The VISES of Garage Journal

[banjopete]

Well apparently I made a trade with a fellow gj'er. We had wiltons in common, mine was massive his were plentiful.

Cheers [emoji482]

Out goes the 8", in comes the 4". I'm building a new workbench and I had to consider the vise the last time around so that's the reason for the change plus the fact that I just didn't need the massive brute for the home jobber stuff I do.

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[Fierljeppen]

banjopete...Nice to see another Wilton-Glisenti vise, they are some of the very rarest Wilton vises produced.

Does your vise have a datestamp on the bottom of the slide?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That blacksmith-type bench vise I found this morning is marked "Hilger & Sons". I took it apart, cleaned it, lubed it, and snapped some photos. Crudely forged and assembled, but it has its charms, and it works like the day it was made.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anybody know anything about Hilger & Sons? Only reference I can find on GJ are machinists' dividers in the 2017 Garage Sale thread, found by mike_paxton, linked here and a stake anvil found by PWRstroke_smoke back in 2015 and reported in the Garage Sale thread linked here. Only one reference to Hilger on this thread, and that was Hilger Brothers, a jewelers' vise back in 2017, linked
here. No mention of Hilger & Sons on the vise directory A-Z or vise history threads. There was a huge Hilger & Sons mercantile/dry goods store taking up nearly half a block in Columbus, Ohio in the late 1800's through the 1950's. Maybe the blacksmith-type bench vise, stake anvil, and dividers were sold by them but made by third parties.

EDIT: According to the Practical Machinist site, Hilger & Sons preceded Weibusch & Hilger, a huge importer of tools from Germany at the turn of the previous century (1900) and into the 1930's. This vise was likely made in Germany in the mid- to late 1800's.

More pics...

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

That blacksmith-type bench vise I found this morning is marked "Hilger & Sons". I took it apart, cleaned it, lubed it, and snapped some photos. Crudely forged and assembled, but it has its charms, and it works like the day it was made.

My dad has a very similar one... can't say it's identical, as I don't have a picture if it to compare.

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[Fierljeppen]

Anybody know anything about Hilger & Sons?

EDIT: According to the Practical Machinist site, Hilger & Sons preceded Weibusch & Hilger, a huge importer of tools from Germany at the turn of the previous century (1900) and into the 1930's. This vise was likely made in Germany in the mid- to late 1800's.

I think you answered your own question. I found many catalog ad's going back to 1865, that showed your vise having Germany as the "country of origin".

I have that one on my list to add to my own collection.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for the confirmation and the beautiful figure, Fierljeppen.

 

[rusty65]

Thanks for the confirmation and the beautiful figure, Fierljeppen.

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[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, rusty. What catalog is that from? Name and date, please.

 

[RTM]

I see a lot of those little vises when in flea markets over in Europe. One day I decided to buy one, and the only I could find was busted. So disappointed.

I have a similar image in a Joh Weiss & Son (Vienna) catalog from 1909 p53.

Also an Otto Young 1892 catalog p 154, though it seems taller and skinnier than yours.

Lohmann and Co Bremen (archive.org) has one on page 66 at vices

DAT doesn't have much on Hilger.

 

[XCMTB83]

My Rock Island that I picked up this morning. As an added plus, it came out of the Rock Island Arsenal. I'm pretty happy.

Nice, what is the number on that one?

 

[alcorelli]

New in the box. With instructions.

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[royce]

New in the box. With instructions.
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That's a beauty alcorelli,
I use mine at the drill press mostly, very easy and fast adjustment for positioning.

Royce

 

[pelletman]

Picked this up yesterday at an auction.

 

[kenc184]

New in the box. With instructions.

I have a "float lock" vise on my drill press, wouldn't use anything else. New in the box, now THAT is nice.

 

[KMScott]

Picked this up yesterday at an auction.

Nice pickup pelletman. Not to many of those around.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Picked this up yesterday at an auction.

