The VISES of Garage Journal

va.grouseman · Dec 1, 2017

robert058 said:
thanks g-manbart for referring me to this forum -

looking for any information on this very fine vise:
No markings whatsoever.

Looks similar to this one.---I can't remember the name of it, but it sold on EBay for $855.00 if memory serves.---I don't know how to do it, but Outlawman knows how to go back and research past EBay sales.---Some magic trick he has.---He might could find the name for you. :dunno:

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

Daemione:
That's a great vise and its great that it has a new home where it will be loved and preserved for future generations. It looks to be in great shape so if I were you, I wouldn't strip it and paint it a bright color. Just scrub it clean, wipe on some boiled linseed oil, clean and re-grease the screw and put it to work doing reasonable tasks and it will outlast you.

Robert058 · Dec 1, 2017

va.grouseman said:
Looks similar to this one.---I can't remember the name of it, but it sold on EBay for $855.00 if memory serves.---I don't know how to do it, but Outlawman knows how to go back and research past EBay sales.---Some magic trick he has.---He might could find the name for you.

Thanks va.grouseman, similar, but different mode of opertion. all of those swivels are pretty cool though!

Robert Taylor

ALLFAST · Dec 1, 2017

That is yours ? Good job, and thanks for the tip.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

I was high bidder on eBay at $9.99
Picked it up in person so no shipping charges.

This is what it looked like when I brought it home.

Since it is marked "Chicago" it must have been cast between 1929 and 1947 right?
.
.
.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

This is Rustoleum dark hunter green. I like the color. I couldn't find a single trace of blue paint on it but I suppose it was blue way back in the day.
The slide was pretty banged up and I couldn't polish the crud out of the hundred little divots so I wiped on a very thin coat of rustoleum aluminum paint. I prefer smooth and clean metal with BLO but what are you going to do???
The handle and nose are polished steel.
.
.

va.grouseman · Dec 1, 2017

Very nice restore, Shift.---Whole lot of vise for $10.00

Outlawmws · Dec 1, 2017

Shiftless said:
I was high bidder on eBay at $9.99
Picked it up in person so no shipping charges.

This is what it looked like when I brought it home.

Since it is marked "Chicago" it must have been cast between 1929 and 1947 right?
.
.
.

Roger that and USUCK!

Nice job!

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

Thanks VA and Outlaw

I'm surprised nobody else bid on it. How many million people live within reasonable driving distance to Long Beach CA? I didn't make a special trip...my daughter and her family live in the West end of L.A. and we visit often...actually we took the 3 y.o. grandson with us to pick up the vise and visit the harbor.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

Here is one I bet not too many of you have in your collections. As of now, I know only of the one held by CRSINMICH but his is a 2 A.

H.B. Smith model 1 A.
3 and 3/4 inch wide jaws
Westfield Massachusetts patented 1865

(too bad about the broken off corner on the slide). I bought it anyway.

A quick scrub with simple green, rinsed, dried it off and warmed it with a heat gun and then wiped on a mixture of BLO and turpentine. Removed the screw, cleaned off ancient black axle grease and relubed. The handle was the worst with rust pitting. I rubbed it with green scotchbrite soaked with BLO.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

other side...
Somebody hit this side with a coarse circular sanding disc or something. Big scuff down the middle and damage to the patent date but it is still quite readable. Aug. 1, 1865

Did anybody else notice the striking similarity of the jaws compared to the Parker's?
And the little "ski jump" lip over the nose similar to Athol, Prentiss, Hollands, and others.

Resident historian and researcher extraordinaire CRSINMICH thinks there is a connection between the 2 companies.
.
.
.

CRSINMICH · Dec 1, 2017

Shift: I did some research when I got my HB Smith. I thought I remembered a connection to Parker but looking through the materials I have now I can't find one. I did lose a lot of stuff in my last computer crash. If there was a connection it's gone now. Sorry. I'll do some more digging tomorrow. The 1865 patent was given to a man named HB Dart.

Shiftless · Dec 1, 2017

Thanks for chiming in CRS

Maybe one of the others will be able to shine some more light on these unusual vises...

