Hey There, Have You Ever Seen A Vice This Big & This Old?

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

I'm Stumped, I cannot find anything siimilar online and I know how to look things. ;-)

Looks very old and the only thing I see on the vice is "Patent Applied For"

Any Idea Who Made This? Or a ballpark value? Thanks for looking... CHEERS!

cajunfirehawk · Aug 9, 2017

Should have posted in the VISE thread....???
And we cant get the scale with your tape measure, no where can we see the actual size in inches?

twertsy · Aug 9, 2017

cajunfirehawk said:
Should have posted in the VISE thread....???
And we cant get the scale with your tape measure, no where can we see the actual size in inches?

Looks to be about 3' long.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

cajunfirehawk said:
Should have posted in the VISE thread....???
And we cant get the scale with your tape measure, no where can we see the actual size in inches?

Sorry I'm new here, I just found the vise thread after I posted this, if the mods would rather move this I'm good with that and thanks.

Sorry for the bad pics in a dark basement, I'll snap some dimensions of the face and jaws tonight. Yes in the bick it's three feet long. Looks to be 6-8" Jaws and I haven't weighed it.

From the pics I'm starting to think there icould be a bunch of brass on it. Might clean up special?

thehorse13 · Aug 9, 2017

I've never seen one before but I know that if I did, it would follow me home for a good clean up.

I like it.

j.t.d. · Aug 9, 2017

Looks like the only means to mount it to something is the threaded hole at the tail end? Interesting.

ShadowRuleZ · Aug 9, 2017

I saw one recently on the local Michigan CL...

ducksface · Aug 9, 2017

It will make a fine book rack.

JimNC · Aug 9, 2017

Very cool, but need better pictures, can you drag that thing outside in the shade?

I'd like to see the bottom, but from the construction I'm wondering if it was mounted vertically?

Maui · Aug 9, 2017

This looks like one of those old combination vises that had a hollow anvil on the end that would have covered up the area where you can see the screw threads. My guess is that somebody removed the anvil from this one.

Maui

bluebolt · Aug 9, 2017

Jaws are Parker style with pins through them. It is 3 feet long, using my trusty "FRESH UP" with SEVEN-UP ruler it has jaws about 8" wide or maybe even a touch more. The rear jaw is the dynamic. And yes mounting is a question. Waiting on more pictures!

bluebolt · Aug 9, 2017

I'm trying to see if I can find the patent that was applied for.

Bernard Hughs US Patent: 11,067 from 1854 has some similarities but does not seem exactly right.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

You guys are pretty awesome!

Thanks, for the feedback so far. I'm not going to keep you waiting much longer, just got home and saw this tab was still open. Gonna go grab some pics, it's in my grandfathers estate so I have no extra info. Wondering if it may have had a railroad application, he lives near a very large yard and I found some antique two man tie tongs yesterday from NY Central Line.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

It's in the basement and I had a long day so I'll get some good light on it but it's not coming up those stairs today! Cheers!

bluebolt · Aug 9, 2017

Put a tape measure on that jaw width!

Dussemberg · Aug 9, 2017

This thing is cool, I have never seen one like. Hold on to it, great piece

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

up load photos

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

up load photos

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

Wow... Nice digging Bluebolt & Thanks again to everyone else.

So as you can see from the final pics... The bottom has a slot and then there is a steel plate or box on the end and I included the dimensions.

Also as you can see... I was able to pick up the front and slide it apart, and then back together again. With relative ease, so as I suspected it's not functioning?

Must be something wrong with the threads? I'm not a vice expert as you can tell. :lol:

I gave a close up on the threads. They don't look terrible but I suppose the inside is what counts... ;-)

up load photos

:beer:

FurnitureGuy · Aug 9, 2017

I guess the final question of course and I have no idea, what kind of value and does something like this have?

Is it repairable, or is it's new life cosmetic? It would display well under a glass top coffee/dining table.

Are we thinking late 1800's or newer?

Side note...

I'm pondering a table out of these Antique Two Man Tie Tongs , I have the set. Cleaned em up last night. Arms are 40" or so. So without cutting them, they'd have to hang under a dining table. I thought maybe, a railroad tie inside em'. Otherwise they could be turned upside down, shorten the handles and I could make the wood being grabbed by em have the texture of fabric around the tongs.

I found em rusting away in the bottom of the shed, I'm just an amateur furniture guy. Both designs would work but I'd rather keep em in tact. Was thinking maybe the tongs are holding a railroad tie that's displaying the vice?

up load photos

Lynden · Aug 9, 2017

I have a vise which is similar but half the size -- 12" long with 3" jaws. It came with two 7/16" x 4" carriage bolts. The heads were gunked into the long slot in the bottom of the base. I always assumed the vise was meant to be slid fore and aft on a bench top. My vise has no markings.

bluebolt · Aug 9, 2017

OK that is a really weird one. I'm trying to figure out if the front jaw is supposed to be fastened to the long rail. Does the rear large threads turn? The lever in the back makes me think this may have had some kind of quick release.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

When I tested it, nothing seems to turn the large threads, or the jaws for that matter. When I gave it a bit more of a load it felt like it wanted to move the jaws but they never quite did.

