The VISES of Garage Journal

[neophyte]

Lots of unrelated companies and manufacturers used the name “Superior” either for the company name, or for specific products.

Ridgid for instance uses “Superior” for one of it’s vise models sold in Europe.

Otherwise, Nowadays there’s Superior Tool, which us now a division of C.H. Hanson, that mostly specializes in plumbing tools.
They supposedly started out as distributor of surplus government hand tools after WW2.

Erie used “Superior” on some of their vises.

the anvil section of the vise were the vise rotates also reminds me of the Cole Vise/tool setup which was in Saginaw.

 

[neophyte]

Found one this summer, still no good information out there. It's really cool though!!!

There was a screw type drill press manufactured by the “Superior Tool Co”.

This drill press, or something very similar seems to also get listed as the “Cole” drill press, with “M & P Tool Mfg Co” cast into the frame.

The Cole Vise was a multifunction vise/tool, that had a number of parts, one of which was a drill press similar to the above “Superior Tool” and “M & P Tool Mfg Co” drill presses.
The Cole vise also mounted to a bench with an anvil with a swivel mount similar to the Superior Vise pictured in your post.

 

[CRSINMICH]

ViseRoy: Very cool find. I was lucky enough to find one too. It came from a scrap yard about 20 miles from Saginaw and va.grouseman has one in Virginia. I wonder how far these things traveled. Where did yours come from? It looks like the 1, 2, and 3 could be parts numbers.

 

[tjpavlov]

Well I finished up the restoration on my Desmond Stephans Simplex 41S.
I wound up just putting a couple of washers on the front to replace the broken collar. Probably not the strongest solution but it’s functional
A machinist friend resurfaced the jaws for me.

 

[RedVise]

added another clamp on to the collection yesterday. Turned out to be a Craftsman. No labels or casting mark but the model number 5246-2 shows up as a Cman jewelers vise. Different as it is a horizontal side. It is marked made in USA !

 

[11b30b4]

I finally got around to finishing the Craftsman 506.51930 4” vise project that I started September 19th.

Before:

Finished:

 

[Zelo]

Grandfather's 1930's Littlestown 400. You can read more about its history and my 2021 restoration after using it since 1980 in my post in the Vintage Tools Discussion forum here on GJ. It's home, in the basically woodworking shop of my garage, is next to grandfather's circa 1946 Craftsman drill press and atop my Craftsman tool drawers. This area is my machinist station. Anyhow, at the moment it's taken down to the bare metal and I'm contemplating BLO, Craftsman Red, Hammered Craftsman Grey or Hammered Littlestown Green. I've never used BLO and and am concerned about having to maintain it. If you have an opinion on how to finish it, I'm all ears. TIA

I have a littlestown 900 and a 112 as well. Cool little vises

 

[Zelo]

I found this little hand vise this past week. The only markings are made in USA. Does anyone have a guess as to the possible maker?

 

[Zelo]

Finished the resto on my "quest" Paramo #6. Remarkably Record still sells jaws for it, and only $20 a set!

What paint did you use? I have a Paramo number 3 I’d like to restore. Also where do you find the jaws?

 

[dkroth]

 

[Duke74]

So I bought an antique Vise today and I jumped on it quick without thinking much cuz I didn’t want anyone else to get it. It will add to my collection with the other 20 some I already have. I need some of you guys that know more than me to help me identify it. I am pretty sure it is a very early Parker Vise as I have seen ones very similar. Only markings are No. 34 on it and a patent number by the handle. I paid $40 for it. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Duke74]

One more.

 

[kenc184]

What paint did you use? I have a Paramo number 3 I’d like to restore. Also where do you find the jaws?

The paint is Rustoleum stops-rust enamel Gloss Royal Blue. The jaws I got on Amazon, they have the Record 6" jaws, don't know about the other sizes. Only $20 a set, and they are properly hardened. Same sized jaws for my Wilton C3 are $150.

