Charles Parker No. 2300

[toomanytoyzz]

A buddy of mine scored me a nice Chales Parker vise at an estate sale last week. It's a No. 2300. Anyone have any info on it? Definitely looks old, but it's in really decent shape for its age. It has a center style mount with the large wing nut and washer.

I will take some pics tonight or tomorrow. I just got it a little bit ago at work and my digi camera is at home.

 

[wrenchguy]

4 digit number? did u google it.

 

[drivesitfar]

toomany I think you invented a new model Parker and you are not playing fair without any pictures. we want vice **** when you get a chance.

I just checked Dave's list and he had a lot of models up to 1000 and then one after that that looked like a little 4 incher with a 1750 model #.

it does sound like a nice vise by your description

 

[wrenchguy]

heres a lil bit i found thru google.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184363

 

[toomanytoyzz]

heres a lil bit i found thru google.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184363

It's amazing how 99% of the time when you google for vise info it will link you back here.

My son will be heading to bed soon. I'll snap some pics in a bit.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Ok guys, here's the pics. BAD news is the slide is cracked at the rear. My buddy who scored it for me is a fine arts guy, so I don't hold this against him. Vises are about as alien to him as fine art is to me.

I got it for a song and a dance, so I might repair it and keep it. It operates 100% and as smooth as silk. Pair that with the fact that it's fairly large and old as hell it is something I'd like to keep as a display piece in the shop once restored.

Anyway, here it is. I'd love to know exactly what year this guy was made. I'm guessing the '20's.

 

[drivesitfar]

thanks for the vise ****. that crack looks like it might be repairable and might be the first project on that cool welding table you are picking up?

my guess is a lot older than 20's and maybe 1880's with the base and some of the lines. I have a Prentiss that looks similar that was from about then and the back half of my slide is missing so my challenges are different and mine also might be some vise art in my shop.

the good point are many. nice jaws, static looks good, old time swivel pin and the Parker emblem all seem in great shape along with the handle.

Very nice

 

[Zeke]

If I'm seeing the crack correctly I don't think the vise is unusable at all. And if I'm seeing it correctly can you dowel that? That would be in terms of a dowel pressed and peened into a conical wedge at each side with heat.

 

[ganymede]

I've seen more than a couple of Parker's with a crack there.
The steel bar that reinforces the slide keeps it from breaking when used in a conventional manner but I think it made the slide more prone to break during anvil duty.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

If I'm seeing the crack correctly I don't think the vise is unusable at all. And if I'm seeing it correctly can you dowel that? That would be in terms of a dowel pressed and peened into a conical wedge at each side with heat.

Yeah, it's definitely useable. I will probably just V it out, preheat it and weld it up. The crack also goes all the way back and down the spine of the slide.