The VISES of Garage Journal

[CRSINMICH]

twagler: Here's some RAE information from a 1950 catalogue. In case anyone asks why you bought one, the company helpfully supplied its customers with some talking points. By the way, you may want to start a unicorn hunt for that 230 lb. (105 kg.) monster they bragged about.

 

[aleksap]

Hello folks!
Been following this topic for a while and recently I picked Morgan Chicago 140.
However, one ear is broken on the swivel base.
Drove too far to go back empty handed and decided to buy it anyway. Seller didn't disclose ear is broken.

Anyways, I'm looking to buy a base and I was wondering if someone maybe has one laying around.

I called Milwaukee tools and they say they will look around if they have some in stock but didn't hear anything back.

Not sure if some other base would fit but here is a pic with measurements.


I apologize if this is not right place for this post.
Admin can let me know or just move it to the right spot.

Thanks!

 

[SkyPuncher]

Hello folks!
Been following this topic for a while and recently I picked Morgan Chicago 140.
However, one ear is broken on the swivel base.
Drove too far to go back empty handed and decided to buy it anyway. Seller didn't disclose ear is broken.

Anyways, I'm looking to buy a base and I was wondering if someone maybe has one laying around.

I called Milwaukee tools and they say they will look around if they have some in stock but didn't hear anything back.

Not sure if some other base would fit but here is a pic with measurements.


I apologize if this is not right place for this post.
Admin can let me know or just move it to the right spot.

Thanks!

Hi Aleksap, can't help you with a swivel base, but here is an old catalog for your vise. I have a Morgan Milwaukee 140 without swivel base and it's a great vise!

The Morgan Vise Co. : Catalog 125 : Morgan Vise Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

12 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Shiftless]

I see that a new Morgan Milwaukee 140 with swivel base retails for $562

I bet that the cost of a new swivel base (If they even have one) with shipping would be pretty high.

While you are waiting for a used one to show up, why not just rehab that old vise and put it to work with only 2 of the three mounting tabs? Unless you plan to do super heavy duty work, I bet the base will hold down just fine with 2/3 of its tabs.

Others have salvaged a tab from another broken base and welded it on to theirs. Welding cast iron is tricky. You have to preheat and manage the cool down to make it very gradual. I am not a welder but have read about the success of others.

 

[aleksap]

Hi Aleksap, can't help you with a swivel base, but here is an old catalog for your vise. I have a Morgan Milwaukee 140 without swivel base and it's a great vise!

The Morgan Vise Co. : Catalog 125 : Morgan Vise Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

12 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Thank you! That's very cool to see!

I see that a new Morgan Milwaukee 140 with swivel base retails for $562

I bet that the cost of a new swivel base (If they even have one) with shipping would be pretty high.

While you are waiting for a used one to show up, why not just rehab that old vise and put it to work with only 2 of the three mounting tabs? Unless you plan to do super heavy duty work, I bet the base will hold down just fine with 2/3 of its tabs.

Others have salvaged a tab from another broken base and welded it on to theirs. Welding cast iron is tricky. You have to preheat and manage the cool down to make it very gradual. I am not a welder but have read about the success of others.

That's actually exactly what I'm doing.
Base is soaking in the bucket right now during electrolysis.
I will absolutely put it to work.

I was surprised with the price actually, it was under $100 with shipping... If they find it.

Welding is not my stronger side and I would prefer to get a base that has not been patched.

 

[ncgun99]

Well I finally made it. Retirement after 20 years in the Army.
During my trek back from California to North Carolina I was able to stop at my dads place and pick up the Prentiss NO 22 he snatched up for me.
This is my second NO 22 and a little bit rougher than the first. When I got here the first thing I noticed was one of the ears was busted off. This thing has seen some wear but still pretty cool.

Long shot question… does anyone have a 22 base they would part with?

 

[Shiftless]

Wow!
A lot of guys dream of finding just ONE Prentiss 22 and now you have two of them.

I suppose some guys get careless when handling those big vises and drop them causing one or more mounting tabs to snap off.

Some readers might not appreciate the size of that vise. A #22 has 6 inch wide jaws and weighs in at 165.

 

[RTM]

Some readers might not appreciate the size of that vise. A #22 has 6 inch wide jaws and weighs in at 165.

without a beverage can….

 

[ncgun99]

Here’s my first one with a beverage can.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for posting that pic with the beverage container.

Here is an old pic of the raggedy Reed 4C that I used to own. Beverage containers are good to give readers a sense of scale.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Found this in dad's shop. It makes sense that Reed made a Crescent-style wrench, I've just never run across one before.

