The VISES of Garage Journal

[spongerich]

http://www.misgroupinc.com/index.cfm?area=shop&action=detail&IID=7761

anybody ever used one of these?

Holy ****... for $1100 I'll hire some concubines to hold my work with some vise grips.

 

[06wt]

Yes 1100 is steep, but I have 1 available to me for $200 so when I go back to look at it if a do find a usa stamp ill probly pic it up

 

[Fauj]

Here are a couple of pics of a Yost that a buddy gave me almost 20 years ago. It has been more than faithful, even with the abuse it has been put through. I can say with absolute certainty, that is far stronger than anything I have ever had it attached to.



I love those old Parkers and Wiltons, I will have to get me one of those some day.

 

[bgott]

Thats a nice looking vise. I guess Wilton has to make a design change to keep our interest in their new ones. God knows they are having a hard enough time selling their conventional ones with the tremendous used vise market out there. I think if its made here, Wilton would proudly stamp it somewhere, if its not stamped USA anywhere, its then not made here. It doesn't mean its made in China though, WMH is based in Swizerland and has manufacturing plants around the world. It might be European made.

The used vise market doesn't affect new industrial vise sales at all. That is why they have all those $1000 and above vises in their catalog. When a large company needs vises they don't send a couple of guys out to work craigslist and the flea markets, they call their supplier and order up what they need. The Wilton import vises are for the amateur/ home shop crowd. The used vise market is for the ********* collector/hobby shop people, like us. You wouldn't believe how many old vises and such I've seen that have sat around forever, not everybody is into old iron.

 

[RedVise]

Greetings from rainy Florida ! Great forum, my wife regrets it I found it every weekend...

So, I picked up a repaired vise, against GJ advise. Looks like it was brazed ?But it was cheap, so no great loss if I cant do anything with it. But I cant find a model number on it, or an internet pic.

It is a Columbian, Made in USA, seems to be a wood working vise. Jaws have what seem to be part numbers on them, 4-1043-5, 4-1042-5. Base shows 4-10012 and a 6 or a 9.

Google search found a similar vise: PARROT TABLE BENCH TOP WOOD WORKING SWIVEL TOOL VISE. One listing reports these are great for Luthiers, which are a dime a dozen these days...

So, anybody got a catalog with model number ? It might be OK for wood working as is, it opens and closes smoothly, but you have to pull the jaw open manually.

I am also attaching a nice Littlestown #112 vise I picked up at an estate sale, I grabbed some other goodies I will share in another thread.

Thanks
Brian

 

[brats.n.harleys]

just got this guy home.

 

[old salvage]

^^^^^
For nothing ?
Wow, you **** !!!

 

[metal1313]

i have more to add here, in the last 3 days ive bought 3 vises and a mill/drilling vise, for a total of 110. i bought another athol but its been lightly abused. it functions great, the hardened jaws are mar-free, but it has small peices of the body near the jaws missing. then today i picked up a littlestown 25, the milling vise, and a wilton 9400. they are all in near perfect shape, all function great. some may be for sale soon, i dont need a total of 5 vises in my tiny garage.

pics soon

 

[senlow]

Greetings from rainy Florida ! Great forum, my wife regrets it I found it every weekend...

So, I picked up a repaired vise, against GJ advise. Looks like it was brazed ?But it was cheap, so no great loss if I cant do anything with it. But I cant find a model number on it, or an internet pic.

It is a Columbian, Made in USA, seems to be a wood working vise. Jaws have what seem to be part numbers on them, 4-1043-5, 4-1042-5. Base shows 4-10012 and a 6 or a 9.

Google search found a similar vise: PARROT TABLE BENCH TOP WOOD WORKING SWIVEL TOOL VISE. One listing reports these are great for Luthiers, which are a dime a dozen these days...

So, anybody got a catalog with model number ? It might be OK for wood working as is, it opens and closes smoothly, but you have to pull the jaw open manually.

I am also attaching a nice Littlestown #112 vise I picked up at an estate sale, I grabbed some other goodies I will share in another thread.

Thanks
Brian

Cool. It's a Gyro Vise. I believe that another manufacturer called their's a Versa Vise. This vise was popular with gunsmiths at one time.

 

[RedVise]

Gryo Vise !! Well of course it is, any one can see that. <now>

Excellent, thanks.

 

[lepomis]

Great thread! I thought I would snap a few shots of my old vises. This first one I have no idea what it is. It was here when I bought the house. The only marking I can find on it is the number 21.

View media item 5075
View media item 5074

This second one I don't think has been shown yet. It was one of my grandfathers. It's busted in a few spots, but still quite usable.

View media item 5072
View media item 5071

 

[06wt]

The first 1 seems to be a parker but I've never seen a parker that dosnt have the name on it. Check the lead screw collar(the u shaped part holding the lead screw to the dynamic jaw) it may say parker on it.

