The VISES of Garage Journal

[Patrickm82]

Thank you @bastel great information!!

 

[tarmy]

I bought these about 8-10 years ago…paid about 400 each. Was looking, out of boredom, and found them for sale For 1,350 and 1,000. Jeez, I knew stuff went up but that is nuts…

The third pic is why I am going crazy…skiing in Montana last week…and I do not bounce as well these days.

 

[M.Brane]

I know this is about vises, but I found myself fascinated with the toys in the window. Reminds me of my Tonka days.

 

[zanyad]

I know this is about vises, but I found myself fascinated with the toys in the window. Reminds me of my Tonka days.

They caught my eye, too!

 

[tarmy]

I know this is about vises, but I found myself fascinated with the toys in the window. Reminds me of my Tonka days.

They caught my eye, too!

I have some of my childhood Tonka Toys still. Those toys in the window are a small fraction of what I had in my office years ago. I was a lobbyist for the housing builders in Silicon Valley for decades and many of our clients knew I liked them…started getting them as gifts from buddies at builder companies. Kept a few as reminders of how all my real toys got paid for…

 

[ssffnomad]

Hello, we have a very Ruff Yost with no numbers on it that we know of. Looking for replacement Jaws.
Is there away to figure out what model it is ?
Where is the best vendor to get Jaws & Hardware from ?
Never be perfect condition.
But donating to a friend that needs a Vise bigger than his others, and no his is not going to be very nice to it.
As Always, Thank You.
Stretch

 

[M.Brane]

I have some of my childhood Tonka Toys still. Those toys in the window are a small fraction of what I had in my office years ago. I was a lobbyist for the housing builders in Silicon Valley for decades and many of our clients knew I liked them…started getting them as gifts from buddies at builder companies. Kept a few as reminders of how all my real toys got paid for…

I would be one of those guys that graduated to the real thing.

 

[drokihazan]

I'm too excited to even wait for the daylight to get better photos and a buddy to help me get it out of the truck. I just got a Parker 976 off marketplace.

Paid $350. Previous owner painted it, but I can find no signs of welds or cracks, the jaws are tight at the top with a tiny gap at the bottom like they should be, the locking handle is correct, the actual handle is forged and no screw-on balls and perfectly straight, has the original Parker collar. I'm really bummed this guy painted it, I'm sure he thought it would increase resale value but it makes me a little sad. I'm hoping maybe the paint can be removed with a chemical stripper or something without completely ruining the original finish underneath. If not, I'll blast it and clearcoat it or enamel it a color to match my shop.

The screw turns even smoother than my ~90 year old 434 1/2 (pictured here as well) and the vise is overall in better condition with original collar and no big hammer marks. It's almost too big for me, hard to wrap my head around how massive it is in person after so many years of using my 434 1/2

I also included a photo he had of the vise before paint, it looks in impeccable condition under the paint to me - he showed me photos of all sides so the paint is definitely not hiding a crack repair. It weighs every ounce of 150 pounds, too. I'm no expert, but from the markings, forged handle, and casting quality I think it's probably from 1930-1940ish? It's missing most of the R in Meriden, I'm guessing that's a casting imperfection.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Straight Simple Green will remove paint. for an object that large, you either use a giant bucket and buy a whole lot of Simple Green, or soak some towels with Simple Green and wrap it up and allow it to soak long enough to get the paint loosened up. It will not affect the patina of the object. example here

 

[Shiftless]

Hello, we have a very Ruff Yost with no numbers on it that we know of. Looking for replacement Jaws.
Is there away to figure out what model it is ?
Where is the best vendor to get Jaws & Hardware from ?
Never be perfect condition.
But donating to a friend that needs a Vise bigger than his others, and no his is not going to be very nice to it.
As Always, Thank You.
Stretch

Good luck with that project. This area will need a bit of creativity.

 

[four.cycle]

no problem!

 

[ALLFAST]

no problem!

That’s a very acceptable way to proceed; you’ll save it from the scrapyard and he can live a very nice life doing medium duty workLooking forward to seeing your progress!

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a very acceptable way to proceed

Agreed!
I have filled gouges with epoxy putty more than once.

 

[bryson]

I'm too excited to even wait for the daylight to get better photos and a buddy to help me get it out of the truck. I just got a Parker 976 off marketplace.

