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Vintage C. Parker Cast Iron Vise for $50 off CL?

G

Garage-Girl

New member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
3
Location
New Hampshire
Hi ya folks!

I picked up an old vise from craigslist today for $50, and I'm pretty sure it's a Charles Parker Cast Iron vise (patent 11137). I'm trying to put a date on it. There's no raised casting letters or numbers on the side of the vise, which appears to be more common to later vises.

On the top of the vise on the sliding jaw, stamped into the jaw is "No3 C. Parker Meriden." Maybe there are 2 numbers after Meriden, but I can't be sure. And on the slide the number "74" is stamped into it. I'm not sure if you can see the stampings in the pictures.

Any ideas?
 

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F

Fierljeppen

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
1,159
Very nice! Using patent illustrations, I use pre-1867 to date my Parker no.1 vise, shown below. I've attached my oldest (1870) Parker no.3 catalog scan. You can see the difference in the collars, thanks davethorik.

There's only a handful of these Parker models out there and yours is the first no.3 I've seen. What is the jaw width and weight?



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OP
G

Garage-Girl

New member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
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Location
New Hampshire
The jaw length is a little over 4" and it will open to about 6". The weight is 54.2 pounds. The collar on this one seems to be like your No 1. So maybe this is a pre-1870 No 3?

The seller was liquidating some of his father's tools; he's moving into assisted living. He didn't know what he was selling, and I had no idea what I was buying. I feel bad that I paid $50 for something that is worth (what?) $500?

With something like this, what is the best course of action? Should I just clean it & oil it or should I go for a full restoration? I have a DIY vapor blaster that will clean it without removing the stampings.

Thank you for the help! Ya'll rock!
 

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G

Garage-Girl

New member
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
3
Location
New Hampshire
Also, I bet the collar on mine failed at some point and was repaired poorly. The gap between the collar and the slide body is wonky.
 
R

redragoon

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Joined
Jun 12, 2018
Messages
296
Location
Greenville SC
I'd say someone made a repair/replacement collar at some point. Looks like a homemade piece that someone shaped with a hammer. Is there still a slotted screw in the top holding the collar?

You could sell it if you need the money or want a newer one, but you'll never find that vise again for that price. If it still works well, I would keep it and bolt it down somewhere. It's lasted this long so it probably has much more work life left.
 
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