The VISES of Garage Journal

[dannyr]

Thanks Vono - I have one the same, they're quite special (swivel front jaw, quick release, 10.5in wide) have to get out the camera.

Also - is that a Vono bed frame spanner I see?

 

[Vono]

Thanks Vono - I have one the same, they're quite special (swivel front jaw, quick release, 10.5in wide) have to get out the camera.

Also - is that a Vono bed frame spanner I see?

Hello, Nice to know somebody else has got one

Yes please do post some pics of yours, be great to see. I'm really fond of the old thing, had it years i really must get round to making some wooden liners for the jaws. I don't suppose you know any history of the brand/model do you?

Yep that's a Vono bed frame spanner, I only got that the other day spotted it in a junk shop for £2.00, no real use to me but that never stopped me buying anything !

Cheers
Dave

 

[dannyr]

Vono, re Vono - I think they are the same as the bed frame makers and had a foundry and large works in Birmingham (UK) region - they made furniture etc and were renowned for their steel bed frames with cast iron brackets and angles.

As far as the vices go I know nothing except that they're different - I guess they had a development project (1950's?) and put them on the market, but closed it down shortly after? - I'll have to learn how to do patent, provisional patent and registered design searches one day.

Thanks again for your pictures.

Danny

 

[Outlawmws]

That looks to be a superior design for a pattern makers vise.

I wonder it someone did it for internal use and they tried to market it, and it was just priced out of the market? Seems like the big machined slide mechanism with a QR would be a more expensive proposition?

 

[Vono]

Hello

Great info etc on Vono Danny thanks very much for that, much appreciated. Yes looking up patent no's might be the way forward. I look forward to pics of your Vono.

Outlawmws -yes it is a heavy & well made thing, & that's certainly not a bad theory at all, I doubt it was a cheap item. PBCampbell on here kindly informed me it was a pattern maker vise as I at the time wasn't sure. The one thing I would say is that despite the huge capacity & jaw that can be angled, you can't rotate it as you can on some of the pattern maker ones i've since looked up, it looks like you should be able to as the slide is curved but you can't.

Incredible to think that it was destined for rubbish tip. I called in at my girlfriends parents house many years ago & they were assembling a pile of stuff to throw out - that old Vono was on it ! Needless to say I grabbed it in an instant

 

[XCMTB83]

The garage sale circuit was a bust this morning so I stopped into an antique store to scratch the itch. I picked up my first Stanley Sweetheart Vise, a 745 along with what I am hoping is an Iowa State University student-built vise. As an alumni I had to have it. I broke my $10/inch rule I have for non-swivelers but I grabbed them both anyway, under $70 after tax was the damage.

Has anyone came across another ISU vise like this? TIA for any info!

 

[BlueBomber]

Sometimes, you just get lucky. I randomly opened FB Marketplace during break from welding up an exhaust system when I spotted a four minute old ad for a "Large Steel Vice". I extended my break, drove forty minutes across town and brought it home.

It's a 06 30 1957 Wilton 9400 swivel vise with 4" jaws. Other than missing a bumper on the handle and being a little crusty, it seems to have lived a tame life. I'll probably strip and powder coat it and swap it with the 3" Wilton that's on my main bench in the new garage.

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[Outlawmws]

XCM, both those are cool, but the ISU is really cool!

 

[dannyr]

The garage sale circuit was a bust this morning so I stopped into an antique store to scratch the itch. I picked up my first Stanley Sweetheart Vise, a 745 along with what I am hoping is an Iowa State University student-built vise. As an alumni I had to have it. I broke my $10/inch rule I have for non-swivelers but I grabbed them both anyway, under $70 after tax was the damage.

Has anyone came across another ISU vise like this? TIA for any info!

Not come across an ISU vise here in England, but have been looking at some vices, probably apprentice-made, and similar. I think these are often more interesting than trade-made - usually it seems tolerances are finer and sometimes some design is different.

I have one machined from solid bar stock but also see those starting with castings like the ISU you have -- would the student make the pattern and do the casting as well as machining? and would they have some freedom of design? - different with different teachers I guess.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I know it's nothing spectacular but I managed to grab this Columbian D43 vise along with a few other hand tools for $30 at a sale the other day. Any info on it and possible value? It's clean and moves/swivels freely. Could use a little grease and a wipe down.

 

[Old Radar]

Sometimes, you just get lucky. I randomly opened FB Marketplace during break from welding up an exhaust system when I spotted a four minute old ad for a "Large Steel Vise". I extended my break, drove forty minutes across town and brought it home.

It's a 06 30 1957 Wilton 9400 swivel vise with 4" jaws. Other than missing a bumper on the handle and being a little crusty, it seems to have lived a tame life. I'll probably strip and powder coat it and swap it with the 3" Wilton that's on my main bench in the new garage.

