The VISES of Garage Journal

[Shiftless]

Thanks Smitty
I can see why those Prentiss vises appeal to you so much. I know that you have a few. The design and solid build quality is top shelf.

.

 

[Smitty]

Prentiss vises have style and they were one of the original manufacturers. What’s not to like

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice little I-beam Scout for sale.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scout-4-1-...005577?hash=item2896947d09:g:FacAAOSwmFle7Tnf

 

[va.grouseman]

And for your consideration, a bench vise meat tenderizer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Heav...AOSwO9Ze38NX:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!24171!US!-1

 

[Shiftless]

va.:
That’s a really unusual vise. I’m still scratching my head trying to imagine what a guy would need to clamp that requires such aggressive teeth.

And that Wilton Scout is different than the smaller Scout with 4 inch jaws that I found NOS in the box at a local estate sale. Interesting!

(Too bad the old guy didn’t leave behind an unused baby bullet)

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd guess for holding cable or heavy rope for weaving into a loop?

The teeth would be guides more than anything else.

 

[Shiftless]

I'd guess for holding cable or heavy rope for weaving into a loop?

The teeth would be guides more than anything else.

Good guess outlaw.
What ever it was designed to do, I’d say that the handle with cotter pins on the ends would make it risky to use without ripping chunks of flesh out of your hands.

 

[va.grouseman]

This would sure make a sound and unusual vise stand base.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/269346124502100/

 

[bastel]

I am not going to get it, but after the GEMERE Lux offset vise the elusive tube offset has been sighted. This thing probably weights 47 kg... I could probably ship it in the EU/UK

 

[Shiftless]

This would sure make a sound and unusual vise stand base.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/269346124502100/

Kinda reminds me of this.

 

[Smitty]

Is that the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs?

 

[va.grouseman]

That would make a good vise stand too Shift---With super mobility.

 

[davethorik]

This would sure make a sound and unusual vise stand base.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/269346124502100/

That cnc lathe turret would go well with this baby Vanderman i found today.

Not really a "baby" with 4" jaws and weighing in at 45 lbs, but this #0 is the smallest steam fitter's vise they made, I believe.

It had a handle on the bottom it is missing, but I don't think there was a swivel base. It has been slightly sprung, like just about every exposed screw vise. One pipe jaw of 4 missing. I didn't have a Vanderman and this cost me less than $1/lb, so I'm pleased.

 

[Old Radar]

Looks like we lost a couple of days worth of posts in that re-set.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Just picked up this cute little ******. Reed 103 N-series. My first N-series. The guy said it was a 4" vise but something didn't look right as soon as I saw it. Owner was pretty old. Said he "liberated it from Saudi Arabia". Used to work in oil & gas over there. I should have asked him when he brought it back but didn't think to. Jaws are in great condition. Overall the vise is real nice. Underneath the orange paint I can see what looks to be original gray paint. I'd asked this morning or last night about the likelihood of finding a Reed swivel base kit or swivel base with swivel lock. Anyone got any ideas? I reckon I can ask in the vise repairs thread, check eprey and put a WTB ad here. Other thoughts? It came with the stand which I'm going to put an old Dayton grinder on. Set me back $40.

 

[Smitty]

It seems like some pages were erased here.

 

[Shiftless]

It seems like some pages were erased here.

Several days worth of postings across the board on GJ and private messages were lost but there is promise of recovery. Stay tuned.

Full story from Ryan is here:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/announcement.php?f=16&a=9


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[mikeswrenches]

Here’s another of my unusual hand vises. A bit of a change from the norm.
The only marking is on one side that says: PAT. APL'D FOR. I got this a few years back from a good friend.

I don’t remember how I happened to find the patent but it turns out that a G W Miller obtained patent no. 448,452 for it on March 17, 1891.

Before I found the patent I could never understand why it had the strange shaped spring that is shaped like an "M". After finding the patent, then the spring shape made sense.

 

[Stuntmonkey]

Picked up a record no 6 and a babco no 40 for $60. Pretty stoked.

 

[Z3K3Y]

I had surgery this week on my ankle , but I was still able to tag along to pick this up. Paramo No. 5. I will get some better pictures once I get my brother to take it to the work bench for me. Im thinking brand new copper jaws for this one.

 

[b.well]

Good morning. Anyone know what vise this is? For sale in my area. Far to just check out. Not too far to buy if good old usa vise. Thank you!!!

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[GETRIDAONE]

Looks like a Chinese "Swordfish" brand vise. Generally considered a low quality vise.

 

[b.well]

Thank you. Maybe thats why the guy hasnt sent me the close up picture i asked for. The search for an old usa vise continues!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Looks like a Chinese "Swordfish" brand vise. Generally considered a low quality vise.

