Craftsman 5198. Who made these awesome vises!!

[Maui]

I just purchased a Rock Island 571 vise yesterday. After unscrewing one of the jaws to clean it up with my wire wheel I noticed the design of the jaws on this vise look exactly like the jaws on my Craftsman 5195. So I unscrewed one of the jaws from the Craftsman and examined the screws that were used to secure it in place. They are identical. See below. The Craftsman screw appears on the right in the photo. Rock Island is the only vise manufacturer that I am aware of that used machine screws with that particular taper on the heads. Nobody else used them. They are unique to Rock Island as far as I know. I tried securing the screw from the Craftsman into the jaw of the Rock Island 571 and it was a perfect fit. And the screw from the Rock island fit perfectly in the Craftsman jaw.

In my opinion these Craftsman vises were manufactured for Sears by Rock Island.



Maui

I followed this observation up by examining the screws from other vise manufacturers as well. Here are the screws from 5 different vintage vises. From left to right they came from the following: Dropfo 3, Craftsman 5160 (which I believe was also manufactured for Sears by Rock Island), Craftsman 5195, Reed 2C, and Prentiss 19. The only two screws that match in terms of the taper are the Craftsman 5160 and the Craftsman 5195. And they both match the screw taken from the Rock Island 571.

I am convinced that these 519X Craftsman vises were manufactured for Sears by Rock Island.

Maui

 

[scooternut]

Pretty certain this is the same taper jaw screw used on the later Columbian made Craftsman vises. I don't have a pic handy, but they seem to be the most common out there, 70's - 80's.


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[ed4banger]

I followed this observation up by examining the screws from other vise manufacturers as well. Here are the screws from 5 different vintage vises. From left to right they came from the following: Dropfo 3, Craftsman 5160 (which I believe was also manufactured for Sears by Rock Island), Craftsman 5195, Reed 2C, and Prentiss 19. The only two screws that match in terms of the taper are the Craftsman 5160 and the Craftsman 5195. And they both match the screw taken from the Rock Island 571.

I am convinced that these 519X Craftsman vises were manufactured for Sears by Rock Island.

Maui

Couldn't agree with you more. I gave up wondering a while back who made these, it was Rock Island. Just too many clues, many more than just the screws.

 

[Maui]

Pretty certain this is the same taper jaw screw used on the later Columbian made Craftsman vises. I don't have a pic handy, but they seem to be the most common out there, 70's - 80's.


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I have not found any vise manufacturer other than Rock Island who used screws with this particular taper to attach the jaws to the vise.

Maui

 

[AngryBeaver]

Pretty certain this is the same taper jaw screw used on the later Columbian made Craftsman vises. I don't have a pic handy, but they seem to be the most common out there, 70's - 80's.


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the taper on the M3 columbians are not the same as rock islands or the RI c'mans.... thread pitch is the same, the taper is not. Columbian also never had a C series jaw that wasn't made by prentiss

 

[scooternut]

Remembered i had one , figured I'd take a pic reference to the discussion




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[Maui]

Remembered i had one , figured I'd take a pic reference to the discussion




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And it looks like the tapers on the heads are different angles. Got a set of Vernier calipers and a calculator handy?

 

[ed4banger]

.....

 

[ed4banger]

Maybe a stupid question, but was the anvil clear or painted on these vises.

 

[Burn1]

Mine has its original paint. Top of anvil pad is raw metal. See no signs of the anvil pad being painted, but suppose that the first owner could have removed the anvil top pad paint if they wanted. If ever was there in the first place.
To me an anvil pad is a work surface. Paint does not belong there.
I de-rusted the pad surface and applied dewaxed clear shellac to keep flash rust at bay and a useable surface. Rinse and repeat with a quick wipe of shellac on bare metal as needed.

 

[ooba tooba]

My 05195 dated 11/1953 with heritage logo. Got this a few years ago from our widowed friend (RIP Hubcap!) when she moved into a new house. I was admiring the vise in the garage and she said to take it because she planned on throwing it out! I tried to talk her into keeping it but she wanted a very different sort of garage. It’s been sitting in my basement, but I’ll soon put it in my garage.

