Can anyone ID this vise?

[Vne]

Pictures say it all. Looks like it was made in California. Los Angeles maybe? Tough to see under the grime. Can anyone make out the company or know who was making vises out of LA?

 

[drivesitfar]

VNE: if it doesn't go for huge money i'd consider buying a vise like that. sorry all i can make out is the Los Angeles, California on the one side and ___?___ Company on the other. i can't recall which vise company was in L.A. so i'll think about it, but as i said i like all the options this vise has for swiveling and it looks like a keeper.

 

[Vne]

That's my thought as well. Unfortunately, I'll be out of time during its sale and required removal so I won't be able to act on it. But a friend needs a vise and I was gonna recommend this one to him. Just wish I knew a bit more about it before I do. I have searched the Internet high and low looking for pics or info on this vise and can't come up with anything. If you think of anything I'd live to hear it. I think this one could be restored very nicely.

 

[Rileysan]

This vise is a collector's item. I can't tell the brand either, but it's uncommon, if not rare, and looks like it needs a bit of work to make it functional.

If you are going to recommend a vise to a friend, I would choose something that requires a little less work.

Just my two cents ...

Brian

 

[notlob]

FLEXIVISE. A Fred C Moran Design.

EXTREMELY rare vise. Please BUY IT.

If you don't want it I'll buy it from you. Or, please send me a link to the auction.

I'll trade your friend a restored vintage Wilton, or Starrett, or Morgan, or Rock Island, or Hollands, or, or...

Here's a GJ example (different model Flexivise):

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177475

Here's the patent:

http://www.google.com/patents/US2321503#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[drivesitfar]

NotLob: i thank you for posting up the Flexivise and the link to a GJ thread before i became a member and started to post or read almost every vise thread.

it does look like there might be a weld on the side of the OP's vise, but it's hard to say if it just isn't a crack or dirt too. whatever this version of the flexivise is i can say it's not common and it's rare.

VNE: i'd have to agree with Riley that if you are going to recommend a good vise to a friend the needs a vise to use as his main vise i might not tell him about this one unless he already owns a few because this one is definitely not a basic user. if you want to PM me with the auction information if you are not going to try to buy it that would be ok and i'll see if it is something i or another local member can use. or good luck in the auction and post more pictures of it after you clean it up.

 

[Vne]

Hey, wow! Thanks for the help guys! I think I'll recommend a different vise to my buddy and I'll be rearranging my schedule to acquire this one. Once I get it I'll come back and post some pics.

Very interesting! Thanks so much NotLob!

 

[Rileysan]

I might add -

There are members here who would willingly spend hundreds on that vise. If you're not prepared to spend $200 or more on it, perhaps you'd be willing to pass on the auction link?

Thanks!

Brian

 

[Vne]

For sure! I can tell you though that hundreds of dollars won't be necessary to acquire this vise. It'll go much cheaper. If I can't make my schedule work to pick this up then there's one member here that I'm promising first rights to. If he can't swing it then I'll blast the board with this auction info. I hope to see this in my garage soon, but if not, then I'll just be happy to see a member of our little community get it.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 for OP to run out of house in underwear to GO BUY that vise !!!

That puppy NEEDS to be in your shop and lots of Pic's here on GJ to prove it !!