 

[autopts71045]

The used vise market doesn't affect new industrial vise sales at all. That is why they have all those $1000 and above vises in their catalog. When a large company needs vises they don't send a couple of guys out to work craigslist and the flea markets, they call their supplier and order up what they need. The Wilton import vises are for the amateur/ home shop crowd. The used vise market is for the ********* collector/hobby shop people, like us. You wouldn't believe how many old vises and such I've seen that have sat around forever, not everybody is into old iron.

Factories in need of a large vise, today, are frugil. I see many low end vises in factories, as well as large shops. Many are not going to spend $1000 if they don't have to. Its not like 30 years ago when all you had to do is sign a shop requesition More then 50% of the Wiltons I sell go to into the manufacturing field and they are happy to buy them at 1/2 the price of a new one. I've sold vises to smaller industrial shops from CL. They shop on CL as well as we do. I just sold a C-3 to a welding Co. 200 miles away. he came up for the 4th, and stopped by and picked it up. Even myself, buying habits are changing. Wants sell the beautiful Chicago DualPpin C-1?

 

[lepomis]

Good idea!... I didn't think to check there, I'll take a look when I get home. May have to get out the degreaser, its pretty coated

The first 1 seems to be a parker but I've never seen a parker that dosnt have the name on it. Check the lead screw collar(the u shaped part holding the lead screw to the dynamic jaw) it may say parker on it.

 

[lepomis]

I had a chance to knock a bunch of the grease off... the lead screw collar only had a "10" and a "21" casted into it. Thinking that the vise maker wasn't too proud of it if they didn't bother to include their name

 

[bgott]

Wants sell the beautiful Chicago DualPpin C-1?

I'm going to guess that the "Dual P pin" is the retaining pins for the pipe jaws? I'm glad you like the vise, I'm kind of partial to it myself. It was on the bench in my carport when I bought my house, that was some nice Lagniappe! No, it's not for sale, thanks for asking!

 

[autopts71045]

Hi, Those are pins, and that was Wilton's first design combo. Hang on to it. Those vise jaws were discontinued by Wilton 20 years ago. I saw a set go on Ebay for over $100. Those pipe jaws make that vise. Without them, its looks naked. I have one just like it but mine is a Schiller Park, made around 1960.

 

[bgott]

Mine was made in 1953, IIRC. I would double check but the oil in it was some of the stinkiest stuff I've ever smelled. I think it had been lubricated with lard based machine oil 50 years ago or so.

 

[06wt]

took some more pics of the polish(i think) vise

 

[autopts71045]

took some more pics of the polish(i think) vise

I've got one of those vises. They must be made somewhere in Europe or the Ukraine. That is an excellent vise, its like a Lazy Boy Wall Hugger, the front handle could be 2" from a wall but yet it operates with ease. Its the back end that travels and with those gib adjustment screws, one can adjust the play. I have a 4" and I give it 5 Stars. Its a well made dense heavy vise. I would like to sell it but I wouldn't get ****

 

[JohnFreeman]

Never mind the vise, the Chia Obama is da bomb!

 

[knobbylon]

I have a couple of big Columbian vises and they look like all of the others. But, I do have this little "Companion" that was made in Japan and I purchased in the early 70s. It has always been mounted to one of my tool boxes and when I got a new box last year, I moved it over. It has been a really good vise and I've be reluctant to mention its heritage on this thread, but what the hell.

 

[shocksystems]

Here are my three vises:



Dunlap 3 1/2 inch Jaws

I think this one may been left by a prior owner or it was an old one from grandfather handed down to me. I should remember but I don't.

Craftsman 6 inch Jaws

My wife bought me this early on in our marriage. One of the best tools she has ever gotten me. I have beat on this vise and it has survived. The handle is a bit bent and it is not top of the line but far better than I would have expected, particularly considering we had no money at the time and she knows nothing about tools. I am kind of attached to it now.

Erie Toolworks 5 inch Jaws

I just picked this one up today. I almost didn't look at it because the seller said it had 5" jaws, glad I changed my mind. What a big USA made beast. I bet I can open it up close to 12 inches and still use it. I need to get it mounted. Anyone know anything about Erie Toolworks vises? I do not know what age it is. It is stamped with the number 16 in a couple of places, not sure what that means. The jaws do not look easily replaceable.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[kfainf]

Here is my 4 1/2 inch Fuller made in Japan. I bought this 27 years ago right out of High School. It has taken a beating over the years, yet is still going strong. I have no complaints.

 

[ZRX61]

Here is my 4 1/2 inch Fuller made in Japan. I bought this 27 years ago right out of High School. It has taken a beating over the years, yet is still going strong. I have no complaints.

Hmmm.. looks similar to this Craftsman....

 

[murph64]

I've got one of those vises. They must be made somewhere in Europe or the Ukraine.

Poland...I have one too




Andy

 

[06wt]

Poland...I have one too




Andy

i took mine apart sunday and blasted it, and it has no markings of any kind anywhere. ill have pics soon, and ill weigh it. Whats jaw size is yours and what does it weigh?