 

[Shiftless]

Duke:
You scored on that deal.
It’s definitely a Parker.

Here is its baby brother, my #31
(The collar is not on it right now…it’s out for repairs)

.

 

[Duke74]

Sweet! Thanks Shiftless! If I am not mistaken, yours and mine are pre-1900, are they not?

 

[Shiftless]

Sweet! Thanks Shiftless! If I am not mistaken, yours and mine are pre-1900, are they not?

I’m not sure of the vintage. Do you have any catalog scans or anything to verify dates?

 

[Duke74]

I saw a pic of one and I thought the person had it as being pre-1900’s. let me try and find it again. I have a cousin of mine picking up another Vise for me. It’s a craftsman Vise made in England, so I am pretty excited about getting it. I will post pics when I get it.

 

[Duke74]

Hey. I found where I got the date from. Someone on an antique forum posted a pic of the same Vise as ours, and he was wondering who made it. Someone chimed in and thought it looked like a Phoenix Vise? and said it could be as early as 1885. Seeing how he was off on the manufacturer, I doubt his date was right also lol.

 

[Shiftless]

Hey. I found where I got the date from. Someone on an antique forum posted a pic of the same Vise as ours, and he was wondering who made it. Someone chimed in and thought it looked like a Phoenix Vise? and said it could be as early as 1885. Seeing how he was off on the manufacturer, I doubt his date was right also lol.

So the mystery continues. Who has solid date info for these early Parker’s?

 

[Duke74]

Idk man. Time for a bit of sleuthing.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Here's a picture from a 1926 catalog showing Parker ovals. Parker sold oval slides as early as 1902 but it's a different design and model number.

 

[ChefRex]

"You ****" Duke!

 

[Shiftless]

CRS:
Thanks for posting those catalog scans. It looks like the oval slide Parkers are clearly in the (more or less) 100 year old category.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Just finished my Shop King project:




(Credit: Mr. Wonderful restored the C3 !!!)

Very well done, sir.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Vise Friends.

Had a great day noodling through FB Marketplace last Saturday. Among some fire extinguishers and vintage steel kitchen cabinets, I found this little fella for $20. Interesting marking. Most FPUs I've seen had a date code on top of the front jaw. This one has a model number?

 

[Shiftless]

Mark:

.
An unbroken FPU for only $20?


.
?

 

[Duke74]

"You ****" Duke!

I will take that as a compliment...in THIS instance. Lol

 

[Duke74]

CRS:
Thanks for posting those catalog scans. It looks like the oval slide Parkers are clearly in the (more or less) 100 year old category.

Yeah, thank you from me as well. I would like to add that I saw one picture where it said Parker where the handle attaches to the worm. Mine has a patent number on it, so that may indicate a difference in production year.

 

[Shiftless]

Yeah, thank you from me as well. I would like to add that I saw one picture where it said Parker where the handle attaches to the worm. Mine has a patent number on it, so that may indicate a difference in production year.

Mine said Parker on it.

 

[Duke74]

Hmmmmm interesting. I have been looking online. Not much info that I can find that helps date them.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Mark:

.
An unbroken FPU for only $20?


.
?

I will take that as a compliment...in THIS instance. Lol

I'm going to shamelessly brag: I made $115 selling a cabinet and two fire extinguishers, so far.

 

[ViceRoy2030]

ViseRoy: Very cool find. I was lucky enough to find one too. It came from a scrap yard about 20 miles from Saginaw and va.grouseman has one in Virginia. I wonder how far these things traveled. Where did yours come from? It looks like the 1, 2, and 3 could be parts numbers.

It does look like they are part number and it's interested how the factory stamp almost seems to cut off "Saginaw" and "Mich" as if something else fits there. I picked this up near Tacoma Washington.

 

[Catcher1984]

Finished up the 1760 Wilton/Snap
On Vise. Hardly any damage, I’m liking it so far. Although it does squeak a little when spinning the handle. Does anyone know if I should add nylon washers or something?

