The VISES of Garage Journal

[k p]

Hey guys, I just finished cleaning up this Reed 206 vise. It's a 153 pound unit, 6" jaws, about 12" tall and 25" long. It's definitely the biggest vise I've ever owned, and way bigger than I need.

I hope I'm allowed to post video links because I also made a YouTube video showing my restoration process, as well as some electrolysis rust removal. Please feel free to check it out!

Any idea what this thing is worth??

 

[Mslund1]

Outlaw — I'm new to this. What/who is "SO" and "COO"?

SO= Snap On
COO= Country of Origin


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[b.well]

Outlaw — I'm new to this. What/who is "SO" and "COO"?

Typically

SO = Snap-On
COO = Country of Origin

Sorry to duplicate an answer. I refreshed before posting but didn't realize there was a new page....doh...and don't see an option to delete.

 

[b.well]

Hey guys, I just finished cleaning up this Reed 206 vise. It's a 153 pound unit, 6" jaws, about 12" tall and 25" long. It's definitely the biggest vise I've ever owned, and way bigger than I need.

I hope I'm allowed to post video links because I also made a YouTube video showing my restoration process, as well as some electrolysis rust removal. Please feel free to check it out!

Any idea what this thing is worth??

Location is so important in pricing. Prices can easily differ 2x depending on location (ie 50 vs 100). I know a guy in NJ that fully restores vises and charges about the width of jaw; 3.5" jaw $350, 4" jaw $400(subtract up to $100 if no swivel). Reed is a strong brand and swivel vises are much preferred typically. I do not see any cracks/welds. I recommend checking your market (FBM, Craigslist, Ebay). I'll be interested to see where others come in. My thought is $400-$500.

 

[chrisnazzy]

A friend picked this up for me while traveling around the country. It was too cool and different to not get it for the $50 asking price and this morning he delivered it to me.

I'm looking for anyone who might be able to share some info on it (paging Fierljeppen). It's smaller than I thought it would be. The jaws are 1 1/4".

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[chrisnazzy]

The Reed I picked up a couple/several weeks ago got a coat of paint,
It’ll be a worker so I didn’t go crazy but I made her pretty. More pics soon.


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I really like your color choice. What paint did you use?

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[va.grouseman]

ChefRex, nice job on the Reed.---Will look neat mounted with big flush fitting machine bolts.---Someone did a nice job on the countersink.

 

[va.grouseman]

Chris, is that a hex locking system for the static that I see, or is it a hex hardy hole?---Nice little vise.

 

[ALLFAST]

ARE BEEBEE, I'm still waiting to hear from my source, but Outlaw nailed it. Said buddy had a legit Wilton PN and that window for the decal was bare...Wilton sent him a decal IIRC there is a cutoff year for the USA vs import versions, maybe 1994? It's a really good vise for the right price!

 

[ALLFAST]

Chris in AZ, That is an excellent friend you have. That is a very nice find !!!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

A friend picked this up for me while traveling around the country. It was too cool and different to not get it for the $50 asking price and this morning he delivered it to me.

I'm looking for anyone who might be able to share some info on it (paging Fierljeppen). It's smaller than I thought it would be. The jaws are 1 1/4"....

Cool vise cnaz! I assume the base provides swivel capability to the vise?

 

[chrisnazzy]

Chris, is that a hex locking system for the static that I see, or is it a hex hardy hole?---Nice little vise.

It's a socket head bolt that comes out allowing the rear jaw to move on the dovetail. There are two threaded holes so it can be positioned where it's at or further forward.

Chris in AZ, That is an excellent friend you have. That is a very nice find !!!

A very good friend indeed!

Cool vise cnaz! I assume the base provides swivel capability to the vise?

When you loosen the little wing nut the vise does indeed swivel 360° on its base.

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[AreBeeBee]

Well, well, well. Color me verde green with surprise. It seems this vise really is a Wilton 1644, although where it was made remains unknown. I could find no mark anywhere on it as to country of manufacture — but if Wilton was intending these to carry a decal or paper label, that could provide the legal origin statement.

It's a fine vise, and I will stop casting doubt on its legitimacy!

Many thanks to Fierljeppen (via PM), Allfast, Outlawmws, Mslund1, and b.well for straightening me out regarding it.

 

[Fierljeppen]

A friend picked this up for me while traveling around the country. It was too cool and different to not get it for the $50 asking price and this morning he delivered it to me.

I'm looking for anyone who might be able to share some info on it (paging Fierljeppen). It's smaller than I thought it would be. The jaws are 1 1/4".

