Craftsman/Sears, Vise ID by Catalog

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

Lots of requests for "how old is my vise?" prompted me to get screen-shots of every vise I could from what I have available. Some are dupes from year to year, and some are known to be made by Reed or Columbian, and if those are noted to me, I'll update the makers where we can.

The three digit prefix on the model numbers indicate the maker (within reason, some get carried over into the buying company in a merger/acquisition.) FYI this also works for Sear's machine tools...

And a start for the Mfg list: (with quoted credits, sometimes from other threads...)

506 = Colombian

LB-1911 said:
506 = Columbian (bench vises)

First up, 1925 (Pre Craftsman Sears catalog)

1931

1933

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1937 1938 & 1939 (Note the jaw interface and ball on the main screw, these Machinist's (heavy Duty) vises are made by Reed, and apparently also by Rock island. Both Vises have features identical. (38-42 at least), and has been confirmed with at least one Reed Pat. No. if not the Model No. (5137? - This one may be Pre 1938 post 1933...)

1939 & 1940

1940

1940 & 1941 @ $19.95

1941

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1942 Power tools catalog

1942 Hand tools catalog

1945 Tools catalog - The two on the left have been positively ID'ed as Reed from an internal casting of reed on the nut of one of these.

1948 Power tools catalog

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1949

MFG of Letter A & B vises are Unknown - Columbian style U jaws, other features all over the map, some features are unique (in particular, the main nut backlash adjuster, and style/beefyness of the main nut head).

1952

1954
MFG of Letter J & K vises are Unknown - Columbian style U jaws, other features all over the map, some features are unique (in particular, the main nut backlash adjuster, and style/beefyness of the main nut head).

1957
MFG of Letter A & B vises are Unknown - Columbian style U jaws, other features all over the map, some features are unique (in particular, the main nut backlash adjuster, and style/beefyness of the main nut head).

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1960 518X series w/506 prefix - Colombian; w/391 prefix - Japan

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1966518X series w/506 prefix - Colombian; w/391 prefix - Japan

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1968

518X series w/506 prefix - Colombian; w/391 prefix - Japan

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

1973

518X series w/506 prefix - Colombian; w/391 prefix - Japan

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

OK its open for comments: future no 9

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

future no 10

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

future no 11

Outlawmws · May 9, 2012

future no 12

softailgarage · May 10, 2012

Can this be a sticky?

Stinger · May 10, 2012

Outlawmws said:

Thanks for posting these! I've got either the 1949 or 1954 4" version with the solid base ("J" in the pic above). I always wondered how old it was... :thumbup:

gregthor · May 10, 2012

Outlawmws- you have achieved omnipresent intergalactic oneness with tools, I bow to the master!!! There are simply no black holes in your knowledge of tools.......

Thanks for doing this Outlawmws!!! I have the owners booklet from when I bought my Craftsman 4 in vise in 1980. Would you like me to send you a pdf of it?

Greg

autopts · May 10, 2012

Great Presetation Outlaw! I had no idea that Rock Island made a 8" 345 lb vise Sometime in those years Craftsman had a fling with Reed also I think. Great photos!!.................

This beauty is not my vise or photo.

Outlawmws · May 10, 2012

softailgarage said:
Can this be a sticky?

up to the Mods,

Bull, can it be added to the sticky for stickies?

Outlawmws · May 10, 2012

gregthor said:
Outlawmws- you have achieved omnipresent intergalactic oneness with tools, I bow to the master!!! There are simply no black holes in your knowledge of tools.......

Thanks for doing this Outlawmws!!! I have the owners booklet from when I bought my Craftsman 4 in vise in 1980. Would you like me to send you a pdf of it?

Greg

Sure there are! I learn new stuff here every day! I just like to know what I have, and some of it's history, and I have quite a lot so...

Sure, I can add it to my pile, and since it is 1980, possibly get a bit more info in here. Can you also tell me the model No. prefix?

Outlawmws · May 10, 2012

autopts said:
Great Presetation Outlaw! I had no idea that Rock Island made a 8" 345 lb vise Sometime in those years Craftsman had a fling with Reed also I think. Great photos!!.................

This beauty is not my vise or photo.

Thanks Autopts. hopefully we can ID the Mfg's to the 3 digit model No. Prefix and then really ID what is in front of us. Got a start with Columbian, now if we can get Reed and Rock Island, and a few more...

Outlawmws · Jul 19, 2012

OK I was able to add some Pre Craftsman vises from a 1925 catalog. I also added a note about some Machinists vises (38-42) that are made by Rock Island...

If anyone can ID other mfg's, please do so!

larryq · Jul 20, 2012

Great thread Outlaw. Do you know what those badges were on the 1938-42 vises? Oval metal or (perhaps) painted on?

Outlawmws · Jul 20, 2012

larryq said:
Great thread Outlaw. Do you know what those badges were on the 1938-42 vises? Oval metal or (perhaps) painted on?

Sorry Larry, Not a clue on that. We mapped the RI to those from a RI vise to the catalog, not the other way around.

My guess would be raised and cast in though, easy for the foundry to add, and that WAS done by other tool makers, (notably Atlas on the "Craftsman" DP in my shop...) It won't have been oval metal that far back however...

MPOWERD · Feb 21, 2013

Outlawmws said:
1949

Letter A & B vises are Columbian made

1954
Letter J & K vises are Columbian made

1957
Letter A & B vises are Columbian made

Do you know what manufacturer made Vise C and G? Are they USA Made vises or an early import attempt?

