :bowdown:

An old friends family had his collection of Farmall Cub and Cub Cadet tractors. Also a few other makes. Speedex. Case. etc. I counted 35 Tractors in various condition plus implements, scrap steel, some tools. They were overwhelmed and offered to hire me to fix them one at a time so they could sell them. Instead of doing that I made them an offer, they took it, and getting them running became my problem. I've sold most of that stuff but this Vise is a keeper.
 

Productbob

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Dec 10, 2018
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414
Location
ny
shoot- nice little setup you put together for working on smaller sized jobs!
Dandy- great story, nothing beats an old barn for finding treasures :)
whowhat Parker came out really nice :thumbup:
 
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