My new Fred C Moran Flexivise TRIPLE-SWIVEL!!!

Vne · Aug 4, 2016

So I just got back from picking up my Holy Grail vise. This thing goes left and right, up and down, front and back, and in and out. It'll go in any direction you can think of and a few more past that. I need to replace a couple of small handles and file off a few little welding beads but otherwise it's in fantastic shape. The wonderful gentleman I bought it from also donated some scrap iron to use as sacrificial anodes for its restoration.

Here's the patent drawing.

Oh yeah, and a little ol' Charles Parker 976 I picked up today as well. Also in this frame is my Rock Island manufactured Craftsman 5161 I recently restored.

The man selling the Flexivise has owned and operated his machine shop for the last 45 years. It was his dad's before him. His dad started it back in '68 at another location but has been at his current one since about '73. He had to unload a few tools and wanted to test the auction waters by unloading a few items. My new vise was one of them. His shop was a veritable candyland of collectable tools. All old, all made in the USA, all well used but lovingly cared for.

I had to snap this pic of 3 wrenches that were just sitting there, almost haphazardly, on one of his benches.

Here's a Reed he's still using.

Here's a flawless, unrestored, Parker 4".

So I got two new amazing pieces and had the good fortune of spending some time with a wonderful individual. It was a good day.

I'll post more pics after its restored!

Vne · Aug 4, 2016

Meant to add, special thanks to "notlob" for helping me identify this vise and for showing me the patent drawings. Thanks a million, notlob.

Rileysan · Aug 4, 2016

Wow ... amazing find!

Thanks for sharing the story. I love it!

Brian

2oolhound · Aug 4, 2016

I can get my head around how you could get in such a tizzy over (+ under, sideways or down) this vise.

My question is: would you mount it on top of the bench or along the side or maybe the front of the bench. humm…….

It's quite a vise and I'm pretty sure it will out manoeuvre a bowling ball or any other ball head vise. Nice find!

JZiggy · Aug 4, 2016

That vise has swivels in places where other vises don't even have places!

dadsEH · Aug 4, 2016

Man. That thing looks as rare as rocking horse poop!
post pics of the resto.

thehorse13 · Aug 4, 2016

Looks like Christmas came a little early this year. I don't care what you paid for those items, you **** none the less.

timbitca · Aug 4, 2016

That is pretty cool. Thanks for showing me something new and making me learn something.

Vne · Aug 4, 2016

2oolhound said:
I can get my head around how you could get in such a tizzy over (+ under, sideways or down) this vise.

My question is: would you mount it on top of the bench or along the side or maybe the front of the bench. humm…….

It's quite a vise and I'm pretty sure it will out manoeuvre a bowling ball or any other ball head vise. Nice find!

That's an awesome question. I'd never even considered mounting it to the side of a bench. I might have to play around with that idea. Could save me some valuable bench real estate.

drivesitfar · Aug 4, 2016

VNE: that vise would also rate a nice cast iron stand if you can find an old one to mount it on. congrats on winning the auction and sounds like you might be back to his shop as your wallet finds a few more benjamins inside it.

congrats

notlob · Aug 5, 2016

That is a vise of singular multi-articulated beauty! Congratulations!
I look forward to seeing pics of it cleaned up.

Please me know if you ever decide to part with it.

sailoratsea · Mar 11, 2018

wow! and I thought my dual swivel Flexivise was cool... this one is next level.

Today was a sad day in my garage when I broke my flexivise. An exhaustive google search led me to garagejournal...this may be the only place on the internet mentioning Flexivise.

Sad to break my vice...glad to find this forum.

2ndGearRubber · Mar 11, 2018

That vice is beyond cool. Thanks for sharing.

Mohawk Dave · Mar 14, 2018

Dang! I missed this thread! Here's a pic of my Fred C Moran....that triple swivel is awesome!

cutt · Mar 15, 2018

Simply beautiful, Could be a piece of art.

Benjflink · Jul 21, 2021

I inherited this vise from my grandfather and recently refurbished it. Its an amazing vise. I did a little googling and stumbled on this thread. Does anyone know the history of the Fred Moran "triple swivel" vise? Not a whole lot comes up in a web search. I attached some before and after pics.

steaks&anvils · Jul 21, 2021

Benjflink said:
I inherited this vise from my grandfather and recently refurbished it. Its an amazing vise. I did a little googling and stumbled on this thread. Does anyone know the history of the Fred Moran "triple swivel" vise? Not a whole lot comes up in a web search. I attached some before and after pics.

Benjflink, welcome to GJ! beautiful vise!

We have a huge all things vise thread. If you post over on it, I'm sure the vise guys there can answer a few of your question? Posting there will also help others find and add to the collective knowledge on your vise.

FYI, a lot of GJ members only check a few threads and might miss this one, so posting there will get you more targeted exposure too.

Link to main vise thread:

The VISES of Garage Journal

We have seen everyone's toolboxes so let's see the vises! (no, not vices :)) I'm sure there are some really cool ones out there. Large or small, let's see them all! Here's my Charles Parker 107 and my Wilton 1780: The Wilton has an 8" jaw and weighs about 110 lbs. The CP has a 6" jaw and...

www.garagejournal.com

Cruzan80 · Jul 21, 2021

Nah, needs a swivel jaw to be complete... :spit:

bigredcornhead · Jul 22, 2021

what a unique and awesome piece!

WagonHo! · Jul 22, 2021

Yep that’s a ****, for you and definitely a yahoo for Fred C for the 1940 some vise design.
That drawing is frame worthy as well with the contrast of fonts and clarity of design - beautiful.
what’s that paint you used on the Chas Parker and Waterloo chest? Never seen a Waterloo logo like that before.

slowtwitch73 · Jul 22, 2021

Sweet.....

lzenglish · Dec 27, 2023

Vne said:
So I just got back from picking up my Holy Grail vise. This thing goes left and right, up and down, front and back, and in and out. It'll go in any direction you can think of and a few more past that. I need to replace a couple of small handles and file off a few little welding beads but otherwise it's in fantastic shape. The wonderful gentleman I bought it from also donated some scrap iron to use as sacrificial anodes for its restoration.

Here's the patent drawing.

Oh yeah, and a little ol' Charles Parker 976 I picked up today as well. Also in this frame is my Rock Island manufactured Craftsman 5161 I recently restored.

The man selling the Flexivise has owned and operated his machine shop for the last 45 years. It was his dad's before him. His dad started it back in '68 at another location but has been at his current one since about '73. He had to unload a few tools and wanted to test the auction waters by unloading a few items. My new vise was one of them. His shop was a veritable candyland of collectable tools. All old, all made in the USA, all well used but lovingly cared for.

I had to snap this pic of 3 wrenches that were just sitting there, almost haphazardly, on one of his benches.

Here's a Reed he's still using.

Here's a flawless, unrestored, Parker 4".

So I got two new amazing pieces and had the good fortune of spending some time with a wonderful individual. It was a good day.

I'll post more pics after its restored!

VERY NICE: I Never Knew It Existed Before Today, Thanks for Sharing It.

LZ

My new Fred C Moran Flexivise TRIPLE-SWIVEL!!!

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