Paid $350. Previous owner painted it, but I can find no signs of welds or cracks, the jaws are tight at the top with a tiny gap at the bottom like they should be, the locking handle is correct, the actual handle is forged and no screw-on balls and perfectly straight, has the original Parker collar. I'm really bummed this guy painted it, I'm sure he thought it would increase resale value but it makes me a little sad. I'm hoping maybe the paint can be removed with a chemical stripper or something without completely ruining the original finish underneath. If not, I'll blast it and clearcoat it or enamel it a color to match my shop.

The screw turns even smoother than my ~90 year old 434 1/2 (pictured here as well) and the vise is overall in better condition with original collar and no big hammer marks. It's almost too big for me, hard to wrap my head around how massive it is in person after so many years of using my 434 1/2

I also included a photo he had of the vise before paint, it looks in impeccable condition under the paint to me - he showed me photos of all sides so the paint is definitely not hiding a crack repair. It weighs every ounce of 150 pounds, too. I'm no expert, but from the markings, forged handle, and casting quality I think it's probably from 1930-1940ish? It's missing most of the R in Meriden, I'm guessing that's a casting imperfection.

Wow that thing looks almost new!

 

[Shiftless]

I'm too excited to even wait for the daylight to get better photos and a buddy to help me get it out of the truck. I just got a Parker 976 off marketplace.

Paid $350. Previous owner painted it, but I can find no signs of welds or cracks, the jaws are tight at the top with a tiny gap at the bottom like they should be, the locking handle is correct, the actual handle is forged and no screw-on balls and perfectly straight, has the original Parker collar. I'm really bummed this guy painted it, I'm sure he thought it would increase resale value but it makes me a little sad. I'm hoping maybe the paint can be removed with a chemical stripper or something without completely ruining the original finish underneath. If not, I'll blast it and clearcoat it or enamel it a color to match my shop.

The screw turns even smoother than my ~90 year old 434 1/2 (pictured here as well) and the vise is overall in better condition with original collar and no big hammer marks. It's almost too big for me, hard to wrap my head around how massive it is in person after so many years of using my 434 1/2

I also included a photo he had of the vise before paint, it looks in impeccable condition under the paint to me - he showed me photos of all sides so the paint is definitely not hiding a crack repair. It weighs every ounce of 150 pounds, too. I'm no expert, but from the markings, forged handle, and casting quality I think it's probably from 1930-1940ish? It's missing most of the R in Meriden, I'm guessing that's a casting imperfection.

Based on my experience, that fresh spray bomb paint job can be removed if you don’t wait too much longer. I have had success soaking in heated and undiluted Simple Green.

 

[drokihazan]

Based on my experience, that fresh spray bomb paint job can be removed if you don’t wait too much longer. I have had success soaking in heated and undiluted Simple Green.

Unfortunately I'm moving right now, so hopefully it can handle being removed in like 3 weeks instead of like, tomorrow.

 

[Outlawmws]

Unfortunately I'm moving right now, so hopefully it can handle being removed in like 3 weeks instead of like, tomorrow.

It'll be fine. most paints come off no matter what the age. The only paint I've seen SG struggle with was some industrial epoxy paint on my giant Canedy-Otto Royal 18

 

[PeterPeter]

These baby bullet parts recently went up for sale nearby. Gone in minutes; I didn’t try, because… what the heck am I looking at? Did Wilton make a brass baby, or did someone just plate it?

brass baby, that funky baby.



peter, peter of the Beasley Boys

 

[Shiftless]

These baby bullet parts recently went up for sale nearby. Gone in minutes; I didn’t try, because… what the heck am I looking at? Did Wilton make a brass baby, or did someone just plate it?

brass baby, that funky baby.



peter, peter of the Beasley Boys

My bet is that somebody used spray paint.

 

[ssffnomad]

Good luck with that project. This area will need a bit of creativity.

Ya definitely mistreated in its form life. Going to fix it up and donate to neighbor & son . Still can’t find what part numbers for new Jaws . T/Y

 

[PeterPeter]

My bet is that somebody used spray paint.

I have bought from this gentleman before. He built from scratch two rose engine lathes, and a Studley tool chest. Spray paint isn’t his style.

