The VISES of Garage Journal

Catalyze · Jul 8, 2011

I missed a nice Rock Island 4" swivel today....due to my foolishness. I tried to barter a bit with the seller (an employee at a recycling center) and he went to see if my offer was okay with the owner. He promptly said No....it wasnt for sale. I blew it. The worker was ready to unbolt it and hand it to me but I tried to save a buck.....sigh.

rsieracki - Hostess factory??? Oh man....it is fresh Suzie Q's and Twinkies! Nick will be so happy....Wilton T-shirt...fresh Twinkies....it will be like a day at Disneyland for him.
Craig

Tiny Jackson · Jul 8, 2011

rsieracki,

I think the current Wilton factory is near 75th St. and 355(Woodridge). They often have a Wilton tent sale at that location on fridays. Not positive though.

Tiny

autopts · Jul 8, 2011

Catalyze said:
autopts has radar for Wiltons! He won't try to find Waldo....couldn't care less where in the world Carmen SanDiego is located. He wants to know about Wiltons! Next year, I am going to go up there and grab him. Then we are going to take a tour of the Wilton plant. I am getting him some Wilton socks, pajamas, and a T-shirt that says "I went to the Wilton factory and got this lousy shirt."
Craig

Tour the Wilton Plant? Only on a Weekend when "Dog the B.H. isn't on!

Gary Indiana · Jul 9, 2011

Tiny Jackson said:
I think the current Wilton factory is near 75th St. and 355(Woodridge). They often have a Wilton tent sale at that location on fridays. Not positive though.

Tiny

That's a different kind of "Wilton" in Woodridge, IL.
They sell cake and candy related stuff.

JMann2380 · Jul 9, 2011

autopts said:
JMann2380 said:

Very cool thread. I just picked up a Ridgid make in Elyria Ohio, model # 60FSN. Paid $150 which is more than most, but this thing is in pretty good shape and I needed a vise for the shop. Can't wait to take it apart and clean her up.

Does anyone know the original color these came?

-Josh

What intreges me is that other Wilton rebrand. is there a name or C.O.O on it?

Click to expand...

It's a Duracraft Industrial Tools.

SweetD · Jul 9, 2011

Got my Prentiss # 514 back to day with a new set of jaw inserts - will be going to my brother for his b-day:

Dave

Tiny Jackson · Jul 9, 2011

Gary Indiana said:
That's a different kind of "Wilton" in Woodridge, IL.
They sell cake and candy related stuff.

Thanks for the heads up. Do you know where the vises are made/distributed now?

Tiny

autopts · Jul 9, 2011

Tiny Jackson said:
Thanks for the heads up. Do you know where the vises are made/distributed now?

Tiny

I think they moved to Tennesee

Fantom · Jul 9, 2011

Damn, that Bulldog is awesome. There was one not too far from me on CL, but the back of the slide was cracked from some idiot hammering on it.

Catalyze · Jul 9, 2011

Great looking jaw faces Dave! Now I know how they make Ruffles potato chips.
Craig

Red Leader · Jul 12, 2011

The 3" Wilton bullet vise I just finished cleaning up for my '50s themed garage.

Before:

By daveamy at 2011-07-06

After:

By daveamy at 2011-07-11

gravyfries · Jul 12, 2011

Wow, holy balls. What color is that? Looks superb! :thumbup:

Nightshift · Jul 12, 2011

Red Leader said:
The 3" Wilton bullet vise I just finished cleaning up for my '50s themed garage.

Before:

By daveamy at 2011-07-06

After:

By daveamy at 2011-07-11

Awesome resto! Color looks perfect. Bill

Nightshift · Jul 12, 2011

gravyfries said:
Wow, holy balls. What color is that? Looks superb!

Verde Green hammered (Rustoleum). Bill

autopts · Jul 12, 2011

Nightshift said:
Verde Green hammered (Rustoleum). Bill

Thats a beauty Bill, Add that one to your already nice Wilton collection.

drooartz · Jul 12, 2011

Acquired this neat little Ridge Tool vise yesterday -- got it for free from a friend at work. It came from his grandfather's estate, no one in the family wanted it. I know nothing about it, says "350-R Utility Vise" on the other side, and Ridge Tool, Elyria, Ohio on this side. Jaws are 3.5" wide.

I know it's mounted a bit far back, but it just happened to have the same bolt spacing as the Chinese Wilton it is replacing so that's where it will live for now. Plenty big enough for what I do, and much neater. Seems in good shape, just needs a good cleaning.

Catalyze · Jul 12, 2011

What a nice combo! Bug eyed Sprite avatar (first car I ever owned) a nice Ridge Tool utility vise. That little vise will work out great for lots of projects around the shop where a larger vise can sometimes be a pain to use. My wife will used my Parker 3" oval slide but she won't touch the 505 1/2 Columbian. Sometimes smaller is just right.
Craig

Nightshift · Jul 12, 2011

autopts said:
Thats a beauty Bill, Add that one to your already nice Wilton collection.

I'd love to Nick, but pretty sure RL won't let it out of his sight now! About the only improvement one could make is a nice shiny set of new jaws ... maybe you could sell him a set? Cheers, Bill

drooartz · Jul 12, 2011

Catalyze said:
What a nice combo! Bug eyed Sprite avatar (first car I ever owned) a nice Ridge Tool utility vise. That little vise will work out great for lots of projects around the shop where a larger vise can sometimes be a pain to use.