 

[murph64]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=605166&postcount=7

The only measurement I have now is the jaw opening, just a bit over 6".



Andy

 

[06wt]

heres some pics of the polish vise after full resto, it weighed in at 116lbs, 8'' jaws

 

[06wt]

morgan i finished today 4'' weighs 51lbs

 

[06wt]

and mjozefow if you wanna use this pic to represent morgan in the everything you need to know about vises thread please do, as this vise has jaw faces and is close to factory color

 

[ersatzs2]

Wilton C-1 bought on ebay after 2 yr search.



Another Vice waiting trackside...

 

[sanya]

picked this one up today for 20 bucks. no markings on it but it looks old. it was pretty rusty with about 1/8" of paint on it. took a pic after i hit it up with a wire wheel. would love to know more about it. 5" jaws.it works great and feels very solid.

 

[BTG]

and mjozefow if you wanna use this pic to represent morgan in the everything you need to know about vises thread please do, as this vise has jaw faces and is close to factory color

Nice restoration!

Did you get the jaws from Morgan Milwaukee or? I have a Morgan Chicago 150 that I'm restoring, and a Morgan Aurora 6" (160), and would like to get new jaw faces if I could (if reasonable).

Oh, and my 160 still has a bit of the paint still left on it and its more like the later (lighter) Ford Blue color. Maybe the color varied over the years?

 

[spongerich]

picked this one up today for 20 bucks. no markings on it but it looks old. it was pretty rusty with about 1/8" of paint on it. took a pic after i hit it up with a wire wheel. would love to know more about it. 5" jaws.it works great and feels very solid.

#1 - Welcome!

#2 - Not to rain on your parade, but almost all of those reversible flip-over vises are Chinese and not of terribly good quality. If it were mine, I'd give it a good cleaning, put a couple coats of paint on it and try to flip it on CL for $40. Take the $40 and invest in a good old American vise (Reed, Prentiss, Parker, etc). While they often sell upwards of $100 for 4-5" models, if you're patient, there are plenty to be found for less.

In the end, you'll have something that you can use without worrying about breaking it and later you can give it to your grandchildren. That said, I'm an admitted vise snob... depending on what you need it for, yours is probably not terrible and the flip-over style does look like it could be useful if you do a lot of pipe work.

 

[06wt]

Nice restoration!

Did you get the jaws from Morgan Milwaukee or? I have a Morgan Chicago 150 that I'm restoring, and a Morgan Aurora 6" (160), and would like to get new jaw faces if I could (if reasonable).

Oh, and my 160 still has a bit of the paint still left on it and its more like the later (lighter) Ford Blue color. Maybe the color varied over the years?

call 414-645-0200 and say you need parts for a vise, somtimes when i call a guy answers and asks what parts i need, somtimes a woman answers and transfers me to the parts guy. and as for the color it was the only saftey blue paint i had in the garage take a pic of your vise so we can all see the original color

 

[06wt]

picked this one up today for 20 bucks. no markings on it but it looks old. it was pretty rusty with about 1/8" of paint on it. took a pic after i hit it up with a wire wheel. would love to know more about it. 5" jaws.it works great and feels very solid.

the problem with these style vises is there is a very little amount of steel where the static jaw meets the maint structure of the vise as seen in my pic is this style vise after it had an encounter with me. notice at the break point how little of an amount of steel there is

 

[BTG]

call 414-645-0200 and say you need parts for a vise, sometimes when i call a guy answers and asks what parts i need, sometimes a woman answers and transfers me to the parts guy. and as for the color it was the only safety blue paint i had in the garage take a pic of your vise so we can all see the original color

My "collection" is posted on page 6 of this thread, but here's a few shots of the 6" (160) - I haven't really done anything to it yet. I emailed this guy Ty at Milwaukee Morgan a while back trying to find info on the Morgan Aurora as I've not seen others with that marking. He didn't have too much history, just that Morgan started in Chicago in the 20's and moved to Aurora in the 40's...not sure how long they cast them with the 'Aurora" in them. I'll probably just clean it and sell it and keep the 150. As for the current state of the 150, I've gotten it dissembled and blasted, then got side tracked with a restoration of a Matco Box (thread to come). I'm struggling with removing the jaw insert screws. I've broken several impact bits already , so it looks like I'll be drilling them out.

 

[wxm]

Indentify this vise?

Can someone help to id this one? 5 1/2 size and 11" opening. It says "Made in USA" but with no brand name. I picked it up with no jaws; made a pair myself out of brass since I use it mostly for parts and gears repairing.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Re: Indentify this vise?

Can someone help to id this one? 5 1/2 size and 11" opening. It says "Made in USA" but with no brand name. I picked it up for $20 with no jaws; made a pair myself out of brass since I use it mostly for parts and gears repairing.

To me it looks like an Sears or Columbian.