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The VISES of Garage Journal

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EOC_Jason

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Sounds like a project to build a bigger work bench!!!!

While I'm posting, here's a couple pictures of the re-finished vise stand for my 33 CPN... It is literally all solid steel now... The whole thing probably weighs as much as just your vise LMAO! :willy_nil
 

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C.BRAXMAIER

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Another restore for the colection, I picked this simplex off zoom a while back..
 

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C.BRAXMAIER

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Columbian 604, I geuss you could say i had nothing better to do this weekend..
 

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EOC_Jason

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What are those jaws made of on that simplex? Copper? Bronze? Hmm... that gives me an idea, kind of a little more unique that plain old aluminum.... Columbian looks nice too.

EDIT - I *knew* I saw that Columbian lately on eBay! :) Yes, since I don't sleep much I surf eBay...
 
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C.BRAXMAIER

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EOC_Jason said:
What are those jaws made of on that simplex? Copper? Bronze? Hmm... that gives me an idea, kind of a little more unique that plain old aluminum.... Columbian looks nice too.

EDIT - I *knew* I saw that Columbian lately on eBay! :) Yes, since I don't sleep much I surf eBay...
Click to expand...

At first I thought they were brass, after cleaning it up a little they look like copper, im really not sure now..:dunno:
 
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Lump

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C.BRAXMAIER said:
At first I thought they were brass, after cleaning it up a little they look like copper, im really not sure now..:dunno:
Click to expand...

You know, maybe it's really "both."

Seriously...they could be bronze, which is an alloy of both brass and copper, I believe. I know that bronze can be made to be really strong. A client of mine makes windshield pillar posts for 32 Ford Roadster bodies out of cast bronze, which is tough enough to handle the job.
 
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Outlawmws

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C.BRAXMAIER said:
At first I thought they were brass, after cleaning it up a little they look like copper, im really not sure now..:dunno:
Click to expand...

It depends on what you cleaned it up with: if it was done chemically, then brass/bronze can take a copper cast. If done abrasively or with a polishing compound like Mothers, then it will have it's natural coloration. Just by the looks I'd say copper.
 
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EOC_Jason

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Brass = Copper + Zinc
Bronze = Copper + Tin

Usually brass is more yellow, but really the tint of both alloys just depends on what is mixed in and in what proportions.

Just from the tint and the wear, I think it has to be bronze from some of the pics... Brass would be too soft and with all that pounding it would be a lot more deformed. But that close-up of the jaws just has that copper tint... So again it's hard to tell.... *shrug*

You could always take it to a scrap metal place and have them shoot it with their ID gun to be 100% sure.

I'll post some pics of all three metals tomorrow side by side for comparison.
 
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automobiliben

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Greenville, SC
This is a, what I believe, Wilton 6.5" that I picked up a while back for $100. It is in good shape, could take to be repainted but that will come ina bit. Honestly, it is a bit overkill for my needs but everything else in my shop is overkill, so....

Am I correct that it is a Wilton?

702570717_photobucket_2325_.jpg


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And it next to the Chiwanese Craftsman it replaced...

702570717_photobucket_2314_.jpg
 
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C.BRAXMAIER

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Outlawmws said:
It depends on what you cleaned it up with: if it was done chemically, then brass/bronze can take a copper cast. If done abrasively or with a polishing compound like Mothers, then it will have it's natural coloration. Just by the looks I'd say copper.
Click to expand...

No chemicals just a lot of elbow grease..:lol_hitti
 
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EOC_Jason

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automobiliben said:
This is a, what I believe, Wilton 6.5" that I picked up a while back for $100. It is in good shape, could take to be repainted but that will come ina bit. Honestly, it is a bit overkill for my needs but everything else in my shop is overkill, so....

Am I correct that it is a Wilton?
Click to expand...

Yes, that one *had* a sticker on the other side of the body (where the rectangular indentation is) but like most they wear off quickly...
 
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autopts

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Lump said:
By the way, before someone asks, I paid $250 for it. I know that is a bunch of money, but it seems to have been used very little, it's huge, and I like it.

Besides, I've been needing something like this for tying trout flies, you know?

In my world, I think that was a very good price for that big boy and for a vise that size, your right, its in very nice condition. Great photos also!
Click to expand...
 
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bigcaddy

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Orange County/ San Fernando Valley
Here is the Monarch that i picked up recently, just like the one Outlaw found last week. This is a 217 model with 4 1/2" jaws.

I've been avoiding working on my vise projects do to the hot but today wasn't nearly as hot and i was a bit more motivated.

These pics were taken right before the whole thing was blown apart and tossed into the shock tub. Its gonna need a few small repairs, (hidden crack in stationary jaw slide tunnel, new set screw for operating nut collar) but in overall good shape for my collection

Hopefully ill have it ready for paint by this weekend.
 

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Outlawmws

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Question on the Monarch original colors: Semi gloss black? I remember a post that said Prentiss used semi gloss black; was this consistent on all the models?
 
