The VISES of Garage Journal

[akasrick]

Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving. We all know what comes next.



akasrick

 

[Mgdoug3]

My grandfather's vise is officially done and mounted. I took the Chinese Dewalt vise off my bench and I plan on building a rolling welding table this winter and put that vise on it. I would rather use the Dewalt for welding and using a torch.

 

[454ragtop]

Don't know if this was posted here before, just found this awesome Parker catalog https://ia600706.us.archive.org/6/items/CharlesParkerCoCatalogue1912/Charles Parker Co Catalogue 1912_text.pdf
Stumbled across it trying to find info on a Parker 130 oval slide vise. Appears to be pretty rare, sadly the one I found is in very bad shape, think it's going to become a parts vise, a real shame. I'll get some pics in the next day or 2.

Check out the cool vise on page 42.

 

[Shiftless]

Great job on that clean up, Doug! That vise is good for another generation or 2 of shop duty.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Great job on that clean up, Doug! That vise is good for another generation or 2 of shop duty.

Thanks! I had almost given up hope on getting the vise unstuck. I enjoy fixing up old tools and this one was the hardest challenge yet. It was worth all the trouble and being able to use my grandfather's vise. It's as good as new now.

 

[Shiftless]

You‘re welcome. Most all of us who have been in the vise game for a while have dealt with seemingly hopeless sticky situations. It feels so good when a stuck part that you’re been struggling with finally breaks free.

 

[Duke74]

Hey. I bought a cheaper vise from someone I know. They said they couldn’t get it to work. It was their Dads and is at least 20 years old. The reason it won’t work is cuz the screw is the wrong one for this Vise. The main nut is made by Rae and I am thinking the screw is as well. Regardless, it is way too long for this vise. This Vise isn’t vintage so it is one that I will use for work. I just need a proper screw and main nut. Does anyone know where I can get this? I am thinking it is an Asian import but it is useless in the condition it’s in. Thanks.

 

[Outlawmws]

Awesome catalog find 454! Thx!

 

[KMScott]

Oh I second that 454. Some great info in this catalog..

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks 454…that’s 80 pages of vital info for those of us with a few Parkers as well as those with a whole wall full of them.

 

[1320]

Can anybody point me in the correct direction on identifying this vise? My buddy has it and sent me these photos. It has 4" jaws - I gather its a post Parker Union made vise, but there doesn't seem to be a model number anywhere.

 

[Barker425]

I need some help identifying this vise. It is clearly marked "No.131 3 Inch" with no other markings. I believe it to be circa (1900-1910), give or take. I've searched the spreadsheet for all of the no.131's as well as my own database to no avail.

If anyone has any leads on this vise, I'd really appreciate it. I'm possibly interested in purchasing it for historical reasons, and need a printed or photographic reference before that can happen.


<hr>

I just picked up this same vise. Have you had any success in locating a manufacturer or any other info about it?

 

[ranger08]

some new additions to the vice family, the 84 was so rusty there was no original paint so had to strip to bare metal, clear zinc coat.



ive decided to leave the patina on the spindle knob and bar




my new project a Joplin 5, with so much weld splatter and the oiliest greasy vice ive ever some across
made in Sydney, Australia, patent in 1965 due to its 1/4 inch steel plate design, in production from 1965 to 1972 when the design went metric and was taken over by Sidchrome
i do believe its the first steel plate design although could be wrong on that

 

[ranger08]

Bought this Hollands 53 1/2 a couple of months ago
Found it out in the Valley. The ole guy had some monsters in his shop. This was the smallest one that he had

He had a Reed 4c, and the biggest Wilton that I had ever seen on a stand.

Hollands Before:


It cleaned up nicely

what finish is that looks industrial, bees wax?

 

[va.grouseman]

454, love the catalogue. ---Looked up some of the Parkers I own and compared prices twixt then and now, and seems to be some slight inflation. ---I say we PROGRESS back to 1912

 

[va.grouseman]

Ranger, the Joplin resembles a Columbian 804 except the Joplin's base is much beefer and stationary.

