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The VISES of Garage Journal

bastel

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Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
162
Location
Saxony
My 5 inch York vise I just finished restoring.
You should have asked the seller to ship it with the swivel base of the messed up one he/she is still offering for a higher price (the jaw shelves on the silver one are broken, the vise isn't really worth anything). Maybe you can ask if they could sell it to you separately and also tell them their more expensive vise is junk.
 
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akasrick

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Apr 10, 2017
Messages
795
Location
south jersey
A1312E2D-6CB4-4A8F-A96B-B07A6E90E910.jpegimage.jpg
Anyone recognize this little guy? A jewelers vise? 2” jaws. No markings other than the 2 90 under the support. Spring loaded pin for the swivel. The “anvil” on the back is fixed. Next to a baby bullet for reference. Cool small vise whatever it is. Small chisel marks on the side of the jaws so who ever had it previously was using it.
Looks suspiciously like a Prentiss, why its not marked I have no clue.

akasrick
 

wrenchguy

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Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
4,698
Location
NW Indiana
GM Yost woodworking vise done. 16" x 8" jaw plates, 83lbs, 12" opening without wood faces. Stamped serial number 7662 for warranty verification of 1 year I believe. Reed faintly date stamped their vises and guaranteed it for 1 year.
DSC05098.jpg

Carving jaw towers up.
DSC05097.jpg

Control side.
DSC05099.jpg

Video.
 
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wrenchguy

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Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Messages
4,698
Location
NW Indiana
Repaired Athol 113X, a $12 CL snag. I believe this is a cast steel item being its "gas welded" repaired. Not brazed as so many are.
3" jaws, opens 3 3/4", weight 14lbs.
Thru the bottom spindle nut held in place by the coped fit and spindle. Never seen this b4.
I'm a sucker for broke vises.
Brochure page courtesy of Dan to me earlier in the week.
DSC05092.jpg

DSC05094.jpg

DSC05093.jpg

DSC05095.jpg

113x.jpg
 
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Smitty

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Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Messages
2,409
Location
USA
Looks suspiciously like a Prentiss, why its not marked I have no clue.

akasrick
That’s definitely a Prentiss, they simply stopped stamping them by the time yours came out. It looks like it has most of its original maroon Japan lacquer intact. It’s always nice to see these in good condition like yours.
 

akasrick

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Joined
Apr 10, 2017
Messages
795
Location
south jersey
That’s definitely a Prentiss, they simply stopped stamping them by the time yours came out. It looks like it has most of its original maroon Japan lacquer intact. It’s always nice to see these in good condition like yours.

Good to see a guy who has seen a lot of these vises share his knowledge. Hopefully the OP is still reading this.

akasrick
 

Handyandy23

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Nov 8, 2017
Messages
1,523
Location
Ontario, Canada
I picked up this Parker 974 yesterday for $90 (CDN) locally. It moves nice and freely, screw is greased, and has all the parts and pieces, so figured it was hard to go wrong.

I'm going to disassemble it, strip it down, and give it a fresh coat of paint. Plan is to use it, but just give it a nice freshening up.

Does anyone have any insight on the age of this one? I noticed that it doesn't have any patent stampings on the side with the model number like most I've seen in pictures. There's also a dot after the 974, no idea if that means anything. And the screw retainer on the front is pretty plain with no Parker raised lettering or anything.

LULH2179.JPGSMKR1160.JPG
VHFM9298.JPG
 

Handyandy23

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Nov 8, 2017
Messages
1,523
Location
Ontario, Canada
Looks like a shop made retainer, steel plate to replace OEM cast iron. Looks to be in nice shape other than that.

Interesting, that could certainly be the case. If I were to look for an OEM one, are there different types that fit different models? Or any Parker retainer should fit properly?
 

neophyte

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Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
9,776
Location
Pennsylvannia
Concerning brazing,
Judging from the typical strength listings for the cast Iron used for vises, and the potential strength of some brazing materials,
Brazing a cast iron vise may produce just as strong a joint as welding, and the joint may be as strong as the original cast iron.
 

Handyandy23

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Nov 8, 2017
Messages
1,523
Location
Ontario, Canada
Many different sizes unfortunately, best bet is to get one from another 974.

OK thanks, I'll try to give my "custom" one a bit more of an appealing shape with the grinder.

If anyone out there has a retainer / keeper that will fit a 974 hit me up, I'll gladly pay a fair price + shipping!
 
