Rock Island 72C Vise with Mobil Oil Stand

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

There was some interest on another thread on my vise, and especially on the stand. I bought this at a yard sale for either $50 or $60 a few years ago and have not done anything to it yet, just using it for a portaband table. Anyway after the interest on the other thread I got curious and removed the portaband, and removed the vise from the stand and found the 72C on the bottom. The jaws are 3.5" and it weighs 38 lbs. It is missing the bolt that holds it to the base and allows it to swivel. There is an "X" stamped on the side of the slide. As far as the stand, after a bit of research I believe it was most likely the base for a "lollipop sign" that the garage chopped and welded a platform to for their vise. I saw similar bases on ebay with Mobil lollipop signs selling for big money. None of them however had the raised "Mobil Oil" and "Gargoyle" on them, nor the "Property of Socony Vacuum Oil Company Inc." The stand is very heavy and very stable.

First I'll post pics of the stand and follow up with pics of the vise

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

Next up is the vise. I am afraid it sat outside for years, the lower bolt is missing and when I removed it from the platform there was a pile of rust sitting on top that may have been the bolt. It needs a good cleaning and re-assembling. I have a ton of projects going on but at least she is indoors now, and in a dry climate so no more deterioration will happen.

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

Here are a couple of examples of lollipop sign and base.

Oregon rock crusher · Mar 4, 2018

The RI vise is ok but the mobil oil sign base is the star in that grouping. They go for good money when I see them for sale. Very nice stand. Ed.

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

Found a lollipop with my base http://www.icollector.com/Mobil-Gargoyle-Mobiloil-Lollipop-Sign_i11096170

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2018

BigB: thanks for starting another thread, but I don't think the other member minded you jumping in on his once he got the information he was asking about.

nice looking base and i'm guessing now that you've given us the width of the jaws and the swivel base's # you might want a model #? I know Rock Island had 2 digit #'s on their old vises so I (we) will have to wait until one of the members shows up with a catalog or their vise cause all my Rock Island vises are a bit bigger.

thanks again

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

drivesitfar said:
BigB: thanks for starting another thread, but I don't think the other member minded you jumping in on his once he got the information he was asking about.

nice looking base and i'm guessing now that you've given us the width of the jaws and the swivel base's # you might want a model #? I know Rock Island had 2 digit #'s on their old vises so I (we) will have to wait until one of the members shows up with a catalog or their vise cause all my Rock Island vises are a bit bigger.

thanks again

It appears to be a model 72 by the number I found on the bottom and I did find a couple of old threads pertaining to the 72. My measurements and weight are identical to this one: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=334824

I have a pile of vises, over the years they just seem to find their way home. Jeweler's vises, bench vises, a gunsmith's vise, a machinist's vise and three blacksmith's leg vises. Most are American with a couple imports.

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

I just took some steel wool to the top of the bar and found a "942" stamped into it, would that be the mfg date? Also the jaws are in remarkable shape.

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2018

BigB: the date stamps on Rock Islands are usually towards the middle of the top of the slide sticking out the back of your static jaw, but that could be the way yours was stamped.

My big 6 inch 150 pound Rock Island 577 has 77c under it's swivel base so yours could be a 572 I suppose if 72 isn't actually it's #.

since you mentioned the other vises if you'd like to post a few pictures of those and maybe a family photo we all like old vises so i'm sure more members than I would appreciate it.

bigb56 · Mar 4, 2018

I guess that's where my stamp actually is, if you close the vise all the way you can just see it peeking out behind the fixed jaw.

I will get my vises together at some point, most are not in use and stashed here and there. Nothing real big, the leg vises are my biggest.

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2018

BigB: if you are like me it's good not to have all our vises in plain site to keep our brides happy or at least not have to explain why we need them all.

your picture was sort of an optical illusion since both jaws weren't in the picture, but yes then that is the date stamp.

pictures of your vises tucked away or sitting out on a floor or bench for family photos to post would be ok when you have the time.

it looks like your little Rock Island will clean up nicely and if you check the vise repair 101 thread a couple members have made those big bolts and posted up how on there if you might want to make one for your vise.

thehorse13 · Mar 5, 2018

Socony-Vacuum was around from 1931-55 before being renamed again. Given the gargoyle logo, your sign post is an early one. I would comfortably say 1930s. Someone took a saw and welder to it back when it was just another piece of metal junk laying around. Purists will want nothing to do with it but diehard gas & oil guys will love it.

I happen to dabble in the gas & oil stuff along with tools. I'd love to have that stand in my shop.

