The VISES of Garage Journal

[va.grouseman]

Z3K3Y, I feel your pain.---Well I feel my pain.---Just had my knee operated on today, so it's crutches and tip-tow for 6 to 8 weeks.

Nice Parker, and I've paid $40.00 for one of those wrenches to.---Too much I think, but they just don't look complete without one.---JMO.

 

[va.grouseman]

Nopd, that Reed is a beauty, so was the price.---Don't ever start pondering the amount of profit you could make on it, cause if you yield you'll never forgive yourself.

Reed, Starrett, and Rock Anvil Vise.---Awsome line-up.

 

[Nopd9494]

Is $150 a good price for a chi Parker 874 It appears to be in good shape just rust. It has the wrench. I have a chance to get it tomorrow

 

[Nopd9494]

Just like my guns, I never sell my tools

 

[Outlawmws]

I did open it up to check out the jaws. they are pretty worn down but I wont be looking for new ones. maybe just a copper liner.

Most older Parkers had very light checking, so they may not be that worn. My 974 "teeth" look like scratches made with a file...

 

[akasrick]

Picked up this little Chas Parker 973 1/2 today. Collar has something funky going on I need to inspect. Previous owner has some washers in there. I was glad to find it with the wrench too!. This was the same person I got the "Big Bear" vise off of. I had a look around their barn today for the missing jaw, but had no such luck.

Pictures of what I believe to be original parts in a Parker. Those type of washers?

akasrick

 

[Z3K3Y]

Pictures of what I believe to be original parts in a Parker. Those type of washers?

akasrick

Yes, from the quick look I got they appeared to be really thin washers like those. Are those factory?

 

[akasrick]

Yes, from the quick look I got they appeared to be really thin washers like those. Are those factory?

Best of my knowledge, yes.

Though not your model #
Note washer... 5c & 10c
Another part list has the washer as wrought iron.


akasrick

 

[b.well]

Is $150 a good price for a chi Parker 874 It appears to be in good shape just rust. It has the wrench. I have a chance to get it tomorrow

Sounds like a fair price to me.

I was recently doing alot of hunting for a vise. I found old ductile 3.5" USA vises restored for $150-200. Once you get up to 4"+ often the restored for sale price just adds a zero or two. 4" 400, 4.5" 450....(unrestored price should be at least $150 less) and of course you may never beat the price found at a local garage/estate sale. Prentiss/Simplex sometimes cheaper; Athel, Columbian, Parker, Reed, Yost in the middle; Wilton bullet more expensive. Sometimes people ASK crazy prices.

 

[Mugen AP1]

Morning gents,

I was fortunate enough to come across this 1-550-800N on clearance at my local machine shop supply company. Should be a nice addition to my shop

 

[Shiftless]

Mugen :
We don’t see too many brand new vises on these pages. It’s a beaut! Thanks for posting. The price you paid is your own business, but for those readers who aren’t familiar with Wilton machinist vise prices, the going rate for new 800N’s is almost $4000.

 

[Mugen AP1]

Mugen :
We don’t see too many brand new vises on these pages. It’s a beaut! Thanks for posting. The price you paid is your own business, but for those readers who aren’t familiar with Wilton machinist vise prices, the going rate for new 800N’s is almost $4000.

Thanks very much. Ive had a 1765 (6-1/2") for a few years now, in my hydraulic repair shop, and love it. I've been searching the local classifieds for a bigger 600 or 800 for a while but they never come up; especially up here in Canada. When I saw this 800N, new on clearance, jumped on it.

I paid $1,899 CAD (about $1,400 USD) for it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Mugen, you can make that a swivel base if you are a mind to.

$1400.00 US is what I paid for my swivel based 800 about 7 years ago, so you got a really good deal on that one.---And I personally like the old type of 800 with the bolts in the back of the jaw towers than the new style.---Of course that type was so popular that Wilton brought it back.---So now the old style is now the new style.


The 2 styles.

 

[Smitty]

Mugen Ap1
Wow, you scored big time on that vise. It’s interesting to see one in new condition.

 

[RTM]

Everyone make a note of that color. Someone will be asking in 50-70 years what they looked like.

 

[bastel]

Some info: Just shipped some 47 kg of vises in a parcel via UPS to the states (just in case anybody was interested in that 47 kg tube offset a while back, which price dropped to 99€ btw). While before corona you could ship vises up to 28 kg „cheaply“, now this ship has sailed so why split up when for a bit more you get 2 day express UPS delivery. 260€ shipping. I will see what additional cost will appear. I never had any extra costs the cheap way (i.e. customs).
Shipping EU/UK is still dirt cheap, just shipped a 28 kg steel offset for ~25€ to the UK (maybe we will see photos of it restored here one day), and the limit there is 40 kg.

 

[Smitty]

Mugen
I just got this for my 800. It’s going to lift it up off of the bench 2 1/4”


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Mugen AP1]

Mugen
I just got this for my 800. It’s going to lift it up off of the bench 2 1/4”


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Very nice. Did you order it direct from Wilton?

 

[Jayman17]

Hi, I picked up this Craftsman 5169 the other day.

Jay

 

[Smitty]

Mugen
You can message me and I’ll fill you in.

 

[Manny]

Picked up this little Chas Parker 973 1/2 today. Collar has something funky going on I need to inspect. Previous owner has some washers in there. I was glad to find it with the wrench too!. This was the same person I got the "Big Bear" vise off of. I had a look around their barn today for the missing jaw, but had no such luck.

Just watched a great YouTube video by ScoutCrafter. He restored a Chas Parker 974, and he called those washers ‘shims.’ Said the vises came that way from the factory.

Check it out. He did a great job.

 

[Shiftless]

Just watched a great YouTube video by ScoutCrafter. He restored a Chas Parker 974, and he called those washers ‘shims.’ Said the vises came that way from the factory.