Beauty find, BB! If you hadn't decided to work on your exhaust this weekend instead of going to sales/fleas, you wouldn't have seen the FB ad--that's the definition of serendipity!

 

[Vono]

I know it's nothing spectacular but I managed to grab this Columbian D43 vise along with a few other hand tools for $30 at a sale the other day. Any info on it and possible value? It's clean and moves/swivels freely. Could use a little grease and a wipe down.

Looks pretty cool to me, nice shape to the back of the body, just been comparing £'s to $'s & it seems a really good price too !

 

[Smitty]

I found another Reed 4C, it has 6” jaws and weighs in at 185 lbs. This is by far the cleanest 4C that I’ve ever seen. The vise doesn’t have a hammer mark on it, even the ball ends of the handle have never been hit. The vise is dated 7 83 and has most of the original paint is still hiding under a light rusting.


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[Vise]

Super nice Smitty. You just don’t find the bigger vises in that condition very often.

Btw, anyone looking for a 925, I’d urge you NOT to buy the one on eBay with a broken slide support (link below). I mentioned to the seller that it was broken, despite his description that it’s in “great” condition and, instead of amending the “great” part, he’s now added that its “as is” and “no returns.” Feel free to report him for inaccurate item description.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264871580793

 

[sgtgeo]

Old Wilton 840 No 4

Pickup up to about 2hrs from me. Makes me feel a bit better about getting swindled out of the Craftsman 5197 last week

This one has no location just Pat Pend

Keyway date is 4-46

Base is different than what i've seen 1 piece and no cleats or teeth. There is a centering pin in the base

No cracks, no damage, and as crusty as it looks wear is minimal. All parts present except maybe the orig. swivel locks. Unless the large acorn nut is correct?

Could someone please post pics of the period correct swivel handles so i can make some replicas?

Any info would be appreciated

Well here are the “after” pic

 

[GalaxyRat]

Can anyone help me identify this Craftsman? I think the model number says "5212" but I'm not 100% certain. Seller wants $30 for it and it is about 10 minutes from my house.

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[Smitty]

Thanks Vise, I was pretty happy to find it.
Good eye on that 925 and I think it was proper to call him out.

 

[Outlawmws]

GR, Its probably worth the $30 even as rough as it looks, HOWEVER, take a hard look at the slide to jaw junction about 1" back? It may have been broken and welded/brazed...

 

[GalaxyRat]

GR, Its probably worth the $30 even as rough as it looks, HOWEVER, take a hard look at the slide to jaw junction about 1" back? It may have been broken and welded/brazed...

I might see if I can go look it over to get a better idea about it since the side-view is so blurry. But I see where you're talking about.

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[dannyr]

my Vonos:

first the Vono No 10 1/2 WS -- 10.5in wide swivel front jaw QR woodwork vise; Reg Des 6?8?7761,Prov Pat 9827

then Vono No 7 W -- 7in wide non-swivel QR Reg Des 697761, Pat No 210210

then Vono mechanics bench vice No 3C non-QR --- 3in wide jaw (~4in opening) Reg Des 694211 Pat No 210210


well made vises/vices -- any more Vonos out there?

 

[JZiggy]

So... when a person acquires TWO Reed 4C vises have they finally "arrived"?

Very cool to see two of these monsters on the same bench, sharing a cold one.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks JZ, finding it made my weekend for sure. The 4C on the left is bolted down, I’m going to move the 926 and bolt the new 4C on the right. My main bench is going to look badass.


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[Vono]

my Vonos:

first the Vono No 10 1/2 WS -- 10.5in wide swivel front jaw QR woodwork vise; Reg Des 6?8?7761,Prov Pat 9827

then Vono No 7 W -- 7in wide non-swivel QR Reg Des 697761, Pat No 210210

then Vono mechanics bench vice No 3C non-QR --- 3in wide jaw (~4in opening) Reg Des 694211 Pat No 210210


well made vises/vices -- any more Vonos out there?

Superb, thanks for posting the pics.
I reckon your user name should be Vono not mine, as that's quite the collection you have there . Really great to see the other models they did.
I rather like that green paint, is that the colour they were from the factory?
Cheers
Dave

 

[Vono]

I found another Reed 4C, it has 6” jaws and weighs in at 185 lbs. This is by far the cleanest 4C that I’ve ever seen. The vise doesn’t have a hammer mark on it, even the ball ends of the handle have never been hit. The vise is dated 7 83 and has most of the original paint is still hiding under a light rusting.


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Oh wow that Reed is an incredible Vice, it's huge & what a collection, just fabulous, i am really jealous !!