 

[drivesitfar]

ED: i've always said "your vise your color", but if you'd like the original colors i'll see if I can line up mine (un restored) and not as many as you have i'm guessing. NICE COLLECTION BTW

my favorite one is this blueish 5196 that was in an 80 year old machinist's home shop where he had maybe 4 other big wilton bullets and he still wasn't anxious to sell me his old Craftsman.

it might take me a while to get all my 519x's lined up cause they are in about 4 different locations and i'm in the middle of vacating a big storage unit, but one day I'll have them here.

 

[ed4banger]

ED: i've always said "your vise your color", but if you'd like the original colors i'll see if I can line up mine (un restored) and not as many as you have i'm guessing. NICE COLLECTION BTW

my favorite one is this blueish 5196 that was in an 80 year old machinist's home shop where he had maybe 4 other big wilton bullets and he still wasn't anxious to sell me his old Craftsman.

it might take me a while to get all my 519x's lined up cause they are in about 4 different locations and i'm in the middle of vacating a big storage unit, but one day I'll have them here.

Thanks, was shooting for something closer to original with this 5196.

 

[Roberts210]

What are the jaw widths for the 5196, 5197 and 5198 vises?

 

[ed4banger]

What are the jaw widths for the 5196, 5197 and 5198 vises?

4", 4-1/2" and 5"

 

[Roberts210]

So I just came back from looking at what I thought was a 5196 from the pictures. It had 4" wide jaws, and looked like the above vices, right down to the Craftsman badge. But it had 5191 stamped on the front of the cap of the screw. What is the 5191 vise?

 

[ed4banger]

So I just came back from looking at what I thought was a 5196 from the pictures. It had 4" wide jaws, and looked like the above vices, right down to the Craftsman badge. But it had 5191 stamped on the front of the cap of the screw. What is the 5191 vise?

5191 is fixed base vise, 5195 is swivel base.

 

[Roberts210]

Ah ha! The guy wanted $100 for it. I was tempted, and told him I'd think about it. It also had a very well done brazing repair to the "corbel" that sticks out from the bottom of the static jaw, and slips under the dynamic jaw as it closes. There is also some slop between the screw and the nut. You can spin the handle one full revolution before the dynamic starts to move. Date was 1954. I thought $100 was too much. Anyone here agree or disagree?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Ah ha! The guy wanted $100 for it. I was tempted, and told him I'd think about it. It also had a very well done brazing repair to the "corbel" that sticks out from the bottom of the static jaw, and slips under the dynamic jaw as it closes. There is also some slop between the screw and the nut. You can spin the handle one full revolution before the dynamic starts to move. Date was 1954. I thought $100 was too much. Anyone here agree or disagree?

The lower jaw support/ corbel is the common area for these to break if someone abuses them. In terms of the slop, you can adjust the sensitivity of the handle on the nut in the inside of the vise. I would offer $60 since it was repaired

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[Roberts210]

I'm going to pass on the vise. But if anyone else wants it, here is the CL ad. The seller doesn't know about the 519x vises.

https://springfield.craigslist.org/for/d/brookline-large-sears-industrial-black/7162126845.html

 

[ed4banger]

Ah ha! The guy wanted $100 for it. I was tempted, and told him I'd think about it. It also had a very well done brazing repair to the "corbel" that sticks out from the bottom of the static jaw, and slips under the dynamic jaw as it closes. There is also some slop between the screw and the nut. You can spin the handle one full revolution before the dynamic starts to move. Date was 1954. I thought $100 was too much. Anyone here agree or disagree?

Buying a 519x vise without inspecting the nut is a big mistake, as that is the weakest most often damaged part. They crack at the bottom of the slot.

 

[Roberts210]

I pulled the dynamic jaw and took a look at the nut--looked ok to me.

 

[LNKMK8]

Picked up this 1953 Craftsman 4" Fixed Base Vise this week. There was enough original paint that I decided to just give it a good cleaning and lube and take the rust off the bare metal portions. There was some play in the spindle, but I was able to get to nearly no backlash by adjusting the tension on the main nut and spindle retainer

 

[Shiftless]

Nice score on that 5191!
Finding one in such good condition with so much of the original paint is rare indeed.

Here is mine but not in original paint. It’s the first 519x I got. I’ll have to check on the date later.

 

[drivesitfar]

Lnk: great find. I’ve got a 5196 with that color too and cleaning it up and putting a coat of BLO is all I’ve done with mine cause I like the color. Plus I got it from an 80+ year old machinist that’s was a great guy and my he Rest In Peace.