I'm gonna take a closer look tonight or tomorrow and see if I can get the smaller threads coaxed onto something. At best it's an alignment problem, at worst it's missing/broken some parts?

Anyway my dad's gonna take a look too and we'll see if we can sort the functionality?

Thanks.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

Hmm that's great... is your version in working order? Does it have that bullet/release lever on the back? I'm wondering about the large screw now, does yours spin?

twertsy · Aug 10, 2017

bluebolt said:
OK that is a really weird one. I'm trying to figure out if the front jaw is supposed to be fastened to the long rail. Does the rear large threads turn? The lever in the back makes me think this may have had some kind of quick release.

That's what I'm thinking, particularly because he says the screw doesn't engage.....

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

Afew more... Notice the threaded hole in the back plate? Sure seems close in size to the threaded front bar doesn't it?

how to upload photos from

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

Looks like a gattling gun and a vise had a baby! ;-)

Lynden · Aug 10, 2017

FurnitureGuy said:
Hmm that's great... is your version in working order? Does it have that bullet/release lever on the back? I'm wondering about the large screw now, does yours spin?

My vise is more like a traditional vice, except it has a long base with a slot in the bottom like your vise. The way the rear jaw slides on the base is similar to your vise. It doesn't have the part(s) in the back. It is in working order. My vise has remnants of a light green color.

JimNC · Aug 10, 2017

Millers Falls made a "Railroad Vise" that had a similar jaw configuration and base, would have been early 20th century.

bluebolt · Aug 10, 2017

JimNC, sounds like you are talking about the Backus Vise patent no US 78565 patented June 2nd, 1968. Again similar but not quite the same.

bluebolt · Aug 10, 2017

Here's the Backus vise. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5189804&postcount=36628

Bcom · Aug 10, 2017

ducksface said:
It will make a fine book rack.

Yep what he said

JimNC · Aug 10, 2017

bluebolt said:
JimNC, sounds like you are talking about the Backus Vise patent no US 78565 patented June 2nd, 1968. Again similar but not quite the same.

Yes, but I had an uncle with one and I'm surprised that it was made that recently.

There is one on eBay that the seller Evers to as 1912, but it would surprise me if it was that old. I was thinking 1940's. Of course he's long dead, so can't ask him.

ducksface · Aug 10, 2017

Bcom said:
Yep what he said��

I'd give fifty bucks to make your vise into a book rack...I'd give nothing for it as a vise.
As a furniture guy you should know it's 250 easy bucks as a book rack in the right store. That probably means $125 to you for about four hours labor, plus the time to place it, you're at ten bucks an hour.

Make something for yourself (like the table you considered) and honor those that aren't around anymore if they are worth honor.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

ducksface said:
You're a furniture guy, do a furniture thang.
That's a Craftsman metal lathe with a wood chisel accessory. I think it's fifty inches long.
It's worth its weight in weight, but it's perfect for what it does now. No damage was done to the lathe.

I'd give fifty bucks to make your vise into a book rack...I'd give nothing for it as a vise.
As a furniture guy you should know it's 250 easy bucks as a book rack in the right store. That probably means $125 to you for about four hours labor, plus the time to place it, you're at ten bucks an hour.

Make something for yourself (like the table you considered) and honor those that aren't around anymore if they are worth honor.

Great Advice... :beer:

I'm a designer / Web SEO / Business Process Automation guy who's always had a passion for furniture, salvage, re purposing etc... I'm only now finally starting to do something with furniture.

I just uncovered the same PowerKraft lathe, looks nearly identical and roughly the same condition.

I like the bookshelf option and I have to admit... I didn't think of the lathe in that light, but it's easy and quick. BRILLIANT!

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

I have a working early powerkraft jigsaw too cannot remember if 47 or 57. Very large 20" maybe? I'll post the pics/model# if someone is interested ... Mounted to a singer sewing Machine.

Have a 56 Craftsman table saw that also needs to be refinished. If anyone is interested in any of these items let me know. Also a 15" anvil maker unknown at this time.

I know there is another forum with a PowerKraft Tool Registry, but I'm in Syracuse if anyone is interested in anything I'm posting.

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

Actually 16-17" anvil looks early-ish... perhaps 30's? yeah I know there's another forum for anvils too... But maybe I'll just stick around here as you guys are awesome!

FurnitureGuy · Aug 10, 2017

bluebolt said:
JimNC, sounds like you are talking about the Backus Vise patent no US 78565 patented June 2nd, 1968. Again similar but not quite the same.

Interesting and very similar indeed... this thing surely is pre-1968 obviously. Beacuase of where I found it... un buried... I'm thinking he purchased it at auction more recently. Where as the other pre-50's tools have been buried and forgotten.

Grandpa went a little auction happy toward the end. ;-)

bluebolt · Aug 11, 2017

Oops I fat fingered that patent date it's not 1968, more like 1868.

Hey There, Have You Ever Seen A Vice This Big & This Old?

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