The VISES of Garage Journal

[Mark in Indiana]

This thread has me obsessed.

Have you read all 4027 pages?

 

[roachie]

Picked up a Prentiss No. 6 a few days ago. The swivel jaw was stuck but, it is moving somewhat freely now. Between the replaceable jaws and the lettering on the top of the body, I assume this is pre 1925ish?

As cool as this thing is, I got beat on a Columbian 108(?) a few weeks ago. Still pissed about that.

 

[ncgun99]

“New” Yost.
Picked up from a guy for 2x20’s. Good shape. Anyone know age? It’s stamped USA on the side but their new ones say the same but are from Taiwan.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Smitty]

Roachie
It looks pretty clean, I’d put it in the 1915 range.

 

[va.grouseman]

Which came first and which copied the other, the Pyramid, or the Piramiit.---I know we had this discussion a 1000+ pages back but I can't remember how it went and can't find the discussion content.---But in my defense, I can barely remember my name anymore.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Py...Rotatable-Vise-Gunsmith-Jewelers/363067362849


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6996419&postcount=266

 

[aggie113]

It seemed all the locals selling vintage vises in need of a rebuild were asking way too much money for them. Then I found this gem listed locally. It had been up for a few weeks, probably because of the odd search terms I had to use to find it. Guy was asking $300 for it, but I felt a little cheeky and offered him $260. He accepted, though I would have been happy with a counter offer in the middle.
Wilton 5 1/2 tradesman 28806 1755.

 

[Shiftless]

I see that Farmers Insurance has a TV ad featuring their usual pitch man working with a smart phone clamped in a vintage vise.

Is this a Craftsman or ???

 

[steaks&anvils]

OK - VISE SIGHTING ALERT:

Current Farmer's Insurance Add on TV - the old guy is in a garage grinding (on a smart phone supposedly) and its held by:

A VINTAGE CRAFTSMAN VISE

Pretty sure it's this one (with a rust patina):

Seen watching MLB the last couple of nights...

I see that Farmers Insurance has a TV ad featuring their usual pitch man working with a smart phone clamped in a vintage vise.

Is this a Craftsman or ???

I believe Outlaw beat you to it...

 

[Shiftless]

I believe Outlaw beat you to it...

Sorry...I must have missed that.
At least my post added a screenshot of the ad.

 

[RTM]

And my GF was looking at me like I was BatS#$# crazy for asking her to stop and rewind to see it.

 

[b.well]

Nice Smitty! A lot of us would love to have just one! Hoping my day will come.

You are not alone!

 

[va.grouseman]

Sorry...I must have missed that.
At least my post added a screenshot of the ad.

Shift, did you notice the chunk out of the insert support?---Maybe Farmers will cover that damage too.---If they see it, they will cover it.

 

[Shiftless]

Shift, did you notice the chunk out of the insert support?---Maybe Farmers will cover that damage too.---If they see it, they will cover it.

Of course! Old timers like us notice stuff like that right away!

 

[KIRK!]

Ok, you guys got me inspired and obsessed. Picked up this 51830 4” Craftsman for $100. Kind of a premium price compared to some of the other finds in this thread, but it was the exact one I’d searching for, so I couldn’t say no. It was a solid and smooth-working vise that hadn’t been abused. I just did the simple tear down, de-resulted everything with Krud Kutter, wire wheeled the handles, resurfaced the tops of the jaws and the anvil area, paint and reassembly. The hammered paint never did it’s thing. I’ve sprayed plenty of it over the years with no problems. Anyway, I’m fine with the metallic blue, but it did come out pretty “showy” in the end. Time to bolt it down and **** it up.

BEFORE:

<a href="https://ibb.co/vvc9mf5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/84mk2G3/IMG-2015.jpg" alt="IMG-2015" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/hd0XcrC"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/6tQv8GN/IMG-1278.jpg" alt="IMG-1278" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/GVmD8Vq"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/MRdHtRm/IMG-9506.jpg" alt="IMG-9506" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Sx7GfD3"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/PYz0Ds6/IMG-6027.jpg" alt="IMG-6027" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/pJYcGFK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/hD3bhzd/IMG-0047.jpg" alt="IMG-0047" border="0"></a>


AFTER:

