The VISES of Garage Journal

[ALLFAST]

Can anyone here please direct me to the member (or the thread number or page) of the owner of this english vise (I believe it's a RECORD NO. 5) as I have questions ! I saved their photo here with the intent of asking said questions, and now can't find the darn thing!

Thanks for any help in advance . Please send a PM if you can as it would be easier all around.

Stay safe all,

Shawn

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this little Stanley vise yesterday. Its jaws are a whopping 2" wide. I'll need to make a new pad for the clamp screw, but otherwise it is in very good condition. (Outlawmws posted nice photos of his 2 1/2" version. Post # 4422, on page 222 of this thread). I think the original clamp foot was oval shaped and had serrations radiating out from the center... mine will be a simplified round one.

I did some Google image searching and there were several versions made, with variations in the castings. Some of their offerings did not have the removable jaws. I guess the sweetheart logo put its manufacture date somewhere between 1923-35.

The stationary jaw has the number 21 stamped on both sides. I'm not sure whether that mark was original. I'm thinking it's probably not.











Tom

 

[Mintgrun]

Sorry for the double post. I thought this thread was in the Vintage Tools forum and was confused when I did not see it listed there.

Tom

 

[Eric827]

This is a total cheat, but since there was a drill vise involved, I'm taking the chance that nobody will object too much. Sorry in advance if I'm straying from the pure post rules.

I just finished restoration of a 1942 Craftsman "Mohawk" Drill Press (cross posted on FrankLee's excellent thread) that I bought from local CraigsList along with a cheap generic vise from the same guy's garage. Total strip down and repaint on everything. Just have to rewire the motor when my new safety switch comes in the mail.

Condition was incredible for being nearly 80 years old. The DP, vise, and a wooden cabinet was just $50 on C.L. With that very affordable entry price, I'm expanding my focus from vise projects into old machine tools. Seems like $50 doesn't buy much of a vise these days, but it sure buys an awesome little drill press!

 

[AreBeeBee]

I found this little Stanley vise yesterday. Its jaws are a whopping 2" wide. I'll need to make a new pad for the clamp screw, but otherwise it is in very good condition. (Outlawmws posted nice photos of his 2 1/2" version. Post # 4422, on page 222 of this thread). I think the original clamp foot was oval shaped and had serrations radiating out from the center... mine will be a simplified round one.... Tom

I haven't used a clamp-on vise for decades, but wouldn't it attach more securely if you left the ball end of the clamp screw as-is? Or even sharpened it to bite into the underside of the work table? (Assuming it's wood, that is!)

 

[Old Radar]

I haven't used a clamp-on vise for decades, but wouldn't it attach more securely if you left the ball end of the clamp screw as-is? Or even sharpened it to bite into the underside of the work table? (Assuming it's wood, that is!)

You may want to review the physics behind, and the mechanical differences between, a clamp and a screw.

 

[FezBaron]

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 ��

Nice colour! I'm thinking of using satin olive paint on the Reed 107 in my restoration pile.

 

[RBarnes]

This is a total cheat, but since there was a drill vise involved, I'm taking the chance that nobody will object too much. Sorry in advance if I'm straying from the pure post rules.

I just finished restoration of a 1942 Craftsman "Mohawk" Drill Press (cross posted on FrankLee's excellent thread) that I bought from local CraigsList along with a cheap generic vise from the same guy's garage. Total strip down and repaint on everything. Just have to rewire the motor when my new safety switch comes in the mail.

Condition was incredible for being nearly 80 years old. The DP, vise, and a wooden cabinet was just $50 on C.L. With that very affordable entry price, I'm expanding my focus from vise projects into old machine tools. Seems like $50 doesn't buy much of a vise these days, but it sure buys an awesome little drill press!

I appreciate how much more work usually goes into restoring a vintage drill press as opposed to a vise. Been my experience that these vintage drill presses are not only usually a great value (a lot of bang for your buck), but also tend to work as good or better than most modern drill presses. I am trying hard not to collect them, but they are quite interesting. You get a lot of satisfaction restoring one and then using it.

 

[ALLFAST]

It's good paint to boot. Please post when your done with the Reed!

