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The Prenitss 21 that UPS lost-Final Happy End

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Catalyze

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Greetings to All Who Have Eyes!
Set the Wayback Machine Sherman to June of 2011. I had purchased a Prentiss Model 21 vise from a GJ member. Due to its weight, it had to be shipped in 2 boxes. UPS delivered the body and lost the dynamic jaw/lead screw box. Here is the Thread:http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110166&highlight=Prentiss

Many folks here gave support....tears.....advise.....and some folks even offered Hope. As it turns out...........those folks knew something about Karma/Life/Happiness. Sit back and like Gilligan's Island, here is a fateful voyage to a complete Prentiss Model 21 swivel jaw/base vise.
 
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Catalyze

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Every now and then, I mention "The Guy" that everyone should know. The Guy can find you a left handed Acme thread bolt for an Australian toilet float made during the Nixon administration. You just need to give him time.
The Guy - Hey you need to come up and see me....I got something you need to pay me for
Me - What is it and do you realize you live over 1000 miles away?
The Guy - I have "it".....you need "it"....and it's not as bad as 2000 miles away

So I tell my lovely wife "Honey let's take that vacation you wanted and go visit your friend Linda in Minnesota."
Wife - Her name is Mary Lynn and she lives in Iowa....what's on your agenda?
Me - Not a thing Honey Bunny......let's just go have a vacation with You in mind

Which is how I ended up, after a week in Iowa, in a huge metropolitan area and at The Guy's house. "Hey honey.....as long as we are in the same time zone....let's go visit The Guy!" There on his work bench was a very well used Prentiss Model 4 vise. Now the Model 4 is a stationary base swivel jaw vise with 5" jaws. It is the same thing as a Model 21 excepting the 21 has a swivel base. The Guy had found it in a factory auction somewhere and knew what it could mean to me.

Photos to follow.
Craig
 
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91bronc300

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I remember this fiasco. I'm glad it has a happy ending but did you end up getting recompense from UPS for losing half your original shipment?
 
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Catalyze

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Here is what it looked like at The Guy's house.
View media item 18467
And with a bit of measuring....it still looked well used.
View media item 18468
My wife and I drove home with The Pot of Gold in the trunk. However, she no longer trusts me and my "It's all about you Honey Bunny" vacations.

Did I mention that this vise came from a factory auction? Well most of you know what kind of life big vises lead in factories. This one was no exception. Here is the main nut when I took it out. It was broken, had been welded at least once, and was cracking on both sides of the threads. Not to worry!!! UPS hadn't lost the main body package which still had the main nut in it. That nut was in fine condition. Luckily the lead screw from the Model 4 was in good shape since UPS had lost that part along with the dynamic jaw.
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The Model 4 slide fit just fine in the Model 21 body and the lead screw fit the Model 21 main nut. Karma had just turned a corner.
Craig
 
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Catalyze

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Hey Fordman!! I am glad you found this post since you and I started with just a simple vise purchase between us. LOL

The Model 21 had smooth jaws....or should it be "jaw" since I only had the one jaw. It was the swivel jaw that was on the main body and got delivered. It was also a hot cast non replaceable jaw that was smooth. The Model 4 had the later serrated replaceable type of jaw face. With many prayers, I took the Model 4 swivel jaw and checked the fit on the Model 21 body. Now Prentiss stamps matching numbers on the swivel jaw...the main body...and the slide of their swivel jaw vises. This is so that when they were assembled they could match numbers and know that they were "matched" and would fit. I had a number 80 swivel jaw.....number 80 slide....and a number 55 main body. 2 hours later with numb fingers, half a bottle of layout dye gone, and several feet of used crocus cloth on the floor......I had matching mated pieces that fit wonderfully. 1 finger will pivot the jaw......1 finger will open and close the vise....and (I kid you not) the Plunger of Death swivel base pin will lift with 2 fingers.
Left over parts:
View media item 18472
Time for a bath.....and electricity!
Craig
View media item 18471
 
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Catalyze

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I feel like the Mad Scientist yelling "It's Alive!" The Model 21 that I bought from Fordman almost a year ago really is finished.

After the Bath and some exfoliating (ask your wife or girlfriend) with a wire wheel.
View media item 18473View media item 18474
And here it is finished. I still need to come up with 2 jaw face screws since they broke when removing them. It is funny how Prentiss marked their vises over the years. Some had markings on the main body tail pieces....some had the slides marked....and some only the main body. A few had everything marked....LOL
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Remember when I said that factory owned Big Vises lead a hard life? Look at the tail end of the slide. The other one is from a Prentiss Model 22. Both got used as an anvil and cutting board over the years.
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Here is a close up shot of the Prentiss logo. I have no clue what the 4-125 is all about but it was cast on a raised boss on the slide. Maybe The Shadow knows.
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Here is the Happy Prentiss Family.....Model 22 .....Model 21......Model 19 1/2
View media item 18479
And since this story needs a happy ending......here are the Prentiss all waving Thanks and Goodbye to all the great Garage Journal folks! This is also a special wave to The Guy for making it all finally come out Right. Thanks Man from your Buddy!
Craig
View media item 18480
 
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gatewaysysop

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Wow, what a beautiful collection of Prentiss vises, love the restorations. Glad to see this whole thing had a happy ending! I've got a similar Prentiss 4" vise, also with the swivel jaw, and it's one of my favorites. They are definitely nice pieces and your 'family' of them looks awesome. Glad it's a complete trio at this point! Nice job.
 
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Catalyze

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Thanks all!!
Autopts even found a pair of extra jaw face screws to send me. Who needs Facebook when you have Garage Journal? As a side note, I covered my workbench top with sheet metal. It sure makes it easier to slide big vises around. Now it's time to get busy on a very nice old Reed swivel jaw vise. The madness never seems to stop. LOL
Craig
 
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2oolhound

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I remember this from last year. They should make a movie... sniff.

Thanks for the photos, I like the finish. Is that black paint or what? Thanks for the last photo, all the while I was reading "swivel jaw" my mind was translating it to "swivel base". I hadn't realized the jaw swivels like that. Very cool vises.

You have a nice collection. I imagine the smaller one is just an aprentiss.
 
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