<a href="https://ibb.co/NNc06Fn"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/94Qx9p3/IMG-1334.jpg" alt="IMG-1334" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/7jFpzg8"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/gmCW7vH/IMG-4852.jpg" alt="IMG-4852" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/n7JN3jX"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Vg4cHTF/IMG-0139.jpg" alt="IMG-0139" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/PW0Vfcc"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Zg7bkBB/IMG-4913.jpg" alt="IMG-4913" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/fxHcw1y"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/FDzPTxy/IMG-5907.jpg" alt="IMG-5907" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/JnqqHdq"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/fM99HS9/IMG-4521.jpg" alt="IMG-4521" border="0"></a>

 

[Shiftless]

Great work Kirk!
You didn’t overpay for that one. Look at the jaws! Mint condition.
And that model is the same as the insurance ad in the previous posts. How’s that for a coincidence?

You’re paint color looks great from here. Is that Hammerite light blue?

 

[KIRK!]

I restored another vise. This one will be a surprise housewarming gift for a friend who's buying his first house and doesn't have any shop tools. Japan-made Babco 150 5" from Craigslist. Before I started I sent him two colors and asked which one he wanted, but told him I could't tell him what they were for. He picked Ford Meadow Green and I think the color came out great. Hopefully he's stoked.

BEFORE:

<a href="https://ibb.co/N3frS1f"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/PYJMQTJ/856332-F8-D3-C2-41-F9-9966-2537447265-C9.jpg" alt="856332-F8-D3-C2-41-F9-9966-2537447265-C9" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/LvCgBPH"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/GFVMGJN/IMG-4667.jpg" alt="IMG-4667" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/JjyTWkb"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/CKMyp0X/IMG-4946.jpg" alt="IMG-4946" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/10kT7s1"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/CwfQmJg/IMG-5628.jpg" alt="IMG-5628" border="0"></a>


AFTER:

<a href="https://ibb.co/gSWcXCL"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/m9yPY7V/IMG-6546.jpg" alt="IMG-6546" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/crH2BZ5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/YLMfC19/IMG-1330.jpg" alt="IMG-1330" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/KxSHWYx"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/b5DnXx5/IMG-7427.jpg" alt="IMG-7427" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/Nt1dg9P"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/bQHMjsZ/IMG-3441.jpg" alt="IMG-3441" border="0"></a>

 

[KIRK!]

Great work Kirk!
You didn’t overpay for that one. Look at the jaws! Mint condition.
You’re paint color looks great from here. Is that Hammerite light blue?

Thank you!

I'm happy with the price. I just see so many posts of guys getting rad vises for $25-50. Yeah, the condition under the light rust patina was pretty great. The jaws and the lack of abuse to the handles is what really sold me on it.

The paint is Rustoleum's Hammered light blue. I was bummed at first with the lack of the hammered effect, but I'm stoked on how it came out.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

And my GF was looking at me like I was BatS#$# crazy for asking her to stop and rewind to see it.

Glad that I’m not the only one who pays more attention to the vise in the scene than the entire story.

 

[KIRK!]

Of course! Old timers like us notice stuff like that right away!

Bothers me every time it comes on.

 

[va.grouseman]

KIRK, you do good work.---2 nice jobs there.---I hope you're not serious about ******** asualting that nice Craftsman with a big old hammer, grinder, drill, or torch.---That would be a shame.---I've got 1 of those and it don't look half that good and I won't do that to it.---But it's yours so whack away.---By the way, I'd give a C-note for a Crown Chevron Craftsman in that nice of shape 7 days a week.

 

[KIRK!]

Ha ha! Thanks! It's just a vice, though. It will last me the rest of my life. Maybe I'll restore it again in another 60 years. I'll only be 110.

KIRK, you do good work.---2 nice jobs there.---I hope you're not serious about ******** asualting that nice Craftsman with a big old hammer, grinder, drill, or torch.---That would be a shame.---I've got 1 of those and it don't look half that good and I won't do that to it.---But it's yours so whack away.---By the way, I'd give a C-note for a Crown Chevron Craftsman in that nice of shape 7 days a week.

 

[Shiftless]

I’m lovin’ that shade of green.
I see where you may have have received the inspiration.

 

[KIRK!]

Funny. That's the exact found photo I sent him. The other color was 2012 Jeep Anvil gray.

I’m lovin’ that shade of green.
I see where you may have have received the inspiration.