As for the vise, it's not a 72C. That's the base part number. You have a model 573, which should have 3.5 inch jaws. My 574 Rock Island has 4.5 inch jaws, and so on.

drivesitfar · Mar 5, 2018

TH: yep i forgot Rock Island vise's last # has nothing to do with the jaw width so your #'s might be correct. unless it's an older version where Rock Island vises were only given 2 numbers for their model #. sorry I don't have a catalog page handy, but i think there is maybe a Rock Island history thread over in General tools or it might have got moved to Vintage tools section.

thanks for the heads up on the stand.

thehorse13 · Mar 5, 2018

drivesitfar said:
TH: yep i forgot Rock Island vise's last # has nothing to do with the jaw width so your #'s might be correct. unless it's an older version where Rock Island vises were only given 2 numbers for their model #. sorry I don't have a catalog page handy, but i think there is maybe a Rock Island history thread over in General tools or it might have got moved to Vintage tools section.

thanks for the heads up on the stand.

Once he strips all the paint off, he should look for the two Birtman electric name tag nail pin holes on the side of the vise body. If those holes are there, it's without a doubt a 573. I don't have a Rock Island catalog handy so I can't speak to the really old models and how they went about numbering the vices. I do know that my vise swivel base is marked 73 or 74C. I can't recall right now but it is certainly one or the other.

drivesitfar · Mar 5, 2018

TH: so you're saying that after Birtman electric bought Rock Island vise company their model #'s gained a 3rd number?

here's the link to the Rock Island history thread if you or anybody else has catalog pages you'd like to add cause my old laptop has a few and i can't get to them at the moment.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7065603#post7065603

thehorse13 · Mar 5, 2018

I'm not sure when they started but I do know that if you have a Birtman Electric, you most likely will have the 3 digit model number. Mine is a 1944 model year so the 3 digit number is cast into the vise body.

jrobb316 · Mar 9, 2018

It's a rock island 572. Should be 3.5" jaws and that is the date code. It will have/had a birtman plate as they bought rock island mfg in 1930. Nice vise and you can have a swivel bolt made for 50 bucks unless you have a lathe.

bigb56 · Mar 9, 2018

jrobb316 said:
It's a rock island 572. Should be 3.5" jaws and that is the date code. It will have/had a birtman plate as they bought rock island mfg in 1930. Nice vise and you can have a swivel bolt made for 50 bucks unless you have a lathe.

I do not have a lathe but I do have some metal working skills, I was going to see if I can come up with something. I've been looking through the vise thread for ideas but it is a really looooong thread.

bigb56 · Mar 10, 2018

OK the center bolt is a 3/4" fine thread. I picked up a bolt today and I don't see why I can't use washers to fill the small recess to a point slightly above the recess to allow for a small gap to rotate, then top it off with a larger washer to keep the vise captive in the base. Tightening the bolt securely would not cause binding because the stack of washers in the smaller recess would be high enough to keep the large washer from binding on the underside of the base.

I also found a shim someone had put under the nut presumably to tighten things up.

I will straighten the swivel handle but are these mild steel? Not sure if I should cold straighten it or use the torch.

All suggestions welcomed.

bigb56 · Mar 10, 2018

Re: Success!

Here's an update and some pics in case anyone is still with me.

I was able to make the center bolt. I used a 3/4" nut which I ground down to fit the recess in the base then threaded it onto the bolt, basically making a shoulder bolt. I had to use a washer for a spacer to keep the bolt from tightening the vise to the point where it wouldn't move. I experimented with different thicknesses and may need to re-visit that as you can see by the pics I have about a .045" gap when the swivel lock is tightened down. Ar rest it is only .005". Not sure if it matters though, by design there will always be some gap if spaced to allow free movement. Anyway it swivels beautifully when loosened.

I put a light coating of Mobil 1 synthetic grease on the moving parts and re-assembled. The swivel handle straightened easily cold with a few taps on the anvil.

One thing I noticed is that the collar that retains the screw and handle keeps the handle very tight to the front of the vise, there is no slop at all and in fact there is a slight bind when rotating the handle. I am wondering if I should machine off a few thousandths from the end of the retaining collar to loosen it up. Also, should there be a thrust washer there?

I am not going to paint it or restore it at this time, I am just going to put it to work.

jrobb316 · Mar 10, 2018

Looks good from here. You can always keep an eye out for a bolt, they do come around if you look on ebay enough.

Rock Island 72C Vise with Mobil Oil Stand

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