What can you tell me about this vise?

gatewaysysop · Nov 22, 2011

A relatively large, somewhat vintage Craftsman vise is been made available to me, but I don't have much info on it. Can anyone tell me anything about the age of this big guy and who might have been the OEM making these for Craftsman at the time?

Any information would be greatly appreciated! :bowdown:

Pics:

metalhead212121 · Nov 22, 2011

My guess is around 1930's??? Its just a shot in the dark guess. Ive got an old cman toolbox from my grandfather and the craftsman logo doesn't look anything like the logo on that vise. I figure my grandfathers toolbox is from the 60's or 70's.

One thing I saw in your pics is the jaws look a little funny. Looks like one jaw is bigger than the other.

At the end of the day it appears to be a "good old" USA vise.... enjoy.

Looking forward to what others have to say.

Dan

Provincial · Nov 22, 2011

On the web the code number of 391 refers to vises, clamps, possible Adjustable Clamp Company. Reed made many vises for Craftsman, too.

gatewaysysop · Nov 22, 2011

metalhead212121 said:
My guess is around 1930's??? Its just a shot in the dark guess. Ive got an old cman toolbox from my grandfather and the craftsman logo doesn't look anything like the logo on that vise. I figure my grandfathers toolbox is from the 60's or 70's.

One thing I saw in your pics is the jaws look a little funny. Looks like one jaw is bigger than the other.

At the end of the day it appears to be a "good old" USA vise.... enjoy.

Looking forward to what others have to say.

Dan

Regarding the jaws, I think it may be an artifact of the photo. I've attached a fourth one that looks a bit clearer. Will have to get a better look at it later though.

porphyre · Nov 22, 2011

Columbian manufactured from the '60's or '70's. Reed did make some for a while, but they didn't look like that. Also, that just really doesn't look like a Reed at all.

marslawn · Nov 22, 2011

I would say it looks most like a Colombian, I don't think it is all that old though. Maybe 30 years. That is a shot in the dark too.

gatewaysysop · Nov 22, 2011

porphyre said:
Columbian manufactured from the '60's or '70's. Reed did make some for a while, but they didn't look like that. Also, that just really doesn't look like a Reed at all.

It does look similar to Columbian. I guess it would be fairly safe to say this is US-made, correct?

davesnothere · Nov 22, 2011

Why am I not finding any good old vises in az dammit?!

gatewaysysop · Nov 22, 2011

davesnothere said:
Why am I not finding any good old vises in az dammit?!

It's not easy, I'll tell you that much.

Most of the time CL is bone dry and most of my other sources haven't turned up much lately. After my Prentiss, Athol and Rock Island finds, I think I've probably burned my "vise finding" karma for the year. :spit:

This particular 8" Craftsman was through a friend of a friend type thing. I'd like to get my hands on a 6"+ Prentiss, Rock Island or Reed but no dice in-state as of yet. Still, this 120 lb. monster will give me my "big vise fix" until the next one rolls around. :thumbup:

Even 11 · Nov 23, 2011

GSO;

Looks like a Columbian to me, I'd say 70s to 80s as well. It sure does look to be in good shape too!

-Dane

kc-steve · Nov 23, 2011

It does have some characteristics of the original Columbians, but my guess would be the 1950s Columbian maybe.

Most of the Columbians and Craftsman/Columbians were red though. Then in 1973, Warren Tool bought the Columbian Vise Co. and continued making them for Craftsman. See photo, notice the two arrows on the lower dynamic jaw, in line with the Craftsman name. That style was made from the early 1960s to the late 1970s I think, in two different sizes.

Steve

gatewaysysop · Nov 23, 2011

Thanks for the helpful info!

kc-steve · Nov 23, 2011

I should've thought of this before. I checked the Sears manufacturer's codes, "391" shown on your product ID plate, and I think that is the same code Sears used for the Warren Tool Company. You might look under the swivel plate and see what country of origin is stamped there.

"506" is the code Sears used for Columbian made vises. For all practical purposes, it was probably made with the same quality standards and in the same factory of the old Columbian Vise Co. though.

