The VISES of Garage Journal

[Private Lugnutz]

It's my favorite vise. Not kidding. And that is super clean. Nice snag.

 

[wrenchguy]

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.

They are heavy! I have a couple and 1or2 for parts. I haven't seen that decal b4. Retailer marked?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They are heavy! I have a couple and 1or2 for parts. I haven't seen that decal b4. Retailer marked?

Same decal as on mine. 3baygarage and I were discussing it briefly on the Garage Sale thread, whether it's just a coincidental happenstance that FPU was using the "Hi-Test" as a sort of product line branding for their exports or whether it's one and the same third-party importer/exporter "Hi-Test" that can be seen on various tools from Italy, Spain, Japan, and elsewhere. We have never seen the latter in a diamond shaped logo or with that color scheme, but that's not enough to dismiss the possibility.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Same decal as on mine. 3baygarage and I were discussing it briefly on the Garage Sale thread, whether it's just a coincidental happenstance that FPU was using the "Hi-Test" as a sort of product line branding for their exports or whether it's one and the same third-party importer/exporter "Hi-Test" that can be seen on various tools from Italy, Spain, Japan, and elsewhere. We have never seen the latter in a diamond shaped logo or with that color scheme, but that's not enough to dismiss the possibility.

I believe "hi-test" was a importer and is not part of FPU. He is a link to a "hi-test" axe from Finland.
https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/vintage-hi-test-hatchet-traded.257164/

 

[Shiftless]

LNKMK8:

That’s an amazing find! The only ones I see around here are broken in the usual spots. Even the broken ones are priced at several times what you paid for a basically NOS example. Lugz is right...they are so precision feeling in operation. For most operations they are a joy to use. Just don’t ask it to hold up to really heavy work.

You ****!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

LNK That vise is in incredible condition. Great find! I'd buy that all day every day at the price and condition! You ****!

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Moving some stuff around... 5" Record and 3" Hollands.

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[Private Lugnutz]

I believe "hi-test" was a importer and is not part of FPU. He is a link to a "hi-test" axe from Finland.

Thanks, scrounge. That's the first tool I have ever seen with the same exact decal as the decal on the FPU vises. The other tools we were looking at were little midge sockets sets and some end wrenches and pliers marked only "HI-TEST" and without a trademark history etc, we couldn't be sure if they were the same or two separate names. Well done.

 

[RG Rude]

Now that I have moved to Florida my vises have been relegated to there new home being the non climate controlled garage. Has anyone used Cosmoline RP-342 to coat a vise for rust prevention in place of paste wax?
https://www.cosmolinedirect.com/cos...MItpz9ufnh6QIVSb7ACh3ozA09EAQYAiABEgLsiPD_BwE

 

[mikeswrenches]

RG, Welcome to Florida! I have the same type of garage and have had good luck with Fluid Film. Ive never tried the Cosmoline.

Mike

 

[RG Rude]

Thanks Mike. Fluid Film looks a little thinner and easier to use. Plus it's available at Lowes instead of Dr. Evil's online store.

 

[Tinkerer2]

Thanks Mike. Fluid Film looks a little thinner and easier to use. Plus it's available at Lowes instead of Dr. Evil's online store.

A little fluid film goes a LONG WAY.

 

[Shiftless]

A little fluid film goes a LONG WAY.

I’m still on my first can of FF. “A little dab ‘ll do yah”. (Obscure old timer reference)

But cosmoline is probably even more effective if you really need extreme rust preventative performance. Ask your fathers and grandfathers. Uncle Sam has been using it for what?...75 years?

 

[davethorik]

Picked up this Rock Island no. 574 today. It is a little rusty but a crisp, tight vise. Jaws in good shape. It has the Birtman Electric tag, but it is oxidized. The date stamp appears to be 11-42.

 

[Shiftless]

dave:
That looks like a good one. It should clean up nicely. Good score!
I know that Birtman Electric bought out Rock Island in 1930 and continued to manufacture vises until 1959 so your tag is of course showing it’s age.

I wonder if anybody has tried removing and stripping the tag and then applying a thin coat of black enamel and sanding off the tops of the raised lettering?

That just might work.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Massey "Lightning Grip" 4 1/2", build under Entwhistle & Kenyon's patent quick-action mechanism (more commonly used in woodworking vises):

https://smallworkshop.co.uk/2018/03/30/entwisle_kenyons-instantaneous-grip/

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[Andy FitzGibbon]

As requested, more photos of the 7" Emmert.

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[rusty65]

As requested, more photos of the 7" Emmert.

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Wow what a beast


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[Outlawmws]

The Emmert is a beast and so is that box its setting on! Cool stuff!