Thanks -- I think the smaller vice will work out nicely for what I do, as it's mostly used as a third hand for cleaning parts or some minor grinding. Takes up less bench space as well, which is handy.

dieselmike · Jul 13, 2011

Ive got a made in canada maple leaf vise... the stamp that says canada is real rusted... but you can kinda make it it out.. it was 20 bucks off craigslist and it works! a great starter vise for me

i have read that maple leaf was an economy priced line of gray tools.

ZRX61 · Jul 13, 2011

Anyone discovered the link between Gray tools/Maple Leaf & Record Vises from the UK? Identical design & even the same color etc...

uf-engineer · Jul 13, 2011

My first vise restoration a Chas Parker 974.

exmaxima1 · Jul 13, 2011

Nightshift said:
Awesome resto! Color looks perfect. Bill

When I saw the pic of the finished Wilton, I freaked! It looks like my spare I keep under the bench.

autopts · Jul 13, 2011

Nightshift said:
Verde Green hammered (Rustoleum). Bill

I guess I didn't page up Bill.

R.L a very nice restore. It looks new!!

autopts · Jul 13, 2011

uf-engineer said:
My first vise restoration a Chas Parker 974.

Your 1st! Its excellent!!

Nightshift · Jul 13, 2011

exmaxima1 said:
When I saw the pic of the finished Wilton, I freaked! It looks like my spare I keep under the bench.

Yours is (even) better ... with those nice bronze jaws! Did you make them yourself? Cheers, Bill

jsokoly · Jul 13, 2011

Picked up a little Reed 203R. A bit of a drive to get it and when I got there, I immediately noticed that the swivel base had been welded. When I pointed it out, he dropped the price significantly so I took it. Looks to me like the vise was dropped and broke the swivel base. The weld looks well done and the swivel works fine. It's going to be a user, not a show piece so I can live with it. It's my first Reed and even though it's a small one, it's well built. I've got it in the electro-bath now but I should finish the resto by this weekend. Here are the before pics:

Gary Indiana · Jul 13, 2011

jsokoly said:
Picked up a little Reed 203R. I immediately noticed that the swivel base had been welded.

It's a noble beauty, that little Reed. Base could have cracked upon being bolted tight to an uneven surface. If it's nicely welded, the base should have no reason to crack again, it should last forever. A welded upper part of the vise would be more of a concern.

This page displays some truly beautiful vises.

dwm · Jul 14, 2011

Mom picked this up off of craigslist for me this week and I picked it up from her tonight. It's in great mechanical shape. I've already torn it down, and will probably powdercoat it with a blue hammertone TGIC.

Catalyze · Jul 14, 2011

Great looking Wiltons! It almost makes me want to grab another one.....but not until I own every Prentiss made. LOL

Great looking Reed and not to worry about the base weld. If it was done correctly then it will never be thought about. A little 3" Reed is a formidable ally.....probably moreso than my HF Shark vise. Post up some photos as you go along with your freshening.

Parker 974.....these things just started popping up in my life this week. I just bought one this last weekend and it is in transit. A fellow asked me about one today. And here is a very nice example by Uf. Nice lettering color if my monitor is showing it correctly. I do have 1 question though....Uf are you left handed? I ask because the swivel lock down handle is mostly on the other side of the main body on a 974....LOL
Craig

exmaxima1 · Jul 14, 2011

Nightshift said:
Yours is (even) better ... with those nice bronze jaws! Did you make them yourself? Cheers, Bill

Yeah, I made them. Interesting that you knew they were bronze---most people would have guessed brass. Bronze holds up better. Good eyes!!!

SweetD · Jul 15, 2011

Something a little different...I'm a big Prentiss Vise fan and somewhat of a collector...picked up this pipe vise this week, a Prentiss #111. I have rarely seen a Prentiss pipe vise, so I think it's fairly unique and in great shape. Definitely quite old:

I have no specific need for a pipe vise, but I love the model name: "MAGIC"

Cheers,

Dave

Catalyze · Jul 15, 2011

Dave...you know as well as I know that Prentiss is all about "the Magic". You have done well Vise Jedi. 2 slices of vise pie tonight for you! Very nice sample of old craftmanship. I don't think it came from a PVC era.
Craig

ZRX61 · Jul 16, 2011

Catalyze said:
.....but not until I own every Prentiss made. LOL

Craig

I have 2 for sale...

Catalyze · Jul 16, 2011

PM sent....LOL
Craig

ZRX61 · Jul 16, 2011

48James · Jul 16, 2011

Got another one, this time it's a Columbian 604!

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kbeitz · Jul 17, 2011

Tool Maker said:
Kbiets. what is that little machine that you have two of. Mac

The two Vise's ?
Stewart little Wonders...

jsokoly · Jul 17, 2011

Rock Island 52. I picked this up a couple of weeks ago and finished the cleanup today. I noticed a couple of issues with it that don't affect the operation. First, it looks like someone hit the screw head with a torch and burned away part of it. Also, the lettering from one side looks like it has been removed with a cold chisel. I read somewhere that Rock Island may have done that if a vise was sold as a "second". There's a void in the casting that you can see as a white spot in one of the pictures. So, that explanations seems to make sense. Overall though, a good, solid, heavy vise with a swivelling rear jaw. Here are the before/after pics.

Jeff

Catalyze · Jul 17, 2011

What a great find Jeff! That is the first swivel jaw Rock Island that I have seen so you schooled me today Mate. Very nice that it has the original jaw pin also. What is the jaw size of it? Rock Islands and women.....I have equal knowledge of both.
Craig

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