Chas. Parker Co. Vise

[shady5810]

My neighbor has a Parker Vise , its hugh maybe 300lbs. No. 60X. Does anybody have info on Parker vises, history, value then and now. Thanks! Fun Forum really enjoying.

 

[meatsis]

My neighbor has a Parker Vise , its hugh maybe 300lbs. No. 60X. Does anybody have info on Parker vises, history, value then and now. Thanks! Fun Forum really enjoying.

You're not up in maine by any chance are you? theres one for sale on craigslist up there. the guy is asking a crazy amount of money. like $1650 or something

 

[Roberts210]

Naw... they're not worth much. Where did you say you lived? And can I have your neighbor's phone number?

 

[bl00]

Go here and scroll down to post #7:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63694

 

[Packard V8]

Considering a smaller Parker comes up for sale locally only once or twice a year, the #60 might be a once-only-ever opportunity. I've never seen one.

jack vines

 

[thehorse13]

I've seen a 60x one time in my life. If you plan on building locomotives in your garage, this is certainly the vise that you would want.

 

[bobcatdan]

Generally speaking, a $1 a pound, $2 if you really want it. Any more is generally ridiculous for an old vise no matter the name. A king Wilton has been on my local CL for a month, starting ato $1000, now at $875. When it gets to $250 I will call.

 

[Rileysan]

Generally speaking, a $1 a pound, $2 if you really want it. Any more is generally ridiculous for an old vise no matter the name. A king Wilton has been on my local CL for a month, starting ato $1000, now at $875. When it gets to $250 I will call.

I have seen this "rule" stated before but I have an opinion to add to it.

1) this "rule" doesn't apply to Wilton bullets. I don't know what size a Wilton King is, but if it's 6" or bigger, you won the lottery if you got it for $250 or less.

2) This rule also does not apply to the following: Vintage "Baby" vises like Wilton, Pretiss, and the like, Reed vises of almost any size, and any vintage vise 6" and bigger. $3-$4/lb can be expected on any vintage 8" vise and even more for some of the more rare items. I doubt you can find another Parker vise like the one mentioned by the OP for under $4/lb

Brian

 

[bobcatdan]

I think paying way more for Wilton bullet then a comparable machinist vise is dumb. I can see a small premium, but not double to triple the price of another quality brand. I can't see in the normal course of home garage use, 6" Wilton is going to do anything better the 6" Colombian, Morgan or Reed. A king Wilton is a 8" bullet. I paid $1 a lbs for my 289 1/2 parker.

 

[meatsis]

I think paying way more for Wilton bullet then a comparable machinist vise is dumb. I can see a small premium, but not double to triple the price of another quality brand. I can't see in the normal course of home garage use, 6" Wilton is going to do anything better the 6" Colombian, Morgan or Reed. A king Wilton is a 8" bullet. I paid $1 a lbs for my 289 1/2 parker.

I couldn't agree more!!!!

 

[va.grouseman]

Generally speaking, a $1 a pound, $2 if you really want it. Any more is generally ridiculous for an old vise no matter the name. A king Wilton has been on my local CL for a month, starting ato $1000, now at $875. When it gets to $250 I will call.

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When it gets down to $500.00, you can see it when I post pictures.

 

[G-ManBart]

Generally speaking, a $1 a pound, $2 if you really want it. Any more is generally ridiculous for an old vise no matter the name. A king Wilton has been on my local CL for a month, starting ato $1000, now at $875. When it gets to $250 I will call.

Unlikely a decent 8" bullet will ever get down to $250. I had to rush to get to the local guy with a 6" bullet for $350. The guy said he got four e-mails in an hour, and I was the only one who left a phone number, so he contacted me first.

 

[G-ManBart]

My neighbor has a Parker Vise , its hugh maybe 300lbs. No. 60X. Does anybody have info on Parker vises, history, value then and now. Thanks! Fun Forum really enjoying.

If it's in good condition (no welds, cracks) it could be worth quite a bit of money. The big concern with Parker vises is that the jaws are unique and only a few people are willing/capable of making replacements, and that usually requires shipping the vise to them.

Assuming overall decent condition, I think folks would be fighting for it at $500 and there would still be some people interested at $1000.

 

[Rileysan]

I think paying way more for Wilton bullet then a comparable machinist vise is dumb. I can see a small premium, but not double to triple the price of another quality brand. I can't see in the normal course of home garage use, 6" Wilton is going to do anything better the 6" Colombian, Morgan or Reed. A king Wilton is a 8" bullet. I paid $1 a lbs for my 289 1/2 parker.

I completely agree! Unfortunately, the Wilton market in its own world. The average 4" (which weighs what - 50lb?) is $200 in my part of the country whereas I can find 4"-5" vintage machinists vises all over for $1/lb.

Unless one falls in my lap at a "you ****" price, I won't buy a Wilton.

Brian

 

[bobcatdan]

Unlikely a decent 8" bullet will ever get down to $250. I had to rush to get to the local guy with a 6" bullet for $350. The guy said he got four e-mails in an hour, and I was the only one who left a phone number, so he contacted me first.

Honesty I was kinda joking as I highly doubt he would ever drop his price that much. If he wants that price I think he needs to go the ebay route. Also I need an 8" vise like a hole in the head as I have a 6" Morgan and parker already. Now my buddy got his 8" Wilton for free. Another buddy's work was going to throw it out, he signed it out and gave to him for some help on a car.

 

[CutterFarms]

Honesty I was kinda joking as I highly doubt he would ever drop his price that much. If he wants that price I think he needs to go the ebay route. Also I need an 8" vise like a hole in the head as I have a 6" Morgan and parker already. Now my buddy got his 8" Wilton for free. Another buddy's work was going to throw it out, he signed it out and gave to him for some help on a car.

