tschmitt
Well-known member
Whats a good deal on a Prentiss #20 with no cracks. Anything special I need to look for in these vises? From the restoration pics ive seen on this forum they are awesome looking vises when done right.
Good price on a Prentiss #20
- Thread starter tschmitt
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SweetD
Well-known member
Tough question to answer - without pics. Do you have any?
My opinion - for a #20 in nice shape, a "picker's" price might be $30-$60. If you're wanting it for your own to keep and it's in nice shape, you could go much higher potentially - maybe $120 or more?
Ultimately, condition dictates value, but it's what it's worth to YOU that really matters.
Dave
My opinion - for a #20 in nice shape, a "picker's" price might be $30-$60. If you're wanting it for your own to keep and it's in nice shape, you could go much higher potentially - maybe $120 or more?
Ultimately, condition dictates value, but it's what it's worth to YOU that really matters.
Dave
Ok thanks for the response. Im getting some better pics on Friday, the pics I have right now are not all that great. From what ive read on here the #20 is about 65lbs so like you said anything that equals less than a $1/lb is a pretty good deal. Im gonna check it out in person if the pics show its in good condition.
Catalyze
Well-known member
Greetings!
The old Prentiss swivel jaw vises are the ones that make me start to get sweaty palms. Dave is pretty spot on with pricing estimates. Prentiss vises aren't exactly heavyweights for the jaw width so figuring a price per pound doesn't alway ring true. Reed and Athol will blow a Prentiss out of the scale room for an equal width jaw. Having said that, Prentiss vises are not the most common around. Rarity adds a bit to their price if someone (like me) is looking to buy a Prentiss.
Age can be figured on the swivles sort of like this:
The oldest ones will have the model number and logo on the very top and rear of the main body. It will be in abbreviations like PVC NYC Model 20. Look just behind where the jaw swivels on top. They will also have a "plunger" swivel lock you have to pull up with prayers to The Almighty.
Next will be the "Grafitti Lettering" vises with the wild flowing script lettering on the side away from the swivel lock. It will say Prentiss Vice Company New York City Model 20 and the dynamic jaw will have the numbers of 3 -20 cast on the side. This is because the slide will fit either a static base (3) or the swivel base (20). It will have the same terrible plunger swivel lock.
The last in line will have the above except that the swivel lock will have a handle that your use to raise the swivel lock. These are a bit easier to use IF it isn't all gummed up. I have a model 19 1/2 with the plunger and a model 22 with the lever. The lever is so much easier....ahhh.
Make sure to post photos since we live through a visual medium! Now where is the guy with the Thread is Worthless Without Photos?
Craig
The old Prentiss swivel jaw vises are the ones that make me start to get sweaty palms. Dave is pretty spot on with pricing estimates. Prentiss vises aren't exactly heavyweights for the jaw width so figuring a price per pound doesn't alway ring true. Reed and Athol will blow a Prentiss out of the scale room for an equal width jaw. Having said that, Prentiss vises are not the most common around. Rarity adds a bit to their price if someone (like me) is looking to buy a Prentiss.
Age can be figured on the swivles sort of like this:
The oldest ones will have the model number and logo on the very top and rear of the main body. It will be in abbreviations like PVC NYC Model 20. Look just behind where the jaw swivels on top. They will also have a "plunger" swivel lock you have to pull up with prayers to The Almighty.
Next will be the "Grafitti Lettering" vises with the wild flowing script lettering on the side away from the swivel lock. It will say Prentiss Vice Company New York City Model 20 and the dynamic jaw will have the numbers of 3 -20 cast on the side. This is because the slide will fit either a static base (3) or the swivel base (20). It will have the same terrible plunger swivel lock.
The last in line will have the above except that the swivel lock will have a handle that your use to raise the swivel lock. These are a bit easier to use IF it isn't all gummed up. I have a model 19 1/2 with the plunger and a model 22 with the lever. The lever is so much easier....ahhh.
