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Fellow Vise Hunters: Milwaukee Morgan Vises are AWESOME!

1

1982fxr

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I'm posting this because from what I understand these are mainly sold through industrial and/or government channels and many people (like me) may have never seen one in person. They are absolutely worth taking the time to go see one if the price is in your range.

We're talking Wilton Bullet heavy duty here. As good as anything I've come across. I think I read on here that these were called Chicago Morgan a while back. Does anyone know if these are actually made in Milwaukee, Chicago, or...?

The only negatives are that the lock-downs are chincy and it would be nice if it had pipe jaws. If you are looking for a good vise and come across one of these...go get it!:rocker:
 

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WWIIjeep

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1982fxr said:
I think I read on here that these were called Chicago Morgan a while back. Does anyone know if these are actually made in Milwaukee, Chicago, or...?
Click to expand...

The original Morgan vise company was in Chicago. Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co. is the current owner of Morgan. They replaced "Chicago" with "Milwaukee." Yes, they're made in Milwaukee and they're still in business.


1982fxr said:
The only negatives are that the lock-downs are chincy and it would be nice if it had pipe jaws. If you are looking for a good vise and come across one of these...go get it!:rocker:
Click to expand...

Yeah, the lock-down handles leave a little to be desired. If they'd do a neater job of forming the handle ends it would go a long way toward making them work better.

I've got the next size up from yours. My solution for the lock-down handles was to remove them and just use 5/8" nuts. I don't swivel the vise very often, so it's not a big deal to just grab a wrench when necessary. Someday maybe I'll remember to order a couple of acorn nuts and replace the plain nuts.

d9366ceb.jpg


I bought the jaw caps from Milwaukee Tool & Equipment Co.:

http://www.milwmal.com/v_bras.htm
 
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1

1982fxr

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thanks WWII. That's pretty cool that they are made in Milwaukee--I was born and raised in Wisconsin, so that gives it some extra cool points for me.

I'm definitely gonna go the ''nut'' route for the lock-downs as well. Eventually she'll be gloss red. There is a 8"er on phoenix cl for a cool $1,000 right now....ehhh a little rich for my blood:beer:
 
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Jason280

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Tag, just picked up a Morgan Milwaukee vise that I will be rehabilitating soon...
 
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1982fxr

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dang this is an oldie...this is what the above ended up looking like
 

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jrobb316

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I went down to Milwaukee tool and equipment last year and picked up a Morgan 150 off the shelf. The swivel base is not attached in the pic. Got a tour and all, super nice guys with great pride in their work. I posted some pics in the vise thread of pallets full of 6" and 8" ers.
 

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jrobb316

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Vise was 350, swivel base was 100. It's like 30-35% off list and like I said I walked into the plant and paid for it, no shipping. I believe the list price includes shipping.
 
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dutchgray

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I have a 4" fixed base Chicago that I found, they are a nice vise, if I see another Morgan I'm buying it but USA vises are relatively rare over here.
 
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Jarhead0408

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That's not too bad considering it's brand new from the factory and made in the U.S.

Looks like it would last a lifetime or three. Burns me up to see the cheap pot metal vises people buy.
 
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jrobb316

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It says made in the USA on the other side. It's a buy once cry once situation and of course a couple months after buying it I found a Morgan Chicago 150 on Chicago CL. I happened to be in a training class that week and just picked it up on my way home one night. The ultimate plan is a 8 foot bench with the dualing 5" Morgan's on each end. Paid 150 for the Chicago and its in super nice shape. I'm a big Morgan fan.

Oh yeah, picked up a grinder that day too lol
 

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Jarhead0408

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I'm guessing the dueling vises would be extremely useful for fabrication right?

There's a Morgan 45 for sale near me, but after just scoring a Parker 956 and hoping to pick up a Wilton Bullet on Monday, I don't think $75 for the Morgan is on the cards.

Those 6 and 8 inch Morgans look like beaut's though.
 
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bobcatdan

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I have a 6" Morgan, Chicago and I had zero problems calling them up and ordering new jaw inserts. Very nice on the phone and had them there in a couple days. Fit perfectly.
 
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jrobb316

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Jarhead0408 said:
I'm guessing the dueling vises would be extremely useful for fabrication right?

There's a Morgan 45 for sale near me, but after just scoring a Parker 956 and hoping to pick up a Wilton Bullet on Monday, I don't think $75 for the Morgan is on the cards.

Those 6 and 8 inch Morgans look like beaut's though.
Click to expand...