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J HAV

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Houston, TX
Went to go look at a work bench I was thinking of buying today. Got there and it was really well built other then it needed a paint job, but it was worth it. He was asking $100 bucks for the table. So as I'm looking at the bench inspecting it... I see a pile of vises off in the distance:drool:....So I mosey on over to them and see what kind of rusty gold the guy has. I ask him if any are for sale and he says everythings for sale here.... So he calls up the guy who owns the place and hands me the phone. I tell the guy I'll offer him $75 for the table and he says mmmmmm ok. I then ask if he would throw in one the vises for $25 more bucks for an even $100. He says mmmmmmmmmmmm OK, pick you one out. So I mosey back on over to the rusty gold pile and pick out the Wilton 1755. I then mosey back to my truck, I throw it in the back, and BURNED OFF :3gears: . Oh, and I got the work bench also lol. The handle is a little bent , but I think it was worth the extra $25. It's gonna be my new work horse.
 

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J HAV

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HAHAHAHA.... Yea you know me. There was a big columbian with a handle shaped like a "U" and had a broken jaw insert. There was a Reed 204R that had a bent handle I'm thinking I might go back and get now that I'm typing this lol... And some other china ****. The Wilton was actually the one in best condition.
 
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Catalyze

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Very nice efforts by all involved!
Brax - really like the two vises...copper jaws and a nice old Columbian too

Jason - Ridgid always seemed to be around the oil field...when I lived in a town that went thru several "booms", you could always find Ridgid tools around

Lump - you are living proof that "the hills" can be conquered! Soon you will have a reality show following you around

Bigcaddy - nice Monarch! I have no clue why Prentiss had a separate line unless one was a "premiere" line and one was trade....the Lion ain't saying I bet....
Craig
 
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bigcaddy

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Catalyze said:
Very nice efforts by all involved!
Brax - really like the two vises...copper jaws and a nice old Columbian too

Jason - Ridgid always seemed to be around the oil field...when I lived in a town that went thru several "booms", you could always find Ridgid tools around

Lump - you are living proof that "the hills" can be conquered! Soon you will have a reality show following you around

Bigcaddy - nice Monarch! I have no clue why Prentiss had a separate line unless one was a "premiere" line and one was trade....the Lion ain't saying I bet....
Craig
Click to expand...

Thanks, Craig. I actually took a close look at it this afternoon and was surprised at how nice/smooth the casting is on the Monarch. All of the lettering is very smooth and easy to read with very little pitting in the casting. The jaws were extremely tight fitting and required a drift, torch and brass hammer to get them loose. No slop there at all!

It would seem this is a higher quality line but the finishing out work is terrible. Any flashing areas that were ground in the factory were done poorly and the rear mounting hole is visibly off center by at least an 1/8". Maybe this one was made on a Friday and Mason Prentiss had something else on his mind:beer:
 
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EOC_Jason

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Actually Prentiss had three lines:

1 - Machinists' Adjustable Jaw (Top of the line, the static jaw had the pin you could pull out to swivel)
2 - Machinists' Bull Dog (Solid Jaw)
2 - Monarch (Solid Jaw - "Lighter Duty")

I think my old scans of the Monarch line are on my other computer at home. I *think* they might weigh a little less? I haven't heard anyone complain their Monarch was too wimpy, so who knows... ;) I do like the lion logo, that is not something you see on vises of those days, most just were pretty blah with their name, model, and patent info.

EDIT - Quick ebay search I found some pages...

To compare some of the same sizes:

4.5" Jaw / 6" Open / Stationary

Adjustable Jaw (No. 3) - 54 lbs
Bulldog (No 52) - 52 lbs
Monarch (No 217) - 42 lbs

Although I found in a different print the No 52 weight changed to 42 lbs... So I don't know if one is a mis-print or what...

I'm pretty sure I read on one of the old prints they said the monarch was lighter duty, but I could be wrong. Someone else posted that there was actually a Monarch company and simply that Prentiss made the vises for them.

Either way, bulldog or monarch they are both sweet... :)
 
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bigcaddy

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I think Monarchs are one of the more highly adorned vises out there when it comes to "artwork". Is there any other brand of vise that has an animal cast into the metal?

My No. 10 Swivel Jaw Coach Makers vise has the more decorative text on the side and my big No. 57 is as plain as the words i'm typing right here.

The tiny "Gipsy" is pretty neat looking but kind of an oddball vise considering what else they make.
 
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EOC_Jason

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bigcaddy said:
I think Monarchs are one of the more highly adorned vises out there when it comes to "artwork". Is there any other brand of vise that has an animal cast into the metal?
Click to expand...

I totally agree. That is one thing that catches my eye on any of the older vises. Anything with fancy lettering or logos is above & beyond the normal pack and IMO worth a little premium. Heck, even the Prentiss logo style changed over the years from the fancy curved Prentiss text to just a blah little button sized logo / model number.

EDIT - Found this ad, might be helpful. ;)
 

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