The VISES of Garage Journal

[Smitty]

va. is right.

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

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[davethorik]

So can I put in an entry for ugliest vise of the year?
Picked up this Oswego Tool Co. no. 88-1/2 combo vise today. 4-3/4" jaws, opens 6-1/2", weighs 94 lbs.

It looks just like a Parker. The collar is broken, just like a Parker

And i don't know where this vise lived but it is very pitted. It looks like it once had about 12 coats of paint that rusted off.
The lettering is in bad shape, it says "M.F.D. BY THE OSWEGO TOOL CO. OSWEGO N.Y. U.S.A. No. 88-1/2"

Now the good: it has all 3 pipe jaws, in good shape. Main jaws good shape. Someone must have greased it because the machined part of the slide is NOT pitted, the vise works smoothly.

Not finding much on Oswego no. 88-1/2 in Google. Parker and Morgan both used this number as well. I see a decent amount of this style Oswego combo vises, always missing pipe jaws and thru-bench swivel bits. This one with the Parker style fixed base is kinda cool and unusual.

Anyone got a collar that would fit? I assume another Oswego or Parker would both work

 

[Shiftless]

dave:
IMHO, that’s nowhere near the ugliest vise. This Reed I bought looks worse than yours but others might have one even uglier.

 

[dannyr]

but by no means, is that the ugliest, for god sakes, it's a vise, it was put on this earth to hoard

 

[davethorik]

dave:
IMHO, that’s nowhere near the ugliest vise. This Reed I bought looks worse than yours but others might have one even uglier.

Lol well that huge crack is definitely game over, man. This thing is hideous but still totally useable. The pitting is everywhere but the slide. Its one of those in person you do a doubletake type things. I know i did.

 

[dannyr]

in my mind this is an ugly vise (but interesting) - not mine for sale on bay uk

 

[davethorik]

but by no means, is that the ugliest, for god sakes, it's a vise, it was put on this earth to hoard

Finally someone who gets it!
I wouldn't say that Warsop is ugly. Bizarre yes. Interesting yes.

 

[leftyz]

Just picked this one up off marketplace, it was listed with a small Dunlap, both for $20. My neighbor sent me the link 13 minutes after it was posted. I immediately messaged and drove over. When i got there the seller told me she had just been offered $75 for the wilton alone, but she stuck to the $20/both price even though i offered her more.

My first vintage Wilton!

 

[gearhead1960]

So can I put in an entry for ugliest vise of the year?
Picked up this Oswego Tool Co. no. 88-1/2 combo vise today. 4-3/4" jaws, opens 6-1/2", weighs 94 lbs.

I picked up a Sawyer Tool Co. vise earlier this year that was marked Oswego, NY. You might try cross referencing Sawyer as I believe they acquired Oswego....just an idea...

 

[ChefRex]

Just picked this one up off marketplace, it was listed with a small Dunlap, both for $20. My neighbor sent me the link 13 minutes after it was posted. I immediately messaged and drove over. When i got there the seller told me she had just been offered $75 for the wilton alone, but she stuck to the $20/both price even though i offered her more.

My first vintage Wilton!

That deserves a "You ****"

 

[Shiftless]

leftyz:
You definitely **** for that deal. It looks like there is a lot of original paint still on that vise. Certainly at least consider cleaning preserving that one as it is rather than strip and repaint.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Dang Smitty. That warrants suckage just on the sheer volume! FOUR 2-1/2" babies and some other beauties!!!

 

[Smitty]

Thanks Tex. I have a few handles to straighten but other than that they’re all in good shape.

 

[PeterPeter]

Ok. Go easy on me. Looking to buy my first vintage vise (other than the no brainer Bullets I have found) so, I am looking for a reality check, here. I could pick up this Reed 404 1/2 for $175. What sayeth thou, oh lords of visedom?

 

[Diytoolguy]

I’ve had this Wilton vise since 1992. NO, not for sale. Used it a lot as a shade tree mechanic. The machine shop I got it from for free back then I know had it for years. Just curious of its age. I haven’t put a dime into it. Works perfectly. I’ve always assumed this vise is from the ‘70s to early ‘80s. I have the original jaws but use aluminum jaws I’ve made most of the time.

On its right side are numbers:
Body side: 1 111092
Jaw side: 2 111093

The blue line: 12” deep
The red line: 4” jaw wide
The yellow line: 7.5” width of front mounting feet between bolt holes

 

[dkroth]

CL Ad: Two Vises $50 (Wilton and generic open-screw)

Me, 56 minutes after it's posted, an eternity in CL time: I will take those vises. I can be there with cash 30 - 40 minutes after you call; or anytime later today.

[No response for a couple hours. Yeah, they're gone]

Seller texts after 3 hours: A guy came and bought them not 15 minutes after I posted them today. I may have another vise in storage, will check tomorrow and text you pictures if I do.

The next day: Hi dkroth, I found one more Wilton I had in storage, it is very clean, would sell for 75 if you are interested.

Cha ching.

That never happens.

.

 

[leftyz]

CL Ad: Two Vises $50 (Wilton and generic open-screw)



Me, 56 minutes after it's posted, an eternity in CL time: I will take those vises. I can be there with cash 30 - 40 minutes after you call; or anytime later today.



[No response for a couple hours. Yeah, they're gone]



Seller texts after 3 hours: A guy came and bought them not 15 minutes after I posted them today. I may have another vise in storage, will check tomorrow and text you pictures if I do.



The next day: Hi dkroth, I found one more Wilton I had in storage, it is very clean, would sell for 75 if you are interested.



Cha ching.



That never happens.

.

Nice!!

 

[Old Radar]

Very nice and very clean--certainly cleaner than the same model I found a couple of weeks ago!