I think its alot of money, but a 8" would be pretty cool to have. I would like to have a Wilton bullet, but I probably wouldn't use it like I do my current vices. There are definitely alot of pristine bullets on this forum.

 

[bobcatdan]

I would love a 345 pounder Reed, but there is a big disadvantage with monster 8" vises. Unless you actually need a master vise that can open a foot, they are very clumsy to use for most every day jobs. A big 6" is really all most would ever need. By far my used vise is my Colombian 503 1/2. It opens almost 6" wide and is just so handy compared to my 6" Morgan or Parker.

 

[bobcatdan]

This thread has gone off track and I fell partially to blame. To the OP, Parkers are awesome vises and definitely worth going after. This would be my approach. I'd go over there with $300 because that is as much as I'm willing to spend. Tell him my offer, then to be honest, some value it for much more. If he wants to try CL or eBay, it's his vise and sell it for what he can, but that's my cash right now price. Now what you are willing to spend is up to you. Many will tell me I'm nuts to offer that low amount, but I think it's nuts to pay much more for probably an 80 year old vise. He may just want it gone and be shocked you offeyed that much. You get away from the vise crowd here, many people wouldn't ever pay more then $25 for a vise.

 

[Rileysan]

This thread has gone off track and I fell partially to blame. To the OP, Parkers are awesome vises and definitely worth going after. This would be my approach. I'd go over there with $300 because that is as much as I'm willing to spend. Tell him my offer, then to be honest, some value it for much more. If he wants to try CL or eBay, it's his vise and sell it for what he can, but that's my cash right now price. Now what you are willing to spend is up to you. Many will tell me I'm nuts to offer that low amount, but I think it's nuts to pay much more for probably an 80 year old vise. He may just want it gone and be shocked you offeyed that much. You get away from the vise crowd here, many people wouldn't ever pay more then $25 for a vise.

An excellent post. Seriously. I don't have any issue offering someone less than market value for things as long as it's not intended to rip someone off.

Most people don't want the hassle of cleaning up, photographing, listing, and waiting on potential buyers. CL can be a boon to sellers but it can also be a curse.

The OP didn't provide much info on what, if anything, the owner of the vise intends to do with it. But for others that are following this thread, this has been insightful (or possibly inciteful?)

Brian

 

[shady5810]

Thats for the info.

 

[shady5810]

Thanks for info

 

[CutterFarms]

This thread has gone off track and I fell partially to blame. To the OP, Parkers are awesome vises and definitely worth going after. This would be my approach. I'd go over there with $300 because that is as much as I'm willing to spend. Tell him my offer, then to be honest, some value it for much more. If he wants to try CL or eBay, it's his vise and sell it for what he can, but that's my cash right now price. Now what you are willing to spend is up to you. Many will tell me I'm nuts to offer that low amount, but I think it's nuts to pay much more for probably an 80 year old vise. He may just want it gone and be shocked you offeyed that much. You get away from the vise crowd here, many people wouldn't ever pay more then $25 for a vise.

You are right this is the only place I have seen where people put such a value on a vice. I get the appeal to having them but I use the hell out of mine. My gf gave me both of her father and grandfathers parker vices and I have cleaned them up and put them up. I appreciate the fact that they were in her family so long and dont know why it dont use them. I just keep beating on the same old one I've been using for over 20 years. And I'd love to restore a Wilton bullet just to do it but right now I just don't have the room for another unused item or unfinished project unless it was just so cheap I can't refuse it.

 

[bobcatdan]

I think the Internet has really blown vise prices out of proportion. You always had the guys who think this vise is $1700 new so mine is worth $1200 type. You have had enough guys willing to pay a stupid high sum of money on ebay, that's there's a track record guys will pay that. One funny about this site is guys will always say something is a $800 vise, but I don't see anybody on here bragging they bought an $800 vise.

 

[Rileysan]

I think the Internet has really blown vise prices out of proportion. You always had the guys who think this vise is $1700 new so mine is worth $1200 type. You have had enough guys willing to pay a stupid high sum of money on ebay, that's there's a track record guys will pay that. One funny about this site is guys will always say something is a $800 vise, but I don't see anybody on here bragging they bought an $800 vise.

Unless you visit the "Vises of GJ" thread, in which you will find people who have paid that and more for large vises.

I usually err on the side of caution when deciding on a fair price for any tool, but vises are a bit different. While you can still buy well-made hand tools (SK, Proto, Wright to name a few) without paying tool truck prices, try doing that with a new vise. For that matter, try buying a well made vise in any hardware, tool, or variety store and all you will find is chinese junk at outrageous prices (typically ~$3-$5/lb) - with many new vises exceeding $5/lb.

Now compare new vise prices & quality with 50+ year old American & British vises that sell on eBay & CL for $2/lb. Is it really that hard to accept that someone is will to pay $800 for a 250lb vise?

An objective observer should ask this question: All things being equal, which vise is most likely to be around 50 years from now - a chinese made vise from 2016 or a vintage Parker/Reed/Rock Island/Columbian/Wilton/Etc?

I think I know the answer ...

 

[bobcatdan]

At the end of the day, you pay what you want and I will pay what I want.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've seen a 60x one time in my life. If you plan on building locomotives in your garage, this is certainly the vise that you would want.

I know this is an old thread but this post couldn't be truer for thus picture.

We took a tour of Age of Steam Roundhouse. I spotted this no. 60 Parker in one of the work areas.