The VISES of Garage Journal

[dannyr]

For my education only (no buying interest) - is this Stanley vise (for sale in UK as a large bench vise, no dimensions) US made? Looks a little like that Wilton 645 above, but bigger?

The only UK Stanley vices I know of are small light alloy diy types. They had works in France and this also looks like some French vises of the 70s.

The No. is 8---68.

 

[Vise]

For my education only (no buying interest) - is this Stanley vise (for sale in UK as a large bench vise, no dimensions) US made? Looks a little like that Wilton 645 above, but bigger?

The only UK Stanley vices I know of are small light alloy diy types. They had works in France and this also looks like some French vises of the 70s.

The No. is 8---68.

That doesn’t appear to be US made. The giveaway for me is the main screw/handle and swivel locks.

 

[ed4banger]

Newest "shelf queen" for the Craftsman collection, 5" 5188 made by Reed.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Newest "shelf queen" for the Craftsman collection, 5" 5188 made by Reed.

Being a vintage Craftsman fan and loving Reed vises this vise is a beauty! Hope some day to across a 4" or 5" one myself. Nice work ed4!

 

[LT95]

Picked this up today. Reed 105


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[Shiftless]

LT95:
That looks like a nice solid old Reed. I’m not sure why a guy painted the ends of the handle white, but that’s of very little consequence.

ed4banger:
You did a fantastic job on that classic Craftsman.


.

 

[wazzabie]

Here is a 4in Wilton vise I acquired at a garage sale for $20. It is marked Schiller Park Illinois USA. If I understand correctly this would have been created after 1957.

Where these offered by Wilton both with and without a swivel?

I've taken the vise apart and added some grease to the threads. The handle is straight.

Who has some hardened jaws that you would recommend? I'm going to make my own soft jaws out of plastic and bar stock aluminum.

Would this be the original paint on the vise?

 

[Shiftless]

Wazzabie:
Yes, Wilton sold the 4 inch machinist’s vises as a 400N without a swivel base and a 400S with swivel base.
If you’re curious about a date of manufacture, you can pull the dynamic all of the way out and examine the bottom of the “key”. You’ll see a date code like 6-65 for June 1965

BTW, $20 for that vise even without a base or jaws is still a remarkable “you ****” deal. Congrats on that score.

 

[wazzabie]

Wazzabie:
Yes, Wilton sold the 4 inch machinist’s vises as a 400N without a swivel base and a 400S with swivel base.
If you’re curious about a date of manufacture, you can pull the dynamic all of the way out and examine the bottom of the “key”. You’ll see a date code like 6-65 for June 1965

BTW, $20 for that vise even without a base or jaws is still a remarkable “you ****” deal. Congrats on that score.

How can I tell if it was originally a 400N or 400S?

I see HD 4650 marked on the vise.

 

[ChefRex]

How can I tell if it was originally a 400N or 400S?

If I'm correct the N will have a flat bottom while the S will have a relief to fit the base and yes "yousuck"

Thank you @PSCo1867, I now have something to beat on with no worry!

 

[Tinkerer2]

Well, look what I received today from PSCo1867! He mailed it on March 30 Priority Mail and I just got it this morning - April 12th.

The box looked ok except for 2 places 2 - 4 inches long on the bottom edges. I pulled them open a little so one can see the damage better. But there were no dings or scrapes on the rail !!

PSCo1867 - Thanks for doing this AND letting me be the first guinea pig. This is going to be VERY handy.

 

[Mark Stansbury]

I am combing thru 1940s Hardware Age, and finding more small vise manufacturers. I am adding all of the manufacturers to Vintage Machinery. Here's one I found last night.

 

[ChefRex]

Well, look what I received today from PSCo1867! He mailed it on March 30 Priority Mail and I just got it this morning - April 12th.

The box looked ok except for 2 places 2 - 4 inches long on the bottom edges. I pulled them open a little so one can see the damage better. But there were no dings or scrapes on the rail !!

PSCo1867 - Thanks for doing this AND letting me be the first guinea pig. This is going to be VERY handy.

Mine looked very similar, my mailman didn't look very happy delivering it, LOL

 

[Mark Stansbury]

Another post-WWII small vise manufacturer, R.F. Nauman Manufacturers. I have not created a page on Vintage Machinery yet.

 

[Vise]

Ed - that reedsman looks fantastic. Very nice work.

Here are a couple 2.5” Reeds I picked up: a 202 1/2 and 102 1/2 on an old rivet machine stand.