Steve

gatewaysysop · Nov 23, 2011

Cool, I will definitely see if anything is under there as far as country of origin stamping. Much appreciate the additional clarification and info!

autopts · Nov 23, 2011

kc-steve said:
I should've thought of this before. I checked the Sears manufacturer's codes, "391" shown on your product ID plate, and I think that is the same code Sears used for the Warren Tool Company. You might look under the swivel plate and see what country of origin is stamped there.

"506" is the code Sears used for Columbian made vises. For all practical purposes, it was probably made with the same quality standards and in the same factory of the old Columbian Vise Co. though.

Steve

Steve, I don't think Columbian ever had that style channeled jaw. They had "T" style. Rock Island made alot of the Craftsman vises. Prentiss, Morgan, and Rock Island maybe a couple others had channeled jaws. My guess is Rock Is.

gatewaysysop · Nov 24, 2011

Got some additional info, looks like this one was made in Japan. Does that help in any way to identify the approximate age? I'm biased towards old US vises, but this puppy has 8" jaws and in stellar condition, so I'll probably end up keeping it.

How stout are these if they are made in Japan from this vintage?

autopts · Nov 24, 2011

gatewaysysop said:
Got some additional info, looks like this one was made in Japan. Does that help in any way to identify the approximate age? I'm biased towards old US vises, but this puppy has 8" jaws and in stellar condition, so I'll probably end up keeping it.

How stout are these if they are made in Japan from this vintage?

Just a guess but alot of the time Japan used to put their name somewhere on the product. I don't think the japanese ever made that style vise. Could also be an older Desmond Simplex knock off also.

gatewaysysop · Nov 25, 2011

autopts said:
Just a guess but alot of the time Japan used to put their name somewhere on the product. I don't think the japanese ever made that style vise. Could also be an older Desmond Simplex knock off also.

Pretty sure it was made in Japan at this point (see pic). So where does this leave us in terms of aging this beast, or does this make it more difficult? :headscrat

Also, any idea on the quality? It looks insanely stout, but I'm not familiar with how good the Japanese made vises are.

gatewaysysop · Nov 27, 2011

Bump, still looking for any additional info now that we know it's made in Japan.

And, just so there's no hate for bumping, I offer additional pics of the finished product, dwarfing a 3.5" Craftsman (Rock Island made?). What a beast! :bowdown:

bluebolt · Nov 27, 2011

gatewaysysop said:
Bump, still looking for any additional info now that we know it's made in Japan.

And, just so there's no hate for bumping, I offer additional pics of the finished product, dwarfing a 3.5" Craftsman (Rock Island made?). What a beast!

That looks nice! What color blue is that? Spray can?

gatewaysysop · Nov 27, 2011

bluebolt said:
That looks nice! What color blue is that? Spray can?

Custom, just like the other vise (which is why it looks a little different). The base is some of the paint my dad had from one of his last drill press restorations. I liked the color so he whipped up another batch for this one. :thumbup:

Catalyze · Nov 27, 2011

Whoa Gate......that is a gorgeous clean up that you did! The slide looks wonderful and you can tell it didn't spend any time in a factory with hammer slingers. Nice job on a great vise.
Craig

gatewaysysop · Nov 27, 2011

Catalyze said:
Whoa Gate......that is a gorgeous clean up that you did! The slide looks wonderful and you can tell it didn't spend any time in a factory with hammer slingers. Nice job on a great vise.
Craig

Can't take credit for the clean up, that was all the old man. Blasted, sanded and then painted it himself since he has it down in Tucson at the moment. Had a lull between drill press restorations and couldn't help himself. :bounce:

You're quite right about the condition. This came out of a guy's garage where it was unmounted, buried under a ton of other things and looks as though it was barely used. No hammer marks, dings, gouges, nothing. Jaws are practically untouched as well. Hell of a find, even if it is Japanese made, I'm looking forward to getting it up to my place in the next couple weeks. :beer:

Rileysan · Oct 16, 2019

I'm resurrecting this thread because someone in another collector's group found one and I took the time to research the catalogs.

Offered by Sears from 1983-86. Cost: $299.99. Shipping weight of 111 lbs.