Sorry chrisnazzy, I don't have anything in my database that's even close. On the flip side, it's a unique and very interesting vise!


AreBeeBee...I installed the proper decal on your vise, which has "Schiller Park, Illinois USA" printed on it. Your Wilton 644 vise is a very early version, from the late 1960's.

 

[wrenchguy]

A friend picked this up for me while traveling around the country. It was too cool and different to not get it for the $50 asking price and this morning he delivered it to me.

I'm looking for anyone who might be able to share some info on it (paging Fierljeppen). It's smaller than I thought it would be. The jaws are 1 1/4".

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I'll be the heavy, IMO it looks school shop project. Nice 1 though.

 

[PierceA]

If it is a school shop project, it's from a darned good and expensive school. The Jaws, both static and dynamic are cast, as is the base for the jaws. The quick release square washers have to be hardened. and the spring 'just right'..
The swivel base is also cast.. the base has some lettering cast into the perimeter, what does it read?
I'm guessing a specialized jeweler's vise. The quick release implies a production jewelry setup. Some specialty parts and tool providers might have made such a vise available. ?

PierceA.

 

[ALLFAST]

ArBeeBee Ya Did Good !!! Late 60s is awesome. My coworker uses his to maintain his 25 foot Ex US Navy Government Spec Boston Whaler commercial fishing boat and for all of his home improvements..... it hasn't failed him yet !

 

[ChefRex]

I really like your color choice. What paint did you use?

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Krylon K09167000 COVERMAXX Spray Paint, Satin Italian Olive, Out lined the lettering tonight, liking it.

 

[ChefRex]

ChefRex, nice job on the Reed.---Will look neat mounted with big flush fitting machine bolts.---Someone did a nice job on the countersink.

Picked up a meatball Reed today,



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It's a swivel vise, you can give the credit to Reed

 

[rusty65]

I believe the vise in question is a precision machine vise used on a drill press to make accurate holes and hold a tight setup. With the dovetail the vise wouldn’t twist which would transmit more force to the work piece. The shape just seems to blocky for hand file work just my opinion also a jewelers vise of this quality would most definitely be nickel plated imo. I’m talking small precise type drill presses. With small hand wheels and such.


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[ChefRex]

A friend picked this up for me while traveling around the country. It was too cool and different to not get it for the $50 asking price and this morning he delivered it to me.

I'm looking for anyone who might be able to share some info on it (paging Fierljeppen). It's smaller than I thought it would be. The jaws are 1 1/4".

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That's darn cute, more than I payed for the Reed but I would also own it

 

[AreBeeBee]

Fierljeppen: Thanks! Do they still give those labels out?

ALLFAST: I agree with your coworker, it's definitely a robust vise, though not in the same class as some of the big machinist vises seen in this thread that look like a tank could run over them and they'd survive. I took it down to the main components again this afternoon, given all the info I've read here. And the numbers and stampings under the swivel, along with the others, convince me that this is the real deal.

Thanks, all —

 

[chrisnazzy]

If it is a school shop project, it's from a darned good and expensive school. The Jaws, both static and dynamic are cast, as is the base for the jaws. The quick release square washers have to be hardened. and the spring 'just right'..
The swivel base is also cast.. the base has some lettering cast into the perimeter, what does it read?
I'm guessing a specialized jeweler's vise. The quick release implies a production jewelry setup. Some specialty parts and tool providers might have made such a vise available. ?

PierceA.

That's what was troubling me in regards to a one off shop project. If a machinist had made this I'd think nothing about it would be cast.

The numbers cast into the base appear to be VI1009A. Tried some google-fu and came up empty. I don't see any markings on the vise itself but there could be something there as there is quite a bit of "patina".

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[bastel]

Got some nice daytime photos of the mystery vise.
Looks so american in my eyes, so mysterious.
Can't see any label or logo.
The jaw inserts are split into two parts. Very strange.
Any ideas?

 

[dkroth]

Can someone identify this vise for me please?

.

 

[wrenchguy]

I believe its a emmert or clone of 1. My yost w-vise is a emmert clone.
good luck.

 

[Sullers]

Recent acquisition to the collection an early tall jaw Will-Burt versa-vise before they were even called a versa-vise, its marked with raised lettering Pat 29.01
Pictured with it is the smallest Marples Shamrock 00

 

[RTM]

PAttern makers vise, possibly an Emmert, buy it if you can afford it. Good chance the mount will be broken or missing.

 

[leftyz]

I found a Reed 204 1/2 locally listed, after asking for more detailed photos I realized it has smooth jaws, does this make it a machinist vise or are they just worn smooth? Every other example of this vise I have seen had knurling on the jaws.