 

[Shiftless]

I have bought from this gentleman before. He built from scratch two rose engine lathes, and a Studley tool chest. Spray paint isn’t his style.

Sounds like a pretty solid guy.
One clue that perhaps mislead me was the color on the cloth under the vise in your picture.

 

[682bear]

I found two 3 inch vises at yard sales this weekend...

First is a Columbian... a little rough and the locking handle is missing. Also, it looks like a repair has been done on one of the base bolt holes...



The second is a Rock Island... this one seems to be in pretty good condition, but does have a half turn of backlash on the screw...



I haven't had time to dig into them yet... I'll try to work on that later this week.

-Bear

 

[12vx2]

These baby bullet parts recently went up for sale nearby. Gone in minutes; I didn’t try, because… what the heck am I looking at? Did Wilton make a brass baby, or did someone just plate it?

brass baby, that funky baby.



peter, peter of the Beasley Boys

Test it with a magnet to find out if it is plate or solid.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here are a couple of odd ball vises I've picked up recently. The StayPut assembler specializes in clamping various sizes of rods or pipe and brings the ends together for "assembly". I'm not sure I can imagine the use where it would shine above other alignment methods but I do like the qizmo-ocity of it and it was priced to sell.

I just picked up the Lantz piston vise at a coastal swap meet over the weekend. It was rusted up tight and I don't really need a piston vise. But..... I started talking with the vendor and he talked me into it with the old, "you ever seen another one" line. Also it didn't hurt that it was made in Portland Oregon and he was willing to deal. Probably brake lining for padding it would be most comfortable gripping a 3-1/2" to 4" piston. It freed up quickly with a little heat and lube. I'll probably use it for clamping pipe vertically on occasion. Ed.

 

[Beerhippie]

Test it with a magnet to find out if it is plate or solid.

Probably easier to do if he owned it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here are a couple of odd ball vises

Cool finds ORC!

 

[TheRealZeus]

Probably easier to do if he owned it.

Throw it really far.

 

[harris.jasonm]

I have been on a bit of a vise kick lately. First, ran across this 1967 3.5" Wilton Cadet in pretty rough shape so I decided to freshen it up.

And then I was like, man I would like to have a bit larger one for my bench with some good patina. Found this 4.5" Cadet. Original paint (what is left of it) from best I could tell. Needed some love. It had a little slop in the head so I tore it down and installed a brass bushing on the inside and then made a brass bushing to fit behind the retainer and now it runs nice and smooth. Made some new pass through pins for the swivel. Ordered new jaws for both of these, still waiting on those and put a little paint on the letters. Not done with the 4.5" yet but it is coming along pretty good. The date on the 4.5" is 1965. I was told this vise came out of a shop in the north west, it was a family owned helicopter repair shop. I purchased it from a man who said his grandfather bought it new and it was on his bench. The shop is now closed. The property is gone and this was one of the last items he was moving on. It seemed important to him that some care be taken for this piece. I have something pretty special planned to finish it off. I will post it up here once it is complete. Now it will live on as functional art. On my bench at home which get's used but nothing is beat on or abused.

 

[harris.jasonm]

And then I had my old 60's US made Craftsman, and so while it was off I figured. Why not freshen this one up. So I did. And then my father in law liked it so I put it on his bench. And took my old 1938-1942 Dunlap that I did have on his bench and decided to freshen that one up a little too. Now my issue is I have no home for the Dunlap but I love it to much to let it go. It has the slip in pipe jaws and from what I can tell they are rare to have and I have owned it for years.

Lastly, my good old Snap On vise I have mounted to a table at the shop. The only actual work horse of the lot.

 

[rdbjr57]

Got me a Colombian 503 1/2 M2 yesterday. Found it locally on Marketplace from a former shop teacher. He said he’d had it probably 40 years. Paid $100 for it after checking for cracks, etc. I’ve done dome digging for info on the Colombian but have not found a whole lot (I’m open getting some direction in that regard). Some of my confusion… I found pics of 503 1/2 some with a swivel but several without. I assume my “M2” version is not a “first edition”? Is there any way to get an approximate year of manufacture?

One of the jaw covers is loose on one end and looking behind it, the hatching on the jaws look to be in real good condition.

I’m looking forward to learning from y’all on this!