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Vono, Reed really outdid themselves with this model.

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Yes, those twin 4C’s are going to make quite a team on your main bench. If you need to clamp down a long 12 inch I-beam you’ve got that job covered!

 

[Smitty]

Shift
I’m going to align them and clamp up some big pipe. I’ve got some 8 ft lengths of 6” steel pipe that I’m going to use for table legs. It’s mostly going to be for a photo op but I‘Ve always wanted to do it

 

[dannyr]

thanks for posting the pics.
great to see the other models they did.
I rather like that green paint, is that the colour they were from the factory?
Cheers
Dave

thanks Vono - there was green paint (prob not original)when I bought it a while back and I repainted it a duller green - I believe there were some signs underneath that it had been a dark green/brown.

the 7w has a few flecks underneath of a dull red, prob original, but may be overspray from something else?

the 3c has a thin layer of brown/black which looks original - could be something other than paint/enamel, very thin, but protective, but I wouldn't say linseed oil

what do you/vise fans prefer - BLO or an attempt at the original colour? and should I pick out the lettering?
Danny

 

[JZiggy]

@Smitty

"Is going" to look badass is the wrong tense, my friend

 

[bastel]

Took an early sunday drive a week ago and got this sweet Peddinghaus rotator vise 1 minute before the guy drove off. Turns out this is even older than the one I found before. Very unique with the steel loops tightening up with the lever to hold it. Gas cost are like 40% of the price but this is the 2nd I've ever seen.

Before this I took a little test drive and snatched this very old York baby bullet 60 mm vise. Two happy meals worth it did cost me. I put it next to a later model to show the differences. Also put this Leinen E 125 mm vise into the car while I was it. Jaw inserts are missing and one broken bolt, but for a tenner more than the York you just can't say no. Now who is in need of a Leinen .

 

[dannyr]

Interesting Peddinghaus - how do those steel (flexible straps?) loops work and what might be the advantage? Does their lever also fix rotation? Date?

Do you know when the Leiden-type design started? There was an English small vise of this construction about 1900-10 but then seems to have been dropped.

 

[Shiftless]

Shift
I’m going to align them and clamp up some big pipe. I’ve got some 8 ft lengths of 6” steel pipe that I’m going to use for table legs. It’s mostly going to be for a photo op but I‘Ve always wanted to do it

Be careful lifting that pipe into position. I bet 8 feet of 6 inch steel pipe weighs about the same as one of your Reed 4C’s. I look forward to seeing that photo.

 

[bastel]

Interesting Peddinghaus - how do those steel (flexible straps?) loops work and what might be the advantage? Does their lever also fix rotation? Date?

Do you know when the Leiden-type design started? There was an English small vise of this construction about 1900-10 but then seems to have been dropped.

Leinen patent for screw fixed to dynamic jaw 1890
Peddinghaus Rotator patent 1937
The lever is just for the steel loop and stops rotation around the horizontal axis, swivel is with two bolts like on normal Peddinghaus vises.

 

[biscuit141]

A buddy is asking me if this is a good deal. Is this a good Wilton or a newer Chinese Wilton?

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a fair price out here. It’s an older made in USA Wilton mechanic’s vise. I had one as my user long ago and it worked fine.

 

[jonshonda]

The 4C on the left is bolted down, I’m going to move the 926 and bolt the new 4C on the right.

If you want to move that 926 into a crate and send it my way....I would be ok with that.

 

[Shiftless]

How nice of you to offer free storage for Smitty’s overflow!

 

[Smitty]

Johnshonda
You are selfless indeed, that’s very kind of you.

 

[RTM]

How nice of you to offer free storage for Smitty’s overflow!

Come on, if I offered, my house might tip over from the weight inequity.

 

[PierceA]

Out on a road trip and looked in the local Craigslist. Found a very nice, almost mint Parker 924. Original paint about 85%-90%..
The slide has sharp corners. So much so that I thought that maybe the slide had been re-machined, but there is minimal clearance between the slide and the fixed base. So not re-machined. The vise has been used some, but clearly not much or very hard.

PierceA

I also found an Eron 200. I think from what I can glean from a search of GJ, it is a Japanese 'clone' of an English Record vise. It is an 8" vise with roughly a 10"-12" opening. It's on a fairly heavy steel base.. I don't think the asking price is very good, seems vise prices are relatively high out in the western states. The asking price is $500 on the base..
My thoughts are that I'll keep the $500 and wait for another 7" or 8" USA made vise.
Am I foolish to pass the 'Eron' by? Shipping is zero, I'm driving my big towing rig so I just have to strap it down in the truck..

As the photos show the Eron is virtually new..Just has a disgusting yellow paint job.

PierceA