 

[ALLFAST]

While searching for a color, I located this cool print by Greg Edwards which is available on Fine Art of America for about 22 dollars. I thought you addicts were discussing one of this very model Parker Anvil Vise combo antiques a few pages ago

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I ran into this odd, interesting DP/Mill Vise at the flea market today. That short screw with the fat knurled handle on it has nothing to do with moving the dynamic jaw, which you slide freely by hand. Apparently, once it's up against the workpiece, you turn the screw and it snugs it up a little tighter. No branding. I didn't buy it. It's pocked with overdrill marks and the guy wanted a tad too much for it.

 

[Smitty]

I finally put the Starrett 900 series set together and I couldn’t be happier. 923, 923 1/2, 924, 924 1/2, 925 and the 926.


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[Shiftless]

That’s a beautiful family, Smitty! It’s nice when the whole family can get together. Great score.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Shift, I bet that kid is going to grow up to be a vise collector.

 

[Indexmill]

Smitty, what is the difference between the Starrett 900 series and the 600 series?

 

[Smitty]

Indexmill
Athol redesigned the 600 series in the 60’s and changed it to the 900 series. I feel they really out did themselves with the 900 series and they are regarded as one of the better made American vises. I would call anything in the 600 series an Athol and anything in the 900 series a Starrett.

 

[dannyr]

Good that even in the '60's they kept the meatball for the tommy-bar - in England it tends to show a pre WWI vise.

Quite a series of top vises - all respect to Starrett - and you for bringing them together.

 

[Roju1985]

I finally put the Starrett 900 series set together and I couldn’t be happier. 923, 923 1/2, 924, 924 1/2, 925 and the 926.


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beautiful collection, I've been hunting a 4 1/2 for some time. Wish one would come up for sale locally.

 

[wrenchguy]

I finally put the Starrett 900 series set together and I couldn’t be happier. 923, 923 1/2, 924, 924 1/2, 925 and the 926.
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I think a few years ago Boeing offered a couple dozen surplus vises in 1 lot. I believe they were Starretts. Anyone remember this?

 

[PierceA]

Smitty that is a great lineup and accomplishment! Congratulations.

I agree with dannyr regarding Starrett keeping the 'early style' meatball for the main screw end.

With Reed vices, there seems to be a point in time or model when the meatball end transitioned to a 'hockey puck'. [ See AngryBeaver's thread on dating your Reed vises].

BUT with my favorite vise: the Charles Parker, is there any particular time or model when the Mainscrew's end transitioned to the turned cylinder? It's been difficult to nail now any time or model. I know that there are 'leftover' models that would be sold as new so the time or model line would blur quite a bit..

Thanks for any insite from the many knowledgable folk here.

PierceA.

 

[Shiftless]

PierceA:
That’s an excellent question. We have Prentiss experts, Reed experts, Wilton experts, but I don’t know of a Parker expert. I have a couple of Parkers but all of them have meatball noses.

Anybody?????

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Picked these up from a neighbor of my parents who is closing down his family's auto dismantling business. Reed 406, Emmert "Tiger" 7 inch, and Reed 106. I'll post more photos of them (and some others I have) once I get them home.

The 106, though it has two corners broken off the base, is unused. I grew up in Westfield, NY, home of the Wright family (who have owned Reed Tool for many years). An employee of theirs gave the neighbor's father this vise, and he never used it... just left it sitting under the bench in his garage.

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[davethorik]

Finally found a tall jaw version of the Pinch Bug.
1-5/8" jaws, opens 3", weighs 8 lbs.
I already had 2 of the short jaw versions, which are 2-1/4" jaw, opens 2-1/2", 8 lbs.
Made of drop forged steel in Akron, O. by the Akron Wrench & Vise Co.
J.R. Long patented this vise and also the Versa-Vise, shown for reference.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Smitty What a nice Starrett 900 series collection! And all but one still have their original blue paint. I love that you've kept them as found (?)!

AndyFG Nice haul and you also picked up a medium sized anvil it looks like. Wow!

dt Those Pinch Bug vises are really cool! Definitely like the latest version with the deep jaws the best! And it looks to be in excellent condition. Very nice!