 

[Shiftless]

The Emmert is a beast and so is that box its setting on! Cool stuff!

Outlaw said it first...what a beast!

That box looks like an ash fall container from the bottom of a fireplace chimney.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

The Emmert is a beast and so is that box its setting on! Cool stuff!

It's 220 lbs. Noticeably more massive than the two 6" Reeds I got from the same place... the Reed 106 is only about 140 lbs.

The box is a cabinet leg off of a Lodge & Shipley lathe I scrapped a few years ago. I may fill it with concrete and use it as a base for the Emmert. It's about the right height for a big vise.

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[davethorik]

dave:
That looks like a good one. It should clean up nicely. Good score!
I know that Birtman Electric bought out Rock Island in 1930 and continued to manufacture vises until 1959 so your tag is of course showing it’s age.

I wonder if anybody has tried removing and stripping the tag and then applying a thin coat of black enamel and sanding off the tops of the raised lettering?

That just might work.

Shift, luckily the 574 is pretty common, ive seen a couple restorations already where the tag was removed and reinstalled. This one will clean up nice.
I usually prefer more uncommon vises but this was only $25, figured I couldn't go wrong.

Andy, i love that Emmert.

 

[Shiftless]

Dave:
My collection includes a Rock Island 512 and a 524, but not a 574. I got good deals on both of those but nothing like your $25 score.

I have never tried to remove a Birtman tag.

 

[KMScott]

574 jaws are hard to keep in stock. The most sold jaws not named Wilton.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Here's one I haven't seen before. This was posted by someone over on the FB page. Parker No.77 swivel jaw, swivel base.....the latter of which is what's throwing everyone off. This is a really early Parker and that swivel base seems like it may be some kind of retrofit.

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[Outlawmws]

I don't think that base is even a Parker base. Like you mentioned; a retrofit.

 

[KMScott]

Seems to match pretty close. Curious to how they tied it together. Nice looking vise. I added it to the spreadsheet earlier today.

 

[royce]

Here's one for oldldh.
Been missing his wit and wisdom.
I know oldldh, I'll put in with you, that it's a swiveling ******* if you'll concede that it is sure enough "Arrest-Me-Red" in its purist form!
Wish you all the best

Royce

 

[hitthewall79]

Reed 208 next to a Columbian 108, 550lbs between the two of them

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[Vono]

Hello all

I got myself a Parkinson Handy G3.

What do you reckon of it ? Not particularly big (42 wide jaws) but surprisingly heavy !

Cheers

 

[davethorik]

Athol no. 88 fixed base 2.5" jaw

I snagged this off eBay for $76, the auction was not worded the best, pics weren't the best, the description was something short like, "Athol Machine co. No 88 vise, opens about 3", handle bent, good shape."

also it ended at *kind of* a strange time, approx. 1:30-2 pm on a Saturday afternoon. It was bid up to $75 with 4 hrs to go and nobody else bid, hence my winning price.

Shout out to Fierljeppen, the Man the Myth the Legend, for this catalog scan. If i believe what I've read, the markings indicate this vise was made 1920 or prior. Not much out there on this model, i see a no 87 the smallest size on Pinterest. There is another 88 on eBay now BIN 299.99 but i am excited to add it to my collection.

Pictured with 12 oz. Mt. Dew can and also my matching Athol no. 0 clamp-on 1-1/8" jaw

 

[jonshonda]

I am thinking about getting a Prentiss No96 that is semi local to me. The problem is it's missing one jaw, and one of the three mounting bosses is busted off. Hoping to find a base and jaw for it, but if I cannot find a base and were to fabricate a new mounting boss, what material would be a good choice?

Anyone have any leads on 96 parts?

 

[Smitty]

That’s a beauty Dave, nice find.

 

[davethorik]

Thanks smitty.
Here are a couple daytime pics.

 

[Smitty]

Dave
That 88 is in great condition. I really like the smaller vises like that.

 

[Jcrock]

New Wilton, old Trash can find that I repaired and used a bit and in the middle a vice that can from the attic of mu great Aunt. Its in really great shape and I look forward to bolting it some where.

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[Smitty]

I picked up a beautiful Prentiss 525 the other day that should clean up really well. It’s clear it’s spent some times in the great outdoors but the slide edges are crisp and the jaws are still factory fresh.


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[Smitty]

With the Prentiss I also found a PS Stubbs vise from the late 1800’s. It has 1 3/4” jaws and is in pretty good condition for its age.


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[Smitty]

I found an old piston pin from a Cummins diesel and it works great for straightening out swivel lock handles.


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[Smitty]

Umm...should we just throw in the towel here? What a shame