 

[skmbabon]

I wanted to ad this to the above post but didn’t know how, so I put it here.
Looks like B & S made these hand vises in 1899 at least. How much longer is unknown at this time.

Here's a Montgomery & Co. ad from 1897 for the Billings Patent Hand Vise and the Boss Hand Vise.
mikeswrenches descriptive post here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-vises-of-garage-journal.44782/post-8517858

Edit: added another catalog page for the Boss hand vise. Source: https://archive.org/details/RiceLewisBicycleCatalogue1900/page/n75/mode/2up
And an earlier Rice catalog, 1898.

 

[akasrick]

Here's a Montgomery & Co. ad from 1897 for the Billings Patent Hand Vise and the Boss Hand Vise.
mikeswrenches descriptive post here:

Amazing! After seeing this almost every day for a few years an adv is posted.
Jaw width - 1 1/4"
Opens safely - 5/8"
Weight - 1/2 lb.
Has a groove in the static jaw and what looks like "2 O H" engraved or stamped
on it.
Will now be known to me as "Boss 2.0".
skmbabon, nice post.



akasrick

 

[dannyr]

Amazing! After seeing this almost every day for a few years an adv is posted.
Jaw width - 1 1/4"
Opens safely - 5/8"
Weight - 1/2 lb.
Has a groove in the static jaw and what looks like "2 O H" engraved or stamped
on it.
Will now be known to me as "Boss 2.0".
skmbabon, nice post.



akasrick

the taper at the bottom of the 'handle' makes it look like it might set into an anvil hardy hole - I have a quite different vise with this feature

 

[akasrick]

the taper at the bottom of the 'handle' makes it look like it might set into an anvil hardy hole - I have a quite different vise with this feature

1+3/4, 27/64 round shaft 1/4 ground to an almost flat point.
Sits in drilled hole beside my main vise (so I don't lose it) waiting for it's name to be called.

picture added 10/31




Of course there's a few things that are calling my name. I think this joint will hold.







akasrick

 

[wrenchguy]

Bench spike, vise & work is mobile to different wood bench stations around the shop.

 

[wrenchguy]

Parker 21 with lots of dates. Maybe someone can use magic on it for advertising.
Extended patent?? 3 1/8"'er not on the "list". Rough factory casting with busted slide support. thx.

 

[KMScott]

Parker 21 with lots of dates. Maybe someone can use magic on it for advertising.
Extended patent?? 3 1/8"'er not on the "list". Rough factory casting with busted slide support. thx.

Wrench, it looks like it has replaceable jaws. If so wow, Parker build jaws in the mid to later 1800's. Awesome vise, I would love to get my hands on that one. Added to spreadsheet.

 

[wrenchguy]

It does have jaw inserts, maybe patent dates lead there?
Its yours if you can it picked up.
I like broken 1's too.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is my Parker 21
You can see the dates clearly. The support shelf on this one is also broken off. So is the one of the back corners of the slide.

 

[Shiftless]

I just finished my Lakeside 26

I don’t have documentation, but based on reading, it seems to be about 100 years old. Is that true?

After stripping with hot Simple Green, pressure washing and priming, I used a custom mixed light blue metallic paint and highlighted the lettering with a black Sharpie.

 

[RBarnes]

Thought some of you might enjoy my response to the annoying random contact I keep getting off this website.

Does this really work for you? Please stop sending this un named random contact. You are obviously not a serious buyer or collector, just someone trying to make a fast buck or a direct scammer.

 

[CRSINMICH]

wrenchguy: Here's a page from an 1887 catalog.

 

[wrenchguy]

Thanks, What's meant by "round jaws"?

 

[skmbabon]

Anyone into vise-related memorabilia, like, I don't know, a cast iron bear wearing a Parker Vises outfit?

Cast Iron Toy Overland Circus Wagon, Bell Ringing Horses, Parker Vises Bear and Racing Horse mossing

Cast Iron Toy Overland Circus Wagon, Bell Ringing Horses, Parker Vises Bear and Racing Horse mossing - Turner Auction & Appraisals

www.icollector.com

 

[Shiftless]

Some guys have a shelf full of those bears. I only have one of ‘em. Cute little guys aren‘t they?

 

[F-22]

Hey, here's a vise that was actually bought a long time ago by my grandfather. He bought it at a nearby factory where the apprentice machinists made this sort of stuff from scrap steel to learn to use the machines. It may not look like it, but it's likely 60-70 years old.

It's literally milled out of a scrap solid steel block. It does rust, but very poorly, so I assume it had some chrome in it. The vise was hammered on a lot, but it barely got dented anywhere. Jaws are properly hardened too... It's crude but really does what it's meant to do. It kind of bothers me that the handle hole was drilled in the spindle slightly off centre. I plan on modifying it with a thrust bearing cause the spindle pitch does not give you that much strength.









