The VISES of Garage Journal
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RTM
Well-known member
I think it’s there, see below. He was thinking $650, then someone suggested he was too low. Jumped to $900, yours is a bargain. They also suggested Bench Vises Forever group.
davethorik
Well-known member
PierceA
Well-known member
I bought this little vise for three reasons:
1. It's a swivel jaw and an 'anvil' vise.
2. It's labeled as being made in Detroit. Just 40 miles from me.
3. It appears to be complete without any damage ! And original.
PierceA
I like using my Parker 978 as a display rack.
There is a slight casting error where the 'O' slipped then was cast in wrong..
1. It's a swivel jaw and an 'anvil' vise.
2. It's labeled as being made in Detroit. Just 40 miles from me.
3. It appears to be complete without any damage ! And original.
PierceA
I like using my Parker 978 as a display rack.
There is a slight casting error where the 'O' slipped then was cast in wrong..
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PierceA
Well-known member
Another small vise I'm happy to have: An Athol number 10. Quick release/adjust. 2-1/8" jaws
It's on a swivel base that I've not seen before. I rather doubt it was originally on this tilt/swivel base.
Does anyone recognize the base?
My Cheney No.10 in the background.
PierceA
It's on a swivel base that I've not seen before. I rather doubt it was originally on this tilt/swivel base.
Does anyone recognize the base?
My Cheney No.10 in the background.
PierceA
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Shiftless
Well-known member
PierceA:
All I can say is ...WOW!
All I can say is ...WOW!
CRSINMICH
Well-known member
Shift: Thanks. Just by coincidence, I had been looking at old catalogs the day before and happened to notice those jaw attachments.
Pierce A: Aw, you got the cute little one. I bought this Cheney #20 less than 10 miles from where it was made. I looked up the address on an old map of Detroit and found out that the foundry would have been about where the lobby of the GM building is today. The new-ish GM building, not the one just off Woodward.
I dig that Athol and the swivel base. You could look up the patent by the patent date.
Pierce A: Aw, you got the cute little one. I bought this Cheney #20 less than 10 miles from where it was made. I looked up the address on an old map of Detroit and found out that the foundry would have been about where the lobby of the GM building is today. The new-ish GM building, not the one just off Woodward.
I dig that Athol and the swivel base. You could look up the patent by the patent date.
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RTM
Well-known member
MayerMR
Well-known member
Yeah I agree...I don't like you railroad-stand-owning buggers anymore either haha
Well, there ya go! Can't say I haven't seen it anymore.
No worries, I was thinking that there might have been a massive one out there and I just had to see it.
Your post 82697, 839 mentioned but i took it as meaning a 439 which is a tuff 1 to find.
I've got a 439, but it's been repaired. First by an incompetent welder and then by a friend of mine, who is a fantastic welder, or I should say craftsman/artist. Unfortunately, due to the first guy not pre-heating and other things I don't understand about welding, this is as good as he could get it without causing more damage to the cast iron. I may end up brazing in the rest.
How rare are these? The 449s do seem to be the more common version.
I've been looking for the rear-sliding version of a Scout. Those suckers are rare.
Here is my Wards "Streamliner" still in its as-found condition:
And here is the Prentiss "Streamliner" that I restored a couple of years ago. Just love the Art Deco design of these vises:
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MayerMR
Well-known member
hey so I happen to have a vise main screw that might actually fit that vise. Can you PM me the dimensions and thread pitch? I can check it against the one I have for you.
Hey guys new to the forum. Looking for info on this Vise at work. I know its a Parker Vise but cant seem to research the model. Its either a 5X or 6X. Heavily painted over so its hard to tell which number. I know its a old vise.
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PierceA
Well-known member
Iggy: welcome to the vise addiction forum. I've never been sure if it's an affliction or an addiction ?
If you measure the jaw width, then compare to the info in the Vise INFO Spreadsheet, you ought to be able to figure out what model number the vise is..
Search this forum for 'Vise Info Thread'. The first post has a link to a big spreadsheet with a TON of information and a second section [accessible from the bottom of the main page] of links to brochures and sales literature..
