The VISES of Garage Journal

[LNKMK8]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once and a while... Things lined up just right to bring this nice Wilton 1760 Tradesman with copper jaw covers home. I'm guessing maybe someone here may have attempted to purchase it? It was listed poorly on eBay as a "Vice grip holder" with 2 bad photos and local pick up only. It had actually "sold" 3x before I bought it as people were hitting Buy it Now then asking to have it shipped. The seller (daughter selling for her dad) cancelled each prior sale. I went ahead and bought it told her I would have a friend come pick it up, but I needed a day or two to arrange things. Then I started trying to figure out who I knew in the area Well, it turned out that my next door neighbor was going to be traveling within 15 minutes of their location the next day, heading home from a job assignment. The timing was perfect

I gave it a bit of a clean-up this past weekend. It's in great shape with just some minor wear. The jaws, as you might expect, are in perfect condition and have lived life behind the copper inserts. I'm not a huge Tradesman fan, but I plan to hold onto this one. I didn't find a date on the key of the slide, but did find a 8-92 date on the spindle which seems about right.

 

[exmaxima1]

You got that for $50!!

 

[javyLSU]

That pickup is most definitely worthy of a YOU ****!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Nice RB! I'm sure there's a lot of envy from those of us looking at your toys!

 

[Vise]

Finally found a stand I felt worthy of this Emmert Machinist vise. It is a Black & Decker six sided cast iron stand that is found in their 1923 catalog (see 3rd photo). Was a little worried that it would not be stout enough, but was pleasantly surprised. Now I can put that Emmert to work!

Wow, that looks fantastic! Looks great!

 

[RBarnes]

RBarnes: VERY nice stand and the huge Emmert looks perfect on it.

BUT I have a question: I see that the stand and Emmert are on a wood platform with some caster wheels.. at least that is what I think I see at one corner of the base.
Don't the casters make the stand a bit unstable and easy to tip over?

My first concern is that it would fall on you or another person using the vise.. BUT of course none of us would want to see the Emmertt suffer from any damage either..

I've always thought that I'd have to make some sort of wide, low center base with the casters outside the footprint of the base and the centerline of the caster axles above the bottom of the base, in order for it to be safe to use while on the casters.

I may be just being a wimp or jumping at shadows.. but.. I'd like to hear your comments.

PierceA.

I thoroughly agree with all of your concerns and actually worry about tipping over iron stands, used on vises directly on the floor, without anything underneath them. Obviously bolting the stand to the floor is the ultimate way to go.

The plywood base you noticed is a temporary home made dolly and I have two vises on these for a while. I am currently restoring an early leather belt 973 pound Canedy-Otto camel back drill press to use in my shop. It has a rather large footprint and so I am going to have to re-organize my shop once I finish it and figure out exactly where I am going to put it. Then I can put everyone in a more permanent location.

I do have a few vises on their stands,that are still in "dry dock" so to speak, so I can use them when I really need to torque something down.


EVERYONE - I DO ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK, was up till almost 4 am working on the Emmert and stand last night, makes it all worth while!

 

[PierceA]

RBarnes: Your other two vises on independent stands are as spectacular as the first two you shared !!
Those 4 vises are a collection of Unicorns !! [I'm quite impressed!].

Thanks for sharing.

PierceA

 

[RTM]

Following up on the little vises, I have this one, which has a 1-1/2" jaw, but no markings on either side. This seems really close to Carquest's Hardy, down to the little beak anvil sticking out the back. Unfortunately, this precision vise has its main screw secured by gravity. Once you remove the rear jaw, the widened spot at the front of the screw lifts up over a lip, and you can remove the screw.

Anything interesting about Hardy?

Now to go looking for more Hardy info, like catalogs, nothing in ITCL.

Seeing them with Hardy cast into the web of the clamp screw support, but they seem to have an outer rib on the web that mine is missing.

My guess, probably made by Bonney. For a "Hardy Co." Whoever they were.

**Advertisement**

Akasrick's guess of Bonney looks close for this one, but in their newer catalog the shapes change as the sizes go up.

https://archive.org/details/BonneyViseAndToolCatalogue1886/page/n6/mode/1up

But their little ones look nothing like the 1" ones shiftless and I posted earlier, these have the beak. More later.