 

[ranger08]

Ranger, the Joplin resembles a Columbian 804 except the Joplin's base is much beefer and stationary.

yes, looks loke the modern take on it, i think the joplin started off the idea of steel plate, basic but a great patent, took 40 mins grinding to remove the weld splatter

 

[M635_Guy]

A good friend of mine brought by this Hollands 16H the other day. About 40 years ago while his family owned the local school bus business he was tasked with cleaning out a bus barn / reair shop in a small nearby town. This was a very old building that was being emptied so the lot could be cleared for re-development. I went with him to help with the heavy items once or twice and in exchange recieved a few of the many vintage items that shop was packed with.

A few weeks back while I was at his current shop we started talking about that move and he showed me this vise. I didn't remember it but he said when we cleaned out that shop this vise had been in a closet and he didn't think it had ever been mounted. Anyway he for sure had never mounted it at his shop and it had been under his bench these last 40 years or so.

Anyway whether it was ever mounted or not it is in far and away the best condition of any 6" vise I've yet found. Most are pretty beat up. These cast in jaws are minty crisp. There was some paint drips on it, quite a bit of shop swarf, and it does have a few dings but most all the original dark green paint is still on it. I can't see any evidence of wear around the mounting holes though so maybe it wasn't ever bolted down? Here's one pic of how it showed up and a few after a couple hours of clean up. Ed.

That thing is stunning.

Shop swarf is also fantastic. I don't have a vise collection, but I'm rich in shop swarf.

 

[Fierljeppen]

I just picked up this same vise. Have you had any success in locating a manufacturer or any other info about it?

It smells like a "Rock Island" vise, but I don't have any printed data to substantiate that. The closest looking ad I could find was a "Samson" branded vise from Sears.



Post some photo's of your vise when you get a chance.

 

[Old Radar]

Picked up this Columbian Hardware Co. Blacksmith/Post/Leg Vise on Friday.

It weighs 39lbs, is 39" top to bottom, has 5" jaws and opens comfortably to 4.5". Overall in great shape. Spring is strong and jaws look very lightly used. Although the jaws meet together very well they seem to be slightly skewed from perpendicular to the body. Has anyone encountered this before?

There's no endcap. Googling shows several Columbians without and many un-named leg vises with them. Does anyone know for certain if there should be one?

 

[va.grouseman]

Ranger, the Joplin is built like a tank. ---Solid steel vises are the only ones that a person could actually use as a quasi-anvil and do relatively no damage to. ---Your great, great grandchildren will be using that vise if it stays in the family.

 

[Fierljeppen]

Picked up this Columbian Hardware Co. Blacksmith/Post/Leg Vise on Friday.

It weighs 39lbs, is 39" top to bottom, has 5" jaws and opens comfortably to 4.5". Overall in great shape. Spring is strong and jaws look very lightly used. Although the jaws meet together very well they seem to be slightly skewed from perpendicular to the body. Has anyone encountered this before?

There's no endcap. Googling shows several Columbians without and many un-named leg vises with them. Does anyone know for certain if there should be one?

Here's a parts breakdown from a 1918 Columbian Hardware Co. catalog, I'll let you make your own decision.



Very classic vise from the Columbian Hardware Co. that originated from the Trenton Vise & Tool Works in the early 1870's.

Very nice find!

 

[genog]

what finish is that looks industrial, bees wax?

After the Citrus Stripper and a gentle session with the wire wheel on the die grinder,
the ole Hollands was finished off with Watco Danish Oil (Natural),
which is probably Linseed oil with a Japan dryer

It came out looking great.
The ole boy looks right

Bright shiney paint jobs and high lighted letters don't look proper on these battle scarred veterans
Well.... JMHO

 

[Zelo]

I just picked up this unopened NOS craftsman for FREE… on Craigslist. I’m tempted to not even open it. What a find!

 

[genog]

Open it!
What if that box is full of lead fish weights and scrap metal? ;-)
Just kidding
But.....
Come on now, It's a vise!

 

[Zelo]

Open it!
What if that box is full of lead fish weights and scrap metal? ;-)
Just kidding
But.....
Come on now, It's a vise!