Agree with GET.---Made in China.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I had surgery this week on my ankle , but I was still able to tag along to pick this up. Paramo No. 5. I will get some better pictures once I get my brother to take it to the work bench for me. Im thinking brand new copper jaws for this one.

Nice vise. I have a number 4 as the main vise I use. Most Paramo vises i have seen have the Paramo logo on the right side scripted inside an oval. I wonder if your's is later production?

 

[Weld-it]

Here is my ********* of 1946 Wilton vises:

Model 930 (3")

Model 940 (4")

Model No 6. (6")

 

[davethorik]

Another quick release woodworking vise. Apparently I'm collecting them now.

Richards-Wilcox no. 430-2
10" jaws, opens 12", weight 42 lbs.

This one has an interesting gravity-powered quick release mechanism that uses a hinged half nut.

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked this one up for $25 at a yard sale spotted on the way to the hardware store for sprinkler heads:

Its not huge, 4" jaws, but appears to be hand forged. No names in any of the usual places.

 

[Shiftless]

Outlaw scores!

Somebody here should recognize the general shape of those jaw towers or some other detail and name the maker. I’d be surprised if it was a one of a kind shop made vise.

Peter Wright?

 

[Tinkerer2]

Well, I was looking at FB Marketplace today and found this:

Same as what Outlaw just bought.

and another
Another one

One more
Another

and
& more

Guessing not a one off.

Maybe contact seller and see if there is a name on theirs??

 

[Outlawmws]

If you look at just at the mounting plates, only the third is even close. Mine has a sort of splayed out couple of arms. (which you can't see from the pic I posted) Mine is more of a curved "V" and that one has more of a harp shape

Of the other three, only the first and forth are close to each other; -the side plates on the hinge have tapered edges; #3 does not.

There are many many variants of these that have been made over about two centuries. while they have some general common features, there are lots of different makers and many that were never forged in a factory, and I suspect many of those that had possibly a "kit screw" that were used while the smith made the rest.

 

[davethorik]

Finished up the day with another 1.5 vises.

Abernathy Vise & Tool no. 70D quick release vise. 7" jaws, weighs 27 lbs, opens 9.5

Then got this partial wood vise

 

[RTM]

Richards-Wilcox no. 430-2
10" jaws, opens 12", weight 42 lbs.

This one has an interesting gravity-powered quick release mechanism that uses a hinged half nut.

Is that the one which won’t work if it is upside down while you are working to troubleshoot it? Had a luthier buddy with one he rebuilt, brought it over to figure out why it would not release. A quick review of the patent, and extra hands to hold it off the edge of the bench, and it was golden. Sweet vise.

 

[davethorik]

Is that the one which won’t work if it is upside down while you are working to troubleshoot it? Had a luthier buddy with one he rebuilt, brought it over to figure out why it would not release. A quick review of the patent, and extra hands to hold it off the edge of the bench, and it was golden. Sweet vise.

Yes sounds like it. The half nut in the R-W is hinged and if you turn the handle to the left, the nut "falls open" and permits rapid acting. Turn the handle to the right, it shuts the nut, and has a wedge to jam it into the spindle threads. Pretty slick.

 

[Shiftless]

Cool old woodworking vises guys.

Woodworking vises get no respect.

 

[davethorik]

Cool old woodworking vises guys.

Woodworking vises get no respect.

I have noticed that. That's why I started collecting the cool ones. No high prices, no one else wants them it seems. Been limiting myself to rapid acting designs, as I enjoy seeing the different designs employed.

 

[Shiftless]

All of my shelves are full and the city won’t let me add on to my garage. So fussy about lot line set backs.
How can I begin to collect WW vises? I only have one. Suppose that’s how it starts...

I’ll post a pic of the 10 inch Abernathy rapid acting I found at a local garage sale a couple of years ago and hid away.
See post #80088

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Finished up the day with another 1.5 vises.

Abernathy Vise & Tool no. 70D quick release vise. 7" jaws, weighs 27 lbs, opens 9.5

Then got this partial wood vise

Nice leg vise dt!!! I hope you're gonna put that thing to use? Can you tell what kind of wood it's made out of? I would love to come across one of those.

 

[BeardedOne]

I think it's the natural state of a workbench top to look scruffy to an extent. That said, I was watching one of the Adam Savage videos where he fixes up a wobbly workbench, and the last thing he does, while telling the story of how it was a practice at ILM, is top the bench with brown paper and paper tape. It immediately struck me as a useful thing - you can write/trace/draw on it, it's sacrificial in a minor way, etc. and easy to change:

It's not pretty, but it's kinda cool and pretty tidy-looking. And clearly ready for work.

I remember seeing the same video and thought what a great idea.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Just picked this one up as a repair job, does anyone know what brand it is?

The only identifier is the jaw size which is apparently part of the raised letter casting