 

[bradlys]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once and a while... Things lined up just right to bring this nice Wilton 1760 Tradesman with copper jaw covers home. I'm guessing maybe someone here may have attempted to purchase it? It was listed poorly on eBay as a "Vice grip holder" with 2 bad photos and local pick up only. It had actually "sold" 3x before I bought it as people were hitting Buy it Now then asking to have it shipped. The seller (daughter selling for her dad) cancelled each prior sale. I went ahead and bought it told her I would have a friend come pick it up, but I needed a day or two to arrange things. Then I started trying to figure out who I knew in the area Well, it turned out that my next door neighbor was going to be traveling within 15 minutes of their location the next day, heading home from a job assignment. The timing was perfect

I gave it a bit of a clean-up this past weekend. It's in great shape with just some minor wear. The jaws, as you might expect, are in perfect condition and have lived life behind the copper inserts. I'm not a huge Tradesman fan, but I plan to hold onto this one. I didn't find a date on the key of the slide, but did find a 8-92 date on the spindle which seems about right.

Posts like this are why I keep looking at Craigslist and FB marketplace - deeply visceral deal ****. Yet - posts like this are why I'm miserable too - because I need a vise and can't wait forever! I should give up...

 

[ExoticCarDoc]

Just picked up this Simplex Gray 43 P today. Does anybody know if KMSCOT makes new jaws for this?

 

[PierceA]

bradlys:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Vi...079894?hash=item3ff6e40b56:g:T8UAAOSwY0BgU8fb

Here is a fairly priced vise in your area. Searching Ebay with 'show closest first' in the search parameters As well as FB and CL.
You'll find a good vise. There are plenty out there.

PierceA

 

[PierceA]

Exotic car doc: The jaws on the Simplex vises I've run across were very tough. From what I can see in the two images you posted, the jaws on that Simplex Gray are in pretty good shape.

The Simplex vises I own are very well made.

Welcome to the GJ vise thread..

PierceA

What exotic cars do you work on?

 

[CCOB18]

Hello all. From what I hear this is the thread for the experts advice! Just picked up this columbian for free! Was wondering if anyone can give me an estimated value as I would like to compensate my friend in some way for the gift as well as to have the knowledge. I will check some other threads for a way to date it. With that being said I’m still in the market for a larger vise and am wondering if this Wilton 1750 is worth the $325 I can acquire it for? dated 1/72 im assuming it’s not the snap on version based on the year and non removable pipe jaws. thank you all!

 

[wtn1271]

Picked up these 2 vises at an estate sale recently. (#1) P.V.C. & Co NY, Shepard No. 69. I found it under a tarp, buried in a pile of scrap wood and other useless **** in a outbuilding that was open to the weather. I have washed it off with Simple Green and Dawn to remove the first layer of loose scale/dirt. There is a bit of damage to the main screw near the sliding handle, otherwise it looks pretty soild. (#2) unknown manufacturer quick-release woodworkers vise. Internet image search leads me to believe it may be a Sheldon. It was bolted to a home made bench in the garage and was more protected from the elements than the other. This vise cleaned up pretty well and should be useable with a complete disassembly and refurb. Pictues are before basic cleaning. I probably wont keep either as I am not really a vise collector but the prices were very reasonable. Any thoughts on the value of either vise as they are and if restored? Any other thoughts or information appreciated. Thanks

 

[CRSINMICH]

wtn: The first vise is a Prentiss Pattern Makers'. I'm not sure how rare it is but it certainly is not common. The other vise is indeed a Sheldon woodworker's vise. It was designed for school wood shops. I have one and use it as a tail vise as recommended by Chris Schwarz. It's terrific for that. You made two good finds. Congrats.

 

[RBarnes]

RBarnes: Your other two vises on independent stands are as spectacular as the first two you shared !!
Those 4 vises are a collection of Unicorns !! [I'm quite impressed!].

Thanks for sharing.

PierceA

PierceA, thank you for the kind words. I don't have any vises that are super rare. Just older American made ones I can use, that for the most part have a nice used vintage look I especially like. I work by myself, with multiple projects going on at the same time. Vises really come in handy as a third set of hands. They do have to earn their keep though. I almost got rid of the larger unpainted Reed, but used it to hold a 10 inch wide piece of metal last night so that currently changed my thinking on whether or not to sell it. It is just too easy, being unpainted and not as rare, I don't have to worry about using it.

Only one I am currently not using is a big Wilton bullet. Need to find the right stand for it. I do enjoy looking at it since everyone is going crazy right now for its little brothers.

