Hey guys, The house we were working at today hired somebody to clean out a garage and I saw this vise and offered him $50. After some conversation he took my offer so hopefully I got a decent deal. Being that somebody painted it I'm sure that lowers the value some. Is there any way to tell how old this vise is? Searched online and couldn't find any definitive answers. Also there is a little bit of slop Where's the main screw bolts up to the moving jaw ( sorry can't remember correct terminology), I read that there is a way to fix this but nobody online said how to actually do it.
Chas Parker 974 , how old?
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justintendo
Well-known member
you did well the jaws look intact.. i only have one parker so im learning about them a bit, but they are well made. give it a nice bath in paint stripper and pressure wash
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Already started taking a wire wheel to it, it's coming out pretty nice. The front hold down screw is really stuck so I sprayed it with penetrent and no luck. I then took one of those old manual impact tools , The kind you hit with a hammer, to try and get it loose and it started breaking the screw so I guess I am s o l on that one. It's this screw here in the picture.
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RTM
Well-known member
Lots of penetrating oil and patience should come before the impact driver. Anything that old and irreplaceable should be handled to Do No Harm first, not race to the finish. If you can’t turn it with a well fitted screwdriver, step back, and investigate your stash of penetrating oils.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
Loving my Parker 974 1/2. Picked up a Reed 204 R to compare. Now I want to get a bigger version of one of them. I'm thinking a Parker 976.
pelletman
Well-known member
I grew up with a 975 1/2 and I think it is one of Parker's best lines. I think they were around in the 30's but I don't know the date range.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
My best guess is 1930s-1940s
That's nice!! Really wish the previous owner didn't paint mine.I have a Parker 974, also purchased at garage sale, didn't have to do anything to it, works great.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
The paint can easily be removed with a wire wheel. I agree the Parker is such a work of art that it doesn't need paint. I was going to paint my 974 1/2 but changed my mind. Also just picked up a Reed 204 R that I am going to paint. Here are my newest 2
Very nice! I have been searching for a reed as well just haven't found the right deal yet. Vises in my area are at a premium price so it's had to find a good deal. The Parker is a nice solid vice, it's quite a bit larger than my Morgan Chicago 140.The paint can easily be removed with a wire wheel. I agree the Parker is such a work of art that it doesn't need paint. I was going to paint my 974 1/2 but changed my mind. Also just picked up a Reed 204 R that I am going to paint. Here are my newest 2
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
Nice Morgan!!Very nice! I have been searching for a reed as well just haven't found the right deal yet. Vises in my area are at a premium price so it's had to find a good deal. The Parker is a nice solid vice, it's quite a bit larger than my Morgan Chicago 140.
I just picked up that Reed 204 R from New York $120+shipping= about $150. Ship to Washington State. I go back and forth between Washington and Arizona. I'd like to get a bigger version of either of my two newest but I'm really liking the Parker more than I thought I would. So I'm thinking Parker 976 would be nice! I found one in Arizona but it's a bit rough.
Finally got all the old paint off , everything lubed up and a nice coat of linseed oil. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the pitting on the cast compared to my Morgan Chicago. Maybe the paint on the Morgan is covering up the pitting. All in all the Parker is a really nice heavy duty vise.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
I think it looks fantastic!! Those parkers have become my favoriteFinally got all the old paint off , everything lubed up and a nice coat of linseed oil. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the pitting on the cast compared to my Morgan Chicago. Maybe the paint on the Morgan is covering up the pitting. All in all the Parker is a really nice heavy duty vise.
Thank you! It was a lot of tedious work to get all the old paint off but pretty happy with the way it turned out
justintendo
Well-known member
some companies have smoother castings than others..no breakouts on the letters on your parker though
Packard V8
Well-known member
OP mentioned the free play around the screw in the movable jaw. Somewhere in the distant past of this forum, I shared how I fitted a bushing and tightened up the front plate of my Parker. It's worth the effort and makes for a more precise feel when operating.
jack vines
jack vines
Thank you Jack, unfortunately I'm going to have to leave it be. I tried getting the screw out several times with penetrant and then tried a manual impact with the correct size flathead bit and it started to separate the head of the screw where the flathead notch is. I didn't feel that I was being overly forceful but apparently I was. I stopped as soon as I saw part of the screw head moving so it is fine but still a bummer. Do you happen to know what people use for dowel pins to keep the jaws in place? The previous owner must have had one fall out and he used a small nail but I wanted to fix it correctly.
RTM
Well-known member
Someone just posted elsewhere that's it's just a std tapered pin.
justintendo
Well-known member
KMScott
Well-known member
It’s best to drive them up and not drive them down but either way works. I use heat first from my torch and most came out easy. Most are .203 diameter on the smaller jaw widths, .281 on the larger jaw widths. I have removed many and never seen a taper pin used.
Jayman17
Well-known member
I have one too and it has roll pins holding the jaws in, not a tapered pin. I just punched them down from the the top side, came right out.
Where do you guys at these pins? Does a hardware store usually carry them?
KMScott
Well-known member
What size is your pin? Measure with a caliper. I buy mine at McMaster Carr.
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RTM
Well-known member
Mine has roll pins, and used to have taper pins, but new owners stopped carrying when it changed hands.
Jayman17
Well-known member
I plan to re-use mine, they weren't damaged when I removed them. Probably available at hardware stores with a good bulk fastener section.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
I believe 974 has 4 inch jaws
And 974 1/2 has 4 1/2 inch Jaws
Right, but I'm asking about when it switched, assuming they didn't make both at the same time.
Tom Graham
Well-known member
Both the 974 and the 974 1/2 were being sold at the same time as late as 1965.
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
My 974 1/2 and Reed 204 R are all cleaned up now.
On the lookout for a bigger Parker now
On the lookout for a bigger Parker now
Banjorear
Well-known member
I think heat, penetrating oil and time is going to be on your side. Heat it, spray some oil, let it cool. Spray more oil. Repeat the process for a few days. Before trying to remove it again, heat it prior to giving it a whack. Heat does wonders for stuck parts.
genog
Well-known member
I see that you got the old paint off....
It really isn't a big deal.
I use Citrus Stripper and those little brass brushes that are about the size of a toothbrush
to this in no time at all
It really isn't a big deal.
I use Citrus Stripper and those little brass brushes that are about the size of a toothbrush
to this in no time at all
Josh Dekubber
Well-known member
My 974 1/2 and Reed 204R