A Morgan 45 for $75 isn't bad, but could be had cheaper. At $50 I don't think I could say no. They're very heavy. The 956 should cover whatever you need to do, that's a nice one. What did that guy run you? I am also going to put smooth jaws on the Morgan Chicago 150 and keep the serrated on the Milwaukee.

When down at the plant I asked about jaw inserts for the Chicago vintage vises, they make them and had them all In stock. Obviously the Milwaukee ones they have as well. At some point they switched from screwed In jaws to pinned. I like the pinned as you have the whole face without screw holes.
 
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drivesitfar

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82: I totally AGREE that MORGAN VISES ARE GREAT. I've had and have several.

great job spiffing up yours and painting it red (not PINK?). i'd probably use the original swivel bolt nuts or if you can find a shorter bolt with maybe a acorn nut on top maybe in brass that might be better because what you have might work better, but would drive me crazy.

I bet it's getting close to 100 in your garage at night these days so hope you have AC out there too.
 
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Jarhead0408

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jrobb316 said:
A Morgan 45 for $75 isn't bad, but could be had cheaper. At $50 I don't think I could say no. They're very heavy. The 956 should cover whatever you need to do, that's a nice one. What did that guy run you?
Click to expand...

I don't think I'd turn it down for $50 either.

The 956 was pricey at $230 (down from $250), but I feel like I got a decent deal. Vises larger than 4 inches rarely ever pop up around here and when they do, many are beat to hell and back. This one will last my lifetime and then some. I'm sure one day I'll have a grandson using it in the shop.
 
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BajaScout

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Posted this on an older thread. This thread has more info on the issue with the swivel base. Not even sure mine came with a swivel base. If so, maybe it is not worth my time and effort to chase down a swivel base even if it did come with one. Appreciate any info folks may have.

Attached is a Morgan Chicago vise I have had for 20+ years. Been sitting in my garage. It has Morgan Chicago on one side. On the other side is a star with the number 4. Has 4 inch jaws. My dad and I got the vise with a bench we bought from General Dynamics/Convair when they closed up shop here in San Diego around 1995. It is missing the swivel plate and the lock down components. The jaws are also missing. Wouldn't mind restoring it if I could find the parts I need to put it back together. Anyone have a lead on where to get parts for these vises? Is it possible this is a fixed base vise?
 

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Cope

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BajaScout said:
Posted this on an older thread. This thread has more info on the issue with the swivel base. Not even sure mine came with a swivel base. If so, maybe it is not worth my time and effort to chase down a swivel base even if it did come with one. Appreciate any info folks may have.

Attached is a Morgan Chicago vise I have had for 20+ years. Been sitting in my garage. It has Morgan Chicago on one side. On the other side is a star with the number 4. Has 4 inch jaws. My dad and I got the vise with a bench we bought from General Dynamics/Convair when they close up shop here in San Diego around 1995. It is missing the swivel plate and the lock down components. The jaws are also missing. Wouldn't mind restoring it if I could find the parts I need to put it back together. Anyone have a lead on where to get parts for these vises? Is it possible this is a fixed base vise?
Click to expand...

Should be able to get the jaws straight from the factory. Your vise has three mounting holes, so it could well be a fixed base.
 
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bluebolt

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BajaScout said:
Posted this on an older thread. This thread has more info on the issue with the swivel base. Not even sure mine came with a swivel base. If so, maybe it is not worth my time and effort to chase down a swivel base even if it did come with one. Appreciate any info folks may have.

Attached is a Morgan Chicago vise I have had for 20+ years. Been sitting in my garage. It has Morgan Chicago on one side. On the other side is a star with the number 4. Has 4 inch jaws. My dad and I got the vise with a bench we bought from General Dynamics/Convair when they close up shop here in San Diego around 1995. It is missing the swivel plate and the lock down components. The jaws are also missing. Wouldn't mind restoring it if I could find the parts I need to put it back together. Anyone have a lead on where to get parts for these vises? Is it possible this is a fixed base vise?
Click to expand...

Give Milwaukee Tool a call, here's the website. http://www.milwtool.com/v_star.htm
 
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sjl501

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My grandfather was an avid woodworker and had 2 morgan vises in his workshop in Chicago. (Morgan Chicago 40 Machinist Vise & Morgan Chicago 200A Woodworking Vise) He passed about 30 years ago, and the vises have been sitting in this or that garage ever since... Now they have found their way to me. I'm a computer guy, and I won't make use of them, but I know they're quality, vintage vises that should go to a good home. I've posted them on CraigsList, and have had a few nibbles, but I'm investigating forums like this to see if I can find people who really want these specific vises and will make good use of them. Where's the best place to advertise these online, in the Chicago area?
 