I figure that the really rare vises are rare for a reason, that they are probably not that user friendly (or have design/weak points). Truth be told, my cast iron stands are probably rarer than any of my vises.

Forgot to comment on your rolling stand idea. If someone really wants a mobile vise, I would recommend they put it on a decent sized work bench with wheels. That way the work bench weight can counter balance the weight of the vise. After all, they are "bench" vises. My "go to" smaller vise is mounted on a stationary work bench and I use it as much as all the others combined.

 

[LesserSon]

Following up on the little vises, I have this one, which has a 1-1/2" jaw, but no markings on either side. This seems really close to Carquest's Hardy, down to the little beak anvil sticking out the back. Unfortunately, this precision vise has its main screw secured by gravity. Once you remove the rear jaw, the widened spot at the front of the screw lifts up over a lip, and you can remove the screw.

I agree with akasrick (but not his retraction) - looks like Bonney. You are right that the shape changes over time and size. Vises of that general shape were produced by multiple manufacturers for a long time. (Might look at PSW, LittCo, etc.)
But the lift-out main screw sounds like Joseph Baker’s 1916 patent. He seems to have followed Bonney from Philadelphia to Allentown. On the other hand, I have a vise I think is NOT a Bonney (no horn, 90° T-bone table clamp), but also has the lift-out screw.
Bonney marked many of their vises with a model number stamped on the anvil, if it hasn’t been obliterated. Here is a No3.

 

[LNKMK8]

Hello all. From what I hear this is the thread for the experts advice! Just picked up this columbian for free! Was wondering if anyone can give me an estimated value as I would like to compensate my friend in some way for the gift as well as to have the knowledge. I will check some other threads for a way to date it. With that being said I’m still in the market for a larger vise and am wondering if this Wilton 1750 is worth the $325 I can acquire it for? dated 1/72 im assuming it’s not the snap on version based on the year and non removable pipe jaws. thank you all!

The Columbian is worth about $40. It's a nice little vise. I just sold a very nice Tradesman 1755 for $300 this weekend and could have sold 2 more if I had them. The one shown appears to have been gone through and painted. The jaws looks excellent and likely have been replaced. $325 isn't a great deal but it also isn't over priced. The new China versions are $450-$500.

 

[RTM]

Posts like this are why I keep looking at Craigslist and FB marketplace - deeply visceral deal ****. Yet - posts like this are why I'm miserable too - because I need a vise and can't wait forever! I should give up...

You have to decide, time or money. There’s a pile of vises right near you on CL, but none are a steal. A few decent ones. A few more In Pacifica, and I’m pretty sure the seller is on this list.

If you want the steal value, **** out the door early, hit every garage sale you can find. Quickly learn where the old guys who retired from SFO maintenance crews retired to, and prioritize those sales. Hint, it isn’t in a 20 year old house in the hills. Many of them are in SSF, or in SM right off Norfolk.

 

[CCOB18]

The Columbian is worth about $40. It's a nice little vise. I just sold a very nice Tradesman 1755 for $300 this weekend and could have sold 2 more if I had them. The one shown appears to have been gone through and painted. The jaws looks excellent and likely have been replaced. $325 isn't a great deal but it also isn't over priced. The new China versions are $450-$500.

Thanks buddy maybe I’ll go ahead and grab it. Fits what I’m looking for. Wouldn’t mind buying a new one but refuse to buy China. Correct me if I’m wrong but I hear these older 1750s are still built like a tank. Does having the jaws replaced take away from the value?

 

[akasrick]

Following up on the little vises, I have this one, which has a 1-1/2" jaw, but no markings on either side. This seems really close to Carquest's Hardy, down to the little beak anvil sticking out the back. Unfortunately, this precision vise has its main screw secured by gravity. Once you remove the rear jaw, the widened spot at the front of the screw lifts up over a lip, and you can remove the screw.

Now to go looking for more Hardy info, like catalogs, nothing in ITCL.

Seeing them with Hardy cast into the web of the clamp screw support, but they seem to have an outer rib on the web that mine is missing.


Akasrick's guess of Bonney looks close for this one, but in their newer catalog the shapes change as the sizes go up.

https://archive.org/details/BonneyViseAndToolCatalogue1886/page/n6/mode/1up

But their little ones look nothing like the 1" ones shiftless and I posted earlier, these have the beak. More later.