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[wazzabie]

So this took almost 2 moths of patience but I brought this one home Sunday evening - a Type E 78-001 in pristine condition - if used at all VERY lightly! It looks like it just was pulled from he box: I found 2 TINY fly specs of paint that popped off with a fingernail... other than that a little dust:

I have an older workmate like this also. I use it as a welding table. The one I have only partially has the lighter material. The legs on mine are stamped steel and it looks like your legs are aluminum. Even with partial aluminum parts I find the workmate heavy to carry around. I wonder how much lighter yours is.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Anyone care to take a guess at this one? My dad got it for me out of an old barn.

 

[Shiftless]

Anyone care to take a guess at this one? My dad got it for me out of an old barn.

The ragged edges on these have me guessing. Are these repair areas? If there was only one I’d say yes. But the others are similar. Cutting torch cuts?

 

[Outlawmws]

I have an older workmate like this also. I use it as a welding table. The one I have only partially has the lighter material. The legs on mine are stamped steel and it looks like your legs are aluminum. Even with partial aluminum parts I find the workmate heavy to carry around. I wonder how much lighter yours is.

6-8 lbs depending on the specific model

 

[Bones11]

My first post here after spending much time reading posts. I was introduced to old vises when I found a Fulton vise sitting on the side walk waiting to be hauled away on trash day. Cleaned up 100 years of greases and dirt and rust and gave it to my Dad for Chistmas. I'll try a pic.

I guess Imgur doesn't work. Will try later

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

The ragged edges on these have me guessing. Are these repair areas? If there was only one I’d say yes. But the others are similar. Cutting torch cuts?

I saw the same thing. I haven't seen it in person yet. The holes on the side have me wondering as well. I don't think it could be homemade just because the jaw tower casting looks pretty good. I'm interested in what it could be.

 

[ed4banger]

The ragged edges on these have me guessing. Are these repair areas? If there was only one I’d say yes. But the others are similar. Cutting torch cuts?

Damage from torch/welder. Seen a few like that. Look at this poor little Reed 102.....

 

[drivesitfar]

Bones: Welcome to Garage Journal and congrats on your new old vise.
you might need more posts to post an imgur link or pictures so keep finding threads to ask questions on or just give the posters a nice comment or WELL DONE.

another way to get imgur posts on here is to eliminate the "S" in the HTTPS link.

Mr. W: it might be an old rusty FULTON, but not certain. here's one of mine that isn't quite as rusty for comparison. its the one to the left of my blue Rock Island 577.

 

[RTM]

My first post here after spending much time reading posts. I was introduced to old vises when I found a Fulton vise sitting on the side walk waiting to be hauled away on trash day. Cleaned up 100 years of greases and dirt and rust and gave it to my Dad for Chistmas.

I guess Imgur doesn't work. Will try later

Typically need to take the S out of HTTPS. Oops, someone beat me to it.

 

[Bones11]

Thanks guys! Yes...5 posts needed for pics! I'll get to work on it.

 

[KMScott]

My first post here after spending much time reading posts. I was introduced to old vises when I found a Fulton vise sitting on the side walk waiting to be hauled away on trash day. Cleaned up 100 years of greases and dirt and rust and gave it to my Dad for Chistmas. I'll try a pic.

I guess Imgur doesn't work. Will try later

What is the spec:s on this rare vise. Jaw width, weight and max opening. Nice job Bones.

 

[Ryan_340]

I picked up this Parker 954 a while ago for $30 bucks. I decided not to re paint it. I gave it a good degreasing and sprayed it off with a steam pressure washer. A coat of BLO and it's good to go.

 

[Shiftless]

That Reed is looking really good, Ryan 340. Good work

I envy anyone with easy access to a steam pressure washer.

An undamaged Reed for $30 is another enviable score.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Bones: Welcome to Garage Journal and congrats on your new old vise.
you might need more posts to post an imgur link or pictures so keep finding threads to ask questions on or just give the posters a nice comment or WELL DONE.

another way to get imgur posts on here is to eliminate the "S" in the HTTPS link.

Mr. W: it might be an old rusty FULTON, but not certain. here's one of mine that isn't quite as rusty for comparison. its the one to the left of my blue Rock Island 577.

Drives,

I'll have to look but mine doesn't have that shelf above the spindle. Also one end of the handle has a square end inside the ball. I don't think any of my other vises are like that. I'll just have to wait until I get it in person unfortunately.

 

[Shiftless]

Mr. W. :

For reference, here is a close up of one of the mounting tabs on my Fulton 27 “Peerless”

They are quite different than the tabs on the Fulton vise that Bones posted earlier.

And not the same as your mystery vise.

The jury is still out...

 

[Mark Stansbury]

New short Flexivise entry on Vintage Machinery. Link to ad in Iron Age.

 

[wbarnes1001]

Mistaken post

 

[drivesitfar]

MR. W: I knew my Fulton wasn't a perfect match, but other than Rock Island and Reed I can't recall any other vises from the early 1900's with that huge ball at the minute. that might be my favorite looking vise with that huge ball on the end, but I do like the pancaked Reeds too maybe cause they are still rounded.

