Can you identify this vise?

[Jack Olsen]

Impulse ebay purchase. Since there were no other bidders, I suspect it might be a paper weight.

It's clearly going to need a new set of jaws -- if it's worth keeping.

I can't make out the three-character marking on each jaw.

Does anyone recognize it?

Jaw Length: 4", Max. Opening: 5", Throat: 1 1/2"

 

[nolatoolguy]

Well i dont know a brand but i do know that its red and is made of metal. That is about all i can tell you about it.

I do rember seing one similar to it at a farm auction.

 

[arkangel06]

Kind of looks like a york...

 

[Rory Bellows]

I've seen ones like that at auctions. Not sure of the brand but if the price was right it should be fine. It looks like a copy of a Wilton machinist vise in some ways. For the jaws you could make some soft jaws out of aluminum or brass pretty easily.

 

[Jack Olsen]

More pictures:

 

[bgott]

That thing has "character", don't it?

 

[Jack Olsen]

Well, it looks like it's done a little work in its lifetime...

 

[64merc]

Well, it's definitely used, but it looks awesome. It looks to be very sturdy. Let us know how it pans out.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm gonna give this a Sunday bump -- since I'll bet someone here will recognize it.

I mean, Easter Sunday is all about being forgiven for our 'vices,' right?

 

[arkangel06]

Its been welded...

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Don't know the mfgr., but after 3 days you might be able to resurect it back to a usable tool!!

 

[caper]

Its been welded...

Some of the best have been welded.It's not unusual for something that has been beat on with a hammer to need to be repaired.Not every vise has led a easy life.I personally like tools with "character".I'd rather have that old girl that someone used to make a living than some chunk of scrap from a big box store.Obviously it's been used hard and it's still working so it must be a fairly well built vise.

 

[dirtball]

wow, you did get a steal on that thing. It's worth more in scrap than you paid.

Oh, I have no idea on brand, sorry.

 

[red92s]

Are you taking pictures in a light box?

 

[Jack Olsen]

Those were the seller's pictures. I brought it home yesterday. I can't find any manufacturing marks on it, other than a V86 on one jaw and a V87 on the other.

That isn't to say there never were marks on it -- but as you can see, the thing's led a pretty hard life. I want to find a base for it so it can rotate, then I want to clean it up and use it.

Anybody recognize it at all? It appears to be pretty well put together, but I'm no vise expert.

 

[Underdog]

Definitely not Chinese if it was it wouldn't of lasted. I would like to know when it was made, sure got that Art Deco theme. Good luck, someone's got to know who made it.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I got it apart. No manufacturer clues -- but it's stout. The telescoping tubing pieces are 7/16" thick. Machine screws hold the caps on either end. The screws for the jaws turn easily, but I'm going to have to clean up some of the welding slag.

 

[oldtools]

Maybe it is a Chinese Vilton. It's kinda communist looking.

 

[DIC]

Looks like a tuff vice. Its been used hard....

 

[TLCDino]

I like it. Any updates on how it turned out?