The VISES of Garage Journal

[Outlawmws]

I had one of the swivel base tilters (gift from new) and it came with a selection of jaws. it was classed as a hobby vise, and that's all I'd ever class it as, despite any Eprey ads to the contrary.

The last use I had made of it was as my primary welding clamp/ground on a stand, before giving it away to the son of a friend.

 

[aleksap]

Yeah, I was trying to imagine benefits of this vise but it doesn't really apply to anything I'm doing.

I forgot to post an old score couple of weeks ago... And one today (bit less of a score tho)

 

[Smitty]

Being a Prentiss collector I take a lot of pride in my smalls collection. I just added the third shelving unit and was pretty happy when I saw them all lined up. These are all Prentiss vises in the pics, the shelves have all 2-5/8“ to 3-1/2” and there are 5” and 6” models on the floor. I’m very picky when it comes to these vises, there’s not a single cracked slide, chipped brow or cracked base. They’re all 80 to 130 years of age so they’re retired now enjoying the good life.

 

[Andy FitzGibbon]

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

Finally talked to my buddy about this Fulton. He bought it at an antique flea market a while ago, mostly because Lowville isn't far from his hometown in upstate NY. Now he knows it's rare, and to not let the sawmill shop monkeys weld stuff in it

 

[robelichr]

Looking for advice on a Simplex 61S that I picked up on Craigslist last weekend. The vise is in decent shape and the guy I got it from said he had it for over 50 years and it functions fine. The thing that I don’t like is the lead screw retainer at some point was damaged and replaced with a terrible looking iron replacement. The guy I got it from said that when he got it, it was already on the vise. Any suggestions, does anyone know of any replacement parts or anyone who fabricates parts?

 

[JJ99SS]

That Prentiss collection is insane. But you don't have my two!

 

[BeardedOne]

It has been quite a while since I posted here!

Last week I spoke to my sister in law about buying a Wilton C0 that came with a house she bought.

I have a good bit of work to get it back to the condition it deserves to be in.

As of right now it rotates 360° and the dynamic jaw moves freely.

I need to get new screws for the cap which holds the lead screw, new jaws, mill off all the weld holding the old ones on, and find pipe jaws for it.

Does anyone know what thread pitch the 3 screws are for the retaining cap? I may elect to get another cap as well for it.

 

[ranger08]

Being a Prentiss collector I take a lot of pride in my smalls collection. I just added the third shelving unit and was pretty happy when I saw them all lined up. These are all Prentiss vises in the pics, the shelves have all 2-5/8“ to 3-1/2” and there are 5” and 6” models on the floor. I’m very picky when it comes to these vises, there’s not a single cracked slide, chipped brow or cracked base. They’re all 80 to 130 years of age so they’re retired now enjoying the good life.

fwark thats not a collection! you just dont want anyone else to have one! haha

 

[Outlawmws]

Smitty, you are causing the earth to tilt on its axis more...

That's Just Awesome...

 

[Shiftless]

Smitty:
Thanks for posting that pic. You have amassed an amazing collection.

 

[master Zoda]

Parker 954 1/2 this looks to me like it is a pretty late version any body have an idea of when it was made?

 

[antman213]

Anyone have info on the vise I have here. From this thread (on page 1551) there is a similar vise that is said to be a Yankee brand vise. Mine has the number "1" on the side and what I think is "11.22.44" on the collar. The similar vise on page 1551 has a "65" which corresponds with the sales sheet for a Yankee. I can't seem to find any Yankee with a "1".

 

[antman213]

While I'm at it..
Anyone have a suggestion on repairing the "brake shoe" pin bore on this Parker 434-1/2A? I have all the parts to make it round again but I'm not sure about a weld and I've never brazed.
The shoe has a part number stamped in it for a similar parker vise that has more readily available parts but I'm not sure that indicates they are interchangeable.

Also, does anyone know what would be different between a Parker 434-1/2 and and 434-1/2A?

 

[Smitty]

That Prentiss collection is insane. But you don't have my two!

not yet

 

[Smitty]

fwark thats not a collection! you just dont want anyone else to have one! haha

I don’t want them all, just the cleanest ones.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty, you are causing the earth to tilt on its axis more...

That's Just Awesome...

Thanks Outlaw, I put a ton of time and effort into finding these.

 

[Smitty]

Smitty:
Thanks for posting that pic. You have amassed an amazing collection.

Thanks Shift. Prentiss vises are my favorited brand, these pics represent about half of the Prentiss vises in my collection.

 

[Shiftless]

As long as we are looking at shelving, here is a group of corner shelves I built and installed in an odd corner of my vise room. I don’t have nearly the space that others have so every inch counts at my house. This is next to an outside door that leads to my outdoor workshop which is really just a 10x12 concrete slab behind the garage. It’s a good place to work and let the sawdust or metal particles just fly without the need to sweep up afterwards. For big carpentry projects I can clean up in 10 seconds using a leaf blower.

With a nod to Smitty, that is a Prentiss 622 on the bottom shelf.