That is a Biddle Hardware adv. A better picture will show the stand advertising Hardy. It's hard to believe that he let that typo go thru. Coincidently I have one that is almost completely pitted. Tackle box find?

akasrick

 

[akasrick]

I agree with akasrick (but not his retraction) - looks like Bonney. You are right that the shape changes over time and size. Vises of that general shape were produced by multiple manufacturers for a long time. (Might look at PSW, LittCo, etc.)
But the lift-out main screw sounds like Joseph Baker’s 1916 patent. He seems to have followed Bonney from Philadelphia to Allentown. On the other hand, I have a vise I think is NOT a Bonney (no horn, 90° T-bone table clamp), but also has the lift-out screw.
Bonney marked many of their vises with a model number stamped on the anvil, if it hasn’t been obliterated. Here is a No3.

Its not so much of a retraction, just a closer look at the adv. The Hardy and the Reading line vises use the mat format of casting where the 2 1/2"or whatever size on the one side is pressed into the form, no cutting new molds, which shows up in the Allentown vises, with the straight line pull type screws. That along with the "Duco"
(a Dupont paint finish) reference. Puts them in the 1920s.
My thoughts on those.

akasrick

 

[LesserSon]

You’ve done more investigation than I have. “Hardy” seems problematic for researching a brand of vises, because of the ubiquity of the homonymical anvil accessory.
I still think the “Hardy” vise could be Bonney-made. Bonney was (and remained) a remarkably protean entity, going through several address moves, ownership and management changes, division and merger; each of its various incarnations notable for experimentation and innovation. Different methods of production sounds exactly like the sort of thing Bonney tried. Additionally, the “MADE IN U.S.A.” on the reverse of the web looks very much like something I think I recall seeing on an example of a “Bonney’s Pat.”-marked vise of similar construction.

Of course, I don’t have the picture of the correct side.
However, let me correct myself: RTM’s description of his example reminds me of Joseph Baker’s 1891 patent - not his 1916 patent. The 1916 design inverts the keyhole and places a coil spring under the screw to keep it from dropping into the wider, removeable position.
Baker was quite the vise designer: his 1908 patent gives us the beautiful Victor / Jersey / Stanley 74X table vises.

 

[KMScott]

Just picked up this Simplex Gray 43 P today. Does anybody know if KMSCOT makes new jaws for this?

It's sad for me to see how the girls in Colorado are not keeping up with inventory on my old websites. Here is a drawing of your jaws and maybe you might know of someone close to you that can at least make you a set of smooth jaws.

 

[akasrick]

You’ve done more investigation than I have. “Hardy” seems problematic for researching a brand of vises, because of the ubiquity of the homonymical anvil accessory.
I still think the “Hardy” vise could be Bonney-made. Bonney was (and remained) a remarkably protean entity, going through several address moves, ownership and management changes, division and merger; each of its various incarnations notable for experimentation and innovation. Different methods of production sounds exactly like the sort of thing Bonney tried. Additionally, the “MADE IN U.S.A.” on the reverse of the web looks very much like something I think I recall seeing on an example of a “Bonney’s Pat.”-marked vise of similar construction.

Of course, I don’t have the picture of the correct side.
However, let me correct myself: RTM’s description of his example reminds me of Joseph Baker’s 1891 patent - not his 1916 patent. The 1916 design inverts the keyhole and places a coil spring under the screw to keep it from dropping into the wider, removeable position.
Baker was quite the vise designer: his 1908 patent gives us the beautiful Victor / Jersey / Stanley 74X table vises.

And to confound it all Bonney states that some of their vises weren't made in Bonney Forge. Possibly someone with better searching ability than I can dig up a tidbit. Till then back in my rocker thinking of chances missed or whatever.

As a side note my fuzzy memory of a fire in Phila. at Frankford and Torresdale aves. uncovered a ruin of an old foundry, possibly Bonney. I got nowhere on their archaeological site.
I see you like the Allentown references.

akasrick

 

[MayerMR]

wtn: The first vise is a Prentiss Pattern Makers'. I'm not sure how rare it is but it certainly is not common. The other vise is indeed a Sheldon woodworker's vise. It was designed for school wood shops. I have one and use it as a tail vise as recommended by Chris Schwarz. It's terrific for that. You made two good finds. Congrats.

Gotta admit, I'm lost. What the heck is a "tail vise"?