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Outlawmws

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Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,315
Location
The Badlands
HandyA, I've had a 974 as my primary user for over 30 years now. Good Vise! Mine is marked Pat. 1930 so likely earlier that your. I'm pretty sure they were made from the 30's through the 40's The may have continued the model No series into the Union era, but the molds changed IIR.
 

Handyandy23

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Nov 8, 2017
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1,523
Location
Ontario, Canada
HandyA, I've had a 974 as my primary user for over 30 years now. Good Vise! Mine is marked Pat. 1930 so likely earlier that your. I'm pretty sure they were made from the 30's through the 40's The may have continued the model No series into the Union era, but the molds changed IIR.

It seems very stout, definitely beefier than anything else I have. So much so that I think I'm going to have to upgrade my work bench before I mount this!

The main bolt that holds the swivel on the bottom looks to be 1-3/8" when I measure it, which of course I don't have. But I do have a 35mm axle nut socket that fits, so I'm assuming that should work fine? 1-3/8" converts to 34.925mm, but oddly the 35mm socket is almost a little on the sloppy side, and measures closer to 35.5mm. It does have off-corner engagement so I'm thinking it will still work (and I've never had issues taking actual axle nuts off with any of the sockets in this set).
 

northfire

Active member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
26
That’s definitely a Prentiss, they simply stopped stamping them by the time yours came out. It looks like it has most of its original maroon Japan lacquer intact. It’s always nice to see these in good condition like yours.
Thank you for the knowledge! Yes still has most of the japaning intact. Picked it up with two other small vices. This was the only one that I noticed that looked like a bigger sibling.
 

ranger08

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Joined
Nov 12, 2021
Messages
287
help please from the usa
i have a small bench vise looks like a marples however on the nose is stamped
MF. Co No8 made in usa
could someone please shed some light on the manufacturer
9606793E-07BF-4CE0-A28D-1FC8AA40673E.jpeg
 

Old Radar

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Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
2,755
Location
San Antonio, TX
Check the original link--it was acting wonky so I changed it an earlier catalog (1938): https://archive.org/details/MillersFallsCatalog421938/page/n217/mode/2up?q=vise

Looks like it was made up until at least 1961 when they had red dynamic jaws like yours: https://archive.org/details/millersfallscatalognoh161c/Millers Falls Catalog No H-161C/page/n49/mode/2up?q=vise

Hmmm. Apparently if the catalog has a price list associated with it, we can't link to it directly.

Edit: in the 1961 link above, I deleted everything after millersfallscatalognojh161c and now it gets you to the right catalog.
Just turn to page 49.
 
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ranger08

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Nov 12, 2021
Messages
287
Check the original link--it was acting wonky so I changed it an earlier catalog (1938): https://archive.org/details/MillersFallsCatalog421938/page/n217/mode/2up?q=vise

Looks like it was made up until at least 1961 when they had red dynamic jaws like yours: https://archive.org/details/millersfallscatalognoh161c/Millers Falls Catalog No H-161C/page/n49/mode/2up?q=vise

Hmmm. Apparently if the catalog has a price list associated with it, we can't link to it directly.
how cool is that you even found the year, thanks a mill
 

Smitty

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Sep 4, 2018
Messages
2,409
Location
USA
Thank you for the knowledge! Yes still has most of the japaning intact. Picked it up with two other small vices. This was the only one that I noticed that looked like a bigger sibling.
That’s a beautiful little vise that you have there, I mistakenly thought it was Ricks. I always enjoy seeing pics of them, they’re favorites of mine.
 
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SteveH-CO

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Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
283
Location
Southern Colorado
I saw this at a Habitat ReStore for $30. Did not buy. It was bound up a bit. I found a KT online, but not a K-T. Is this anything special? Thanks!
 

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va.grouseman

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Mar 26, 2011
Messages
4,965
Location
Southern-Central VA.
Need help. ---Does a vintage #6 YOST, (not a Chinese one), have 1 lock-down or 2? ---I can't find pics of one that shows both profiles. ---I bought a used base that has only one lock-down, but looks like there is places for 2. ---Any help appreciated.
 

drivesitfar

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Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,053
Location
Pacific Northwest
VA: my guess is 2 holes since they followed REED's look on several of their vises and my 4c's both have 2. that said i'm not positive so wish you the best. the oldest swivel base i've owned was a couple 34c's and they both had 2 if that helps.

ALL: here's to a happy holiday season to all my GJ and vise collecting/using friends. maybe 2022 will be back to a NEW NORMAL and we can all keep LIVING and doing what we like.
 
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