PierceA
Here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805
I've never been sure if it's an affliction or an addiction ? If you measure the jaw width, then compare to the info in the Vise INFO Spreadsheet, you ought to be able to figure out what model number the vise is..
Search this forum for 'Vise Info Thread'. The first post has a link to a big spreadsheet with a TON of information and a second section [accessible from the bottom of the main page] of links to brochures and sales literature..
PierceA
Here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805
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Shiftless
Well-known member
Welcome, Iggy.
That looks like a 5X to me. How wide are the jaws? A 5X should have jaws a bit over 6 inches wide.
PierceA:
It looks like you and I were typing at the same time!
That looks like a 5X to me. How wide are the jaws? A 5X should have jaws a bit over 6 inches wide.
PierceA:
It looks like you and I were typing at the same time!
PierceA
Well-known member
Iggy: I looked in the spreadsheet, I don't see a 6x listed. 5x being the largest single-digit 'x' suffix vise.. 6-1/4" wide jaws.
Looking at your second photo, It looks like a 5 to me..
It's going to be at or more than 150#.. so don't unbolt it and drop it!!
PierceA.
Looking at your second photo, It looks like a 5 to me..
It's going to be at or more than 150#.. so don't unbolt it and drop it!!
PierceA.
PghJKB
Well-known member
Iggy
There is a spreadsheet with a ton of info here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...YI7UKRpUd3aheAE86KBQRBGb9s/edit#gid=666157805
According to the spreadsheet (and my eyes seeing a 5X Also, there is no 6X listed):
149lbs, 6.25 jaws, opens to 10.5, replaceable jaws, no anvil and stationary base (obviously).
No date range, others here can give you something of a date range.
JKB
Shiftless
Well-known member
Guys...remember that the spreadsheet, although a fantastic reference work, does not list every manufacturer and every model ever made. If anybody finds one that’s not on the list, notify KMScott to get it added on. That’s how the list got to be so good.
PierceA
Well-known member
Iggy: That is a nice looking shop showing in the background of your photos. What is it that the shop does/makes ??
Is that a Pit in the floor? So maybe a semi-truck service / repair shop?
PierceA
Is that a Pit in the floor? So maybe a semi-truck service / repair shop?
PierceA
zoomieport
Well-known member
RTM, that's rare bird with an unicorn attachment.---Wish it was mine.
VA,
Checkout these spring loaded ATHOL 2-1/2" adjusters, I love them!
ZOOM
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I work for Amtrak. The Wilmington Shops in Delaware. A overhaul and heavy repair shop for locomotives. Built in 1903 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. So come across some old stuff in the shop.
WHY?, we are just renewing the historical tradition of "masked men" taking things that belonged to the railroad.
GForceJunky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
- Messages
- 562
That's super cool. Bet there's been a ton of incredible American Iron that's passed through that shop in the last ~120 years. Got any other cool pictures you can share? Imagine all the giant stands and vises that were probably in there at one point. Mmmmm
That's super cool. Bet there's been a ton of incredible American Iron that's passed through that shop in the last ~120 years. Got any other cool pictures you can share? Imagine all the giant stands and vises that were probably in there at one point. Mmmmm
Photos of in the shop. An old photo of when the shop was built compared to modern day. And another old vise.
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Hello All I am new here and hoping for some help finding some information about my vise. I found this vise in the dirt floor of my grandfathers barn. He passed away 15 years ago and it has been sitting up under the old work bench for who knows how long. I have since sand blasted and painted it and cant find any makers marks other than an "O" stamped on the two main parts of the vise. I am a machinist by trade and have seen a lot of vises but never one like this. It seems to be made backwards from most vises I have ever seen and doesn't have a bench vise type base. any help Identifying it would be greatly appreciated
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PierceA
Well-known member
Iggy: if you go to the Vise Info Spreadsheet that we posted links to above and then go to the bottom of the page/screen, there is an additional spreadsheet of posted brochures etc.. There are several old ones posted on the Charles Parker vises. If you look through them you might get a 'handle' on when the 5x was offered and when it no longer was offered by Parker. This is likely as close to you learning when it was made..
Unfortunately Parker did not date mark their vises.. Reed did, as did Wilton, and I think Rock Island. With the Parker product line it's more of guessing by a matter of eliminating when it 'could' have been purchased..
