The VISES of Garage Journal

[dannyr]

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.

There's a good timeline of Quick Release vises on the smallworkshop.co.uk website - linking in to relatives of your vice -- nice find.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

There's a good timeline of Quick Release vises on the smallworkshop.co.uk website - linking in to relatives of your vice -- nice find.

Thanks for the reference, Danny. A good quick read. And I just plucked a nice period ad for the Toles vise from the site.


Why the head scratch though? Unless I am missing something, the Toles was the earliest QR vise in either England or the US with the two rod guides and the half-screw grip/release design.

 

[Old Radar]

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 #?

I posted this same type of Wilton up-thread last week (post #81250) and also asked for help from the herd to identify the model. Mine has both the 101160 and 101161 castings and an S2. Weight is 40 lbs. My key is stamped 8 1 79 (the 1 is stamped horizontally). Both TX and I would appreciate any help from the experts to ID this model. Thanks.

 

[KMScott]

Texas and Radar.
Here is my two cents. I believe it's a Wilton 350S. Jaws should be 3-1/2 x 1 x 5/8 with 5/16 screws @ 2-3/8 C to C. I could not add a pdf that helps me with Wilton conversions from stamped number to model number, PM me your e-mail and happy to share. Here is a GJ post with your vise's. Hope this helps.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2828766&postcount=7006

Miss Big Caddy.

 

[dannyr]

Thanks for the reference, Danny. A good quick read. And I just plucked a nice period ad for the Toles vise from the site.


Why the head scratch though? Unless I am missing something, the Toles was the earliest QR vise in either England or the US with the two rod guides and the half-screw grip/release design.

Looks like it.

The half screw type, with or without rack, had a short life in England, especially after Parkinson's design, although Woden tried again with something a bit like Toles pre and post WWII (the later ones A120 and A130 then ?X130).

I would count the Parky design with buttress thread, as a different, although it does use a half nut of a sort.

As far as I know English vises didn't start using the twin rods (circular cross section) until ??after 1910? Even Woden and Record started their lines of woodworking vises with rectangular sliders/guide bars/rods. Parkinsons and others moved to rods later as far as I know.

So was Toles the first anywhere to use a pair of round rods as guides??

 

[Rileysan]

This popped up on my local Craigslist this week. The photo is a bit deceiving in that it makes this vise look HUGE. I kept my emotions in check and wasn't disappointed to find it was only 3-1/2". Still, I have NO complaints. This vise has seen very little use and will clean up with almost no effort!

Brian

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice one Riley.---Got a couple of Chevrons myself.---Darn good vises.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So was Toles the first anywhere to use a pair of round rods as guides??

That's my take-away from reading vintagemachinery.com and the timeline at smallworkshop.co.uk. In the Toles entry at the latter, the blogger seems to describe the half-screw QR design as if Toles was first to that, as well. But I could be misreading. All the information there is nifty, but it's a little hard to navigate the way it's organized.

Here are some more photos after de-rusting it as best as I could manage in an assembled state. I am loathe to take it apart unless I have to, and right now, I don't see the need.

 

[Old Radar]

Texas and Radar.
Here is my two cents. I believe it's a Wilton 350S. Jaws should be 3-1/2 x 1 x 5/8 with 5/16 screws @ 2-3/8 C to C. I could not add a pdf that helps me with Wilton conversions from stamped number to model number, PM me your e-mail and happy to share. Here is a GJ post with your vise's. Hope this helps.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2828766&postcount=7006

Miss Big Caddy.

Dr. Scott--

Thanks, those jaw measurements match my vise. I know "why" questions are tough, but do you have any idea why Wilton would not continue to include the model number on their product? PM sent for the .pdf. Thanks again!

 

[dannyr]

That's my take-away from reading vintagemachinery.com and the timeline at smallworkshop.co.uk. In the Toles entry at the latter, the blogger seems to describe the half-screw QR design as if Toles was first to that, as well. But I could be misreading. All the information there is nifty, but it's a little hard to navigate the way it's organized.

Here are some more photos after de-rusting it as best as I could manage in an assembled state. I am loathe to take it apart unless I have to, and right now, I don't see the need.