 

[twagler]

Got me a Colombian 503 1/2 M2 yesterday. Found it locally on Marketplace from a former shop teacher. He said he’d had it probably 40 years. Paid $100 for it after checking for cracks, etc. I’ve done dome digging for info on the Colombian but have not found a whole lot (I’m open getting some direction in that regard). Some of my confusion… I found pics of 503 1/2 some with a swivel but several without. I assume my “M2” version is not a “first edition”? Is there any way to get an approximate year of manufacture?

Nice vise! Looks like it might be the original paint, and in really good shape.

As far as age goes, it looks a lot like those shown in a 1965 catalog which can be found on the VintageMachinery website (link = http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=11508&tab=3).

From the catalog, it looks like the "500" series designated stationary base like yours, and the "600" series were the same, except for a swivel base. And then you could also buy the conversion kit separately.

 

[paulsomlo]

Hello, we have a very Ruff Yost with no numbers on it that we know of. Looking for replacement Jaws.
Is there away to figure out what model it is ?
Where is the best vendor to get Jaws & Hardware from ?
Never be perfect condition.
But donating to a friend that needs a Vise bigger than his others, and no his is not going to be very nice to it.
As Always, Thank You.

You can try Logan Kendrick: https://www.antiquevises.com/ Given dimensions, I'm sure he can make jaws for it, but you may not want to put that kind of money into it, and you'd better have good dimensions for him, otherwise you'll end up with paperweights. You can contact Yost, but the odds of their current offerings sharing the same hole pattern is very unlikely.

Get yourself some mild steel or aluminum bar, drill and counterbore/sink for fasteners and call it good. You can use blind hole locators to mark the holes.

You're facing a common conundrum - replacement jaws for old vises mostly don't exist and if you find something you think might work, manufacturers never seem to give dimensions for the hole pattern.

 

[Shiftless]

I have some wall space down in the vise room available for vintage framed catalog pages or line drawings or early photographs of classic American vises. I will print them out and get them framed.
Wilton, Parker, Rock Island, Reed, Athol, Prentiss, … you guys can guess what I’m looking for.

Does anybody have some images that might be suitable? Thanks in advance.

 

[RTM]

found pics of 503 1/2 some with a swivel but several without. I assume my “M2” version is not a “first edition”? Is there any way to get an approximate year of manufacture?

Flipping thru catalogs at the ITCL, they were using M2 up to 1975, then M3 in 1987.

No catalogs in between, sorry.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[Beerhippie]

Playing with an idea:



The receiver hitch mount was $5 at a yard sale. Someone had been towing with a loose ball (!) and the mounting hole is wallowed out, but if I weld a plate on it to mount the vise....

It sits a little higher than knee-high. Might come in right handy for working on Coleman lanterns and stoves, etc.

 

[Provincial]

Posting a small drill press vise that was part of an estate I helped sell, but was left behind. Yankee No. 991 "North Bros. MFG CO Phila. PA USA" 1-1/2" wide, 7/8" deep, 1-1/2" jaw opening. Well-abused, but still functions well.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Playing with an idea:



The receiver hitch mount was $5 at a yard sale. Someone had been towing with a loose ball (!) and the mounting hole is wallowed out, but if I weld a plate on it to mount the vise....

It sits a little higher than knee-high. Might come in right handy for working on Coleman lanterns and stoves, etc.

Thought this idea was more beneficial for shins.

 

[KMScott]

Wrapped up a couple of vises this week for a good friend on the island. George and his son. Got a couple Columbians to work on so I built a couple Bronze wear plates with my manual CNC. Back in the 70’s we didn’t have CNC’s instead we had Rotary Tables with a Cross Slide or a Volstro Head, a rotary cutter head attached to a Bridgeport. Really awesome tool, you can cut radius’s tangent to an angle just like the CNC’s.

Now on to a 5-1/2” Bonney for my good friend in Alaska.

 

[Outlawmws]

Playing with an idea:



The receiver hitch mount was $5 at a yard sale. Someone had been towing with a loose ball (!) and the mounting hole is wallowed out, but if I weld a plate on it to mount the vise....

It sits a little higher than knee-high. Might come in right handy for working on Coleman lanterns and stoves, etc.

Not an uncommon adaptation. since the hitch is wasted anyway, maybe consider adding a post to it for a bit more height?