That 5x is a very hefty vise.. Can you take and post more photos of it?
Any chance you might be able to purchase it for yourself?
PierceA
Unfortunately Parker did not date mark their vises.. Reed did, as did Wilton, and I think Rock Island. With the Parker product line it's more of guessing by a matter of eliminating when it 'could' have been purchased..
That 5x is a very hefty vise.. Can you take and post more photos of it?
Any chance you might be able to purchase it for yourself?
PierceA
va.grouseman
Well-known member
Rmnewcom, looks like a Millers Falls Railroad Vise.
Welcome to the forum.---Nice vise, pretty rare.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1906621912...MIjpagkM3l7gIVa8qzCh35zwibEAQYASABEgLJSvD_BwE
Welcome to the forum.---Nice vise, pretty rare.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1906621912...MIjpagkM3l7gIVa8qzCh35zwibEAQYASABEgLJSvD_BwE
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Fierljeppen
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That's a really nice find! It's a derivative of a (1865) Amos H. Brainard Patent Vise.
Long story short, Amos H. Brainard invented a vise and was the manufacturer as well, (The Union Vise Co). While trying to improve the manufacturing of the vise jaws, Brainard invented and built his own milling machines. These became so useful and popular that he started selling them. Well that part of the business became so fruitful that he sold the vise business to the Backus Vise Co. of Millers Falls, MA. Eventually, the Millers Falls Co. of the same town became the mfg. and continued producing those vises into the late 1800's.
The mfg. of your vise was either The Union Vise Co., the Backus Vise Co. or the Millers Falls Co.
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Here's another on of those no-markings vises. This one looks awfully like the Prentiss 21, without replaceable jaws. The only # I saw was a "77" casting# as seen in one of the photos. Sorry for not snapping a shot of it before I took stuff apart. Will throw an edit back in with that shot. This thing is actually in pretty good shape.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
Shift: My Parker Streamliner Barn Fresh and still dusty from my shop:
PA: I also have an Athol No 10, but its a through bench swivel base; Still has the Top plate the original bottom plate and wing nut are MIA, and the main screw was replaced. I cobbled up the bottom hardware out of stuff I had. That said, the jaws fit together more precise than most bench vises! I should do something with it for real use.
And one that was handy - a small clamp on I like quite a lot, I need to make a decent spreader washer for it though. Resembles the Stanley 74x series, and as I recall we ID'ed it to German made?
PA: I also have an Athol No 10, but its a through bench swivel base; Still has the Top plate the original bottom plate and wing nut are MIA, and the main screw was replaced. I cobbled up the bottom hardware out of stuff I had. That said, the jaws fit together more precise than most bench vises! I should do something with it for real use.
And one that was handy - a small clamp on I like quite a lot, I need to make a decent spreader washer for it though. Resembles the Stanley 74x series, and as I recall we ID'ed it to German made?
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That's a really nice find! It's a derivative of a (1865) Amos H. Brainard Patent Vise.
Long story short, Amos H. Brainard invented a vise and was the manufacturer as well, (The Union Vise Co). While trying to improve the manufacturing of the vise jaws, Brainard invented and built his own milling machines. These became so useful and popular that he started selling them. Well that part of the business became so fruitful that he sold the vise business to the Backus Vise Co. of Millers Falls, MA. Eventually, the Millers Falls Co. of the same town became the mfg. and continued producing those vises into the late 1800's.
The mfg. of your vise was either The Union Vise Co., the Backus Vise Co. or the Millers Falls Co.
that is great information. thanks
Its funny you guys said something about a railroad vise. my grandfathers property is right on the railroad track. His barn is literally 50 yards from the track. there is this big long wrench looking thing propped up in the corner that according to my uncle turned up on the side of the track one day. It is a tool used to move the track around, kinda like a big lever. I wonder if that is how he came to possess this old vise. It may have fell off a piece of equipment working on the track and ended up in his yard.
va.grouseman
Well-known member
Rmnewcom, that particular one on eBay is 168lbs. and built solid as Gibraltar, and pretty rare to boot.---You didn't say how big yours was, but all cleaned up, you have a fairly valuable item there.