I think my post above wasn't very clear re part- or half-screw - some like the Syer and E&K have a very short part-screw working on a long rack, others like Parky and the majority of Record, Woden have a full length whole screw (buttress thread) and it's the nut that is 'half-screwthread'. So if ''half-screw' refers to the long screw having only half a thread, then I'd think Toles were the first. Does this make sense?
PS the Wodens mentioned acted somewhat like the Toles, but I don't think they had the long half-thread screw.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So if ''half-screw' refers to the long screw having only half a thread, then I'd think Toles were the first. Does this make sense?

Yes. Thanks.

 

[RTM]

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.
r.

I have one I picked up in 2013, and had found a catalog cut from 1897, but the link is dead.

Try here

https://archive.org/details/CharlesAStrelingerWoodWorkersTools1897/page/n191/mode/1up

Can’t tell if these are patents, hard to read in real life based on glarey sunshine with further degraded paint

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-GqC35rF


This is last Catalog on way back. 1930

https://archive.org/details/WCTolesCo1930

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These first generation Toles vises are very well-documented on the web, RTM. DATAMP has the patents up on their site and a handy link to an elaborate history on Toles on vintagemachinery.com. And the site danny suggested has a terrific write-up and the ad from 1897, probably the one you remember.

 

[RTM]

Whew, just checked the way back machine. I’m not crazy. That page was first archived in Nov 2019, and last edited a few days after that. I’d like to believe I would have found that info back in 2013, as I was hanging around DATAMP a lot back then. Not much stuff was available back then.

I guess someone should flash a copy of their vise pic to vintage machinery too, they only have a #30.

 

[dkroth]

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

Mount is present and not broken.

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

Maui

How do you know *I* got it?

And there were three vises.








.

 

[dkroth]

PAT JUNE 1886 H&B

2" jaws

No markings. 2" Jaws. Interesting red-brown paint with gold pinstripe.

.

 

[davethorik]

Big time suckage. That is a Prentiss jeweler's vise!!

 

[Outlawmws]

And the other is a "Colton" Pat. vise:

George A. Colton patent holder, No. 320,224. Patented June 16, 1885. H&B, Inmarks, Phoenix and unmarked examples exist. "Mfg by Moore & Barnes Manufacturing Co. of Phoenix, N. Y.": According to patent info? http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=7259

 

[chrisnazzy]

Parker vises just don't seem to come up very often out here in the desert southwest so of course I couldn't resist this late model Parker 434 1/2A on FB this morning. It's nearly mint and I have it's little bro, the 433 1/2A!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Shiftless]

Big time suckage. That is a Prentiss jeweler's vise!!

And the other is a "Colton" Pat. vise:

George A. Colton patent holder, No. 320,224. Patented June 16, 1885. H&B, Inmarks, Phoenix and unmarked examples exist. "Mfg by Moore & Barnes Manufacturing Co. of Phoenix, N. Y.": According to patent info? http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=7259

Agreed with both of those comments.

outlaw:
Do you still have that little Colton that you got from me during that big trade meet up we had eons ago?

 

[Outlawmws]

Agreed with both of those comments.

outlaw:
Do you still have that little Colton that you got from me during that big trade meet up we had eons ago?

Absolutely! I'm looking at it right now; I have it and 3 of my other smallest Coltons on a small shelf they live on above my Laptop table. also shares space with a mini brass anvil, the brass hose end sprayer collection, and a bunch of other collectibles (that occasionally get picked up for use)

 

[RBarnes]

Just unloaded this Canedy Otto 20" drill press, it is six foot tall and I think it is a model 36, but cannot find it marked with a model number. . It came with the vise looking thing I posted the other day. Do not know if that would help identify or not? I am guessing it had some lever that is missing on the pivot point. Would like to see a photo of what this is supposed to look like.

Just cleaned up this vise thing quite a bit. It is stamped "WD USA 470". One of you guys is bound to know what this is or was? Would appreciate any info.