 

[tool_scrounge]

I’ve had this Wilton vise since 1992. NO, not for sale. Used it a lot as a shade tree mechanic. The machine shop I got it from for free back then I know had it for years. Just curious of its age. I haven’t put a dime into it. Works perfectly. I’ve always assumed this vise is from the ‘70s to early ‘80s. I have the original jaws but use aluminum jaws I’ve made most of the time.

On its right side are numbers:
Body side: 1 111092
Jaw side: 2 111093

The blue line: 12” deep
The red line: 4” jaw wide
The yellow line: 7.5” width of front mounting feet between bolt holes

They are nice vises. Fierljeppen's research says probably made in the 1966-1974 window (see link below)

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8729776&postcount=1702

 

[Diytoolguy]

They are nice vises. Fierljeppen's research says probably made in the 1966-1974 window (see link below)

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8729776&postcount=1702

Ah, interesting. Thanks a lot.

 

[KMScott]

Ok. Go easy on me. Looking to buy my first vintage vise (other than the no brainer Bullets I have found) so, I am looking for a reality check, here. I could pick up this Reed 404 1/2 for $175. What sayeth thou, oh lords of visedom?

You already bought it correct. 4-1/2" swivel jaw Reed for $175 is a no brainier, leave them Wiltons for the others. Here is one I finished.

 

[ale]

Just picked up reed 34 , looks to have little use

 

[ChefRex]

Just picked up reed 34 , looks to have little use

No price but you **** non the less

 

[BFBOB]

dave:
IMHO, that’s nowhere near the ugliest vise. This Reed I bought looks worse than yours but others might have one even uglier.

You BOUGHT that!?? With that horrible crack in the static? I hope you didn't pay more than a nickel a pound. At least you could break even on your next scrap iron run.

 

[Shiftless]

You BOUGHT that!?? With that horrible crack in the static? I hope you didn't pay more than a nickel a pound. At least you could break even on your next scrap iron run.

Thanks Bob. I was hoping somebody would post a response like that!

That vise was heading for the scrap pile, but back then I had an idea of making a pair of bookends from an old vise. I couldn’t bring myself to hack up a useable vise so I kept looking until I saw this Reed about to be scrapped by another GJ guy.. I got it for the postage.
I cleaned it, stripped it, cut it up and got it into primer, but then the project got derailed. The pieces are now in storage.

I was inspired by this project. If I remember correctly, this was done by GJ member Mark In Indiana

 

[zoomieport]

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

I wish I still had mine, I'd give it to you!

 

[Mintgrun]

This is my tiniest vise. No markings of any kind that I can find.

 

[Smitty]

I wish I still had mine, I'd give it to you!

Thanks Zoomie.

 

[pelletman]

Picked this up today. Anyone have any idea what it is? And no, I can't read that last (maybe) number any better than you can! It is 3.75" wide jaw, and it says 65 on the front in the casting, jaws measure 70MM. Looks good next to the others though!

Thanks for any insight you may have.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Dug this one out the other day. Smallest I have, i think.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Whoops, I was wrong. I have one smaller.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rickpaulos]

Golden Bird 6 inch - Wilton 6 inch.
both weigh about 55-56 pounds on the cheap bathroom scale.

 

[Eric827]

I finally got around to working on the clean-up of the 3.5" Wilton Shop King that I got from my brother earlier this spring. It was in excellent "basement workshop" condition when I got it with very little wear. Had the original hardy cutoff and pipe jaws.

I got the urge to remake it with the fancy paintjob that has been popular on this art deco model. I've used this darker Night Tide color on a vise project before (Holland carriage vise) but I think it really pops with the addition of the Hammered Light Blue as an accent.

 

[davethorik]

I'm not a Shop King fan but wow! Paint job is Off the charts on that one!

 

[1982fxr]

Picked this up today. Anyone have any idea what it is? And no, I can't read that last (maybe) number any better than you can! It is 3.75" wide jaw, and it says 65 on the front in the casting, jaws measure 70MM. Looks good next to the others though!

Thanks for any insight you may have.

There's at least one company in Australia that makes that style of offset vise...

 

[pelletman]

There's at least one company in Australia that makes that style of offset vise...

Thanks! Any idea of names?

 

[TailGunner3000]

Thanks! Any idea of names?

Dawn is the Australian company but those ribs seem unlike any Dawn vise I've seen.

 

[Ralf99]

Dawn is the Australian company but those ribs seem unlike any Dawn vise I've seen.

Yeh, it is not a Dawn vice. Similar overall shape but that’s about it.
No idea of the manufacturer, but not having a name cast into it combined with the chrome leadscrew and handle give an air of asian import.
Hope I’m wrong on that part.

 

[pelletman]

Yeh, it is not a Dawn vice. Similar overall shape but that’s about it.
No idea of the manufacturer, but not having a name cast into it combined with the chrome leadscrew and handle give an air of asian import.
Hope I’m wrong on that part.

It very well may be. It seems to be pretty high quality machine work though.

Dawn is the Australian company but those ribs seem unlike any Dawn vise I've seen.

Yeah, I am aware of Dawn, but nothing makes me think this is one of theirs

 

[LNKMK8]

Picked this one up yesterday from an estate sale just down the road. Couldn't tell what size it was from the one photo they had, but it sure seemed heavy when I carried it out to the car.

Turns out it was a 6" version of the Hi-Test (FPU Bison-Bial) polish made vise and is in great condition. I spent a couple hours this afternoon doing some light cleaning and lubricating, mostly on the bare metal parts that had rusted. This one had an easy life with a just a few dings and scratches.

Sale price was $32 Sometimes things just fall into place. Oddly enough both FPU vises I have found have been within 5 miles of me.