 

[PierceA]

leftyz. I seem to remember that the Reed vises could be ordered with or without the knurled jaws. I might be remembering a different vise maker's brochure..

If a machine shop did a lot of work on soft metals, they might specify smooth jaws to reduce the damage to items clamped in the vise. I know that 'soft jaws' can be put over the knurled jaws. but they often are not rigidly attached to the vise and get in the way or out-of-kilter at just the wrong moment when you don't have a third hand to set them right.
I can't think of all the times I've held two parts in the jaws of a vise and spun the handle with my knee. And then I moved just 'wrong' and the soft jaws jiggled out of position and I had to set everything 'right' before trying to clamp the two pieces again.

There is a 'Age-Dating your Reed Vise' thread started by AngryBeaver. It might have info for you there.

PierceA

 

[ChefRex]

Speaking of 204 1/2’s
Basically done, as I said it will be a worker although I’ll give it a easier life than the PO.


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[davethorik]

Here's a vise i have never seen before.

Hollands Keystone B35 blacksmith vise. A leg goes in the bottom socket and is held with a set screw. Hybrid bench and leg vise!

4" jaws opens 4" and weighs 33 lbs. Fierljeppen was kind enough to share this ad, which does have slightly different #s. Perhaps a different year. It is in good shape, just a bit of rust.

I got it with a nice little Reed 103-1/2 missing the handle.

 

[Roju1985]

Speaking of 204 1/2’s
Basically done, as I said it will be a worker although I’ll give it a easier life than the PO.


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I like it! What color is that?



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[Outlawmws]

That Hollands is awesome!

 

[ChefRex]

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisnazzy View Post
I really like your color choice. What paint did you use?

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Krylon K09167000 COVERMAXX Spray Paint, Satin Italian Olive, Out lined the lettering tonight, liking it.

I like it! What color is that?



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[txlonghorn1989]

Picked up my third Wilton bullet vise this morning. All three have come this year. It has 3.5" jaws. When I checked it out I noticed something didn't look right as the three front screws all had nuts on them. It didn't hit me that the reason for that was the front horseshoe washer was missing. Looks like the date on the keyway is 11-80. I see several marks on the sides on the vise - "101160" stamped in two places and on the right side of the front jaw what looks like "S1". Anyone know if one of these stamps is the model #? Best place to get a replacement horseshoe washer? One last thing, I'm not sure if it's a problem or not but the hole for the center post/pin in the swivel base is partially busted out. As I recall when I was checking the vise out I thought it seemed a little loose on the base. Thoughts? Thanks!

Oh, one more thing. There's a hole in the front jaw from a casting flaw. There's a little space there where the cast had some air or something. It's probably 5/16" deep and maybe a 1/4" side to side when I stuck a pick in there. Thinking I'll fill it with JB Weld before I paint it. Thoughts?

 

[dannyr]

Recent acquisition to the collection an early tall jaw Will-Burt versa-vise before they were even called a versa-vise, its marked with raised lettering Pat 29.01
Pictured with it is the smallest Marples Shamrock 00

well done on that -- I spotted it and forgot to put in an offer -- the high jaws were sometimes used for carvers/foundry patternmakers/gunstock makers
-- nice one

 

[Maui]

Can someone identify this vise for me please?

.

You got a hell of a deal this morning on those two vises.

Maui

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Recent acquisition to the collection an early tall jaw Will-Burt versa-vise before they were even called a versa-vise, its marked with raised lettering Pat 29.01

Gorgeous vise.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this W.C. Toles No. 20 "Rapid-Acting Vise" (referring to the quarter-turn stop and release screw) at the flea market this morning.

It's illegible in this photo, but the earlier of the two dates forged-in on the right hand side of the dynamic jaw face ("Oct. 30, 1894") refers to US Patent 528,190, which covers the two parallel guide rods stabilizing both jaws, establishing the pattern that every vise like this has followed since, which Morgan - theorized to have bought the rights, called a "Toles pattern" in its catalogs and other literature for many years.

The second date ("Nov. 1, 1898) refers to US Patent 613,535, which covers a minor improvement on the screw mechanism.

This vise has no spring-loaded pop-up brass dog, which came on the later No. 25.

DATAMP has a concise summary and an image of the patent figure, and a link to a much more elaborate history on vintagemachinery.com.

Despite its rusty appearance, it still has grease on it, still moves like butter, and stops and releases without a hitch.

I am going to clean it up. I found one other example on this thread from a few years ago, but no follow-up. So I will post more photos later.