 

[Elysne]

Here is a 1948 05195. Its been just a shop vise for me that was rehabbed a while back. I bought a metal workbench on an auction for $10 and this was attached. So rusted I could t even get it open. Its now a daily workhorse.

 

[Rileysan]

Here is a 1948 05195. Its been just a shop vise for me that was rehabbed a while back. I bought a metal workbench on an auction for $10 and this was attached. So rusted I could t even get it open. Its now a daily workhorse.

Great vise!

BTW, any links to an HTTPS (specifically the 'S', for "secure") will not be visible to the rest of us. I have taken the liberty of copying the image and uploaded it here for all to see.

Brian

 

[TnTx]

After stumbling onto a solid Athol 624 and this (seemingly) very nice 5195 within a 2 week period, spending very little on each one, I ran across this excellent forum.

I didn't know to check the main nut on the Craftsman before buying, and this one is broken. A real shame, the vise otherwise is in great shape.

After searching for a while online, it seems that finding a replacement is unlikely. Are there any other options? If not, I'd be glad to donate parts to anyone willing to pay shipping.

 

[PghJKB]

After stumbling onto a solid Athol 624 and this (seemingly) very nice 5195 within a 2 week period, spending very little on each one, I ran across this excellent forum.

I didn't know to check the main nut on the Craftsman before buying, and this one is broken. A real shame, the vise otherwise is in great shape.

After searching for a while online, it seems that finding a replacement is unlikely. Are there any other options? If not, I'd be glad to donate parts to anyone willing to pay shipping.

TnTx

Pull out the nut and let's see what it looks like.

You may also check the repair thread :
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252830

You may find that is either fixable or a work around.

JKB

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Brought this sweet original condition 5196 home with me tonight. I gave it a very thorough inspection based on possible issues I learned about in here. Checked out fine and works perfectly. This will just get a good clean up and lube then put back to work. Dated October 1951.

 

[LesserSon]

TnTx
Pull out the nut and let's see what it looks like.
You may also check the repair thread
You may find that is either fixable or a work around.
JKB

From earlier investigations,
05195 (3-1/2” jaws)...nut will be marked 5V7813 S

 

[TnTx]

Here's the nut; you can make out the remains of some brazing/weld attempt. The second picture shows the PO's attempt at a work-around. When I took it apart, the broken piece was just slipped in behind the nut, with the screw through the set-up shown. It felt deceptively solid, but obviously is a "cosmetic" fix.
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[motorhead1977]

I have a rock island 573 and it looks very similar to that. I'll post some pics when I can find them. The jaws look the same to me.

 

[Hauf389]

Just started cleaning up my dad's Craftsman 5196 vise. Amazed how clean the lead screw threads are after decades of sitting around. The end cap is a bright blue color, wondering if that is the original color of the vise.

 

[ed4banger]

Just started cleaning up my dad's Craftsman 5196 vise. Amazed how clean the lead screw threads are after decades of sitting around. The end cap is a bright blue color, wondering if that is the original color of the vise.

The spindle was not painted on these originally

 

[Roberts210]

What a beautiful vise Hauf. And the ledge isn't broken!

 

[Hauf389]

The spindle was not painted on these originally

The rest of the body looks to have been painted at some point but now mostly bare metal. I have seen restored ones in several colors and wondering what color (vise body) this series was from the factory.

 

[AngryBeaver]

The rest of the body looks to have been painted at some point but now mostly bare metal. I have seen restored ones in several colors and wondering what color (vise body) this series was from the factory.

this was the original color, minus the dirt and years of fading. the machined parts as well as the spindle and lock handles were not painted

(taken from above)

 

[Hauf389]

Thanks AB. I do see some of the old blue showing through on mine and your pic gives me a better idea of the color. It looks somewhat similar (maybe darker and more green) to late 60's Pontiac Silver-Blue metallic paint.

 

[ejot]

Original paint 7/49 05196 hitched a ride home with me yesterday. Oddly has a repair on the spindle hub but otherwise checks out well and appears to have lived an easy life. After a cleanup and lube this will replace a small 3.5" Columbian as my everyday light-duty vise.

I'm convinced of the evidence for Rock Island as the manufacturer.