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jrobb316

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sjl501 said:
My grandfather was an avid woodworker and had 2 morgan vises in his workshop in Chicago. (Morgan Chicago 40 Machinist Vise & Morgan Chicago 200A Woodworking Vise) He passed about 30 years ago, and the vises have been sitting in this or that garage ever since... Now they have found their way to me. I'm a computer guy, and I won't make use of them, but I know they're quality, vintage vises that should go to a good home. I've posted them on CraigsList, and have had a few nibbles, but I'm investigating forums like this to see if I can find people who really want these specific vises and will make good use of them. Where's the best place to advertise these online, in the Chicago area?
Click to expand...

You are roughly double what someone will pay for each of those. The 40, being a stationary base is less desirable than a swivel, even though its equally as quality. They are in nice shape though, a little dealing will move them on to the next owner.
 
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jrobb316

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454ragtop said:
Just finished refurbing a Morgan swivel jaw, swivel base. I'll get some pics in a day or 2.
Click to expand...

I'm almost done with a Morgan Chicago 335. Can't wait to see which one you found, they're very hard to find!
 
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454ragtop

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jrobb316 said:
I'm almost done with a Morgan Chicago 335. Can't wait to see which one you found, they're very hard to find!
Click to expand...

Mine's a 335 as well, possibly started life with the Navy? Found a "US" stamp with an anchor stamp between the letters on the swivel jaw behind the insert.
 

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jonshonda

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There is a Morgan Milwaukee 88 (4.5") for sale near me (w/ pipe jaws)....but they seller wants $175. IF he wanted $75 I might wait a few weeks then offer $50.
 
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jrobb316

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454ragtop said:
Mine's a 335 as well, possibly started life with the Navy? Found a "US" stamp with an anchor stamp between the letters on the swivel jaw behind the insert.
Click to expand...

They must have made 2 different styles, mine is totally different. And I've never seen another one like it. The swivel is on a "turret" and can literally rotate 180 degrees. The turret is pinned in and it has a huge swivel pin. I've got to get it done next week and post up some pics. Supposed to be a nice weekend anyways for some painting, its already naked.
 
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exmaxima1

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jrobb316 said:
They must have made 2 different styles, mine is totally different. And I've never seen another one like it. The swivel is on a "turret" and can literally rotate 180 degrees. The turret is pinned in and it has a huge swivel pin. I've got to get it done next week and post up some pics. Supposed to be a nice weekend anyways for some painting, its already naked.
Click to expand...

Did you ever get your Morgan 335 finished? I just picked up a 340 that I'm restoring and it does not have a "turret" like you describe, it's just like Ragtop's. I suspect yours might actually be an American Scale model that was contracted to Morgan (pic attached):

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429615

Also, what color was yours originally? Mine looks to be originally gray under the current red, yet there are also areas of a green color (possibly primer?).
 

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lardy1

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I don't know too much about these but there's one in this weeks local auction. I'm throwing my hat in the ring. I don't really need another vise but this one intrigues me.
 
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Mgdoug3

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I love my Morgan that was my grandfather's. It's not as nice as my Wilton 400HD but I'll never get rid of it. I installed new jaws and they have a lot of bite. My Wilton has smooth jaws so it's much easier on parts I don't want chewed up. I polished the lead screw, made a new handle and added a thrust washer. It's as good as new.
 

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1982fxr

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aboyer202 said:
Sorry to necro an old thread, but I'm trying to figure out if this is worth taking a flyer on for $35 or $40

1737172168548.png
Click to expand...
Eh, those are pretty crappy. It's just a clamp so if you like it, whatever but it's well kinda ******.

I thought that was actually a completely different company but I could be wrong.
 
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Shiftless

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aboyer202 said:
Sorry to necro an old thread, but I'm trying to figure out if this is worth taking a flyer on for $35 or $40

1737172168548.png
Click to expand...
Thats a pretty extreme close up.
Does the vise look like the one in this catalog page? I don’t think so. I see a Morgan 3 1/2 but not a 3 3/4 :dunno:

D392952C-6203-47C5-BA71-BAC7BB1B953E.jpeg
 
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RTM

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RTM

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Here is it’s brother, about 2 & 6 posts later ID’d as Milwaukee

The VISES of Garage Journal

Good morning GJ, I am attempting to plan out the next few estate sales I am hoping to hit. I have “bad” pictures of two different vises at sales and I am hoping someone here can possibly identify either of these vises so that I can decide if they are worth taking off from work to try to grab...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
 
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Renegade1LI

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They're a good vise, I find them in old schools all the time and the woodworking vise as well. Even found a few new ones, gave a bunch away to friends, saved a few to sell.
 

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