CRSINMICH · Dec 1, 2017

Shift: This might be the connection I remembered. Here are two illustrations from a 1878 Walworth catalog. One is clearly labeled Parker. They look very much alike. They'll also give Reverend Scott an idea of the pipe jaws you'll be wanting him to make.

zoomieport · Dec 2, 2017

CRSINMICH said:
Shift: This might be the connection I remembered. Here are two illustrations from a 1878 Walworth catalog. One is clearly labeled Parker. They look very much alike. They'll also give Reverend Scott an idea of the pipe jaws you'll be wanting him to make.

I need two sets of Smith pipe jaws myself... Just sayin' (Kevin), LOL! :lol_hitti

Take care!
Mike

GETRIDAONE · Dec 2, 2017

I have one Kevin can use for a pattern if you two are serious about having some made.
The 1865 patent for the jaws is interesting in that it could be incorporated into any plain vise. The picture is tinktink's vise with a patent date just a few years later with the exact same jaws ? With all the similar features to a Parker I bet they were making them for
H B Smith.

CRSINMICH · Dec 2, 2017

Get: I might as well get a set of pipe jaws too as long as they're going to be mass produced. Has anyone told Kevin about this yet?

By the way, HB Smith is still in business but they haven't made vises for a very long time.

GETRIDAONE · Dec 2, 2017

I am sure he will see this sooner or later :lol:

ALLFAST · Dec 2, 2017

GRO,

That is one baaaddd motha.....very cool vise. Lately I've been interested in those very old vises with the screw on from underneath style. Nice work.

Shawn

KMScott · Dec 2, 2017

My ears are ringing. Did someone say 3 sets of pipe jaws. So much easier to make multiple set's with a pattern then try to have the owner figure out the geometry for me. I might be up to making several sets but would ask that the pocket dimensions be checked on all your vises. Width, height and depth. Makes it easy If all have the same pocket depth's on the static and Dynamic. I buy my steel from Key Metals in Chicago but they do not list the prices like Speedy Metals does. (check and see what A2 costs) Speedy is more expensive and much slower in shipping. The steel is more expensive then you would think and especially adding shipping. Yea I can help you guys if you want and be sure to thank Get for shipping the samples.

patrickg20 · Dec 2, 2017

Here's mine. It was by Dad's. I'm not sure what brand it is because all of the labels are worn off. I plan on cleaning it up and painting it.

[/url]IMG_1894 by Patrick Graham, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_1895 by Patrick Graham, on Flickr[/IMG]

Outlawmws · Dec 2, 2017

Patrick, It's an Asian made vise sold under dozens of labels.

I would go east on cleanup as these typically has a lot of Bondo type filler to cover casting imperfections. Clean up the surface, maybe light sanding, and fill, prime, and paint.

patrickg20 · Dec 2, 2017

Outlawmws said:
Patrick, It's an Asian made vise sold under dozens of labels.

I would go east on cleanup as these typically has a lot of Bondo type filler to cover casting imperfections. Clean up the surface, maybe light sanding, and fill, prime, and paint.

Thanks for the advice and info! I plan on leaving the center slide, handles, and clamp jaws bare metal, and coating them with sharkhide to keep them from rusting. Then painting the "body" black. Are there better products than sharkhide to protect bare metal?

Outlawmws · Dec 2, 2017

Most of the guys here use BLO (Boiled Linseed Oil)

patrickg20 · Dec 2, 2017

Outlawmws said:
Most of the guys here use BLO (Boiled Linseed Oil)

Great! Thanks for the help!

