So, our family finances are always pretty lean this time of year
(before my swap meet events occur, and finally generate some capital). This year I suddenly have three
more events, so the "
outgo" sharply exceeds my "
income" right now. That is why you haven't seen me posting here about recent tool buys. I simply decided not to buy anything until late May or early June.
Then my brother-in-law dropped in my office. Unlike many guys, I have a GREAT B.I.L. He constantly finds cool stuff for me to buy.
(Thanks, Lee!)
Anyway, this time he said
"You need to check Craigslist for a vise ad that I saw. It has been there 2 or 3 days." Hmmm...
The ad in question listed FIVE vises for $50, including a "Bull Dog" vise and a Wilton. The photo looked good...one medium Bull Dog
(Prentiss!), plus a vise of the type used on drill presses, a smaller Littlestown, and two little red vises which I assumed were Chinese. Too good to be true....especially since the ad was not brand new.
So I called the guy.
"Yes," he still had them.
"Yes, the price is $50 for all five," but my price is absolutely firm." So my BIL and I hopped into my little car and drove right over there. Here is a photo of four of the five, as we found them:
I kept expecting them to be sold before I got there, or to find welds, cracks, etc, or that the brands were misrepresented, etc, etc. But I found no problems! No need to negotiate further, so I simply paid the man's wife, loaded them into my little car, and got out of there before anything could go wrong.
The Prentiss Bulldog has 4" wide jaws, and looks like it used to be painted red. Handle not bent, jaws in great shape, no cracks or welds that I could find.
Another vise which I was really interested in is the one which I assumed was made to be used in a drill press. I haven't found any names on it anywhere yet.
Does anyone recognize it?
The jaws are 5" wide. When I turned it over, my BIL pointed out the "keys" in the bottom, and said it was designed to be used in a Bridgeport, and those keys would align in slots. This unit also swivels on the base.
The other 3 vises were not much to brag about. The Littlestown has 3" wide jaws. The other two were even smaller, and are probably Asian made.
When I got back to the office with this load, one of my guys asked if there were any small vises in the pile. He wanted one to modify for a special project at home. So I gave one to him right away. That's why these photos only show four.
I'm pretty happy with this haul, and REALLY happy with my BIL. He does this kind of thing several times a year.
Always cool meeting like minded people but to put a face with a name and handshake was really great!
fits like a glove though, I can not thank you enough Bluebolt, you brought that together for me!! Now to find a stand for the buffer 