 

[genog]

Went out to the valley to pick up this Hollands 53 1/2
The ole farmer has barns FULL of heavy equipment, light equipment, fork lifts, racks and racks of pipe, metal, welding tables, tools, you name it.
All of his buildings are full.
They are packed with stuff.
Packed to the rafters.
Junk and cool stuff all intermingled.

On a stand I spied a Reed 4C
Besides the Reed he had three other BIG vises.
Heavy weights all of them
A very big Parker was bolted on one of his welding tables

Anyway, I bought this poor ole Hollands 53 1/2 from him
The ole boy must have been left outside in the weather at some point in it's life
Jaws look good, although the pipe jaws are missing.....
Darn thing is heavy

I'll clean it up and try to neutralize the rust on it. I don't believe in painting old vises

 

[Adderall]

The paint is Rustoleum stops-rust enamel Gloss Royal Blue. The jaws I got on Amazon, they have the Record 6" jaws, don't know about the other sizes. Only $20 a set, and they are properly hardened. Same sized jaws for my Wilton C3 are $150.

Great timing. I just rescued a Paramo #6 that needs some serious TLC, but should come out great.

 

[kenc184]

Great timing. I just rescued a Paramo #6 that needs some serious TLC, but should come out great.

Looks good! A cleanup, paint and a set of jaws and you'll be golden! I really like this vise, Solid as heck, 105lbs, and a unique shape.

 

[454ragtop]

Well I finished up the restoration on my Desmond Stephans Simplex 41S.
I wound up just putting a couple of washers on the front to replace the broken collar. Probably not the strongest solution but it’s functional
A machinist friend resurfaced the jaws for me.

That cleaned up nice. You could make a much nicer screw retainer out of a piece of 3/16" or 1/4" aluminum. Use a hole saw to cut a hole that matches that reduced diameter of the screw, then make the hole into a slot with a hacksaw. For the swivel lock, you might consider using a hex nut, then get a yard sale or flea market offset box wrench and cut the unused end off. The wrench can then stay right on the nut similar to a Parker. I have a couple vises like this, far superior to the typical slide bar handle IMO.

 

[454ragtop]

I found this little hand vise this past week. The only markings are made in USA. Does anyone have a guess as to the possible maker?

I think that's a Millers Falls. Nice one.

 

[RTM]

I think that's a Millers Falls. Nice one.

I'm not so sure of that. Theirs are either over the top nice like this one.

Millers Falls Tools Catalog No. 39 : January, 1925 : Millers Falls Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

207 p., illus., 25.1 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Or really basic like the one on the following page.

I have a Made in Japan that looks like that, I think Lugz has a US made one. Lemme see if I can dig his up. Try here.

2020 Garage Sale Thread

Clean the end of the slide on top and look for markings. Sometimes they are faint. I suspect its a Sweetheart Era Stanley Is that a good thing? It seemed to be higher quality than the run of the mill little clamp vises Good question, I don't see a name on it so far. The markings on my...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[454ragtop]

I'm not so sure of that. Theirs are either over the top nice like this one.

Millers Falls Tools Catalog No. 39 : January, 1925 : Millers Falls Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

207 p., illus., 25.1 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Or really basic like the one on the following page.

I have a Made in Japan that looks like that, I think Lugz has a US made one. Lemme see if I can dig his up. Try here.

2020 Garage Sale Thread

Clean the end of the slide on top and look for markings. Sometimes they are faint. I suspect its a Sweetheart Era Stanley Is that a good thing? It seemed to be higher quality than the run of the mill little clamp vises Good question, I don't see a name on it so far. The markings on my...

www.garagejournal.com

After looking at a catalog, I think you're right, not MF. Their No. 2 is similar, but definitely not the same. Strangely, there are a bunch of them on Ebay, none are identified, just the same "Made in USA".