A Tale of 2 Chas Parkers
I bought the black 104 vise awhile back to put on the “future project shelve”. ” I bought it because it reminded of the vise my grandfather had when I was a child.
Then yesterday I find the primer red “104-P” vise. The price was right so I thought I would buy it just in case I need a part for the “104". Well my thought process was totally flawed. There is not one common part on these vises!!!
Note the different spelling Chas vs. Chars.
Plus the 104-P has jaws I have never seen on a Chas Parker before
Note handle length is different.
Note the retainer collar has a different length step see where pencil is pointing.
Note one has an exposed screw and one is in a counterbore.
The 104-P is taller
Note the difference when set on a bench between static jaw and edge of bench
Note flange thicknes difference. Was the thinner a cost reduction or was the thicker because of field problems?
Now since the vise is not going to be a parts vise and I love ready those bring back a Wilton from the dead threads I decided to restore this one, It turns out it is not as bad as I first thought. Except for the weld on the jaws everything else is fine. No cracks, good nut & main screw etc. Someone welded the jaws on but the weld had no penetration and the weld is actually not stuck to the casting, only the jaws. I removed the jaws and began grinding/beltsanding them back to original shape
Now here is where you guys come in!! Now that I have fixed the jaws and dressed up the casting and refitted the jaws, they fit really strange. They are "L" shaped and not "c" shaped like all other Chas Parkers. Look close at the photo. They contact at the top only and have a gap at the bottom. The jaws fit perfect and do not rock at all. I believe they left the facory that way. I think this was covered in "vises of garage jornal" but I can't find it. Does anyone know?? What was the purpose of this style jaw??
Thanks, Greg
I bought the black 104 vise awhile back to put on the “future project shelve”. ” I bought it because it reminded of the vise my grandfather had when I was a child.
Then yesterday I find the primer red “104-P” vise. The price was right so I thought I would buy it just in case I need a part for the “104". Well my thought process was totally flawed. There is not one common part on these vises!!!
Note the different spelling Chas vs. Chars.
Plus the 104-P has jaws I have never seen on a Chas Parker before
Note handle length is different.
Note the retainer collar has a different length step see where pencil is pointing.
Note one has an exposed screw and one is in a counterbore.
The 104-P is taller
Note the difference when set on a bench between static jaw and edge of bench
Note flange thicknes difference. Was the thinner a cost reduction or was the thicker because of field problems?
Now since the vise is not going to be a parts vise and I love ready those bring back a Wilton from the dead threads I decided to restore this one, It turns out it is not as bad as I first thought. Except for the weld on the jaws everything else is fine. No cracks, good nut & main screw etc. Someone welded the jaws on but the weld had no penetration and the weld is actually not stuck to the casting, only the jaws. I removed the jaws and began grinding/beltsanding them back to original shape
Now here is where you guys come in!! Now that I have fixed the jaws and dressed up the casting and refitted the jaws, they fit really strange. They are "L" shaped and not "c" shaped like all other Chas Parkers. Look close at the photo. They contact at the top only and have a gap at the bottom. The jaws fit perfect and do not rock at all. I believe they left the facory that way. I think this was covered in "vises of garage jornal" but I can't find it. Does anyone know?? What was the purpose of this style jaw??
Thanks, Greg