Bonus photo of my current project and another old german vise (ironically from my other grandpa) in the background. That one is factory made, and I knew he bought it in Germany when he worked there, but seems to be a steel forging with a welded on base. No manufacturer markings though...

 

[skmbabon]

Some guys have a shelf full of those bears. I only have one of ‘em. Cute little guys aren‘t they?

I hadn't seen one before - surprised me in search results. Much nicer than most modern tchotchkes.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Thanks for posting that pic with the beverage container.

Here is an old pic of the raggedy Reed 4C that I used to own. Beverage containers are good to give readers a sense of scale.

I still kick myself at least once a month for not buying that one when you offered to sell it to me!

 

[dannyr]

Hey, here's a vise that was actually bought a long time ago by my grandfather. He bought it at a nearby factory where the apprentice machinists made this sort of stuff from scrap steel to learn to use the machines. It may not look like it, but it's likely 60-70 years old.

It's literally milled out of a scrap solid steel block. It does rust, but very poorly, so I assume it had some chrome in it. The vise was hammered on a lot, but it barely got dented anywhere. Jaws are properly hardened too... It's crude but really does what it's meant to do. It kind of bothers me that the handle hole was drilled in the spindle slightly off centre. I plan on modifying it with a thrust bearing cause the spindle pitch does not give you that much strength.









Bonus photo of my current project and another old german vise (ironically from my other grandpa) in the background. That one is factory made, and I knew he bought it in Germany when he worked there, but seems to be a steel forging with a welded on base. No manufacturer markings though...

I like apprentice-made vises - usually a small machine-vise here in the UK, but sometimes a small bench vise (toddler-size), I have a few that I thought too cheap to pass or more interesting designs. Haven't seen a bigger one like yours - nice. And maybe a fine stand for your other vise?

 

[Shiftless]

I still kick myself at least once a month for not buying that one when you offered to sell it to me!

It did go back to work.

I sold it to a guy who owned a business specializing in building custom exhaust systems for small and medium duty diesel trucks. He told me he had 4 “gorillas” working for him that have broken several vises so far. I assured him that a Reed 4C is capable of withstanding just about anything.

Before he told me anything about himself or his business, he backed into my driveway in a diesel powered Ford Excursion. I figured I had the right buyer before he even opened his mouth.

 

[F-22]

I like apprentice-made vises - usually a small machine-vise here in the UK, but sometimes a small bench vise (toddler-size), I have a few that I thought too cheap to pass or more interesting designs. Haven't seen a bigger one like yours - nice. And maybe a fine stand for your other vise?

It's a repurposed base from a pedestal grinder. I'll take a photo of that vise tomorrow, it looks plain but seems very well made (no play, and also forged steel...). I wonder what brand it is.

 

[CRSINMICH]

DESMOND STEPHANS SIMPLEX 41S​

This came from a Fathers' Day flea market. It was cheap and it cleaned up well. The finish is BLO tinted with artists' oil paint. The lettering was filed flat on top then polished. I thought there was a mistake in the lettering but it turns out that there is a city in Ohio named Urbana in addition to the one in Illinois.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Hello Vise Friends:

Look what followed me home:
1.) A Rapid 5" bench vise.
2.) A Sheridan quick action woodworking vise.
3.) A saw sharpening vise that can be positioned.
4.) A vintage 4' American double vial wood level.
5. A box of files.

I don't understand how it happened. I just went to buy one vise and came home with the rest.
More detailed pictures of the vises in the near future.

The best part was spending time talking to the seller, who was a 90 year old master woodworker.

Cheers.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Mark: That rapid action vise looks like a Sheldon. No matter the name, those make good tail vises.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Mark: That rapid action vise looks like a Sheldon. No matter the name, those make good tail vises.

From my experience with Sheldon vises, they seem to be made like a heavy duty machinist vise. Very tight, smooth movement. Here's one I restored a few years ago.

 

[Indexmill]

Stumbled across this in Raleigh:

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/d/garner-vintage-vice/7501627298.htmlView attachment 1691237

 

[Shiftless]

Did you buy it?
Too bad about all of the red paint. I guess the seller thought he was adding value with his spray bomb “restoration”.
Certainly not a “you ****” price but on the high side of fair for around where I live assuming there are no serious flaws.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Mark: The Sheldon you restored is the Continuous Screw model. I'd like to try one of those. The reason they're built so robustly is that Sheldon had been an Industrial Arts teacher. He designed his vises for shop classes and all the abuse he knew the students would heap on them.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

Laying on a pallet of stuff at a friend's sawmill...