This vise intrigued me enough I spent the past 30 minutes browsing digital catalogs, and here's what I found:

Sears offered an imported "Industrial Machinist vise" beginning back in the 70s. It came in 4-1/2" only UNTIL 1983, when they offered two additional sizes - 6" and 8". These sizes were offered in the catalogs until 1986 then disappeared.

There are no photos depicting the 8" vise nor was there any fanfare or special ads that I can find.

Beautiful vise!

Brian

Mr. Wonderful · Oct 16, 2019

Riley, nice detective work! Could this 5199 although from a different time be more rare than the 5198???? I know they are not the same as the previous 519x series but with the above example and the one you just mentioned I think that's the only two seen on GJ right?

Rileysan · Oct 17, 2019

Mr. Wonderful said:
Riley, nice detective work! Could this 5199 although from a different time be more rare than the 5198???? I know they are not the same as the previous 519x series but with the above example and the one you just mentioned I think that's the only two seen on GJ right?

I can only speculate but if you considered 1 factor alone - the years they were offered in the catalogs - I think you could say this 8" vise is less common than the 5198.

Here are photos of the vise purchased by the FB vise group member.

Brian

bluebolt · Oct 17, 2019

Thanks for the updates Rileysan!

PierceA · Dec 24, 2020

Gateway: turn that vise over and show us the underside of the swivel base. The American made ones usually are made differently than the asian imported ones.. A look at the underside might help determining it's origin and age.

PierceA

Ultradog MN · Jan 20, 2024

Hi all,
New user here.
I have seen several references to Garage Journal before but have never joined this site.
Am a long time member of other forums tho and belong to several vintage tractor and machine shop sites.
I came across a big old vise yesterday at an estate sale.
A Craftsman Model 5199
Still in the original box.
According to the literature with it it was made in Japan and weighs 120 lbs.
Mounts on a swivel plate. Has 8" wide jaws.
Looking around on the net I see VERY little info on it.
I know this is a very old thread but do any of you guys have more info on it?
Thanks
Jerry

Vvmvbb · Jan 20, 2024

^^^ the perfect bump of an old thread
I can’t help, but welcome aboard!

Jayman17 · Jan 20, 2024

Ultradog MN said:
Hi all,
New user here.
I have seen several references to Garage Journal before but have never joined this site.
Am a long time member of other forums tho and belong to several vintage tractor and machine shop sites.
I came across a big old vise yesterday at an estate sale.
A Craftsman Model 5199
Still in the original box.
According to the literature with it it was made in Japan and weighs 120 lbs.
Mounts on a swivel plate. Has 8" wide jaws.
Looking around on the net I see VERY little info on it.
I know this is a very old thread but do any of you guys have more info on it?
Thanks
Jerry

If you bought it at the ES, could you post some photos of your new to you vise. We all would love to see it.

Shiftless · Jan 20, 2024

Jayman17 said:
If you bought it at the ES, could you post some photos of your new to you vise. We all would love to see it.

Yes, pics would help us identify your vise.
The craftsman 519x line of vises goes up to 5198. AFAIK, there was never a 5199

I’m guessing that there are probably some more numbers in front of the 5199. Like 391.5199 or something like that.

Ultradog MN · Feb 19, 2024

PierceA said:
Gateway: turn that vise over and show us the underside of the swivel base. The American made ones usually are made differently than the asian imported ones.. A look at the underside might help determining it's origin and age.

PierceA

Hey fellas
You all were kind enough to give me some advice here a while back and I never replied.
Sorry.
I didn't get the vise. I balked. Did some looking around online and asked about it here.
When I called the seller the next day to buy it it was already gone. Needless to say I was crestfallen and put it out of my mind.
Just another lesson that you should trust your gut instincts and buy it now.
I did find this online so there's something of a record on it. Look for
391 5199

Vintage Vises - Craftsman Vises Database Details

Vintage Vises - Craftsman Vises dimensions specs and more.

www.vintagevises.com

Maui · Feb 20, 2024

davesnothere said:
Why am I not finding any good old vises in az dammit?!

You should be looking in the northeast. I am in upstate NY and have well over 100 vises. And I am planning on selling about half of them.

Maui

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