Love those stands. I would have paid up just for the stand. What is the model number of the vise? Parker 976? Are you going to refurbish the vise. Lots of work to be done there but I'm sure it would be hugely rewarding to bring that one back!

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[rusty65]

Love those stands. I would have paid up just for the stand. What is the model number of the vise? Parker 976? Are you going to refurbish the vise. Lots of work to be done there but I'm sure it would be hugely rewarding to bring that one back!

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I think it’s a 269 150lb 5 1/2 wide jaw. 6in Parker vises tend to have two screws on the collar.


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[pelletman]

Nice pickup pelletman. Not to many of those around.

Thanks! That is what I understand. I sent a picture to Joe (he's pretty close by and my vise advisor) and he thought it was pretty rare and cool. I think it may come in handy around the shop!

 

[pelletman]

Love those stands. I would have paid up just for the stand. What is the model number of the vise? Parker 976? Are you going to refurbish the vise. Lots of work to be done there but I'm sure it would be hugely rewarding to bring that one back!

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Yeah, I was buying more the stand than the vise. I can't tell on the model number yet. Too much paint over it, but it is 5.5 wide and it doesn't look like the 975 1/2 we have, I think it is earlier

 

[pelletman]

I think it’s a 269 150lb 5 1/2 wide jaw. 6in Parker vises tend to have two screws on the collar.


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It is 5.5" I know that, I have some scraping ahead of me

 

[dkroth]

Picked this up yesterday at an auction.

I don't believe for a minute you picked that up. Has to weigh close to 400 lbs.













.

 

[pelletman]

I don't believe for a minute you picked that up. Has to weigh close to 400 lbs.






.

OK Dad!

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Yeah, I was buying more the stand than the vise. I can't tell on the model number yet. Too much paint over it, but it is 5.5 wide and it doesn't look like the 975 1/2 we have, I think it is earlier

I have one of those "Western" rolling workbenches, too... unfortunately someone broke a big chunk off of the cast top. It's leaving at the end of the week to live in a buddy's shop. Has a Prentiss vise on it with the slide cracked in exactly the same way.

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[pelletman]

I have one of those "Western" rolling workbenches, too... unfortunately someone broke a big chunk off of the cast top. It's leaving at the end of the week to live in a buddy's shop. Has a Prentiss vise on it with the slide cracked in exactly the same way.

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Thanks for sharing! Do you think you are missing the shelf or did it come that way?

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Thanks for sharing! Do you think you are missing the shelf or did it come that way?

I'm not sure. There are no holes in the front edge of the base for the shelf support, as it's shown in the catalog. Could be a different version with a different shelf support, or maybe it just never had one.

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[pelletman]

I'm not sure. There are no holes in the front edge of the base for the shelf support, as it's shown in the catalog. Could be a different version with a different shelf support, or maybe it just never had one.

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Is there even a way to get it over the post part?

 

[Fierljeppen]

Thanks for sharing! Do you think you are missing the shelf or did it come that way?

I'm not sure. There are no holes in the front edge of the base for the shelf support, as it's shown in the catalog. Could be a different version with a different shelf support, or maybe it just never had one.

It looks just like the drawing in the patent. Major kudos to the both of you.

 

[dannyr]

I'm an admirer, not generally acquirer, of US vises.

But I do have a nice C Parker 270 which I'm finally managing to free up (the swivel rear jaw).

There is a Charles Parker 22 I could buy, but it's seen some abuse - large chip out of the base but most importantly those dovetailed jaws are missing - would need some work to replace. Cast in is the list of patent dates from 1867 to 1875 No 22 and C Parker Meridan Ct. It does have the swivel parts (held by a large square nut) - 3 1/2 in jaw.

Seems historic - should I buy (low price, but those jaws)?

Occasionally see Prentiss and Emmert, but Charles Parker is generally the only US vise/vice that got into UK catalogues, especially in the early 20th C.

 

[pelletman]

I'm an admirer, not generally acquirer, of US vises.