I won't attempt to venture a value as I've never bought or priced one of those RR vises.---Everyone prices and values their treasures differently, but I will say this, that every time I've seen one of those RR vises for sale they were too rich for me.---There's fellows on this forum that have bought and sold 100s of vises and they can if they will, narrow it down to a reasonable ballpark figure for you.
That’s a first gen Prentiss and it looks like it’s in beautiful condition. Nice find.
Well you got my curiosity up so I had to go out in the shop with my wife's bathroom scales and weigh it. I knew it was heavy but wasn't sure how much but it weighed 118lbs. The jaws measure 6 1/4" wide. I don't know if the handle in it is original or not but my suspicion is that it isn't. It just seems more modern and it isn't tight in the hole in the lead screw.
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va.grouseman
Well-known member
Handle looks a little longer than the one in Fierljeppen's poster but that is only cosmetic.---You can rectify that easy enough.
va.grouseman
Well-known member
ZOOM, where do you find all these unicorns.---I have 2 different types of Prentiss accessory jaw attachments but there have been several examples of the same on this forum.---Outlaw has several sets of the same as mine, but you keep finding all these 1 offs.
---It's not right, it's just not fair. Seriously, you keep digging them up, cause if you don't keep finding them then the rest of us will never know they ever existed.---Congrats on a very rare bird.
Rmnewcom, I have a similar beast at work, where it was most likely bought new. I was always wondering what it was! If it's the same 6 1/4" jawed vise as yours, I can get some more shots and dimensions of the handle, if you're interested.
va.grouseman, Fierljeppen: great historical info on these beasts.
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wrenchguy
Well-known member
Gandy dancers bar, there's differnt styles of bars they danced with.
Thanks Smitty. I know there's been a lot of discussion regarding these un-marked Prentisses, but any definitive answers?
Why no markings?
Were they manufactured by Prentiss, or contracted out?
Are they budget (as in less robust) models compared to the marked Prentisses?
Do they have any definitive designations?
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dannyr
Well-known member
Here's another unusual vise from UK (slightly less rare than the others I showed, but still quite scarce):
The Blair by George Blair of Armor Carr works (previously of Newcastle) "Double Power grip All Steel" - 6in wide jaw 90lbs - if you have to beat steel on the back of a vise this is the one, not those delicate 'anvils' on some. As found, recently, cost me $70.Much later than those others - I guess made about 1980s-1990s.
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dannyr
Well-known member
And here is the standard around which the usual English non-quick-release vises were made - the second version of the Parkinsons' Handy Vise - a good solid user -- by other makers who copied Parkinsons but with small detail differences usually in the static casting shape, I guess mostly seen in the US as Record of Sheffield or US company Irwin Record (made where?), but also Dawn of Australia, at least one Canadian maker, and more than 10 different makers in England. This one a Registered Design Parkinsons' Handy No4 - cost me $30 with light rust - say 80 years old will go on forever with reasonable use. 4.75in wide jaws, 48lbs. (3rd of these pix, obviously)
And a couple of US-made finds of the last few days -- an Athol with numbers 93 and 836 -- 5in wide jaws weighs 70lbs. Cost just $20 on the bay. And a Parker 270 - swivel/swivel - the seller didn't know the static jaw swivelled and because it had been many times painted over this kept the interface fairly clear of serious rust - not too much work to free it 3.25in jaws, 32lbs - cost $70 from the same place.
Weights approximate (fishing spring scale - no longer adviseable to use the bathroom scales).
My personal favourites are very old or unusual vises, so I probably won't keep these 3.
And a couple of US-made finds of the last few days -- an Athol with numbers 93 and 836 -- 5in wide jaws weighs 70lbs. Cost just $20 on the bay. And a Parker 270 - swivel/swivel - the seller didn't know the static jaw swivelled and because it had been many times painted over this kept the interface fairly clear of serious rust - not too much work to free it 3.25in jaws, 32lbs - cost $70 from the same place.
Weights approximate (fishing spring scale - no longer adviseable to use the bathroom scales).
My personal favourites are very old or unusual vises, so I probably won't keep these 3.
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