 

[Outlawmws]

Shift, you have really improved that vise room since I was there. Well done!

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks outlaw.
This is a 70+ year old house so part of the “charm” is the fact that the corners are not all 90 degrees and not even a consistent angle from floor to ceiling. Each of those triangular shelves had to be cut slightly differently to fit well. This room is part of a walk out basement.

 

[Smitty]

I must say Shift you really turned a corner of the room that had little potential into a focal point for displaying vises? I can tell you put a lot of time into cutting, installing and painting and it turned out beautifully. Well done And yes I’m jealous of the 622.

 

[Shiftless]

I must say Shift you really turned a corner of the room that had little potential into a focal point for displaying vises? I can tell you put a lot of time into cutting, installing and painting and it turned out beautifully. Well done And yes I’m jealous of the 622.

Thanks Smitty
As incredible as it may seem, do I have a Prentiss model that you don’t have 6 of?

 

[va.grouseman]

Shift, those 622s have gone to selling for some serious coin.---I could have bought 2 back several years ago for around a $100.00 each, but I was looking for a Hollands #56 anvil vise, (hens teeth), and was saving my cash for just such a find.---Screwed up there.---Now I can't afford either, or at least not willing to cough up that much for either.---Congrats on procuring one.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a much better pic of my 622 for all of the Prentiss fans viewing these pages.

I owe a big debt of gratitude to friend and fellow GJ member d42Jeep who alerted me to the availability of this vise (belonged to his friend) and acted as middleman for the transaction.

 

[PghJKB]

Anyone have info on the vise I have here. From this thread (on page 1551) there is a similar vise that is said to be a Yankee brand vise. Mine has the number "1" on the side and what I think is "11.22.44" on the collar. The similar vise on page 1551 has a "65" which corresponds with the sales sheet for a Yankee. I can't seem to find any Yankee with a "1".

antman213
I believe what you have is an older Parker "Raised Spine" vise.

That #1 is probably the model number. Parker was all over the map with model numbers for their vises and later models like this were numbered in the 30's (except for the 030 model.) What is the width of the jaws?

Parker also was an OEM for others, so the #1 may have been the model number the seller of this vise wanted.

The number on that vises's retaining collar is likely the date11-26-(18)67, which is the date that patent for this collar ( patent #71498) was issued to Charles L Kingsley - and assigned to Charles Parker, both of Meriden, Connecticut.

Here is the URL to view the patent on USPTO:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

Hope this helps.

JKB

 

[antman213]

antman213
I believe what you have is an older Parker "Raised Spine" vise.

That #1 is probably the model number. Parker was all over the map with model numbers for their vises and later models like this were numbered in the 30's (except for the 030 model.) What is the width of the jaws?

Parker also was an OEM for others, so the #1 may have been the model number the seller of this vise wanted.

The number on that vises's retaining collar is likely the date11-26-(18)67, which is the date that patent for this collar ( patent #71498) was issued to Charles L Kingsley - and assigned to Charles Parker, both of Meriden, Connecticut.

Here is the URL to view the patent on USPTO:

Patent Public Search | USPTO

pdfpiw.uspto.gov

Hope this helps.

JKB

Thanks for the input on this, The jaws are 3" across the top. I'm not 100% sure if they are removable. It looks like they might be but I can't really get to a fastener head and if they are fasteners they definitely aren't symmetric. The numbers on the collar aren't the most legible but from what I can see it looks like "11.22.44". When I first got it I assumed Parker based on the collar design but it could be another manufacturer with that type on collar possibly.

 

[KMScott]

While I'm at it..
Anyone have a suggestion on repairing the "brake shoe" pin bore on this Parker 434-1/2A? I have all the parts to make it round again but I'm not sure about a weld and I've never brazed.
The shoe has a part number stamped in it for a similar parker vise that has more readily available parts but I'm not sure that indicates they are interchangeable.

Also, does anyone know what would be different between a Parker 434-1/2 and and 434-1/2A?

I have had success welding with TIG using Eutectic 224 rod. Preheating and slow cooling will help. Finding a brake shoe will be hard.

 

[antman213]

I have had success welding with TIG using Eutectic 224 rod. Preheating and slow cooling will help. Finding a brake shoe will be hard.

Thats looks like the best route! your repair turned out very nice btw.
Now I just need to learn to TIG weld lol.

 

[PierceA]

Antman213: your brake shoes will work without the broken ring brazed or welded. The action that pushes the shoes against the inside of the swivel base [inside of 'brake drum'] also forces the shoes against the pin.. the remaining partial ring on the shoe will keep the shoe aligned on the pin and also against the inside of the swivel base.
Since Parker seemed to make new model numbers and versions at will, it is difficult to say what might be available for used parts for your 434-1/2..

If you measure the inside diameter of your brake drum: the friction surface of the swivel base, I'll look through my pile of Parker parts and see if I have a brake shoe or two.

Often Parker stamped into the swivel base the model number that the base was used on, [but this seems to never be the ONLY model the base was used on]. So look at the base on the flat surfaces near the pivot bolt.. That is usually where the stamped model number is, IF it is on the base..