Check it out. He did a great job.

Thanks for posting that link. He certainly found a very low mileage well cared for Parker. The fact that he paid just $50 for it is amazing. The wrench alone is worth at least half of that number. Those “shims” are also referred to as thrust washers. Call ‘em what you want.

Smitty:
That’s quite a chunk of iron you have there in your hand. I agree with you that the swivel base makes the vise look better... the proportions seem more attractive to me with the base. Does everybody need a swivel option for their vises? Certainly not.
Watch out for your back when lifting your 800.

Jayman:
Nice find. Those Craftsmans have a loyal following here. What are your plans for that one?


.

 

[Aldochina]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458519

My dumpster find Reed 204 1/2

 

[davethorik]

Picked up this very cool Hollands 53-1/2H combination vise today. It has 4-1/2" jaws, opens 5", and weighs 93 lbs.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Picked up this very cool Hollands 53-1/2H combination vise today. It has 4-1/2" jaws, opens 5", and weighs 93 lbs.

Very nice!!! I picked a the 54H last year. Other than maybe the parker big bear vises I think these H models with the horn on them are about the coolest looking vises ever! Congrats on getting it even with the swivel lock and pipe jaws intact!

 

[Shiftless]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458519

My dumpster find Reed 204 1/2

Wow... not too long ago I also picked this Reed 31 out of a dumpster.
I wonder how many other dumpsters right now have a Reed vise sitting in there waiting to go to landfill or the scrap iron smelter?

 

[davethorik]

Very nice!!! I picked a the 54H last year. Other than maybe the parker big bear vises I think these H models with the horn on them are about the coolest looking vises ever! Congrats on getting it even with the swivel lock and pipe jaws intact!

Thanks! they didn't give it away but i have a thing for complete combo vises. The wrench is funky. Is the 54 a 5" jaw?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

How about this trio of small vises sold on Facebook marketplace !

 

[ricleh]

My collection of small Wilton vises. 11 baby bullets, 10 2.5" toddler bullets (one missing the spindle), 3 hobby vises and 2 electronics vises.

 

[Shiftless]

Wow!

 

[Smitty]

Ricleh
That’s very impressive, it’s looks like you’ve cornered the market.

 

[htw]

Picked up this vise (WILTON UNIVERSAL TURRET VISE ) a week ago and finally got the time to post pictures. paid $50, not sure if worth it. Did quick cleaning with WD40 to remove lose debris. The jaws are not so good but still usable.

However, there are some problems with the vise, not sure if here is the right place to ask. Better to ask before doing anything. From seller's picture I knew the L-handle to lock the vise is missing, but did not know the internals had also been changed. Could not check before I got home.

I believe the original locking mechanism failed, and the owner tried to weld it (Picture 4) and also used washers to lock it (Picture 5). The weld has already broken but the vise can only make 1/4 turn to one side, and I think was due to remaining welding burrs and dremel should be able to to clean it.

The problem is with the locking mechanism. I searched the internet and cold not find any picture showing what the original locking mechanism look like. Found an old post in another site and he replaced with aluminum bar with offset hole but I'm still not clear how this will work.
https://www.lumberjocks.com/topics/45012
The last picture is what the original L-handle look like.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271403

Wilton does not make these parts any more, and according to one of the members here they referred him to GJ for repair solution. He had the same problem.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5549086&postcount=2704

I had some idea in mind but not sure if it will work or not, and will post later. If some one has pictures showing the original locking mechanism, or any advise, it will be most helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[va.grouseman]

How about this trio of small vises sold on Facebook marketplace !

How much did they set you back GET?

 

[va.grouseman]

My collection of small Wilton vises. 11 baby bullets, 10 2.5" toddler bullets (one missing the spindle), 3 hobby vises and 2 electronics vises.

I'm looking at a sound retirement pension.

 

[Outlawmws]

How much did they set you back GET?

 

[GETRIDAONE]

I kept thinking to long and they were gone. $600.00 was the asking price and lasted just over 24 hours.

 

[Z3K3Y]

Just watched a great YouTube video by ScoutCrafter. He restored a Chas Parker 974, and he called those washers ‘shims.’ Said the vises came that way from the factory.

Check it out. He did a great job.

thanks ill have to check that out tonight!

 

[Outlawmws]

I kept thinking to long and they were gone. $600.00 was the asking price and lasted just over 24 hours.

Wow, I'd have bought those, sold one, and had the remaining 2 for free...

 

[Outlawmws]

Sorry if that rubs it in!

 

[Fierljeppen]

Picked up this vise (WILTON UNIVERSAL TURRET VISE ) a week ago and finally got the time to post pictures. paid $50, not sure if worth it. Did quick cleaning with WD40 to remove lose debris. The jaws are not so good but still usable.

However, there are some problems with the vise, not sure if here is the right place to ask. Better to ask before doing anything. From seller's picture I knew the L-handle to lock the vise is missing, but did not know the internals had also been changed. Could not check before I got home.

I believe the original locking mechanism failed, and the owner tried to weld it (Picture 4) and also used washers to lock it (Picture 5). The weld has already broken but the vise can only make 1/4 turn to one side, and I think was due to remaining welding burrs and dremel should be able to to clean it.

The problem is with the locking mechanism. I searched the internet and could not find any picture showing what the original locking mechanism look like. Found an old post in another site and he replaced with aluminum bar with offset hole but I'm still not clear how this will work.

I had some idea in mind but not sure if it will work or not, and will post later. If some one has pictures showing the original locking mechanism, or any advise, it will be most helpful. Thanks in advance.

The only drawing of your vise that I know of is from the patent. Hopefully someone will show up with actual photos.

Sometimes it's just best to make lemonade from the lemons.