 

[Prax]

Anyone know who or when this vise was made?? I'm new here but I have been reading for awhile. Mostly in the vise section.


Prax

 

[ptgarcia]

Looks Chinese to me.

 

[Outlawmws]

Kirk! you did notice you have the "Farmers Insurance" vise, right?

 

[KIRK!]

Yep. Right away. My fife just shook her head when I pointed it out. "You're the only one who would notice or care." No, there are lots of us tool nerds out there.

Kirk! you did notice you have the "Farmers Insurance" vise, right?

 

[mikeswrenches]

Very nice KIRK, they both look great!

 

[3jakes]

Judging by the 3 layers of flaking paint, this little vise has some age.
I can find no stamped markings.
Is it cool, or is it an old import?
Any ideas? (I'm not a vise guy)

 

[b.well]

Anyone know who or when this vise was made?? I'm new here but I have been reading for awhile. Mostly in the vise section.


Prax

Prax/3jakes

I know there are some exceptions but based on my experience the vast majority of USA Vises/Tools are proud of their Company and proud to be in the USA and stamp both on the metal. Generally, highly likely, import otherwise. It's also rare to get USA Ductile steel with an Anvil; Wilton Bullets being the exception there. With USA axes/hatchets in later years there might only be a sticker on the handle/head showing the maker/origin.

 

[3jakes]

Prax/3jakes
I know there are some exceptions but based on my experience the vast majority of USA Vises/Tools are proud of their Company and proud to be in the USA and stamp both on the metal. Generally, highly likely, import otherwise. It's also rare to get USA Ductile steel with an Anvil; Wilton Bullets being the exception there. With USA axes/hatchets in later years there might only be a sticker on the handle/head showing the maker/origin.

I assumed as much, but didn't want to toss in the yard sale pile if someone knew more than I. (there are a lot of those people here)

 

[TailGunner3000]

I assumed as much, but didn't want to toss in the yard sale pile if someone knew more than I. (there are a lot of those people here)

Do not make that assumption regarding your vise. I don't believe it is an import. Many makers of those small clamp-on style vises did not cast marks into them. They were often labeled with decals. Millers Falls vises are one example. And many of those types of vises were made with anvils, including Stanley.

 

[RTM]

I have two old little clamp on vises in the under 1.5" category, neither with positive ID. One has a B C on one side, and a B1 on the other. Was kinda hoping Bonney, but nothing positive so far. But I'm pretty sure both are old US made, based on the other stuff they were hiding out with.

 

[TailGunner3000]

In fact 3jakes, your vise likes very much like this Stanley 743: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353109356538

 

[3jakes]

In fact 3jakes, your vise likes very much like this Stanley 743: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353109356538

So it does.
Mine is missing the swivel foot on the butterfly screw, (or whatever the right name is for it).

Son of a gun!
I just took the shaft out & gave a closer look.......

 

[davethorik]

Judging by the 3 layers of flaking paint, this little vise has some age.
I can find no stamped markings.
Is it cool, or is it an old import?
Any ideas? (I'm not a vise guy)

It should be stamped on top of the slide. Might have to clean it a bit to read the stamp. Definitely no decals on these and not an import either

Edit: see you found it!

 

[Outlawmws]

There you go! I have a German made version of that vise. (obv. not Stanley but VERY similar...)

 

[va.grouseman]

Well earlier I asked the question, ("which came first, the PYRAMID or the PIRAMIIT and which copied which")?---But obviously it doesn't make any differance because both are going to go for crazy money.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Py...Rotatable-Vise-Gunsmith-Jewelers/363067362849

 

[b.well]

So it does.
Mine is missing the swivel foot on the butterfly screw, (or whatever the right name is for it).

Son of a gun!
I just took the shaft out & gave a closer look.......

Nice find!!! Now enjoy your special USA Vise

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Vise Friends:

Here's my latest vise restoration: A Parker 954.

A customer asked me if I had an unrestored vise available, so he could try his hand at restoring one. I pulled this Parker 954 from the shelf. We agreed on a price and he paid me for it.
While looking at a restored vise in my shop, he asked what went into restoring vises. I'm always happy to show people about restorations and give tips. After I explained all of the steps in a proper restoration, he asked me for a quote to restore his vise. We agreed on a price.

It's always an honor and privilege being commissioned to restore someone else's vise.