Mint You are correct about the pad on the Stanley clamp-on. I picked up this No 763 some weeks back. It has 2" jaws.

 

[davethorik]

Thanks tex these vises are neat. You can tilt them a bit over 180°, you can also take off the arm and mount the vise directly to the base horizontally (like a Versa-Vise). They are forged so they are tough.
Edit: parts interchange is good

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Tex. The original paint on the 926 couldn’t be saved. All of the others have their original factory paint.

 

[jonshonda]

Thanks Tex. The original paint on the 926 couldn’t be saved. All of the others have their original factory paint.

Well we know what you'll be looking for next!

And speaking of what to look for next, a Prentiss No22 and No26 have been listed recently. I was hoping the No22 was going to be a No23, but no such luck.

 

[Josh C]

Morning Vise folks. Wanted to let you all about something I have going on and see if anyone wants to get in on the action. The “Cheap Freight run of Fall 2020” is something that has started as a way to get some vise’s to a buyer in New Mexico from Virginia. Am making a trip up to New England from Virginia leaving Friday the 16th of October to move some iron around there with stops in Pa, NJ, CT and MA currently. Picking up vise’s there and back to Va. Leaving VA on the 23rd of October to head to New Mexico. Charging .75 cents a pound which is less than half of freight and unlike the major carriers I care about old iron! If anyone is interested in having anything transported along my route please contact and let’s see if we can set something up. Willing to deviate from the route for a fee. Along the route the price mentioned is the cost. Making stops at folks places whom have vise’s available so if your looking for something it might be available. I will put myself out there and offer my email if you want to contact me. I will check back here and PMs May work but I stay busy so I may miss them. [email protected]. I have depleted my vise inventory already so don’t have much to offer myself but will list the one I have a picture of atm. There’s a ton more iron available through some of the folks I am making stops at though. Thanks folks and enjoy the day. Josh Coffin (Brent Coffin on FB, feel free to contact me there as well)
Not seeing the map of the route I added so will check after posting and hopefully it’s there.

Reed 305 with repaired original foot-$300 delivered anywhere along my route

 

[alcorelli]

Stack O Vises

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[Smitty]

Johnshonda
I’m still trying to track down a good condition Prentiss no. 23 but haven’t had any luck. The search continues.

 

[Shiftless]

Johnshonda
I’m still trying to track down a good condition Prentiss no. 23 but haven’t had any luck. The search continues.

If I find one, you’ll be the first to know.

 

[jonshonda]

Jonshonda
I’m still trying to track down a good condition Prentiss no. 23 but haven’t had any luck. The search continues.

Yeah there was that one close to me, but I guess that didn't pan out?!

If I find one, you’ll be the first to know.

I'm sure we will hear all about it!

 

[va.grouseman]

Smitty, phy6 has the nicest one I've ever seen.---He may still have it.---Got it from Zoomie.---Never hurts to ask, (PM).---You can see it on Page 238, Post 4753--4760.---It's the big yellow one.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks VA, I appreciate it. I’ll definitely follow up on this one, he might be tired of staring at it by now.

 

[pelletman]

Stack O Vises

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Christmas tree!

 

[Smitty]

I had one of my best vise collecting days last week. I got four 2 1/2” Wilton toddlers, two 3” Starretts, one 3 1/2” Starrett and a 3” Prentiss 522 with the brass badge. They must have thought I was crazy arranging them to take photos in the back of the truck.


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[va.grouseman]

Smitty, obviously you have Nd2Fe14B in your DNA.---And it's real strong too, like a MRI machine.---But that can be dangerous, you could get hit by a flying vise.

That's not just a bunch of vises you acquired, they're nice ones too.---Congrats.

 

[Smitty]

Lol, thanks VA. I was really happy with the quality for sure. I really like Starretts and the little ones are really hard to find. My first thought while driving home is if I get in a roll over I’m going to feel like I’m in a rock tumbler. I put my phone away and kept my eyes on the road the whole way back.

 

[va.grouseman]

I put my phone away and kept my eyes on the road the whole way back.



Standard procedure Smitty, standard procedure.

 

[Shiftless]

va. is right.
Let’s all pledge not to do this while driving.