Charles Parker No. 88

[TexasAggie09]

Howdy Yall,
This weekend I was down in Galveston walking through an antique shop and stubbed my toe on an old Charles Parker No. 88 bench vise. After haggling with the guy, I got it for a pretty good deal. While not the biggest vise ever, it's bigger than any of the other ones I have so I'm pretty excited. It does have three things wrong with it or missing (other than paint!). I plan on restoring this vise to like-new condition.

First, it is missing the pipe jaws completely. I know it may be like finding a needle in a haystack but is there any source for something like this?

Second, it is missing the swivel lock down lever. I have seen a couple of restorations where that was replaced with a fancy nut (almost looked like a lug nut) and you then use a ratchet to tighten the swivel down. That would be an option if I couldn't find an original. Any ideas where to search for this stuff?

It's also missing about a 3" x 1.5" triangle out of the back lower corner of the slide. It's not a structural part but I would like to weld back in a filler piece so it looks original to the eye. I work in a large shop (but am not an experienced welder myself) and have access to people to do the labor but what sort of material is this thing likely made out of?

Thank you much!

 

[Packard V8]

Cast iron. Suggest brazing,

jack vines

 

[The Copilot]

Cast iron. Suggest brazing,

jack vines

Typically, I believe, machinist's vises like this parker are made of malleable iron rather than brittle cast iron. If I'm wrong about that I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

[CNGsaves]

That's the vise that was manufactured in 1888 . . . right ??

See other GJ post of old vise at "picker" flea market.

 

[TexasAggie09]

That's the vise that was manufactured in 1888 . . . right ??

See other GJ post of old vise at "picker" flea market.

If I recall, I saw an old catalog page that said this was made around 1926.

 

[CNGsaves]

If I recall, I saw an old catalog page that said this was made around 1926.

Yeah, that was a joke as "picker" sale on another post was claiming a vise was older than it really was by claiming it's model number was the year manufacturered!!

Sounds like you have a tough old vise that might be fixable.

Post up some pics so the gurus can respond to your damage that needs fixed.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

 

[TexasAggie09]

Here are some shots. You can see the missing chunk and the missing swivel lock bar. It has some heavy rust but I plan on restoring it to beauty!

 

[bigcaddy]

Hate to break the bad news but you are also missing the original front "horseshoe" collar that was original to the vise. It should be cast iron with the word PARKER in raised lettering. They always go missing but another member on here actually had some recast.

I'm sure another member knows who and can send you in the right direction.

The lockdowns on Parkers, from what i've seen, came in 2 styles. Some had the bolt head with a wrench held in place by a snap ring and the other was very simple.

The handle was a basic steel tube that was threaded internally at both ends. The end caps were large slotted screws, with a head diameter similar to a dime. I should have a few Parkers laying around and might have either style of lockdown in my parts pile. I'll check and see what i have.

 

[TexasAggie09]

Hate to break the bad news but you are also missing the original front "horseshoe" collar that was original to the vise. It should be cast iron with the word PARKER in raised lettering. They always go missing but another member on here actually had some recast.

I'm sure another member knows who and can send you in the right direction.

The lockdowns on Parkers, from what i've seen, came in 2 styles. Some had the bolt head with a wrench held in place by a snap ring and the other was very simple.

The handle was a basic steel tube that was threaded internally at both ends. The end caps were large slotted screws, with a head diameter similar to a dime. I should have a few Parkers laying around and might have either style of lockdown in my parts pile. I'll check and see what i have.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm relatively new to the world of antique tools. I have lots of USA made tools but they're newer. I saw this in an antique shop and had to jump on it as my first big vise purchase. I leave the heavy pounding to my Chinese vise. I also picked up a small 3" Wilton on eBay recently that is in good shape.

As far as the missing horseshoe piece, that is a bummer, hopefully someone can point me to a good source! And if you could take a look at what you have for the locking mechanism that would be great...I really don't care which style it is. I'd obviously pay you for it!

I found a welder here at work who welds on the side as well and he told me if I can bring him a piece to fit in there (steel since it's not a structural area), he'll weld it up for me as long as I supply the rods and the beer

 

[rusty65]

Very cool vise find! The only vise I found at a antique shop was a old shop king on a stand with a broken jaw and the owner wanted like a million bucks for it.

 

[ganymede]

Very cool vise find! The only vise I found at a antique shop was a old shop king on a stand with a broken jaw and the owner wanted like a million bucks for it.

Yup, antique stores are hit or miss. The last one I was in had a Littlestown (green with exposed screw ) for $125 .

 

[Mavawreck]

Which antique shop!? Lived outside of Galveston for years, we used to go through the shops regularly and then get a shrimp po'boy at Fisherman's Wharf.

 

[TexasAggie09]

It's been a few months since I started this thread and unfortunately don't have any updates to the vise. Something about a wedding and whatnot really eats into my fun time! Does anyone have any information on who has those front horseshoe castings? Also does anyone know where I might find an original lock down lever?

Thanks!

 

[wrenchguy]

I got parker pipe jaws from a 434 1/2. i don't know if their the right size 4 yours.
how wide r ur jaws? I wouldn't mess with the slide. nice find & good luck.

Heres the G L vise parts thread (last page) with some parts i and others have listed.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88292&page=8

 

[TexasAggie09]

Thank you sir, I will measure when I get home! I'm going to eventually fix that slide since a welder here volunteered to weld it for me. The horseshoe collar is one of the most visible pieces I'm missing

 

[TexasAggie09]

According to some online research I have 4.5" jaws with 5" opening