Antique Vise, looking for information...

[psychob0b1977]

Hello everyone,

I came across this forum while trying to research a very old vise i have.

The vise says on it

H.B. Smith & CO.
Wesfield Mass.

on the other side it says

No.1,A.
Patented
Aug.1,1865

I cant seem to find any information on this vise other than what is writen on it.

I am interested in fining out about it and what it would be worth.

I have pictures, but i have to upload them so i will do that asap.

Thanks Bob

 

[psychob0b1977]

Pictures:

 

[nine4gmc]

1865?!?!

 

[psychob0b1977]

1865?!?!

Yes it says 1865 on the side.

 

[Catalyze]

So far I haven't found anything about this vise but I did find the 1867 patent for Parker vises horse collar around the lead screw.
Craig

 

[d.mcfarland]

I'm going to throw in my 2 cents. I would not touch the 'finish' on the vise. You may have somthing fancy in your hands there and I would not want to screw up anything before you knew what it was. By the way, I'm not saying that you were going to do this, but it didn't say you plans, so I just wanted to give warning.

Awesome vise!!!!!!

 

[bigcaddy]

I've seen a few of those one ebay and CL so they are out there but thats about all i can tell you about them.

I would imagine that there were a ton of one-off vise makers in the later part of the 19th century but how many of them survived, (vise or company wise) is a huge unanswered question. It looks like yours did!

I would lube the slide to see if everything works properly and put that thing on a shelf in the barn/garage. If you break it, its not going to be an easy task finding a replacement for it.

 

[bigcaddy]

Just did some more looking.

The HB Smith is Henry B Smith and he opened his business with his brother, Edwin in 1853. They made a bunch of different types of castings, including a patented combo vise, and are still in business today as Smith Boiler

 

[WWIIjeep]

The vise says on it

H.B. Smith & CO.
Wesfield Mass.

on the other side it says

No.1,A.
Patented
Aug.1,1865

I cant seem to find any information on this vise other than what is writen on it.

Here's your vise:

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=49094&id=17057

Take a look at the 2nd and 3rd patent pictures highlighted above the drawing and you'll see it's the same vise.

http://smithboiler.com is apparently the successor to H.B. Smith and is still in business. It doesn't look like they make vises anymore, but they may either have some information, or even be interested in hearing that one still exists.

 

[JASTECH]

Nice vice, the GJ members can tell you how to take care of it, I trust them.

 

[psychob0b1977]

Thanks for the info, the vise actually functions just fine.

I haven't mounted it to a bench yet, I got it out of a scrap metal pile, and couldn't bear to scrap a working tool.

I tossed it into my basement and haven't touched it since. It wasn't until last night that I actually looked at it, when I saw 1865 on the side I knew it was worth researching.

After all I don't run across a 147 year old vise in working condition very often

After looking at this patent pictures it looks like mine is missing the pipe jaws, I wonder if I could fine a replacement set?

 

[JeremyManning]

You probably won't find an original set but you could take it to a machine shop and get a set made.

 

[psychob0b1977]

You probably won't find an original set but you could take it to a machine shop and get a set made.

That is an excellent idea.

Does any one have any idea what this thing is worth?

I like the idea of using it, but if its valuable is rather not ruin it...

But on the other hands if its only worth scrap value, I'll use it like it was intended...

 

[Joe B.]

As long as you don't abuse it, that vise will last longer than you will. I would mount it up and let it work.

 

[Outlawmws]

Use, but don't abuse. it's a vise, not an anvil or press, and it has historic value if not extreme monetary value; but it is worth a LOT more than scrap value.

If you want one you can beat on, I'll trade you a good, more modern one for it.

 

[Rust]

That is sooo cool.
Nice piece of history ya got there!

 

[J HAV]

AWESOME VISE MY FRIEND

 

[psychob0b1977]

i'm thinking i might clean it up and lube it and keep it as sort of a light use/conversation peice.

What would be the best way to clean it up? i was thinking i should wire brush the crusties off and spray it with some fluid film or wd40 to protect it? should i use oil or grease on the moving parts?

 

[Outlawmws]

How clean do you want it? If you want all the rust off, then Electrolysis (Very simple process and can be done at home easily) and hand brushing with a brass wire brush is the way to go, as it is the least abrasive. However, the E bath will strip off any last vestiges of paint off as well most likely.

I'd stay away from anything more abrasive that that. The E bath will not remove any good metal, just rust

Another option is selectively etch the rust off with Phosphoric acid (Jasco Metal etch full strength is a good option here) as it also will not remove the base steel.

If you want to maintain most of the "patina" (rust) then go at it with WD-40 and paper towels/rags. the lose stuff will rub off and the deep stuff will stay. You will get some abrasion from the old rust particles however...

Whatever you do, don't go at any part of it with anything more abrasive that a brass wire brush.

Edit: Missed answering the last question: I'd use grease on the moving parts. Most oil isn't high enough shear resistance.

 

[psychob0b1977]

How clean do you want it? If you want all the rust off, then Electrolysis (Very simple process and can be done at home easily) and hand brushing with a brass wire brush is the way to go, as it is the least abrasive. However, the E bath will strip off any last vestiges of paint off as well most likely.

I'd stay away from anything more abrasive that that. The E bath will not remove any good metal, just rust

Another option is selectively etch the rust off with Phosphoric acid (Jasco Metal etch full strength is a good option here) as it also will not remove the base steel.

If you want to maintain most of the "patina" (rust) then go at it with WD-40 and papertowels/rags. the lose stuff will rup off and the deep stuff will stay. You will get some abrasion from the old rust particles however...

Whatever you do, don't go at any part of it with anything more abrasive that a brass wire brush.

Edit: Missed answering the last question: I'd use grease on the moving parts. Most oil isn't high enough shear resistance.

i want to do what ever will not hurt the value (historic or monetery)

So i will probably give it a bath in wd40...

is the wd40 enough lubrication as well or should i grease/oil the moving parts?

Edit: oops i missed that last part.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah I would probably just soak it down with WD40...

Put some grease (I use whatever is in my grease gun) on the screw, I also put a little down on the bottom of the slide.

 

[Outlawmws]

You definitely need some grease, not just WD on the moving parts. The screw, under the main screw head, bottom of the slide, and the top of the slide from just past where it enters the base when fully closed, and to the end of the top of the slide. (easiest to just close it dry on top then coat the top of the slide where exposed, then when you open it that grease will grease the bearing surface back there, and the last of the slide once its been opened and closed a couple times. That way you don't have grease on the slide under the jaws collecting bits of crud...

 

[btrnuthatch]

Same maker with June 18, 1885 date. Just not as big but equally cool, IMHO.

 

[AndyK]

Hi there. I just stumbled across your site while I was researching some history on an old vise I found out in the mountains in Orange County CA. It was amongst a bunch of old mining equipment and I didn't even realize it was a vise until I came across these pictures... It was just laying in the dirt and will probably be there until it completely disintegrates, since it was at least 9 or 10 miles from the nearest road! Anyhow, pretty cool stuff.