 

[Boatman53]

It is a vise usually mounted on the right end of the bench not on the face. Used with bench dogs it can hold boards flat on the top of the bench for various tasks. Some are wooden and built as part of the bench.
Jim

 

[MayerMR]

It is a vise usually mounted on the right end of the bench not on the face. Used with bench dogs it can hold boards flat on the top of the bench for various tasks. Some are wooden and built as part of the bench.
Jim

Ah, ok, yes that makes sense.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Can anyone hazard a guess at what this one is? Columbian? I was thinking Hollands? it's for sale locally and I can tell it's American iron. I am just not as good with the identifying silhouettes as some of the others here.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Mayer: Boatman was correct. That's what tail vises are for. The reason Sheldon vises are used as tail vises is that the quick adjust mechanism is, well... quick. Lift the handle to 12 o'clock and move the jaw in or out to the end of the workpiece then lower the handle to 3 o'clock. Done! Rotating the piece to work on another face takes 5 seconds - or less. Chris Schwarz likes it because it applies enough pressure to hold the workpiece without over tightening and potentially bowing the wood.

It also changes plywood into walnut. April Fools!

 

[RTM]

(#2) unknown manufacturer quick-release woodworkers vise. Internet image search leads me to believe it may be a Sheldon.

Buddy of mine built one of those into a reproduction of a vintage Gentleman's Workbench, designed to fold up and look like fine furniture when not in use. (This in not the Tail Vise usage someone mentioned below.) This set off a swarm of people looking for Sheldon's, as the mechanism was very sweet.

 

[RTM]

That is a Biddle Hardware adv. A better picture will show the stand advertising Hardy. It's hard to believe that he let that typo go thru. Coincidently I have one that is almost completely pitted. Tackle box find?

What year Biddle ad? I did not see it in the 1910 catalog.

Maybe that vise got caught up in the Hardy fishing equipment ad, and thought it was a fly tying vise. (Some of those Hardy's are quite nice compared to my cheap cast aluminum one.)

 

[ChefRex]

Finally found a stand I felt worthy of this Emmert Machinist vise. It is a Black & Decker six sided cast iron stand that is found in their 1923 catalog (see 3rd photo). Was a little worried that it would not be stout enough, but was pleasantly surprised. Now I can put that Emmert to work!

That's a very cool vise!

 

[akasrick]

What year Biddle ad? I did not see it in the 1910 catalog.

Maybe that vise got caught up in the Hardy fishing equipment ad, and thought it was a fly tying vise. (Some of those Hardy's are quite nice compared to my cheap cast aluminum one.)

Don't know. At the time of me posting it was up for sale on eBay I just cut out what was pertinent and hoped the buyer or seller didn't get pissed and now I don't see the Hardy on the stand. The fishing tie in is another guess. An attempt to explain the logos, (also Reading Line). Think anniversary or whatever trinket. I'm sure(Biddle) knew their suppliers.
I'll look here further.

akasrick


Edit

akasrick

Edit

 

[11b30b4]

RTM that Gentleman's Workbench is amazing. Your friend is very talented.

 

[wtn1271]

CRSINMICH, RTM: thanks for the replies and photos. I will update pics when I get the vises cleaned up a bit more.

 

[Irishlad]

Good evening. I have a vintage Chas Parker 1074 vise. Not being that familiar with this tool, I am told there is a part missing, that should be attached to the end of the drive screw. I would appreciate any info you may have, even better if you have a spare part I could purchase. I don't even know what that part does or is called. Please advise if you know.
Thank you in advance for your comments.

 

[KMScott]

Good evening. I have a vintage Chas Parker 1074 vise. Not being that familiar with this tool, I am told there is a part missing, that should be attached to the end of the drive screw. I would appreciate any info you may have, even better if you have a spare part I could purchase. I don't even know what that part does or is called. Please advise if you know.
Thank you in advance for your comments.

Look at this post and you can see the parts you are possibly missing.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7699517&postcount=834

Can you share the jaw width, weight and max opening by measuring the length of the square slider hanging past the dynamic casting when closed since I would like to add your vise to the spreadsheet. Thanks Kevin

 

[Eddie H]

Picked up this Mill Vise pretty cheap this past weekend, seems to be an older Kurt but nothing definite. Do some of you know the make and/or how to remove the ring on the bottom where It evidently had a swivel base? I would like to be able to completely break It down to clean and repaint?

Sent from my SM-G930V using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Shiftless]

It's sad for me to see how the girls in Colorado are not keeping up with inventory on my old websites. Here is a drawing of your jaws and maybe you might know of someone close to you that can at least make you a set of smooth jaws.

Sad indeed...