ALLFAST · Dec 2, 2017

You can also wipe it periodically with Gibbs brand lubricant. I use it at work in a salt water environment....it's bulletproof, and no residue issues.

gaswizard · Dec 2, 2017

Here is an old Columbia 4" vise that was owned by my late grandpa Roy Lindquist. This vise was the last and only thing left of his stuff bolted to a table in the garage that know one wanted after he passed away so I took it. Grandpa was a tinkerer of all tinkerer's. In 1939 on Addison Ave in Palo Alto CA, Roy became Hewlett-Packard's very first employee but since he was there for only 6 months he never received recognition as an employee for that company. In 1940 he moved onto Eimac in San Carlos, CA. Eimac offered Roy a $.60 an hour more than what HP was paying him so he went for it. He made high performance transmitting tubes and was known as a scientific glass blower. He made TV sets with the old cathode ray's. Later on he made the exterior light bulbs that went onto the first manned spacecraft for the Apollo Missions, my grandpa Roy lit the moon. He assisted with the design of the Standford Linear Accelerator back in 1961 during the design and build stages, grandpa Roy was splitting atoms. He built homemade telescopes and polished his own lenses so he could look at the universe at night. I can remember him bringing out his 6 foot long x 8" round telescope at night to show us the stars and planets. When I was a little guy he told me "you see that TV screen, there is a camera inside of it, they are watching you". He was married to Milga and had 3 kids, Roanne, Judy, and Bill and lived in Woodside, CA on a couple acres.

I use this vice every single day of my life in my lighting restoration shop. Every time I use this vise I think of him and all he has done.

"Thank You Grandpa Roy"

Cheers

Paul gaswizard

Here is a link that I posted earlier at GJ. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376426

KMScott · Dec 2, 2017

Nice story gaswizard and you are lucky to know your grandpa. The vise will serve you for years and your kids will also . I never knew my grandfathers since both were passed when I was 4. But I remember going in my grandfathers work shop which was two 40 ford bodies welded together at the windshields. Inside I still remember every detail about it. The smell and all the benches built around the two bodies. The post vise and foot peddled stone bigger then e he used for sharpening It had a effect on me and he was known throughout Dover Plains NY as the guy to see for repairs of anything mechanical back in the early 1900's. Grandpa's are a big influence and my 8 boys seem to be more influenced by fishing and hunting with me them anything mechanical. But they are young and more intimated by the machines then curious.

AngryBeaver · Dec 2, 2017

Found this minty Mercury 4” while traveling

Pretty sure it’s a 4” Morgan. Stout little ******. Will go nicely in my ford themed shop on top of my vidmar bench I’m building. 55lbs. 4” jaws opens 5-3/4”

Bcom · Dec 2, 2017

I ran across this old page today that shows something called a "Reed Patent Vise". Does anyone have one of these? I wasn't aware of Reed making any rotating jaw feature.&#55358;&#56596;

Mooreag47 · Dec 2, 2017

I am at an undisclosed location and run acros this . Is there anything in specific i need to look for

Outlawmws · Dec 2, 2017

Some help to load it? :see:

Double check close for cracks, chunks missing (casting below the jaws is a commonly seen damage...), or welds, other than that... what are you waiting for?

Bcom · Dec 2, 2017

Mooreag47 said:
I am at an undisclosed location and run acros this . Is there anything in specific i need to look for

Well it dont look like there's a swivel base and the top actually looks pretty good. I don't see any large marks from it taken a beating. The handle looks good as well. No dents or bends. Make him take your money fast and run off with it! :willy_nil

Shiftless · Dec 2, 2017

Mooreag47 said:
I am at an undisclosed location and run acros this . Is there anything in specific i need to look for

Specifically, I would look for my wallet right away before somebody else beats you to it. Looks like a good one. As others have said, only a major crack, missing chunks, or a hopelessly stuck slide would slow me down. Even without a base, I think you could quickly triple your money if it is too big for you to use.

ALLFAST · Dec 2, 2017

Just BUY IT for that price. It looks well cared for, and he odds are high that it is. Check for major cracks or damges/repairs as best you can. That is awesome.

I hope you get it !

ALLFAST · Dec 2, 2017

We shall expect a report from the field within the hour !!!!!!

TinkTinkForge · Dec 2, 2017

2 1/2” jaws.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Outlawmws · Dec 2, 2017

That's different!

BeardedOne · Dec 2, 2017

Cool piece TinkTinkForge.

va.grouseman · Dec 2, 2017

This will be interesting. :eyecrazy:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WILTON-925...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

The VISES of Garage Journal

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

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

Active member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Banned

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member