Your other 'mystery vise' is an inexpensive home-owner's vise, often called an 'oval-slide' vise.. The jaw faces are rarely replaceable.
These 'oval-slide' vises were offered for sale by virtually every vise maker/seller known.. I think i have one made by at least 4 different vise makers.. So I suspect that there was a particular foundry or two making these vises to the specifications desired by the many vice 'makers' and marketers.

I think the 'Oval-Slide' vise is neat, and an interesting design, but unfortunately they break and crack VERY easily.. Much like the 'anvil-vises': the 'anvil' base is cast very thin, and can't withstand a good whack from even a 12oz hammer.

PierceA

 

[PierceA]

Shiftless: That Prentiss 622 is nearly MINT.. What a great find!!

PierceA

 

[PierceA]

duplicate post

 

[PierceA]

My beloved Parkers:
Well I thought I might add another small jeweler's vise to my Parker collection: the red-painted one on ebay for the last few days..
Looking at it, It is clear that the vise is missing the 'horn' sticking out of the rear of the anvil..
I sent the seller a request for photos of the rear of the anvil. You can see the images below.
I'm not adverse to repairing such a vise, and it is usually better than new..
But this vise has had a rough life, Parker vises usually do NOT have this rough an outer surface of the castings . I think this vise was outdoors for decades, or buried in wet dirt or ??

BUT the killer for me to bid much higher than the vise sold for was the refusal of the seller to offer to put the vise into a medium flat rate box from the US Post Office, which costs less than $20, instead of the ridiculous $62 shipping quoted on the ebay auction page.
I was told by the seller to: 'bid accordingly'. So I did! I reduced the maximum I'd consider paying by the amount the shipping was overpriced..

I think I need to follow Smitty's stated guidelines: only buy the most pristine, well preserved versions of our favorite vises..
BUT: sometimes I just want 'AN EXAMPLE' of a rare model..

PierceA

 

[454ragtop]

Pierce, that's a bummer, I hate when sellers inflate shipping costs. Cool vise, wonder if the stand was mare by another company for jewelers use? Can't help but wonder if it would have gone for more money had the seller used vise instead of vice.

 

[PierceA]

And the foolish thing is that ebay charges for shipping as well as the sale. Ebay caught on with no fees on shipping when people were charging $200 for shipping an item that sold for $20, and normally would sell retail for say $250. Ebay only got commision on the sale price.. But not now..

So this seller of the Parker 19 lost money by me not running the price up higher in hopes that I might buy it for under $400, I stopped at $299. So he would have been better off just agreeing to ship for a fair price.. Hell, just charge $25 for a $16 box sent anywhere.
The only explaination I can guess at is that the seller works for a company that they use for their shipping.

PierceA.

 

[Shiftless]

P.A.:
I bet you’re right about the seller is just using his employer’s shipping contract. Maybe the seller even pockets the shipping cost and lets his boss pay.

 

[va.grouseman]

So Pierce, you missed it by a dollar?---Odds are if you had of gone higher, some sniper would have too.---Twasn't me, I didn't even bid.---But you're right, some sellers try to make profit on both ends, and sometimes winds up costing them money.---I have to say though, I've never seen a CP #19 before but I'd still rather have my little 2000nds.

 

[Fierljeppen]

PierceA...Personally, I think that you dodged a bullet. While the Charles Parker no. 19 vise is very rare, that particular one is in extremely rough condition. Not only is it pitted, missing the anvil horn and swivel hardware/handle, but the static support shelf for the dynamic jaw is broken off as well, which is super common on the older, smaller Parker vises.



I understand what you mean about owning a condition challenged vise just because of the rarity, but in my opinion, the seller made out quite well. I bought a troubled Parker no. 19, which is in the vise spreadsheet, but my winning bid was around $85 and there were quite a few bidders besides myself. I ended up gifting it to one of my cousins who collects Parker shotguns.

Anyway, tomorrow is another day and who knows what vise opportunities will show up for the ever growing vise collector market.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Is there really a buyer out there for this "so called" Wilton?

Vintage Wilton Baby Vise Small Bent Handle Bent But Works Old Collectible | eBay

<p>Vintage Wilton Baby Vise Small Bent Handle Bent But Works Old Collectible. </p><br /><br /><p>Small vise works but handle is bent and could be bent back. Nice old collectible. Free Shipping </p>

www.ebay.com

 

[454ragtop]

Tailgunner, jeez, I hope not. 99.9% sure it is China made, missing the base, handle bent like a pretzel, and a horrible repaint. But who knows, some rube might come along.....

 

[autopts]

Being a Prentiss collector I take a lot of pride in my smalls collection. I just added the third shelving unit and was pretty happy when I saw them all lined up. These are all Prentiss vises in the pics, the shelves have all 2-5/8“ to 3-1/2” and there are 5” and 6” models on the floor. I’m very picky when it comes to these vises, there’s not a single cracked slide, chipped brow or cracked base. They’re all 80 to 130 years of age so they’re retired now enjoying the good life.

Your collection is absolutely priceless