Prenitss #3 vise with swivel jaw?

tool_scrounge · Jan 4, 2014

I ran into this at a garage sale recently. I was surprised that no one had purchased it yet by the time I arrived. It was still bolted to the bench however. I paid for it quickly so there would be no question who bought it. After I liberating it from the bench then other folks became interested.

It is a Prentiss No. 3 made in New York. It has 4.5" wide jaws and the fixed jaw swivels. The weight is 53 lbs. The swivel locking pin comes out easily but the swivel jaw is stuck (no surprise). I'll probably soak it with Kroil so see if I can loosen it up.

Any idea on how old this is? On the far side of the movable jaw it has the numbers "3-20" but I am not sure if that means anything.

I searched Google and the Garage Journal for the Prentiss catalog pages I know have been posted but have been unable to locate them. Does anyone have a link to them?

Overall it is in really nice condition with no cracks. The handle has dings but is straight. The jaws also do not appear to be abused too much and have nice checkering. Seemed like an OK deal at $25.

454ragtop · Jan 4, 2014

Nice score! A little Kroil, and a few taps with a brass or lead hammer will probably free up the swivel.
HTH, Jim

SweetD · Jan 4, 2014

That vise was a great deal at $25, especially if nothing is significantly broken on it. Here is a bit more information listed from an old Prentiss catalogue pamphlet that I have:

Dave

Provincial · Jan 4, 2014

You ****!!!!

wrenchguy · Jan 4, 2014

Provincial said:
You ****!!!!

uh huh!, +15.
nice, i like prentiss vises, i think they r the best looking traditional vise out there.

balane · Jan 4, 2014

That's quite a score, definitely deserving a You ****. It's going to clean up really nice. For certain a desirable vise.

zoomieport · Jan 4, 2014

According to "Dayid's", it was made in 1922-23. But I don't know that for sure...

toomanytoyzz · Jan 4, 2014

tool_scrounge said:
After I liberating it from the bench then other folks became interested.

I scored a Wilton bullet some years back the same way. The guy having the GS said ten people asked if it was for sale. He told them $20 :scared:

. I couldn't get the money out of my pocket fast enough. I unbolted it from the bench using one of the ten adjustable wrenches he had for sale next to the vise :headscrat

. It's amazing how some people run from even the most menial amount of work.

Oh yeah, you **** :thumbup:

!!

oldldh · Jan 4, 2014

Warning---Warning!!!!

Maximum Suckage Detected, Will Robinson!!!!

drivesitfar · Jan 4, 2014

I'm not going to say how good of deal you got on that awesome old Prentiss so i'll just give you my help in maybe loosening up the swivel.

I have a couple Prentiss vises with the swivel jaws I need to restore and the first one i'm still waiting to set up my Electrolysis bath for the swivel jaw to come loose. I did get the pin out if yours is stuck by doing the following.

I shot it with Kano Kroil a few times after I took the dynamic jaw out and then put about a 2 inch bolt just smaller than the hole from underneath with the threads pointing upward, gave it a couple light taps on top of the bolt with a hammer handle because there isn't a lot of room inside that area and out it popped.

hopefully it is that easy or easier for you.

take things slow on the swivel because you have a great vise as you probably already know or maybe it will move easily after the pin is out.

good luck

tool_scrounge · Jan 5, 2014

zoomieport said:
According to "Dayid's", it was made in 1922-23. But I don't know that for sure...

Zoomiport:

Thanks for directing me to the http://dayid.org web site - I did not know about that site. It will be helpful in the future. If I am reading the Prentiss section correctly, I think the are saying that the Number three was made up to 1922/1923. In the literature section they show a 1916 ad with the Number 3:

http://dayid.org/mediawiki/images/8/8c/1916prentissad.jpg

Interestingly, in 1916 the Number 3 sold for $10.50. In today's dollars (if you believe the inflation index is accurate), it would sell for about $224. To me that seems low., considering what US Made Yost and Wilton's sell for.

tool_scrounge · Jan 5, 2014

drivesitfar said:
I'm not going to say how good of deal you got on that awesome old Prentiss so i'll just give you my help in maybe loosening up the swivel.

I have a couple Prentiss vises with the swivel jaws I need to restore and the first one i'm still waiting to set up my Electrolysis bath for the swivel jaw to come loose. I did get the pin out if yours is stuck by doing the following.

I shot it with Kano Kroil a few times after I took the dynamic jaw out and then put about a 2 inch bolt just smaller than the hole from underneath with the threads pointing upward, gave it a couple light taps on top of the bolt with a hammer handle because there isn't a lot of room inside that area and out it popped.

hopefully it is that easy or easier for you.

take things slow on the swivel because you have a great vise as you probably already know or maybe it will move easily after the pin is out.

good luck

I am taking it easy with the slide. As the vise is 90+ years old I do not want to be the one who ruined it. Thanks for the good advise on pin removal - fortunately that was only in finger tight on this vise. The swivel jaw is currently soaking in Kano Kroil. I'll reapply a few times over the next week and see if it will come free next weekend (using a lead mallet carefully if needed as 454ragtop suggested).

drivesitfar · Jan 5, 2014

the Prentiss sounds like it's in great hands now and looking forward to seeing a few more pictures. by the way do they sell lead hammers still or just brass ones because I think you just added another tool to my search list?

good luck and if you want to stop now I have a Benjamin in exchange for Mr. Prentiss!!

tool_scrounge · Jan 5, 2014

drivesitfar said:
the Prentiss sounds like it's in great hands now and looking forward to seeing a few more pictures. by the way do they sell lead hammers still or just brass ones because I think you just added another tool to my search list?

good luck and if you want to stop now I have a Benjamin in exchange for Mr. Prentiss!!

My lead hammers came from garage sales and are home made. I do not know if you can buy them anymore.

Your offer is tempting. Too bad you are not more in the area as shipping larger vises is a pain. At this point I will hang on to it (until I get annoyed with tripping over it).

tool_scrounge · Jan 5, 2014

For future reference for Prentiss vise owners who do not have a pin for the swivel jaw, here is a picture of mine with dimensions so you can machine a duplicate. I should probably post this in the VISE thread.

CNGsaves · Jan 5, 2014

Lifetime score you got on that great vise !!! :thumbup:

For $25, holy cow that's a screaming . . . . YOU **** !!!

Outlawmws · Jan 5, 2014

No wonder it won't rain here with that huge Low pressure zone caused by all that suckage!

bigcaddy · Jan 5, 2014

Prentiss Vise Co. crapped out in the late 1950s and was picked up by Parker for a few short years. Use that as your latest date and go backwards. I bet you are in range with the 20s-30's for that particular vise. The earliest models had a much different style of lettering on them.

tedsters · Jan 5, 2014

you got your self a nice good ole vise there that thing will clean up very nice

drivesitfar · Jan 5, 2014

tool scrounge,

i'm ready for a road trip next spring so keep tuning up your (MY) Prentiss and Benjamin can have a friend with him.

also really nice specs you drew of the swivel jaw's pin. i'm sure the handier guys on GJ loved it and for some of us that are a little less handy and don't own a nice metal lathe a guy on Ebay sells the pins for I think $35 if you get a vise that is missing one or has one buggered up.

Prenitss #3 vise with swivel jaw?

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member