What if it’s a NOS Wilton that someone put in a Craftsman box… lol

 

[PghJKB]

The "plate steel" vises are of special interest to me. Here is what I have so far:

Hugo Vogl, of Wilton Bullet fame, patented a "Screw Vise" in 1932 (US Patent No. 1887829, issued 15 Nov 1932). The patent lists Vogl as from Prague, Czechoslovakia, before he moved to the US. I have been unable to find any evidence that it was ever manufactured. After all, Vogl was probably ******* hijacking York's patent for the Bullet Vise.

Per the Vogl patent:
"The manufacture of screw vises from pressed out metal sections is very cheap and simple, since it facilitates punching of sections of any desired profiles from sheet metal for most various purposes of screw-vises, by aid of suitable punching devices."

Patent URL at USPTO site:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

First page of Vogl patent:





The first plate metal vise I could find that was actually produced is the Schum Brothers patent of 1956. US Patent No. 2734409, issued 14 Feb 1956 to Robert H. and Joseph W. Schum of Ralston, NE.

The Schum patent is a very different design than the Vogl patent.


Patent URL at USPTO site:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

First page of Schum patent:





The Columbian model is stamped patent applied for, which means they submitted a patent application. Based on what I have been told, there is no online source for patent application before 1976, and I have not found a patent for the Columbian design.

You can add Duracraft to the list of companies that produced plate steel vises. They produced a Columbian type welded plate vise.

Hope this helps.

 

[va.grouseman]

Previously posted by Zelo.
I just picked up this unopened NOS craftsman for FREE… on Craigslist. I’m tempted to not even open it. What a find!


What if it's a rock.

 

[va.grouseman]

Pgh, I bought this the other day off ePray, and bought it for a Millhoff ---I was really proud because it was my first Millhoff and I'd wanted one for several years. ---Now I don't know what I have.

Vintage Milhoff Vise 3.5" jaws Schrum Steel Rotating | eBay

Here is a chance to own a used Milhoff. Decent condition. No repairs, breaks, crack or welds. Works as it should. Solid steel vise.

www.ebay.com

 

[Zelo]

I made it a few hours without opening it. Lol
It’s a vise. Tiny bit of surface rust on the anvil but otherwise perfect. Definitely the best Craigslist free item I’ve gotten

 

[akasrick]

Don't know if this was posted here before, just found this awesome Parker catalog https://ia600706.us.archive.org/6/items/CharlesParkerCoCatalogue1912/Charles Parker Co Catalogue 1912_text.pdf
Stumbled across it trying to find info on a Parker 130 oval slide vise. Appears to be pretty rare, sadly the one I found is in very bad shape, think it's going to become a parts vise, a real shame. I'll get some pics in the next day or 2.

Check out the cool vise on page 42.

A little something to go with that Parker info. Adv is dated as 1902, unfortunately brand of vise is not mentioned.





akasrick

 

[ranger08]

The "plate steel" vises are of special interest to me. Here is what I have so far:

Hugo Vogl, of Wilton Bullet fame, patented a "Screw Vise" in 1932 (US Patent No. 1887829, issued 15 Nov 1932). The patent lists Vogl as from Prague, Czechoslovakia, before he moved to the US. I have been unable to find any evidence that it was ever manufactured. After all, Vogl was probably ******* hijacking York's patent for the Bullet Vise.

Per the Vogl patent:
"The manufacture of screw vises from pressed out metal sections is very cheap and simple, since it facilitates punching of sections of any desired profiles from sheet metal for most various purposes of screw-vises, by aid of suitable punching devices."

Patent URL at USPTO site:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

First page of Vogl patent:





The first plate metal vise I could find that was actually produced is the Schum Brothers patent of 1956. US Patent No. 2734409, issued 14 Feb 1956 to Robert H. and Joseph W. Schum of Ralston, NE.

The Schum patent is a very different design than the Vogl patent.


Patent URL at USPTO site:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

First page of Schum patent:





The Columbian model is stamped patent applied for, which means they submitted a patent application. Based on what I have been told, there is no online source for patent application before 1976, and I have not found a patent for the Columbian design.

You can add Duracraft to the list of companies that produced plate steel vises. They produced a Columbian type welded plate vise.