Outlawmws · Feb 21, 2013

MPOWERD said:
Do you know what manufacturer made Vise C and G? Are they USA Made vises or an early import attempt?

Sorry, not a clue on that one.

bobcatdan · Feb 21, 2013

I would love one of those 345 pounders for $80. Of coarse probably only made $0.40 and hour in '39.

Catalyze · Feb 21, 2013

Thanks again Outlawmws for the irreplaceable catalog scans!!
I think that the C and G vises might be Dunlop brand. Not sure but I think so....LOL
Craig

Outlawmws · Feb 21, 2013

You are welcome Craig, BTW, Dunlap was not a manufacturer, it was Sears "lower end" (and no lifetime warranty) tool line back in the day. 1941 -~ 1963

MPOWERD · Mar 3, 2013

Do you know where to get replacement parts for the 1960s 506s?

PghJKB · May 1, 2013

First off -Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for these catalog pages. I have been going to http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id116.html for Craftsman vise info. Having these all here is fantastic!

I am trying to determine when the Rock Island / Reed / Colombian changes were made. I think there is a valuable clue here in these scans. The devil is in the details. :evil:

Looking at the text of the advertisements, notice that from 1938 to 1942 there is the statement: "Shipping weights are the same as actual weights. 5 1/2-inch jaw size and larger shipped prepaid from factory in Southern Illinois and you pay freight from there." Southern Illinois would be the home of Rock Island, correct? We can be reasonably sure Rock Island made Craftsmans until at least 1942.

By 1948 the vises are Columbian made. (I checked the Rose site and their 1948 catalog has the same vises pictured as the 1949 catalog.) Think we can conclude Reed started sometime after 1942 and the change to Columbian was no later than 1948? Looks like Reed lasted no more than five years.

Make sense?

Outlawmws · May 1, 2013

MPOWERD said:
Do you know where to get replacement parts for the 1960s 506s?

I think you are looking at parts vises, Eprey or the Vise parts thread here on GJ...

Outlawmws · May 1, 2013

I haven't got time right now to verify the details you are looking at, but the logic makes sense. :thumbup:

PghJKB said:
First off -Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for these catalog pages. I have been going to http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id116.html for Craftsman vise info. Having these all here is fantastic!

I am trying to determine when the Rock Island / Reed / Colombian changes were made. I think there is a valuable clue here in these scans. The devil is in the details. Looking at the text of the advertisements, notice that from 1938 to 1942 there is the statement: "Shipping weights are the same as actual weights. 5 1/2-inch jaw size and larger shipped prepaid from factory in Southern Illinois and you pay freight from there." Southern Illinois would be the home of Rock Island, correct? We can be reasonably sure Rock Island made Craftsmans until at least 1942.

By 1948 the vises are Columbian made. (I checked the Rose site and their 1948 catalog has the same vises pictured as the 1949 catalog.) Think we can conclude Reed started sometime after 1942 and the change to Columbian was no later than 1948? Looks like Reed lasted no more than five years.

Make sense?

HeelSpur · Jun 30, 2013

Don't see this one in that list, the base swivels 360 and has 3V5502 on the bottom.
Any idea of the year on this?

Outlawmws · Jun 30, 2013

Well that Dunlap is nothing like the one in the 1960 catalog page but as a frame of reference, the Dunlap TM was used from about 1941 to as late as 1963.

HeelSpur · Jun 30, 2013

Outlawmws said:
Well that Dunlap is nothing like the one in the 1960 catalog page but as a frame of reference, the Dunlap TM was used from about 1941 to as late as 1963.

OK I'll do some searching, thanks.

Outlawmws · Aug 5, 2013

More Vise Ads added! Mostly DP (Including the X-Y style), but some machinist's, DP and Homeowners vises as well. in the set of original posts. From about 37 to 48 (Some was just notations with added years/prices).

I may add some more as I get time to look in the power tool catalogs more closely.

oldldh · Aug 6, 2013

Now, about that 5198 resting under your workbench...

Provincial · Aug 6, 2013

I notice that the 5169 changed to a 5171 between 1954 and 1957. I wonder if they moved production offshore. This vise has a lot of similarity to the Columbian workshop grade vises. I wonder if it was made by them?

jeffmoss26 · Aug 6, 2013

Just realized my Samson vise is pictured in this thread!

Outlawmws · Aug 7, 2013

oldldh said:
Now, about that 5198 resting under your workbench...

I wish...

oldldh · Aug 7, 2013

The Craftsman 5197/5198 Vises :drool:

A.) Were figments of one of the writers of the 1948 Craftsman Catalog...He said, "I won't live to see it, but when they get those "picture phones" let's give them something that we don't have to look for..."

B.) Was actually made by Columbian, but was mislabeled and sold as a Reed...

C.) Were all shipped to England, melted down, made into wrought iron fences, which were torn down during one of their spates of urban renewal, sold to China, and shipped back to the US as Harbor Freight hammers... :thumbup:

D.) Are all located in Autopts/Zoomieports/et al's basement/vise store room/stash under the stairs/chained together out in the yard...etc...storage area.... :evil:

E.) Being saved from the market in anticipation of the impending Zombie Invasion.... :willy_nil

F. But being a tenacious old fart, I'm going to keep looking...maybe some/all of the above is wrong...but I doubt it...

P.S...I still think you've got one under your workbench somewhere...

Craftsman/Sears, Vise ID by Catalog

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