I guess we'll see once you clean it up and more guys have input. it does look like it might have a huge braze on it, but maybe that is caked on rust.

 

[Bones11]

What is the spec:s on this rare vise. Jaw width, weight and max opening. Nice job Bones.

Thanks! It's a Fulton 19, 3.5" jaws if I remember correctly. I'd have to get weight and jaw opening measurement next time I visit home.

 

[Bones11]

Here it was after clean up and wire wheel. The collar sitting on top of the slide is normally nested inside the dynamic jaw. The screw slides through this collar and a set screw in the collar tightens it down. This is what allows the dynamic jaw to open as the screw is loosened. The set screw was missing and easily replaced.

 

[wbarnes1001]

I bought this 974.5 Parker Vise (4.5 “ jaws) on Craigslist for $150 over a year ago (WWII era vise). I chose it for the pristine condition of the jaws primarily, but the entire vise is in excellent condition. It looks like it has hardly been used.

The seller shipped it in a box poorly packaged and one of the swivel base mounting ears broke off on the way significantly stalling my restoration project. After that experience, I am now of the opinion that the only way to safely ship these heavy vises is by creating a 2X4 box frame to bolt it to for shipping. I knew a welder that attempted to repair it for me, but the ear was oriented incorrectly in the end. I was majorly bummed and started looking online (FB Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist) for a swivel base replacement. Finally, after many months, I found an older Parker 205 swivel base that perfectly matched the dimensions of the 974.5 on eBay and bought it immediately. KMScott, you may remember I spoke to you about a year ago trying to find a replacement.

So, how did I restore it? In my excitement to proceed, I foolishly forgot to take the before pictures, so I apologize as that was a major oversight. The vise was significantly patinaed and somewhat surface rusted. I soaked the vice and parts in Simple Green for two days and used a wire brush, wire wheel on a bench lathe, and a wire cup on an angle grinder afterwards. I worked the tighter areas with a Dremel tool and a small wire wheel attachment. Afterward, I rinsed all the parts in very hot water (to clean and facilitate drying), dried them with a towel, and immediately moved the pieces to sit next to the heater vents in my house in the winter. Then I added a small length of brass pipe from McMaster-Carr to tighten up the spindle action in the dynamic (movable) jaw piece. I slightly honed the inside of the brass with the Dremel and a barrel stone attachment to custom fit the spindle. I masked it and finished the paint job (3 coats) two days ago. If you are old enough like I am, you might recognize the color. It is a 1969 Pontiac Firebird engine block spray paint (1 can from Hirsch). I am 50 years old, but I remember seeing it in the engine bay of the 69’ Firebirds in the 80s. I chose to leave the spindle collar in bare metal for contrast. Do you like the overall result?

My daughter is an artist and she is going to thinly letter the wording on both sides of the static jaw unit with black lettering paint. After she is finished, I will apply Mobile 1 synthetic grease where needed, finish the assembly, and mount it to my solid bamboo work bench. I have a metal protectant that I will add to the bare metal areas periodically to inhibit rust. I will upload more pictures when it is done.

I am a retired Air Force veteran and my grandfather served in WWII. These Parker vises were used a lot in the services during that time. It is great to bring the history back to life with a good restoration and it is something that I will pass down to my son in time. The vise will be used whenever needed, but hammer blows on work pieces will be done with caution!

 

[drivesitfar]

WB: nice story and well done!!

Bones: did you end up removing the jaws on your Fulton? I think I have that exact vise that prior owner also painted blue, but mine are missing the jaws. did you take any other pics while you were restoring it and if so how about posting a few over on the vise repair 101 thread?

Mr. W: I didn't buy this 6 inch wide jaw Fulton cause it was a bit worse for wear and only came with a 2 ton steel table that I didn't have a spot for. that said Fulton was in business for a while so they might have changed their vises a bit. if you look close on this 6 incher the handle looks like it has the shaft of the handle going thru the ball like yours does.

since i've been off this thread for a while now and my vise game is a bit off (and i'm getting older which doesn't help either) I probably should say i only recall Fulton, Rock Island and Reeds as having huge ball hubs, but there might be more I don't remember. another thought on yours is maybe an older Rock Island or Reed?

 

[Mark Stansbury]

New entry on Vintage Machinery for Jordan Welding & Manufacturing Co. Looking for ads for Jordan vises.

 

[Bones11]

wbarnes....That turned out great! And I like the color

 

[Bones11]

Drivesitfar: The jaws on that Fulton 19 are not removeable. I studied it awhile wondering what I was missing, but interweb research supported this to be consistent with similar Fulton vises. I guess there was a technique to cast previously manufactured hardened jaws into the two jaws being cast?