Hope this helps.

the joplin was applied for in 62 and granted 65

 

[PghJKB]

the joplin was applied for in 62 and granted 65

Pgh, I bought this the other day off ePray, and bought it for a Millhoff ---I was really proud because it was my first Millhoff and I'd wanted one for several years. ---Now I don't know what I have.

Vintage Milhoff Vise 3.5" jaws Schrum Steel Rotating | eBay

Here is a chance to own a used Milhoff. Decent condition. No repairs, breaks, crack or welds. Works as it should. Solid steel vise.

www.ebay.com

Joplin
Columbian's 804 vise was sold circa 1949 - 1950, which would pre-date the UK patent. More incentive for me to make a trip to USPTO to check their patent applications (or somehow get Google to scan and give us access to them).

VA
I have two Schums and both are stamped Schum. I have a third, unstamped one with a somewhat difference base. Yours has the original Schum base. My guess is that yours is a transition model from Schum to Millhoff.

If it is a Schum, you have an original. Looks like Millhoff bought Schums assets and produces those vises on-demand. Sort of a potato / potato distinction.

Joe Striper has a Milhoff. Joe, is yours marked and if so, how?

JKB

 

[Handyandy23]

I picked up a Rae No. 4 vise on the weekend pretty cheap ($35). It wasn't fully seized, but it was quite rusty and the slide was very sticky and hard to take apart.

Wondering if anyone knows what the original paint color would have been? I can't find too many examples to go from. Looked like original paint was something in the range of green-grey-blue, but it was really rusty, and I'm also a bit colorblind in this color range, so that doesn't help. I don't need it to be exact, but wouldn't mind trying to repaint it to something close.

My other option was just leaving it bare metal now that I've got it all cleaned up, but those that do this, do you coat or clearcoat them so they don't rust? It's going to be kept in a heated garage so it's not exactly the roughest life, but would still prefer to protect it somehow if I don't paint it.

 

[va.grouseman]

Pgh, you are a born gumshoe. ---Thanks for the update. ---Makes me rest a little easier. ---I really like this thing but I wish I had a Millhoff with a swivel base. ---The search continues.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks to friend and fellow GJ member CRSINMICH, I have a Milhoff that swivels, but it doesn’t rotate. No markings.

Here is an obit of the guy who invented the Milhoff vise. Quite a guy!

Biker Bob Hofmeister rode his Hog until he was 89

The machine shop owner and Harley-Davidson dealer built his first bike from a pile of parts.

www.startribune.com

 

[va.grouseman]

Here it is fellows. ---Top of the line. ---This is the same as My everyday user. ---I wouldn't take a gold monkey for mine. ---Actually, I've got 2 of them, so that's 2 gold monkeys. ---I'd get a third if I didn't have 4 implants to pay for. ---I could buy several monster vises for what these teeth are costing me. ---Boy these 326s don't pop up very often. ---They're as smooth as a silk shirt to operate. ---Happy hunting.

Starrett 6" Bench Vise / Vice | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Starrett 6" Bench Vise / Vice at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[KMScott]

I agree with you va, Starrett vises are one of the top vise you can buy. I just answered the girls in Colorado that make jaws and a Starrett 614-1/2 set were broken. They look abused to me what do you guys think. Second set of jaws out of 10 years of jaw building that were broken, the other set was a Prentiss 4" pair. Looks like these guys are hard on their Starrett vise. I will have the broken set checked for hardness since they should never shatter like that.

 

[454ragtop]

VA, looking at that Milhoff Ebay listing, looks like a nice shot by the sniper on the grassy knoll. Do you realize how rare your Milhoff is? Probably the only one in existence with no welds.......

 

[va.grouseman]

KMS, some vise owner/operators don't realize you can't have it both ways. ---Jaws too soft and they probably won't break but the teeth won't last a month with hard use, wouldn't even hold a splined shaft. ---Tempered just the right hardness and those teeth will bite into cobalt. ---Buuuuut, used as an anvil, they will shatter. You can't have it both ways. ---My Dad who was a mechanic use to tell me, "(boy, do you know how to tell if a cam shaft is a good one or not? ---Hold it up as high as you can reach and drop it on concrete. ---If it breaks into 5 or 6 pieces it was a good one. ---If it don't break, it was not usable)."