Recent content by econotrk

Really like the color choices, also think the cast iron covers are way cooler than the stamped tin ones.

That's a great looking jack! The wings on the fenders are really sweet!!

You know I'm a believer in the Rock Island connection Drives, too many clues to deny. It would be awful hard to prove otherwise.

No question yours is Columbian by the style/design. What we were wondering about was the 8 1/2" vise I posted with the Columbian name but the Prentiss style/look to it.

I thought the same thing when I first saw it from the other side. Wonder if Prentiss made this for Columbian. The lettering doesn't look typical Columbian to me either.

Was at a farm market buying corn yesterday, stepped out back of the building to find this. First time I've seen one this large in person, pretty impressive. Missing one jaw and a well done repair showing, how much beating did someone have to do to break this big boy, wow!

Haven't checked on this thread in awhile, just got caught up. Sure seems like Rock Island is the most serious contender, there're just too many clues to ignore. I'd say it's harder to prove they didn't make them than to prove they did.:thumbup:

This is a great clue Maui, thanks for digging that up. The date stamp on top of the slide is another important clue. As they add up it makes me lean into the Rock Island camp.

I'd be curious to see this apart, how the swivel locks work on the inside. It does look shop made, the swivel lock handles look like someone fabbed them up too.

All good points FT. I've personally never held a Rock Island, but I'm leaning that way too. I know the Craftsman products were made by various companies to Sears specs, but it seems to me if Columbian were the manufacturer, the 519x series would've been hollow too as that is their practice...

Here ya go Drives.

I don't believe the 51xx series were made anywhere but right here in the US. We were not so good at putting the Made in USA on things because it was a almost a given as we didn't import that much. However, anything made overseas, Japan, East Germany, West Germany, was always marked as such...

I think we may never get a definitive answer, but the best guess will be from comparing things like Bluebolt mentions. Here's a couple pics of numbers I found on mine while it was apart. The shape/style and location of the numbers, the style of machine work done on the slide. Something should...

Glad you started this thread Drives. Here's my contribution, a 5198 with a March of 1954 date stamped on the slide. I have this one mounted and gets almost daily use. Hope we can find the maker.:thumbup:

If you're using the Quick Reply you won't get the paperclip used for attaching pics. Use the Post Reply button that gives you this option, click on the paperclip and simply attach pics that are loaded on your computer.