 

[ALLFAST]

Would all of you Rock Island 577 owners say that your original handles are about 14" in length? At least for ones of about 1936 to 1949 Vintage if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance ,


Shawn

 

[ALLFAST]

Here is another "Satin Italian Olive" on the Hollands 44-1/2 that I sold 90 percent finished to a good GJ pal about a year ago. He painted her after a mild cleaning. He loves that color. Getting her swivel jaw free is a tale for the full write up when I get it back (I'm buying.her back very soon). It was my very first CL vise purchase. She has beautiful near mint smooth forged jaws and is a CREAM PUFF ��

 

[Shiftless]

Buying that one back is a good move.

A guy never forgets his first....................vise purchase on Craigslist

 

[Vono]

Parker vises just don't seem to come up very often out here in the desert southwest so of course I couldn't resist this late model Parker 434 1/2A on FB this morning. It's nearly mint and I have it's little bro, the 433 1/2A!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

That is a cool looking thing.
Excuse my ignorance but I assume those pipe jaws are removable ?
Thanks

 

[chrisnazzy]

That is a cool looking thing.

Excuse my ignorance but I assume those pipe jaws are removable ?

Thanks

They are removable but the pins holding them in are hammered over and I wasn't able to reuse the original pins when I refurbished my 433 1/2A. Instead I replaced them with 1/4" steel rod threaded on each end with low profile acorn nuts.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Vono]

They are removable but the pins holding them in are hammered over and I wasn't able to reuse the original pins when I refurbished my 433 1/2A. Instead I replaced them with 1/4" steel rod threaded on each end with low profile acorn nuts.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

That's great thanks for the info'.

 

[bastel]

Has anyone ever seen one of these Goodwill vises?

https://motofaction.org/tool-review...information-brochure-history-australian-made/

I can see that it was patented in the US, and I'm wondering if anyone ever did license it for production in the States. It's an unusual design so I figure that someone may recall it if so...

Guy contacted me about my Heuer Vise video and I saw this niiiiiiiice vise in one of his videos.

 

[davethorik]

Picked up this gorgeous little Athol Simpson no. 0 clamp-on today.

It is now my smallest vise at 1-1/8" jaws, also a quick release! I love it. Opens 1-1/4" and weight is 1-1/2 lbs.

 

[wrenchguy]

Picked up this gorgeous little Athol Simpson no. 0 clamp-on today.

It is now my smallest vise at 1-1/8" jaws, also a quick release! I love it. Opens 1-1/4" and weight is 1-1/2 lbs.

nice.

 

[wrenchguy]

Would all of you Rock Island 577 owners say that your original handles are about 14" in length? At least for ones of about 1936 to 1949 Vintage if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance ,


Shawn

I don't know the year of my birtman RI 577, but the handle is 15 5/8" long.

 

[ALLFAST]

Thanks for the wisdom and measurement Shiftless and wrench man !

 

[Old Radar]

Just thought I would call everyone's attention to the fact that today is the 11th birthday of this thread.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for the reminder O.R.

Happy Birthday vise fans!

81,355 posts
4,019 days

Averaging over 20 posts per day. Thanks to all of the contributors old or new.

.

 

[Outlawmws]

HBD vise thread!

Dave, that Mini Athol is awesome! I have a #10, (not a clamp-on, stud through the bench) but its gigantic compared to that! 2"!

 

[KMScott]

Picked up this gorgeous little Athol Simpson no. 0 clamp-on today.

It is now my smallest vise at 1-1/8" jaws, also a quick release! I love it. Opens 1-1/4" and weight is 1-1/2 lbs.

Nice one, just love them tiny vises. My clamp was broke on mine so I made a swivel base for it. Not selling this one. Great find dave.

 

[Shiftless]

Continuing with the theme of little Athols, here is my 102 1/4
Jaw width 2 1/8 inches but somebody may have milled off some meat on this one.

I got it in this color ...I really should repaint a darker green

 

[Shiftless]

(Deleted)

 

[davethorik]

Nice one, just love them tiny vises. My clamp was broke on mine so I made a swivel base for it. Not selling this one. Great find dave.

I do like your minis! That looks good.
Thanks for the nice words all.