Make sure to post photos since we live through a visual medium! Now where is the guy with the Thread is Worthless Without Photos?
Craig
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Farmall450
Well-known member
I actually stumbled across one of these with the graffitti lettering, one question, should you have to pull the jaw open? I would think it would open by "unscrewing" it, like all the other ones I have used do, but my brother disagrees...
Thanks.
Edit: Found this on it, http://dayid.org/mediawiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise
Might be able to get pics tomorrow, maybe I'm wrong & it's a 22
Thanks.
Edit: Found this on it, http://dayid.org/mediawiki/index.php/Prentiss_Vise
Might be able to get pics tomorrow, maybe I'm wrong & it's a 22
Last edited:
Farmall450
Well-known member
I'll be on in the morning to read you all's replies!
bigcaddy
Well-known member
HE LIVES!!!!
I thought for a second we had lost Catalyze to his overland trek to his new homestead. Its not easy loading up all of those big vises and hauling them around, is it? You should of listened to me when i said drop them off at my place for safe-keeping
Tschmitt,
whatever catalyze tells you, go with it. Hes quite the wealth of knowledge and speaks from years of experience. If you have a Prentiss vise sitting in front of you, in decent shape and has the stylized lettering, don't hesitate plunking down the cash. 65.00 is a great price and you will soon be buying vises all the time.
The best way i've convinced myself to justify pricing is go to the nearest store that sells tools/vises and see how much vise you can get for 65.00 I don't think i need to tell you the answer
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
It should unscrew open. If it doesn't, it might be missing the collar on the inside, or the set-screw that holds the collar came loose. I'll post a pic of mine tomorrow so you can see exactly what I'm talking about, but it's the same design as in many other vises...
Sounds like it's missing the collar on the screw, or the set screw that holds the collar on the screw.
HE LIVES!!!!
I thought for a second we had lost Catalyze to his overland trek to his new homestead. Its not easy loading up all of those big vises and hauling them around, is it? You should of listened to me when i said drop them off at my place for safe-keeping
2 year old thread resurrected by Farmall450, biggcaddy. Catalyze may still be MIA.
Farmall450
Well-known member
HE LIVES!!!!
I thought for a second we had lost Catalyze to his overland trek to his new homestead. Its not easy loading up all of those big vises and hauling them around, is it? You should of listened to me when i said drop them off at my place for safe-keeping
Tschmitt,
whatever catalyze tells you, go with it. Hes quite the wealth of knowledge and speaks from years of experience. If you have a Prentiss vise sitting in front of you, in decent shape and has the stylized lettering, don't hesitate plunking down the cash. 65.00 is a great price and you will soon be buying vises all the time.
The best way i've convinced myself to justify pricing is go to the nearest store that sells tools/vises and see how much vise you can get for 65.00 I don't think i need to tell you the answer
Haha but I've been getting 5"ers for $7 at the store
Yeah it's kinda in the family, shouldn't be much...
I'll grab a picture today.
Sounds like it's missing the collar on the screw, or the set screw that holds the collar on the screw.
2 year old thread resurrected by Farmall450, biggcaddy. Catalyze may still be MIA.
Sorry about that!
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Farmall450
Well-known member
That's the bottom I assume?
I couldn't look at it or get picks...day from hell
Fix one thing, 5 more broke
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Yeah, that's the view from the bottom side with the dynamic jaw out a couple inches. You can see the jaws a little blurry behind it.
It's a little blurry but there is the collar with the setscrew in the middle of it. Then a washer to the right of that. And just because I put a brass washer to the right of that.
Farmall450
Well-known member
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
If the setscrew is broken or loose, or the collar is missing entirely, then when you turn the screw to open it, there is nothing for the dynamic jaw to grab on to and you are just unscrewing the screw. The face of the handle pushes the dynamic jaw back in (obviously).
Farmall450
Well-known member
I will look at it & try to get pics next time I am up there.
It is mounted on a table outside...but has been for years I assume.
It is mounted on a table outside...but has been for years I assume.