But I do have a nice C Parker 270 which I'm finally managing to free up (the swivel rear jaw).

There is a Charles Parker 22 I could buy, but it's seen some abuse - large chip out of the base but most importantly those dovetailed jaws are missing - would need some work to replace. Cast in is the list of patent dates from 1867 to 1875 No 22 and C Parker Meridan Ct. It does have the swivel parts (held by a large square nut) - 3 1/2 in jaw.

Seems historic - should I buy (low price, but those jaws)?

Occasionally see Prentiss and Emmert, but Charles Parker is generally the only US vise/vice that got into UK catalogues, especially in the early 20th C.

Well, over here, damaged vises are not worth much. Parker jaws are very difficult and expensive to replace.

 

[zoomieport]

Chrome Colombian from eBay.




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[dutchgray]

I'm an admirer, not generally acquirer, of US vises.

But I do have a nice C Parker 270 which I'm finally managing to free up (the swivel rear jaw).

There is a Charles Parker 22 I could buy, but it's seen some abuse - large chip out of the base but most importantly those dovetailed jaws are missing - would need some work to replace. Cast in is the list of patent dates from 1867 to 1875 No 22 and C Parker Meridan Ct. It does have the swivel parts (held by a large square nut) - 3 1/2 in jaw.

Seems historic - should I buy (low price, but those jaws)?

Occasionally see Prentiss and Emmert, but Charles Parker is generally the only US vise/vice that got into UK catalogues, especially in the early 20th C.

Only if you can make or know someone who can make the jaws, otherwise its a parts vise.

Columbian's are also reasonably common here amongst the US vises, I have a couple along with a 6" Reed, a Morgan one or two others I would have to find out to remember and a few Parkers.
None are common but at least they can often be bought cheap here. My 6" Reed cost me £25 off Ebay.

 

[dannyr]

thanks friends - I was giving up on the idea anyway.

 

[banjopete]

banjopete...Nice to see another Wilton-Glisenti vise, they are some of the very rarest Wilton vises produced.

Does your vise have a datestamp on the bottom of the slide?

It does. All set for its next phase of life.

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[Solaris]

Could anyone identify this vise from the picture?
Thanks in advance

 

[chrisnazzy]

Could anyone identify this vise from the picture?
Thanks in advance

4" American Scale vise, Kansas City, MO.

Of all the vintage vise manufacturers American Scale doesn't get a lot of rave reviews due to machining inconsistencies and casting flaws.

That certainly isn't going to stop me from continuing to look for one good clean example for my collection. I'd advise you to buy it if it's free of any cracks, breaks or repairs and under $100.

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[b.well]

Hello

I am looking at this vise but having trouble finding anything about it online. Seller has it listed as a Parker 278. From the topside pictures it looks more like a 273 to me. I sent the seller some questions but haven't heard back yet. Sometimes sellers do not want to answer questions.

Looks in good condition. I'd love to know: Jaw Width and if they are removable Jaws. I clearly see the jaw face line.
It looks like the swivel base is a 2 part action. Loosen the one side and lift the other. Is that right? Haven't seen that design before.

Thanks for taking a look.

 

[Outlawmws]

It's 273 I can see the gap in the "8"...

 

[Solaris]

4" American Scale vise, Kansas City, MO.

Of all the vintage vise manufacturers American Scale doesn't get a lot of rave reviews due to machining inconsistencies and casting flaws.

That certainly isn't going to stop me from continuing to look for one good clean example for my collection. I'd advise you to buy it if it's free of any cracks, breaks or repairs and under $100.

Thank you very much! The seller posted just this one picture and no description. Will post more pics if I buy it today.

 

[Craftfab]

I watched a Wilton C3 that was missing the pipe jaws sell at auction yesterday for $1,850 after buyers premium and tax. I was shocked, but then again do not see a lot of C3's for sale (albeit one locally recently sat for almost a week at $700 before selling). Is $1,850 about market value for these now on the east coast?